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Ocean Acidification, and Climate Horror Stories”
Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooaZLoJXhu4
People need to contact their local school boards.
Science textbooks should not be instruments to teach one-sided propaganda. Textbooks should encourage debate. Textbooks must encourage critical examination of all hypotheses. Textbooks should embrace Einstein’s advice “To never stop questioning.”
This tactic of trying to eliminate climate debate from the textbooks guarantees children will be indoctrinated with only Parmesan’s erroneous version of climate change under the guise of “science”. It is similar to Michael Mann’s campaign to label skeptics “anti-science”. The facts are indeed clear. It is Parmesan and the AAAS that are using politics to pressure school boards to force feed school children that CO2-caused global warming is now some sort of scientific law, when in fact both Parmesan’s research and the CO2 hypothesis are increasingly not supported by the evidence.
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RedditPhysicists working on the Large Hadron Collider have been a bit of a loose end since discovering the Higgs particle, so they've broken the man-made temperature record for fun. And science.
The Alice heavy-ion experiment, a sister project to the more-famous Atlas and CMS experiments, collided lead ions to create -- for just a split second -- a quark-gluon plasma with a heat of around 5.5 trillion degrees Kelvin. Or Celsius. It doesn't really make much difference at temperatures that high.
Right now that measurement is a little uncertain. The team, who presented their work at Quark Matter 2012 in Washington DC, announced that they'd beaten the previous record of four trillion degrees by 38 percent, but that they hadn't officially converted their energy readings into degrees yet. "It's a very delicate measurement," Alice spokesperon Paolo Giubellino said. "Give us a few weeks and it will be out."
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Quark-gluon plasmas, which were first discovered in 2000, are pretty interesting as they replicate the Universe just a few hundred microseconds after the Big Bang. In these plasmas, the particles which make up matter are freed of the strong nuclear force by enormous energy densities. Understanding the properties of this unusual type of matter is crucial to understanding the early evolution of the Universe.
The Cern team has been competing for the high temperature record with the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. In 2005, Brookhaven discovered that the plasmas behave like frictionless liquids, and the lab has since published data relating to how the plasma turns into a regular matter.
Steven Vignor from Brookhaven, said that there are "strong hints" that the experiments have been able to cross this boundary. "But we don't feel the evidence is compelling enough to make a clear statement."
Image credit: ShutterstockAs the dust settles on Leicester’s Champions League adventure, the question dominating the thoughts of supporters is “what happens next?”
Leicester have lifted the Premier League title and reached the last eight in Europe’s platinum competition, embarrassing the bookmakers over a rollercoaster 18 months which has captured the imagination.
But the journey had to finish at some stage and there is now a sense that the miracle men will never be the same again.
Leicester will relinquish the trophy to either Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur next month and with survival virtually assured, have six games to jostle for a midtable finish.
It is a reality check for Craig Shakespeare and his players, who have defied expectation yet again to make the club's debut in the Champions League such an uplifting experience.Owner Of Houston Furniture Stores Turns Them Into Shelters For Residents Stranded By Hurricane
Thousands of Texas residents have been displaced following Hurricane Harvey’s landfall over the weekend. While many of these people no doubt traveled to stay with friends and family outside of the affected areas, others don’t have those options. Instead, they’ve sought refuge from rising flood waters at community centers, shelters… and furniture stores.
Houston furniture chain Gallery Furniture announced Sunday that it would open two stores to serve as shelters for families fleeing the storm and its aftermath.
The company revealed its plan to open the locations as shelters on Facebook over the weekend, noting that the stores had food, beds, and clean restrooms for anyone in need. Pets are also welcome at the stores, as long as they are kenneled and remain by their owners.
According to the posts, the company even sent out its largest moving truck to pick up stranded residents and bring them back to the store.
Owner Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale tells the Houston Chronicle that the stores are able to accommodate a few hundred people each.
“We hope to give them some comfort in this incredibly difficult time,” McIngvale said.
Our GF N FRWY & GF Grand Parkway locations are open for those in need.If you can safely join us, we invite you for free food & safe shelter. pic.twitter.com/NqNdLo2iIP — Gallery Furniture (@GFToday) August 27, 2017Trump supporters planning to take to the streets of Berkeley
A woman walks past graffiti sprayed on the Bank of America branch at Telegraph and Durant avenues in Berkeley, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, a day after a protest against an appearance by former Breitbart News editor Milo Yiannopoulos at UC Berkeley turned violent. less A woman walks past graffiti sprayed on the Bank of America branch at Telegraph and Durant avenues in Berkeley, Calif. on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017, a day after a protest against an appearance by former Breitbart... more Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 48 Caption Close Trump supporters planning to take to the streets of Berkeley 1 / 48 Back to Gallery
A march supporting President Trump is expected to take place in Berkeley on Saturday, and while city officials said there’s little credible evidence of a major event materializing, they are worried about what will happen if counterprotesters show up.
The event billed as a “march for freedom,” comes a little more than a month after violence broke out over a scheduled — then canceled — appearance at UC Berkeley by right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos.
The march, according to a Facebook event page, is set to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park — less than a mile from the UC Berkeley campus.
The “March 4 Trump” national website listed the Berkeley event as one of 49 planned across 31 states and Washington D.C.
More than a quarter of the marches are expected to draw crowds of fewer than 50 people, and 12 expect more than 200 supporters to turn out, with the largest group, 563 people, saying they’ll attend in Austin, Texas, according to the Facebook event pages linked to by the “March 4 Trump” website.
As of Wednesday, about 110 people said on Facebook that they would attend the Berkeley march.
But Berkeley officials said that no one has applied for a street event permit for Saturday.
The Berkeley municipal code requires organizers of marches, demonstrations, assemblies and other gatherings in public places to obtain permits from the city.
“Organized groups that have been labeled as participating have said that they are not participating when we’ve reached out to them,” said Matthai Chakko, a spokesman for the city of Berkeley.
“It’s one of those things where social media has contributed to people thinking something is going to happen when there’s no people we can find actually claiming to be affiliated in an organized way,” he said.
He expressed concern that opposition groups might have a disproportionate reaction to what appears to be a small, loosely organized event.
Some trepidation from the city is understandable given the destructiveness of protests that broke out in response to the Feb. 1 visit to UC Berkeley by Yiannopoulos, the incendiary former Breitbart News editor. Yiannopoulos was invited to speak at the school by the Berkeley College Republicans, but the appearance was canceled as some people protesting the event turned violent.
Those protests, which devolved into what was labeled “rioting” and “domestic terrorism“ by some right-wing pundits, led to $100,000 in damage, several injuries and three arrests — as well as the spread of indelible images like that of a car plowing through a crowd blocking the street with a protester clinging to its hood.
The protests prompted President Trump to threaten to pull federal funding from UC Berkeley.
“If UC Berkeley does not allow free speech and practices violence on innocent people with a different point of view - NO FEDERAL FUNDS?” the president tweeted a day after the violent Berkeley protest.
Sgt. Sabrina Reich, a spokeswoman for the UC Police Department, said campus police are aware of Saturday’s march and have been in communication with the Berkeley Police Department, but did not elaborate further on specific public safety plans.
Meetings have been held to discuss the best way to protect local businesses, said Berkeley Chamber of Commerce CEO Kirsten MacDonald.
“The city is working together in conjunction with many organizations, police and our mayor’s office to make sure that stores on the main thoroughfare are as hardened and prepared as possible,” MacDonald said.
Some people planning to attend the march said their participation is a rebuttal to the treatment Yiannopoulos received in Berkeley.
“This is a day where we gather peacefully in response to what happened on February 1,” Twitter user Kathy Zhu said in a video promoting Saturday’s march that has since been retweeted over 1,000 times. “Now this wasn’t just a lecture being shut down, this is a direct assault on our First Amendment rights.”
Zhu directed a request for comment on the march to an event organizer identifying himself as Rich Black on Facebook. Reached by email, Black confirmed the march was taking place, but declined to answer questions about other groups involved, expected turnout or public safety plans.
“I find it funny that you are asking the very questions that the radical fringe left has attempted to get out of myself and others involved with this protest,” Black said in an email to The Chronicle. “If we refused that information to those who aim to harm us, why would we volunteer that information to those who aim to publicize it?”
Another group that promoted the event in early February, Proud Boys USA, whose members describe themselves as “Western chauvinists who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.” Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes has since disavowed the connection between the group and the march on Berkeley, tweeting, “#ProudBoys never agreed to be part of this march. I'm out,” and telling Black that he had “put the cart before the horse.”
Black declined to comment on McInnes’ change of heart.
On Facebook, Black specified the march was not a fascist or white nationalist event, and that white supremacists would be “ejected” should they try to attend.
“Let it be known that this event and those who have sponsored and organized it have no association with any white nationalist or Neo-Nazi group,” Black wrote on Feb. 24.
However, even that seemingly simple denunciation of Neo-Nazism did not go unopposed.
“This is a pro trump march. Anyone who supports trump should be able to come,” prospective attendee Melody Faw wrote on Facebook. “I’m against excluding anyone.”Shia LaBeouf's refusal to shower 'for weeks' gets up Brad Pitt's nose on Fury set
Transformers star Shia LaBeouf has sparked concern among his friends and colleagues after a series of bizarre antics on the set of his latest blockbuster.
I am told that the 27-year-old actor, who has been in the UK filming the £50 million Second World War drama Fury, faced harsh criticism from fellow cast members including Brad Pitt and British actor Jason Isaacs – and even found himself shifting between three hotels in the Oxfordshire area where the action was filmed.
‘Shia was warned about his behaviour by several people on set, including Brad Pitt and director David Ayer,’ a source reveals.
Stinky Shia: Actor LaBeouf pulled out his own tooth and refused to shower for weeks to 'get into character' as a World War II soldier
‘He didn’t heed any of their warnings and found himself staying in a small bed-and-breakfast hotel away from the rest of the cast.’
It seems that LaBeouf, pictured left, who plays an American soldier in Fury, was determined to adopt the method-acting approach for his new role.
The source adds: ‘Shia drove everyone mad on set trying to prove that he was the most dedicated star.
'He pulled out his own tooth during the first few weeks of filming and then refused to shower for weeks on end so he could better understand how his character would have felt living in the trenches.’
Furious: Shia's scent on the set of Fury allegedly drove his co-stars, which include Brad Pitt, left, and Logan Lerman, far right, mad and made him move hotels
It is the latest in a long line of controversies involving LaBeouf. Just last month he was forced to make a public apology to screenwriter Daniel Clowes after he plagiarised much of the plot of his graphic novel Justin M. Damiano in his own short film, HowardCantour.com.
Not such a Hard Day's Night: Sir Paul McCartney is allegedly looking into buying a new home
Does the new year mean a new home for Sir Paul McCartney?
He’s been running the rule over an £8 million apartment in New York’s exclusive Fifth Avenue – one of the world’s most expensive streets.
The property is just a few blocks away from a flat McCartney has owned since 1984 on West 54th Street.
Spies say that the multi-millionaire former Beatle, 71, viewed the luxurious property with wife Nancy Shevell the week before Christmas.
The 3,335 sq ft apartment on the 16th floor has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a mahogany-panelled library, a formal dining room and spectacular views of Central Park.
Playing a woman on screen might seem a drag for some actors – but not for veteran star Jim Broadbent.
The 64-year-old insisted on wearing a dress and a wig for his role as a cleaner in The Harry Hill Movie.
‘The part was actually written for a woman,’ said comedian Harry, ‘but then somebody said, “Why don’t we get Jim Broadbent?” I said that wouldn’t work because he’s a bloke. We then offered to rewrite the part but Jim just said, “Could be fun for it to be a woman.”Welcome to Neo Yokio, the greatest city in the world. It’s the most populous urban agglomeration in North America, but its prestige does not merely stem from its size. Neo Yokio is a diverse labyrinth of cultural and architectural innovation at the forefront of global fashion and finance.
All of this is cold comfort to the lovesick Kaz Kaan (Jaden Smith), the youngest member of a family of “magistocrats” – pink-haired demon slayers who once liberated the city. Today, his demon-slaying is barely more than a side-hustle coordinated by his Aunt Agatha (Susan Sarandon) - Kaz himself would rather concern himself with shopping, field hockey and - of course – mending his broken heart.
Always by Kaz’s side are his faithful mecha-butler, Charles (Jude Law), and his inseparable friends Lexy and Gottlieb (The Kid Mero and Desus Nice) as he navigates the complexities of life in Neo Yokio and tries to stay one step ahead of his arch-rival, Neo Yokio’s number one most eligible bachelor, Arcangelo Corelli (Jason Schwartzman.)
Things take a mysterious turn when Kaz is drawn into the turbulent world of ex-fashion blogger Helena St. Tessero (Tavi Gevinson), setting in motion a sequence of events that force him to question everything he knows about Neo Yokio.A hard drive containing a draft of her master’s thesis gave Noxolo Ntuli the courage to fight off three armed men who tried to rob her in Auckland Park on Monday.
It would have been the second time in two years that Ntuli was robbed at the very same spot.
The 26-year-old is a medical scientist at the National Health Laboratory Services.
Armed with lessons from a self-defence class she took after her first robbery‚ she held on to the bag containing her thesis‚ which she is due to submit at the University of Johannesburg at the end of the month.
Ntuli was walking back from work on Monday when robbers drove up next to her and forcibly tried to take her handbag‚ which contained her house keys‚ driver’s licence‚ bank card‚ a bit of cash and the valuable hard drive.
Refusing to allow history to repeat itself‚ Ntuli stood firm against the men‚ who drove away with only her lunch bag.
The tussle was captured on CCTV cameras installed in one of the houses along Goring Avenue and three men have been arrested following the incident.Jan 15, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards head coach Randy Wittman gestures from the bench against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 114-97. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
NBA training camp is right around the corner, which means that NBATV’s annual Real Training Camp series is set to begin. Instead of featuring just one team on the series, Real Training Camp will highlight the training camp process of five teams this season, including the Washington Wizards:
NBA TV’s NBAReal Training Camp will go all-access with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards as they prepare for the upcoming season. The preseason series will provide exclusive access to practice sessions, players, coaches and front office executives, along with interviews and analysis live from training sites around the NBA.
-via The Columbian
The Washington Wizards will move their training camp from George Mason University to their practice facility at the Verizon Center this season. Although it’s possible for the Washington Wizards to change their camp location, it looks like the team wants to get acclimated to the practice court prior to the beginning of the regular season.
We’ll get to see how Randy Wittman and his coaching staff prepares his team, and how Paul Pierce and the rest of the Washington Wizards’ new additions adjust to the team in training camp. Even though the Washington Wizards kept their core group of players together, they’ll still look somewhat different this upcoming season, so it’ll be interesting to see how Randy Wittman coaches during camp.
The Wizards haven’t gotten much national attention, but after getting 15 nationally televised games (including NBATV) this season and a feature on Real Training Camp, I think we’ll begin to see the team get more recognition this season.Charlie Hebdo’s decision to continue the publication of caricatures of Prophet Mohamed is "an act unjustifiably provocative to the feelings of a billion and a half Muslims worldwide who love and respect the Prophet,” Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta warned in a statement on Tuesday.
The new issue of Charlie Hebdo will cause a "new wave of anger" in France and the West in general, the statement said, adding that it "will not serve the dialogue between civilisations which Muslims seek."
The cover of the first edition of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo since 12 of its staff members were killed by Islamist gunmen last week showed a cartoon of the Prophet Mohamed crying and holding up a "Je suis Charlie" sign under the words "All is forgiven."
Dar Al-Ifta, the primary Egyptian authority responsible for issuing religious edicts, described the act as "counter to human values, freedoms, cultural diversity, tolerance and respect to human rights," adding that it "deepens hatred and discrimination between Muslims and others."
The statement also condemned the recent attacks against mosques in France warning that such acts will "give extremists from both sides a chance to exchange violence."
The statement finally requested that the French government, political parties and organisations condemn Charlie Hebdo's "racist act which works to incite sectarianism."
It is common for satirical publications in Europe to mock religious figures.
Following the attack in Paris, Egypt's Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's most prestigious centre of learning, issued a condemnation, saying that "Islam denounces any violence."
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi also condemned the attack, voicing Cairo's solidarity with France and underlining that the fight against terrorism is a global concern.
Egypt's Foreign Minister joined other world leaders in the million man protest in Paris.
Following the attacks that killed 12 staff members, the surviving employees of Charlie Hebdo have sworn to uphold its tradition of lampooning all religions, politicians, celebrities and news events.
On Sunday, huge crowds in France, including 1.5 million in Paris, took to the streets many carrying signs saying "Je suis Charlie."
Short link:EU rules that allow Facebook and Google to transfer personal data about Britons and other EU citizens to the US face being scrapped after a campaigning Austrian student scored a major legal victory over Brussels.
The top adviser to the European Court of Justice said the “mass, indiscriminate surveillance” carried out by US intelligence services renders a 15-year-old “Safe Harbour” agreement, which makes it easier for US companies to comply with EU data laws, invalid.
The surveillance carried out by the United States intelligence services is mass, indiscriminate surveillance
The Advocate General's recommendation, which the ECJ can ignore but rarely does, could create major difficulties for tech companies and financial services providers, and could further strain relations between EU and US authorities over privacy in the wake of the Edward Snowden revelations.
“If the Court of Justice follows this opinion it will cause real headaches for many US businesses who are operating in the EU,” said Tanguy Van Overstraeten, global head of privacy and data protection at law firm Linklaters.
Under European privacy laws, personal information held by companies can only be transferred abroad if the country in question “ensures an adequate level of data protection”. The Safe Harbour agreement, brokered in 2000, declared that the US qualifies, but Max Schrems, a 27-year-old Austrian law student, has challenged the agreement’s validity in the wake of the Snowden allegations.
*YAY* AG at the #CJEU: #SafeHarbor is invalid. Irish #DPC has a duty to investigate. Further details as soon as we get the written version. — Max Schrems (@maxschrems) September 23, 2015
Mr Schrems had demanded that the Irish Data Protection Commissioner investigate Facebook – whose European headquarters are in Dublin – for breaking EU privacy laws. When it refused, citing Safe Harbour, Mr Schrems appealed, with the case ultimately reaching the ECJ.
In a strongly-worded notice yesterday morning, Advocate General Yves Bot declared that “the access enjoyed by the United States intelligence services to the transferred data constitutes an interference with the right to respect for private life and the right to protection of personal data”.
“That interference with fundamental rights is contrary to the principle of proportionality, in particular because the surveillance carried out by the United States intelligence services is mass, indiscriminate surveillance,” he added.
The ECJ can be expected to make a final decision on the matter within a few months. If the court agrees with the recommendation, many US tech companies will have to restructure certain operations, such as HR and payroll practices, at great cost.
But more significantly, it could add a new barrier to the movement of data between the US and Europe at a time when concerns over snooping are raised.
This finding, if confirmed by the court, would be a major step in limiting the legal options for US authorities to conduct mass surveillance on data held by EU companies Max Schrems
Mr Schrems, who has been an outspoken campaigner against the data practices of American tech giants, said: “This finding, if confirmed by the court, would be a major step in limiting the legal options for US authorities to conduct mass surveillance on data held by EU companies, including EU subsidiaries of US companies.
The Advocate General’s recommendation and the likelihood of Safe Harbour becoming invalid adds greater urgency to a new agreement being negotiated between the EU and US.
“This finding has also an important impact on the negotiations between the EU and the US regarding a new'safe harbor’ system,” Mr Schrems said. “It must be now assured that the mass access of national security agencies to EU data transferred to the US needs to be definitely excluded.”BALTIMORE — When Elijah Cummings’s calm baritone came through a police bullhorn Tuesday night urging Baltimore residents to abide by a curfew and head home, young men in the street responded, “Fuck you!”
Cummings, a congressman and a stalwart of Baltimore’s black community generally seen as representative of the progress made by the 1960s civil rights movement, was viewed by some Tuesday night as just another agent of the state. Those same people were the ones who wrapped their faces in bandanas and defied a curfew, causing police to resort to pepper balls and tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Governor Larry Hogan even declared: “We’ve turned a corner,” before adding it’s not over.
The curfew didn’t work though, unless the objective was to bully people back into their homes with the eye-stinging agents that more police departments may have to use if they keep unnecessarily killing black men.
The curfew provided a time—and the massive police presence at the intersection of North and Pennsylvania provided a place—for those intent on clashing with police to do it. And that’s exactly what they did. Play-by-play, what happened Tuesday night in Baltimore was the same sequence of events that occurred in Ferguson when authorities instituted a curfew there, with one notable exception. The National Guard was deployed following Monday’s unrest, unlike in Ferguson where the Guard didn’t show up until the second night of the curfew. The deployment prompted hope that the Guard’s presence would quell any further rioting. There was just one problem: There was no National Guard in Sandtown.
“They got the damn National Guard down there in Inner Harbor, defending white Baltimore,” one man said, going hoarse from frustration and anger that couldn’t be controlled anymore.
There was quite a bit of political wrangling over the deployment of the Guard and their position in Inner Harbor may have been a tactical one, waiting in reserve in case the situation got out of hand elsewhere.
It wasn't until well after the clashes with police that the Guard showed up at North and Penn, but by then it was too late.
“The governor wanted the Guard down there to assert presence,” even as city cops were asking for their help elsewhere, a military source familiar with Baltimore operations told The Daily Beast.
So the Maryland National Guard activation was, at least on Tuesday evening, mostly for show.
They were defending the city’s real investment, according to Quintin Reid, the bail bondsman who freed Freddie Gray from jail twice before his death. Downtown now gleams with Camden Yards (closed to the public for today’s baseball game), hotels, shops, restaurants, and bars that the people of Sandtown don’t often patronize.
“The well-to-do whites and blacks, they wanted them to be in the city and be a tax base,” he said. “But they don’t need no tax incentives, they the ones holding the money!”
Reid holds Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in specific contempt.
“We have black leadership, and look what they’ve done” Reid said. “Politics is a study of power, and that’s exactly what this is.”
For some on Tuesday night it was the memory of Freddie Gray that prompted them to take to the streets. For a lot of others it was the conditions in which they live that were the larger issue, with Gray’s death serving as the spark that lit the fire.
“This is pain caused from poverty erupting. This is pain exploding,” said Tony Burks, a 38-year-old lifelong resident of Baltimore who spent a bit of time Tuesday night trying to convince a camera crew to turn on their machines so he could have his say. Burks wanted outsiders to know why this was happening, why kids took to the streets Monday to burn and loot and why a few stuck around Tuesday night to make sure the cops knew this was their neighborhood, and that they weren’t going to be told when to go home.
“What the fuck are they supposed to do? Look around you,” Burks said, pointing to the block of abandoned row houses behind us, the night sky peeking through roofs that have fallen because of decades of neglect, not the fires that made headlines this week.
Photos: Scenes From the Chaos in Baltimore
“Imagine how it would make you feel walking down the street to this every day. These kids feel like they have nothing.”
The same man decrying the National Guard’s defense of Inner Harbor was as enraged at the media’s presence as much as he was the cops in riot gear. He went on an extended diatribe for his fellow residents and in the faces of reporters who found themselves on the receiving end of a speech that in many ways represents the conflict in Baltimore.
“Point your camera at them! They got a sniper pointed at us, so point the cameras at them!” he said. A few feet away, a cop in war gear peered from the top of an MRAP with an assault rifle at the ready. The cameras stayed on the man.
“They kill a black man and don’t answer for damn near a month, but we riot one night and look what happens!” he said, pointing to the line of stone-faced cops behind clear plastic shields.
It’s impossible to tell what would have happened if the cops there, at North and Penn, had been replaced by the National Guard. Maybe it would have displaced some of the rage. After all, it wasn’t the National Guard who was responsible for Freddie Gray’s death. It was the Baltimore Police Department, lined up in blue on Tuesday night in Sandtown to keep order, the only way they knew how.
Additional reporting by Tim Mak.Shakalaka Boom Boom is a 2007 Indian thriller drama film directed and produced by Suneel Darshan and written by Anurag Kashyap. The film stars Bobby Deol, Upen Patel, Celina Jaitly and Kangana Ranaut in the lead. It released on 6 April 2007.
Shakalaka Boom Boom is based on conflicts and the power game involved in the functioning of the music industry. The film was partly shot in South Africa. Upon release the film was panned by critics and flopped at the box office, though the acting of newcomer Upen Patel was very praised, as well as Bobby Deol's role as a first-time villain. The movie worked for the musical fans.
Plot summary [ edit ]
Shakalaka Boom Boom follows the tale of a jealous, selfish and greedy music artist, AJ (Bobby Deol). AJ is one of the finest music artists in the industry and is currently under a stop since he can't think of a new project. AJ is in love with the hot and sexy Ruhi (Kangana Ranaut) and hopes to tell her how he feels. However, a wannabe singer, Reggie (Upen Patel) appears who falls in love with Ruhi and woos her before AJ can. Therefore, AJ swears to destroy Reggie's career and hence comes into Reggie's life as his friend. Getting him drunk, getting him smoking, is all that AJ has been doing to Reggie, and Reggie even loses control and passes out. One day, AJ finds out all Reggie's secrets and gets him so drunk that he has liver-fail. While Reggie was in the state of dying, AJ takes all his music-notes and beats and flees from the place. Then Ruhi shows up and takes him to the hospital. He is placed into the operation section due to liver failure, and then Ruhi plans to destroy AJ's career just like he did to Reggie.
Though Ruhi does not know that AJ isn't alone, he also has his hidden agenda with Reggie's ex-girlfriend Sheena (Celina Jaitly) who is now a bigshot due to AJ. AJ and Sheena together publish Reggie's music as their own, and it goes onto becoming a big hit. At the music-signing, Ruhi gets her gun out, though it doesn't seem to work. She seems that's it, though Karma has a different plan in mind. Due to her gun not working, she leaves and as she leaves, a disco ball randomly falls on top of AJ's head. He is placed into the hospital, and the doctors declare him 'deaf'.The ending shows him going to hell, and Reggie waking up to a better life, as he and Ruhi have now proved that the music is really his.
Cast [ edit ]
Soundtrack [ edit ]
All songs [1] are composed by Himesh Reshammiya and lyrics are penned by Sameer.
# Title Artist(s) Length 1 Thaare Vaaste De Denge Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan 04:30 2 Dil Lagaayenge Himesh Reshammiya, Akriti Kakkar 05:03 3 Naamumkin Hai Tum Bin Himesh Reshammiya 05:38 4 Shaaka Laaka Boom Boom Himesh Reshammiya, Akriti Kakkar 05:10 5 Aaj Nahi Toh Kal Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan 01:24 6 Issi Ummid Pe Ji Rahe Shaan 02:15 7 Saathiya Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala 02:04 8 Tera Sona Sona Roop Sunidhi Chauhan, Kunal Ganjawala 02:14 9 Thaare Vaaste De Denge (Remix) Sunidhi Chauhan, Shaan 04:09 10 Dil Lagaayenge (Remix) Himesh Reshammiya, Akriti Kakkar 04:04 11 Naamumkin Hai Tum Bin (Remix) Himesh Reshammiya 05:05 12 Shaaka Laaka Boom Boom (Remix) Himesh Reshammiya, Akriti Kakkar 05:21 13 Issi Ummid Pe Ji Rahe - Medley (Remix) Shaan 08:24 14 Rukhsat Shaan 01:10
Box office [ edit ]
Because it had a controlled budget the film didn't do too badly but only grossed about 4.5 crores in the first week and its total net gross was 6 crores altogether. Boxoffice-india declared the film a flop.
Reception [ edit ]
Critical reception [ edit ]
Shakalaka Boom Boom attracted negative reviews from top critics of India. Mayank Shekhar of Hindustan Times rated the film with 1 out of 5 stars. Shakti Salgaokar of DNA gave movie a one and half stars and wrote in his review, "It's simple — sexual innuendo, potshots at popular films, bad mimicry, foreign locations, a generous dose of overacting, an item song and a gora villain. And as he magnificently presents the climax of the film. Spare us the comedy, please?" Nikhat Kazmi of Times of India said, "This one's definitely not for the fastidious, choosy viewer but for those who don't mind losing it for a bit, Shakalaka Boom Boom works like an average Bollywood musical. Performance-wise, it's one big circus with the guys hogging most of the limelight. The girls — Kangana and Celina — are mere confetti" and gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Taran Adarsh also gave it 3 out of 5 stars, saying "It's a well-crafted entertainer and lives up to the expectations of its target audience — the youth. At the box-office, its business at the multiplexes will help it generate good revenue, making it a profitable proposition for its investors."Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Obama Promises Mujica to Close Guantanamo
Havana, Cuba, May 14.- U.S. President Barack Obama met at the White House with his Uruguayan counterpart, Jose Mujica. During the meeting, the two heads of state spoke about the situation of prisoners in the Guantanamo Naval Base and on the anti-tobacco policy boosted in the Central American nation.
In their first official meeting, of around one-hour long, Obama and Mujica didn’t speak “a single word” about the recent legalization of marihuana in Uruguay, but did speak about the planned transfer to that country of up to six prisoners of Guantanamo, as explained by the Uruguayan head of state, the Cubadebate Web site reported on Tuesday.
“He told me he was committed to close that prison (Guantanamo) before the end of his term in office,”, said Mujica in a press conference, in which he ruled out that Obama demanded any condition to close the agreement that will allow for the transfer of the prisoners to Uruguay.
The Uruguayan President revealed that during the meeting he mentioned the situation of three Cuban agents imprisoned in U.S. jails for fighting terrorism organized by Miami-based extremist groups.
“A lot of work will have to be put in. I think that this government is the ripest to improve relations with Cuba. But this is all I can say,” commented Mujica in a press conference after the meeting with Obama.
At the beginning of the meeting, Obama asserted that Mujica “enjoys extraordinary credibility in matters of democracy and human rights, given his strong values and his personal history, and he’s a leader in these issues in the entire hemisphere.” (acn).This all started because I had a UNIX dude at an interview pronounce “/etc/init.d” as “etsy-eye-nighted.” I had to ask him to repeat that. So I’ve decided to put together this pronunication guide for UNIX terms.
Operating Systems and Vendors
UNIX – YOO-niks (NOT yoo-NEEKS** or YOO-nucks**)
Linux – LIN-ucks (also, LIN-icks or LEE-nooks (official). NOT LINE-ucks** or LIE-nucks**)
Solaris – so-LAIR-is (also, so-LAHR-is. NOT SO-ler-is**)
Irix – EYE-ricks (The first I sounds like the I in “iris.”)
HP-UX – HAH-key-pucks (also, eych-pee-youu-ecks or EYCH-pucks)
AIX – ayy-eye-ecks (NOT aicks**)
SCO – ess-see-oh (also ASS-holes. NOT skoh**)
BSD – bee-ess-dee (also BEE-stee)
UCB – yoo-see-bee (NOT ukbuh**)
ATT – ayy-tee-tee (NOT at** or ayy-tee-en-TEE**)
SysV – sis-VEE (also sis-tem-VEE. NOT sis-FIVE** or sis-tem-FIVE**)
SVR4 – ess |
traditional sense.
As it turns out, in 2012 shareholder votes in favor of political spending disclosure and other related proposals received 17% of the overall votes at the companies that Proxy Monitor tracks, down from 22% the year before. However, it's worthwhile to note that the number of proposals on the topic increased by 20% over the year before.
Investors: Wake up to waste
Investors of all stripes should ponder how they feel about their companies' political spending. The coalition of investors seeking to end such spending pointed out that last year, Chevron's (NYSE:CVX) $2.5 million directed into a Super PAC was the largest corporate donation into a Super PAC ever. Whether the companies whose stock you own are supporting your political cause, candidates, or economic beliefs is in question -- and it shouldn't even be an issue in these highly contentious times.
Meanwhile, what good this type of spending actually does for any individual company's financial health is extremely questionable. The coalition pointed to a 2012 study conducted by the University of Michigan that looked at the performance of companies that shelled out money for political ends over the 1991 through 2004 time frame. These companies exhibited slower growth, fewer investments in and spending on research and development, and poor corporate governance policies.
It's not rocket science: Corporate money spent on politics could be used in far more productive ways, like ensuring public companies thrive in an operational environment, not a regulatory one, and make our economy more competitive and generate more productive employment. Right now, millions of dollars are being squandered oiling the Washington political machine. As shareholders, we should fight for transparency on political contributions by our public companies -- or even eradication.
Big Business (and, don't forget, Big Unions) seeks to influence elections and government policy-making through its almighty bucks. It's time investors and citizens stop looking the other way and put an end to it. There are far more productive ways to spend money.
Check back at Fool.com for more of Alyce Lomax's columns on environmental, social, and governance issues.Quote EricMusco Quote: Originally Posted by Hey folks!
As a quick heads up, after the event I realized that the cards we were handing out had a typo in regards to a change we made. During Celebration, the links that you share could be clicked 5 times. For the SDCC cards, the links that you are sharing can be used up to fifty times.
We scaled it up quite a bit! Just wanted to pop in to this thread and let you all know. Share, share to your hearts content. Thanks again to everyone who stopped by and enjoy the new Prinawe vehicle
-eric
If you redeemed a code for the previous Anaheim event, you can redeem a new code from San Diego, correct? Eric;If you redeemed a code for the previous Anaheim event, you can redeem a new code from San Diego, correct?Tents once lined the sidewalks in Kakaako, the town in Honolulu, Hawaii that was once home to the largest homeless encampments in the United States. For years, homeless people took residence there, unable to snag a spot in one of Hawaii’s limited shelters. As housing costs continued to rise, so did the numbers—by September more than 300 men, women, and children called the encampment home.
Hawaii residents responded to the news on Reddit, describing what life was like in the encampment:
Now, all that remains, is the trash left behind and the city crews who are completing the final phase of a month-long sweep to clear the encampment. Much like when county officials in Santa Clara, Calif. cleared “The Jungle,” a large homeless encampment in the state near Silicon Valley, the sweep came under harsh criticism. The camp was cleared after a judge denied an official request from the ACLU to stop the city, citing concerns that its homeless inhabitants would lose their belongings and shelters. ACLU attorneys also filed a lawsuit challenging a city ordinance that grants authority to city officials, to confiscate and destroy anything crews identify as trash. A hearing has been scheduled for December. The move to clear Kakaako came as a precursor to a state-wide push to get a handle on its ballooning homeless numbers. Governor David Ige declared a state of emergency on Friday, and announced Hawaii would be allocating $1.3 million to increase its number of transitional housing shelters and permanent housing programs. He highlighted the encampment clean-up as a success, emphasizing that more than half of the camp’s inhabitants were placed in shelters. “We are making sure that we have options for those who are homeless to move into an emergency shelter, and the biggest deficit in the system is shelter space for families,” Ige said during a press conference. “So the emergency proclamation would allow us to stand up shelters for families in an expeditious manner.”
In just the past year, Hawaii saw its already high homeless numbers rise dramatically. According to data collected during the “Point in Time Count” conducted in January, there were 7,260 homeless people—the most per capita in the United States. The number of unsheltered residents rose by 23 percent between 2014 and 2015, and the number of homeless families by 46 percent.
The funds are slated to serve 1,000 people through the end of July 2016 and would expand both shelter spots and the state’s Housing First program—a programming solution to chronic homelessness that helped the state of Utah house almost all of its citizens.
The state is also planning to build a transitional shelter that would house up to 15 families and is considering the area that was once part of the Kakaako encampment and a potential building site.
Still, Hawaii is still a long way off from being able to offer shelter to everyone who needs it, and homeless advocates say, in the meantime, the state shouldn’t crack down on people who have nowhere else to go.
“Sweeps leave homeless people farther from getting back on their feet, especially when criminal citations or fines occur,” Erc Tars, a senior attorney for the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty told Star Tribune:EN ATTENDANT LES PAPILLONS
QUI SOMMES NOUS?
KNIGHTWORKS est un jeune studio français spécialisé dans l’animation 3D. Depuis sa création il y a sept ans, nous avons toujours cherché à conserver notre indépendance financière, gage d’indépendance artistique. Nous avons donc auto-financé l’ensemble de notre développement, sans avoir recours aux banques.
Aujourd’hui, après avoir beaucoup travaillé pour les autres (en publicité, TV et cinéma), nous lançons un projet plus personnel et plus ambitieux : le long métrage d’animation « En attendant les papillons ». Nous voulons le réaliser dans le même esprit d’indépendance. C’est pour ça que nous faisons appel à vous!
DE QUOI S’AGIT-IL?
Imaginez un conte chinois classique, Les amants papillons, revisité à travers le mariage des atmosphères de Miyazaki et des studios Pixar.
Cette idée est née de la grande diversité culturelle de nos équipes. Dix langues sont parlées chez KNIGHTWORKS, dont le chinois, le japonais et le thaï. Nous sommes partis d’un constat : les légendes et les contes européens sont désormais connus dans le monde entier, sous différentes formes, mais l’immense beauté des légendes et contes asiatiques est encore trop souvent méconnue.
Notre projet a déjà retenu l’attention, mais il nous reste encore du chemin pour financer le long métrage et séduire les financeurs.
C'est pourquoi, nous travaillons actuellement sur un trailer de 45 secondes qui sera un élément déterminant pour convaincre nos futurs partenaires de financer l’ensemble du film. 45 secondes, ça n’a l’air de rien, mais… c’est 1125 images et… un coût de 50 000 euros. Nous avons investi 35 000 euros sur nos fonds propres, mais il nous manque encore 15 000 euros.
En nous apportant votre aide, vous embarquerez avec An Tian, Léa et Max pour un voyage entre la Chine ancienne et le présent, entre les rêves et l’énergie qu’ils nous insufflent. En voici les grandes lignes…
L'HISTOIRE
An Tian est un garçon timide et très rêveur. Il désire accomplir de grandes choses. Pour l’instant, il vit seul avec sa mère, dans une des tours du gouvernement chinois à plus de deux heures de trajet de la prestigieuse école qu’il fréquente. Il va faire la connaissance de Léa, une camarade de classe qui elle, vient d’une famille très aisée.
Malgré leurs différences sociales et leurs familles que tout semble opposer, ils se lient peu à peu d’une profonde amitié. Cependant, les rêves de plus en plus étranges d'An Tian ainsi qu’un exposé imposé par l’école, vont leur faire prendre conscience que leur amitié est plus forte et plus complexe qu’ils ne l’imaginaient. Et surtout, que leur histoire semble liée à un conte ancien à l’issue tragique. Chaque détail de leur vie les rapproche davantage de cette vieille légende chinoise.
Lorsque An tian apprend que comme dans le conte, Léa va devoir déménager, les histoires parallèles ne semblent faire plus qu’une et la réalité rejoint le rêve.
La détermination et l’amour d'An Tian envers Léa vont cependant le pousser à vouloir à inverser le cours de l’histoire et à prouver à son entourage ainsi qu’à lui même, que la volonté d’un être humain peut dépasser la condition sociale qui lui est imposée et le destin qui semblait écrit.
LES PERSONNAGES :The rapidly rising product of Perth's renowned ECU Joondalup Academy played a full 90 minutes as the Cottagers began life in the Championship with a 2-1 loss at Ipswich last weekend.
And a performance of maturity and boundless commitment did nothing to harm the rookie's chances of landing more game time when Fulham entertains fellow Aussie Scott McDonald's Millwall on Sunday (AEST).
delighted to make my professional debut today! gutted about the result but a positive season ahead #COYW #FFC — Cameron Burgess (@CamBurgess95) August 9, 2014
One of four Joondalup alumni at Craven Cottage - striker Adam Taggart, winger Ryan Williams and goalkeeper Jake Soutter are the others - centre-back Burgess showed his versatility by playing out of positon in midfield.
Born in Scotland but transplanted to Perth aged 11, Burgess was just happy to be involved, explaining: "It was a bit of surprise to get a start against Ipswich but a nice one.
"I'd been involved in the pre-season games and while I am a centre-half really, I was more than happy to play wherever the boss wanted me to.
"This is a club determined to return to the Premier League this year and there's quality all over the pitch in every position.
"To be involved with the first team, especially at my age, is pretty special and hopefully I can play some part in us pushing on for promotion.
"This is such a tough league and the games come thick and fast."
OPEN TRAINING: @CamBurgess95 takes some time out to chat with one of our younger fans. #FFC pic.twitter.com/lVVLIwICo7 — Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 5, 2014
Neither Williams (suspended) nor Australia striker Taggart (injured) are available for the mach against Millwall as Burgess bids to cement his place in Magath's senior set-up.
With both British and Australian passports, he has the option to represent his homeland of Scotland and also the green and gold without being bound to either until he makes a full international appearance at senior level in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament.
Burgess already has three caps for Scotland's U-19s and one for its U-20s but was also part of an Australia U-20s camp in Dubai earlier this year along with fellow West Australians Peter Skapetis (Stoke City) and Scott Galloway (Melbourne Victory).
There have been ongoing discussions on being a part of Paul Okon's Young Socceroos squad for October's AFC Under-19 Championships in October in Myanmar, with Australia needing to make the semi-finals to qualify for next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.
"There have been a few talks and we will see what happens," said Burgess who joined Fulham in a scholarship two years ago.
"Obviously I have a strong connection with Australia. It's where I started to really develop my game and I made so many friends there inside football and elsewhere. There's a great sporting culture there."
With Australia to play Belgium and Saudi Arabia in Liege and London early next month, Burgess could conceivably even jump into contention should he continue to flourish at Fulham.
His roots, though, are steeped in Scottish football folklore with grandfather Campbell Forsyth winning four Scottish caps as a goalkeeper in the 1960s during a career which saw him play for St Mirren, Kilmarnock and Southampton while father Stuart played for Albion Rovers, East Fife, Falkirk and Kilmarnock.
"With my background they were proud that I was capped for Scotland and it was a big moment for me," said Burgess who speaks with a distinct Scottish twang.
"But their main concern is more about me cementing a career in club football than anything else because if you don't do that then there is no chance of playing international football anyway."
Burgess, who trained with Aberdeen and Celtic as a kid and was also on Perth Glory's books at as junior, added: "I was coming up to 11 when we moved as a family to Australia.
"My parents are still there and I talk almost every day to dad about football and general stuff and really value his advice.
"I couldn't be happier with how things are going but there's an awful lot still to do and so much to learn."
Burgess is part of a wave of talent to emerge from WA in recent years through ECU Joondalup which, in addition to the Fulham four, has has spawned the likes of Brad Jones (Liverpool), Chris Herd (Aston Villa), Rhys Williams Middlesbrough, Shane Lowry (Leyton Orient), Jordan Lyden (Aston Villa), Alex Grant (Stoke City) and Peter Skapetis (Stoke City).
Its founder Gary Williams - now an agent based in the UK - said: "I am not sure if there's something in the Joondalup water but it's been a breeding ground for some excellent players over the years and it's a work in progress still.
"A lot of it is down to the good coaching of (Scotsman) John Brown and I am proud to have been involved in some part.
"The likes of Cameron are good examples of where this talent can be channelled if you find the right club and environment to take these players to the next level."SHANGHAI, April 17 (Reuters) - Chinese stadium builder Lander Sports said late on Sunday it was terminating plans to buy a stake in English soccer club Southampton, citing uncertain factors wrought by changes in China’s securities market and policies.
In a statement issued to the stock market, Lander Sports said the process to buy an 80 percent stake in the Southampton’s holding firm, St. Mary’s Football Group, also involved having to gain approval from government bodies including China’s foreign exchange regulator and top economic planner.
“Whether the company can eventually complete the acquisition of the target firm’s shares remains uncertain,” it said in the statement.
“To keep to principle of prudence, ensure the company’s development remains normal and to safeguard the majority of investors’ interests, the company has decided to end this major asset restructuring.”
The company had earlier this year said it had struck a deal with Saints’ owner Katharina Liebherr, without disclosing the price.
Reuters reported in March that Chinese buyers including materials giant Amer International and CITIC Securities Co Ltd were preparing a rival bid.
Chinese entities and individuals have ploughed more than $3 billion into overseas soccer investments since late 2015, encouraged by avid fan President Xi Jinping, who wants the country to become a soccer superpower.
A number of sports-related deals, however, have hit hurdles after Beijing said it would rein in risks from “irrational” outbound investments, with particular focus on sectors including hotels, entertainment and sports.
A 740 million euros ($784.92 million) agreement for Italian club AC Milan, which was held up as the buyers struggled to get approval from Beijing, finally closed last week eight months after it was agreed. ($1 = 0.9428 euros) (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jerry Lewis, the high prince of low-brow comedy on stage and in film as well as a fund-raising powerhouse with his annual Labor Day telethon, died on Sunday at the age of 91, his family said.
Lewis died of natural causes at his home in Las Vegas on Sunday morning with his family by his side, the family said in a statement.
He had been hospitalized for about five weeks beginning in early June for a urinary tract infection, keeping him from traveling to Toronto to appear in a film, his spokeswoman, Candi Cazau, told Reuters by telephone.
Lewis rose to fame as the goofy foil to suave partner Dean Martin. At home, he was both loved and derided, while in France, he became a comic icon.
He once summed up his career by saying “I’ve had great success being a total idiot” and said the key was maintaining a certain child-like quality.
“I look at the world through a child’s eyes because I’m 9,” he told Reuters in a November 2002 interview. “I stayed that way. I made a career out of it. It’s a wonderful place to be.”
Jim Carrey, an actor whose style owed a heavy debt to Lewis, paid tribute to the comedian soon after news of his death.
“That fool was no dummy,” Carrey wrote. “Jerry Lewis was an undeniable genius an unfathomable blessing, comedy’s absolute! I am because he was!”
Lewis was 87 when his last movie, “Max Rose,” came out in 2013, playing a jazz pianist who questions his marriage after learning his wife of 65 years may have been unfaithful.
The son of vaudeville entertainers, Lewis became a star in the early 1950s as Martin’s comic sidekick in nightclubs, on television and in 16 movies. At their height, they set off the kind of fan hysteria that once surrounded Frank Sinatra and the Beatles.
Their decade-long partnership ended with a bitter split and Lewis went on to star in his own film comedies.
Lewis’ movie persona, like the character he created in the act with Martin, varied little from film to film. He was zany and manic, forever squealing, grimacing and flailing his way through situations beyond his control.
He starred in more than 45 films in a career spanning five decades. His cross-eyed antics often drew scorn from critics but he was for a time a box-office hit who commanded one of the biggest salaries in Hollywood.
The White House said Lewis had kept people laughing for more than a half-century and praised him as one of the greatest entertainers and humanitarians.
“Jerry lived the American Dream - he truly loved his country, and his country loved him,” said the statement from President Donald Trump’s press secretary.
LEGEND IN FRANCE
Long after his celebrity faded at home, Lewis was wildly popular in France, where he was hailed as “le Roi du Crazy” (the king of crazy) and inducted into the Legion of Honor, France’s highest award, in 1984. He received a similar honor in 2006.
He explained his popularity in France, by saying: “The French are very visually oriented even though they are cerebral. They enjoy what they see and laugh. Then, later, they ask why.”
Lewis acknowledged that he elicited either love or hate from audiences - and little in between.
“When Jerry Lewis is funny on screen, I swear to God I laugh louder than anyone,” he said. “... When he’s not, he’s the worst there is.”
Lewis, born Joseph Levitch on March 16, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey, started on upstate New York’s Borscht Belt comedy circuit as a singer at age 5.
He first teamed with the debonair Martin in 1946 while they were performing in an Atlantic City, New Jersey, nightclub - Martin as a singer and Lewis as a comic.
A makeshift memorial appears for late comedian, actor and legendary entertainer Jerry Lewis around his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, California, U.S. August 20, 2017. REUTERS/Kyle Grillot
Their largely improvised act, with Lewis making wild comic forays into the audience, was an immediate hit. Their 1950 movie debut, “My Friend Irma,” was followed by “My Friend Irma Goes West” the next year.
Their relationship soured, however, and by the time they made their last movie together, “Hollywood or Bust,” they reportedly were not speaking. They parted after a 1956 nightclub show, 10 years to the day after they first teamed.
The split reportedly stemmed from personality conflicts and Lewis’ interest in producing and directing movies. Others attributed it to Lewis’ ego and need for control, as well as a desire for approval from the often-remote Martin.
They reunited in 1976 when Sinatra brought Martin onstage during the muscular dystrophy telethon and they remained friends until Martin’s 1995 death.
Since Martin died, “not a day has passed that Jerry did not think of Dean,” Cazau told Reuters.
In 1960, Lewis made his movie directorial debut with “The Bellboy” and starred in the storybook parody “Cinderfella.” Three years later, he starred in his most popular movie, the self-directed “Nutty Professor,” playing a nerdy academic who makes a potion that turns him into the obnoxiously hip Buddy Love.
TELETHONS
Lewis became closely associated with his annual Labor Day telethon to benefit children with muscular dystrophy. He first started doing telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1952 before retiring from the job in 2011.
Cazau said that from their inception in 1966 his Labor Day telethons had raised $2.45 billion over some 45 years.
Cazau also said Lewis had been planning to make onstage appearances over the next few months, in New York, and in Las Vegas next year. “He was not a quitter,” she said.
Producers of a remake of the 1970s comedy “Animal House,” were planning to come to Las Vegas for a day so Lewis could have a role in that film, she said.
Lewis had a movie revival in 1982, winning acclaim as an arrogant talk show host kidnapped by an obsessed fan in “The King of Comedy.” He scored another late-career triumph with his 1995 Broadway debut in a revival of “Damn Yankees” and appeared in the film “Funny Bones” that same year.
Slideshow (12 Images)
“Jerry Lewis was a master. He was a giant. He was an innovator. He was a great entertainer,” said Martin Scorsese, his director in “The King of Comedy.”
Lewis was beset for years by numerous ailments, including heart attacks, an inflammatory lung disorder and chronic back pain caused by pratfalls earlier in his career.
Lewis had homes in Las Vegas and San Diego. He had six sons with singer Patti Palmer, including Gary of the rock group Gary Lewis and the Playboys. After a divorce, Lewis married SanDee Pitnick in 1983, with whom he adopted a daughter.We believe that what's good for students is good for everyone: schools, employers, community, and other students! That’s why we not only help students find jobs and internships, but also offer scholarships to help fund their education. AfterCollege has awarded more than $1,000,000 in scholarships and student activities through our program to date.
As a job and internship resource, our scholarships are for students who demonstrate professionalism and effectively communicate how they will be exemplary candidates in their field. This means that we evaluate applicants with the eye of a hiring manager, so: watch your grammar, check your spelling, put your best accomplishments forward and you may get paid for thinking about your future!
Eligibility requirements:
- Open to currently enrolled students in an accredited program, working toward a degree (AA, AS, BA, BS, MA, MS, MFA, PhD, MD, JD, etc.) in any discipline
- Minimum 2.5 GPA
How To Apply (Please Read Carefully and Completely):
Click the blue “Apply” button on this page (after you finish reading the directions completely).
A pop-up will prompt you to either create or update your AfterCollege profile, which serves as your scholarship application. Complete your profile step-by-step in the pop-up window. You can edit your profile as much as you'd like until the deadline.
The scholarship committee will review applicants' profiles to determine the scholarship recipient.
1. Edit Your Personal Details: This is where you’ll enter your personal statement, which is the main criteria used to determine the scholarship recipient. We look for a succinct but impactful, resume-style personal statement that describes your goals and the value that you bring in an academic and/or professional context (200 words or less). You also have the option to upload an introductory video here, if you choose.
2. Edit Your Education: Provide your school, major, graduation date and GPA.
3. Edit Your Work Experience: We don’t expect all students to have relevant work experience yet, but part-time jobs, internships and volunteer positions can help demonstrate your character, skills and strengths.
4. Edit Your Honors, Awards, And Scholarships: Showcase what you’ve already accomplished.
5. Edit Your Skills And Languages: Enter your Hard Skills (specific skills, like expertise in specific programs, typing speed, special certifications or licenses), Soft Skills (general skills, like communication, networking or time management) and any languages you speak.
6. Hit “Apply Now” to check out your profile to make sure you’re happy with it. Feel free to go the extra mile by uploading a picture or linking to samples of your work or projects.
More details on making a great AfterCollege Profile:
http://blog.aftercollege.com/2013/create-ridiculously-good-looking-aftercollege-profile/
Official Scholarship Rules:
http://www.aftercollege.com/content/article/scholarship_official_rules/What words come to mind when you hear the word Prada? Could it be fashion, luxury…chocobos? Be sure to add that last one to your list.
Square Enix has teamed up with the Italian clothing brand to turn some of its recent characters into fashion models. Characters from Final Fantasy XIII and XIII-2 games such as Lightning, Snow, and Sazh will showcase Prada’s 2012 Spring and Summer men’s collection in the next issue of Arena Homme+ fashion magazine.
“I’ve always been interested by the power of videogames and their place in society, and the amount of work that’s gone into this project blows my mind,” editor of Arena Homme+ Max Pearmain said. “We’re incredibly pleased with the result.”
The character models were developed by Square Enix’s world leading Visual Works studio in Japan. They will be featured in a 12-page spread in the magazine out April 12.It's been a long day, battling with a raging cold + year-end accounting stuff, and was lucky enough to be stuck in a parking lot for 30 mins. because my building shares a plaza with both a Best Buy + a BJ's. Couldn't care less because my Secret Santa gift came!!!! AND IT'S AMAZING!!!! (You're all jealous of my haul, it's OK - I'll give you a moment to gaze in awe).
It's their first time, and they 100% knocked it out of the park. Santa - on behalf of all future giftees, PLEASE KEEP PARTICIPATING!!! =D
To start with, I'm venturing more and more into outdoorsy-stuff and am looking to challenge myself, so an emergency kit is def. something I need. I got an emergency blanket, water purification tablets, 15' paracord, jelly bean energy jelly beans, and a nifty pack to carry it in.
My Santa ALSO snooped through my wishlist and got me two DVDs I desperately wanted - The Revolution one especially as I'm 95% confident I'll recognize some people from my re-enactments. =)
Thanks Santa!!CIA Concludes Russian Interference Aimed To Elect Trump
Enlarge this image Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
Updated at 1:49 p.m. ET Saturday with confirmation from the U.S. official and comments from Sen. Ron Wyden
Updated at 3:20 p.m. ET Saturday with comments from Sen. Angus King
The CIA has concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 election specifically to help Donald Trump win the presidency, a U.S. official has confirmed to NPR.
"Before, there was confidence about the fact that Russia interfered," the official says. "But there was low confidence on what the direction and intentionality of the interference was. Now they [the CIA] have come to the conclusion that Russia was trying to tip the election to Trump."
The official adds: "The reason the assessment changed is that new information became available" since Oct. 7, when the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence released a joint statement accusing Russia of interfering with the American election process.
The Washington Post first reported the CIA's new assessment on Friday.
In addition to hacking into Democratic organizations, Russians hacked the Republican National Committee's computer systems, according to a separate report from The New York Times — but they did not release any information that might have been retrieved from Republican networks.
"Intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, according to U.S. officials," the Post reports. "Those officials described the individuals as actors known to the intelligence community and part of a wider Russian operation to boost Trump and hurt Clinton's chances."
Citing anonymous officials briefed on the issue, the Post says the CIA shared its findings with senators in a closed-door briefing last week, saying it was now "quite clear" that Russia's goal was to tip the presidency in Trump's favor:
" 'It is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia's goal here was to favor one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected,' said a senior U.S. official briefed on an intelligence presentation made to U.S. senators. 'That's the consensus view.' "
In a previous assessment, CIA officials had thought Russians intervened with the intention of undermining Americans' electoral system, Adam Entous, one of the Post story's reporters, tells NPR's Scott Simon.
On Friday evening, the Trump transition team fired back with a statement dismissing the report of the agency's conclusion.
"These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction," the statement said. "The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It's now time to move on and 'Make America Great Again.' "
In fact, Trump's percentage of the electoral vote in the 2016 election ranks 46th among presidential election winners in U.S. history, according to factcheck.org.
Trump's claim is a reference to the CIA's flawed intelligence on Iraq, in the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. The CIA and other spy agencies judged that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction — a judgment that proved to be false. While the leadership of the CIA has changed hands several times in the years since then, many intelligence officers and analysts who worked on the Iraq intelligence still serve at CIA and in other parts of the U.S. intelligence community.
But whether or not Trump's top officials acknowledge the report as a possible threat, the Post's Adam Entous points out Trump will soon be in command of the intelligence agencies.
"I'm sure they're going to declassify some elements of the report and I'm sure there will be leaks," he adds, but the Obama administration can't disclose the full details of the case, because it would be "compromising what's known as'sources and methods,' which would then make it harder for the CIA and the NSA and other spy agencies to get more information in the future."
Earlier Friday, President Obama ordered the intelligence community to conduct a "full review" of "malicious cyber activity" timed to U.S. elections, as we previously reported:
"In the 2016 election, U.S. intelligence officials charged that Russia had interfered. In early October, they released a strongly worded statement saying they were 'confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from U.S. persons and institutions, including from U.S. political organizations.' The statement went on to say 'these thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the U.S. election process.' "
The U.S. official says that "there is a determination to do something" before the Obama administration leaves power. "It's still being discussed exactly what to do. And as we've said before, some of it you may see and some of it you will not."
Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, says the response from President-elect Donald Trump is "very misguided."
"When you have strong evidence that a foreign power has interfered with the American election, with American institutions, then what you do is keep digging. You get all the facts out," Wyden says. "You respond to the American people with the kind of information that they have a right to know."
He also advocates releasing more information on the cyberattacks.
"I do believe there is important information that the American people have a right to know. It ought to be declassified promptly."
"It's very important that the American public knows what happened, not necessarily to re-litigate this election, but to look forward," says Sen. Angus King, an independent senator from Maine. "What worries me is the extent to which this is an ongoing pattern — which, by the way, is the Russians' pattern in other parts of the world.
"And is that going to be the case in our elections? Four years from now, are we going to have the Democrats, the Republicans, the independents and the Russians?" King asks. "I mean, this is very serious stuff."Manchester United’s stars were left angry at the obvious booing of Marouane Fellaini on Sunday.
The Belgian is thought to have been consoled in the Old Trafford dressing room after thousands of supporters were heard jeering his introduction as a late substitute during the 1-0 win over Tottenham.
Dissenting voices could be heard as Fellaini warmed up along the touchline minutes before in a direct response to his kamikaze cameo at Everton the week prior.
Marouane Fellaini was booed by some Manchester United fans as he warmed up on Sunday
Phil Jones revealed the United squad were not happy with his treatment. The defender sighed and said: ‘It is disappointing but he is a strong boy. He is mentally strong to cope with that don't worry.
‘We know what he is good at and he has to carry on. That's what he is there to do. He does a good job for us. He has to put it aside.’
Jose Mourinho dedicated United’s first home Premier League win since September to the central midfielder - but did maintain fans have a right to vocalise their displeasure.
Fellaini came on in injury-time as United beat Tottenham 1-0 at Old Trafford in the league
After the match, Phil Jones said the booing by the United faithful was 'disappointing'
The Portuguese offered Fellaini a show of faith by bringing him on just days after his mistake at Goodison Park cost United three points.
‘In the last match, it was him that was involved in the loss of two points, and that's why I want to make it clear he is an important player for me,’ Mourinho said.
‘The fans can do what they want and they have been phenomenal with us. I just have to thank them for everything they are giving us, especially in the period where we are not giving them too much so I am really happy with them.
‘They can also be big critics, and the point was that they have in their mind the mistake that Marouane did at Everton. He is a player that I like. He will always have my protection.A young woman named Amy recently enjoyed a relaxing day in the Pensacola area. She took a walk on the beach, read a book in the sand, snapped pictures of her friends at Fort Pickens, and took a lazy canoe ride. She had a glass of wine with her dinner and went out to a bar with some friends. For most people, the total cost of the day’s activities might be a hundred dollars or two. Amy, however, rang up a bill of over $270,000.
Amy’s day out was chronicled in a commercial for Visit Pensacola produced by Nashville-based BOHAN Advertising, which won a three-year contract last June to handle the area’s marketing. The marketing budget, which combines the resources of Visit Pensacola, the Perdido Key Chamber of Commerce and the Pensacola Sports Association, totals $5.7 million for the current fiscal year and is funded primarily by bed tax revenue.
“This unified marketing program is really good for us,” BOHAN’s Brian Kilpatrick told the Pensacola City Council in March, “and it’s more important now than ever so that we can compete in a very crowded marketplace.” He said their research had indicated the area’s combination of scenic beauty and unique offerings was “a space we could own.”
After months of development, BOHAN launched the tourism campaign last month with the tagline, “Loved by Explorers. Since 1559.” The campaign’s 30-second TV commercial (“Pensacola. Explored by Amy.”) is embedded below, and it’s a great ad by all accounts |
not going to vote for... I never vote for a corporatist or a militarist, I never vote for Wall Street over Washington or wars of aggression by candidates who even scare our generals."
Guest
Ralph Nader, former Green Party candidate for president and author of “Unstoppable: The Emerging Left/Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State." He tweets @RalphNader.Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin insists the club will not part with their attacking star for less than 30 million euros.
Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Sergei Palkin has confirmed that Borussia Dortmund has made a 23 million euros bid for attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan The Armenian star has long been liked with a move to Premier League outfit Liverpool, with Brendan Rodgers including the player in his plans for a 42 million pound summer spending spree. Dortmund has now leaped to the front of the queue for his signature by tabling a bid for his services, but Palkin has stressed that Shakhtar will accept nothing less than 30 million euros for the 24-year-old, even though he failed to turn out for preseason training.
“I don’t know where Mkhitaryan is, now. Solely his agent knows this," Palkin told Terrikon. "Borussia offered 23 million euros for the midfielder. I contacted Mkhitaryan’s agent yesterday. I wrote to him about the official position of the club.
"We are prepared to sell Mkhitaryan for 30 million euros this offer stands for the next 10 days. If Mkhitaryan wishes to leave, they have to pay this amount for him."Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Wednesday accused members of Congress of failing to properly address cybersecurity issues or fund related efforts.
“I have been very public in my displeasure with the Congress,” McAuliffe said. “We don’t even have a committee [in] Congress today on cybersecurity. It is spread through many different committees — nobody will give up jurisdiction to come together.”
A number of committees in both chambers deal with cyber, including those with oversight of the Homeland Security and Defense departments.
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McAuliffe, who has prioritized cybersecurity as chairman of the National Governors Association (NGA), said that he has visited lawmakers in both chambers to press them “to get their act together on cybersecurity" and "put all the partisanship aside."
The Virginia governor made the comments at a cybersecurity conference hosted by the website FedScoop and software company VMware in Alexandria, Va.
During the event he also complained of a lack of funding for cybersecurity, again taking aim at lawmakers for repeatedly passing short-term continuing resolutions to fund the government.
He said more money is needed for state-level initiatives to boost innovation and spur job creation in the cybersecurity field.
“We need more adequate funding to do what we need to do. We can’t do that individually in the states,” McAuliffe said.
McAuliffe in his role leading the NGA is working to get all 50 states to abide by basic minimum protocols on cybersecurity to protect the data of their businesses and citizens.
He said that states would be assessed on their adherence to these protocols at a meeting of the association this summer. Those that do not adhere to these protocols that are successfully attacked in cyberspace will pay a “political price,” he warned.
“If you as a governor get hacked and your state businesses or your citizens get information taken from them and you have not done the basic protocols, you will pay a very bad political price. In addition, it will hurt your state,” McAuliffe said.
The Virginia governor described cyber intrusions as “the biggest threat that faces the United States of America.”The Boston Red Sox are unlikely to sign free agent Brian McCann with the prevalent opinion around baseball being the catcher will end up with the Yankees, reports Rob Bradford of WEEI.com.
One general manager in particular told Bradford straight up that McCann "is going to end up with the Yankees". The Red Sox, oft-mentioned in McCann rumors, have been hesitant to offer as big a contract as he is rumored to be seeking.
Both the Yankees and Red Sox are likely to receive three sandwich picks apiece in the 2014 draft as both teams are poised to potentially lose three free agents who turned down qualifying offers. Thus, the two teams are not as concerned about giving up their usual first round draft pick to sign McCann, who turned down a qualifying offer from the Braves.
While the Red Sox remain interested in McCann, they have turned their attention to other free agent catchers like Carlos Ruiz, A.J. Pierzynski and their own free agent Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
The Yankees used Chris Stewart as their primary catcher in 2013 with Francisco Cervelli missing much of the year due to injuries and a suspension related to Biogenesis. Stewart hit for just a 566 OPS over 109 games.
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• Why do the Braves need a new stadium?
• Death of a Ballplayer: Wrongly convicted prospect spends 27 years in prisonUniversal’s “Unfriended” and Sony’s “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2″ are providing respectable challenges to box office colossus “Furious 7,” each heading for an opening weekend as high as $18 million, according to early estimates Friday.
The micro-budgeted “Unfriended,” which expands to 2,739 North American theaters, is outperforming recent tracking of about $12 million. The chiller scared up between $6 million and $7 million Friday — easily making back its $1 million budget.
Meanwhile, U’s “Furious 7″ will top the chart in its third weekend out of the gate with $8 million on Friday for a weekend around $26 million, marking a 56% decline. Estimates showed the tentpole, which cost nearly 200 times as much as “Unfriended,” will cross the $290 million mark by the end of the weekend.
Box office forecasts have pegged “Blart 2″ on track to debut with about $5 million Friday to finish in the $15 million to $18 million range this weekend when it opens at 3,629 theaters — far less than the $31.8 million to which the original opened in 2009.
“Unfriended” has scored with critics, garnering a 66% “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes while “Blart 2” has struck out with a rare 0% rating. Kevin James returns as the enforcer, with Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison label producing the $30 million film.
Disney’s nature drama “Monkey Kingdom,” narrated by Tina Fey, is opening in line with forecasts with a $2 million Friday at 2,012 theaters and should do $6 million for the weekend.New Houses Cost More & Plots Of Land Are Smaller Than In The 1970s
Owning a home has always been part of the American dream.
While even relatively wealthy Europeans often have no choice but to rent a cramped apartment, Americans of all backgrounds and creeds—rich or poor—have traditionally had the opportunity to own their own home.
And this has been an overwhelmingly positive thing for American society.
Home ownership breeds personal responsibility, independence, and stronger communities—people have a personal stake in their neighborhoods.
Homes also enable large, healthy families, and tend to foster a respect for private property.
It’s no coincidence that neighborhoods with a high proportion of renters generally suffer from maintenance neglect, and are less desirable overall—people naturally care more about their own stuff than their landlord’s.
But this is all changing.
Home ownership in America is declining.
Why?
Homes are becoming prohibitively expensive.
This is especially hurting millennials, who are increasingly locked out of home ownership in the neighborhoods, even cities, where they grew up.
Let’s look at the numbers.
Homes Are 73% More Expensive Today Than They Were In 1973
Homes are more expensive in 2017 than they were in any previous decade in recent memory.
In 1973 the median household income was $9,265—doesn’t sound like a lot, does it? But that’s because of something called inflation, which increases the nominal (numeric) value of money every year.
In real terms (what you can buy with the money), people in 1973 were actually very well off.
Consider that the median sales price of a new home in January, 1973, was only $29,900—3.2 times the median household income. In other words, if the median family saved up every penny earned, and put it towards a new home, it would take just over three years to buy a brand new house.
This held relatively steady for the next decade. In 1985, new home prices crept up a little, to 3.7 times the median household income.
It was during the 1990s and 2000s that home prices began to skyrocket towards where they are today.
In January 2017 the median sales price for a new home was $317,400, which is 5.6 times the median household income of $56,516.
All told, houses are 73% more expensive today, in real terms, than they were in 1973.
Higher housing costs impact real people—they’re the primary reason America’s middle class is shrinking.
The adjacent graph shows the mean average, and median US household after-tax expenditures, using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: blue is discretionary spending, red is shelter costs (this is an aggregate of mortgage payments, rent etc. for American households).
You can clearly see that discretionary spending increased steadily between 1934 and 1985—this was real economic progress, since people could spend more of their income on wants, as opposed to needs.
However, this progress stopped in the 1990s.
When we look at the median family (which removes the distortions caused by the super-rich), we find that household discretionary spending actually began decreasing.
And what took its place? Spending on shelter. On housing.
Higher housing prices are squeezing most Americans—costs have risen so dramatically that the average American household is worse off, in real terms, than they were decades ago.
New Home Plots Are Smaller Today Than In 1976
But it’s not just about costs, we have to consider what you get for your money—as it turns out, the average lot for a new home is smaller today than at any point in recent history.
The US Census started tracking the median lot size (in square feet) for new home construction in 1976. During that year, the average lot was 10,125 square feet. In 2015, it’s only 8,600—the smallest on record.
So not only are houses getting more expensive, but we’re getting less land as well.
In the interest of fairness, I’ll also point out that the median new home is larger, in terms of square footage, than older homes as well—so it’s not a total loss.
Although personal experience leads me to believe that the new homes, while larger, are also of poorer quality. For example, the wood used in framing is flimsy pine, the roofs generally need repairs sooner, and there’s simply no substitute for the old copper piping.
Why Are Houses So Expensive?
Houses are unequivocally more expensive today, in real terms, than they used to be.
Why?
It comes down to simply supply and demand: the supply of homes is relatively inelastic, since it takes years to build new neighborhoods (mostly due to legal impediments). Likewise, demand has been steadily increasing.
This is because American property is being gobbled up by foreigners looking for secure Western investments, or wealthy immigrants looking to settle in America’s big cities—these concentrated investments ripple throughout the entire property market.
Foreign investors have been buying up over $100 billion in US property every year, because they deem it a relatively safe investment—this constitutes over 8% of all US sales. And remember, these investments are concentrated in major cities, and therefore inflate local prices much more than 8%.
Additionally, immigration also inflates the housing market.
A good example that’s been studied recently is the property market in Vancouver, Canada. There, Chinese multi-millionaire immigrants accounted for one-third of all new home sales.
The case is similar with Chinese immigration to San Francisco, or Russians in London. In fact, immigration is fueling housing prices throughout the Western world.
In the US, it’s even worse, since we not only have one of the highest legal immigration rates in the world, but we also have a massive illegal immigrant population—all people, whether here legally or illegally, need to live somewhere, and therefore distort America’s housing market.
Increased competition for a scarce resource (housing), increases its price. No surprise there.
Either way, the result’s the same: many American citizens can no longer afford homes.
This is bad for our people, and our nation.It has been almost precisely six months since Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States. Over that period, he’s made three trips overseas, spent 41 nights sleeping somewhere besides the White House and tallied 701 hours at his properties outside the nation’s capital.
We scoured White House pool reports since Jan. 20 to account for every single minute that President Trump spent in D.C., traveling to or from the White House and visiting other locations. Broken down by month, it looks like this.
The sole trip west of the Mississippi was to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in late June.
Trump has spent more than 3,100 hours in D.C., more than four times the amount of time he’s spent at properties that are part of his business empire outside of D.C. He’s spent the equivalent of about 29 days at his own properties.
In total, Trump’s been in D.C. for nearly three-quarters of his time in office. He’s spent about 16 percent of that time at his personal properties. He’s also spent about 4 percent of his entire time in office on Air Force One, Marine One or motorcading between locations.
Note that this time spent at his own properties excludes his hotel in D.C. itself, which is included in the overall figure for time spent in D.C. He’s visited a Trump property for all or part of 53 days since he took office. This includes days on which he traveled to, say, Mar-a-Lago, arriving late in the evening.
On 31 days, we estimate that he has played golf. The White House rarely admits when Trump has played a round, hence the estimate.
Of the 181 nights he’s been president, he’s spent 140 of them at the White House. He’s spent another 28 at his own properties — the equivalent of the entire month of February.
So far, this month is the one during which Trump has spent the least time in Washington. Only 44.6 percent of July has been spent within the District’s boundaries.
But precisely six months from the moment he took office, Trump was indeed at the White House, only a few blocks northwest of where he officially became president.The Bible often speaks of the importance of faith in knowing God. For example, Ephesians 2:8 teaches, "For by grace you have been saved through faith." First Corinthians 13:13 adds, "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." But why does God require faith?One way to answer why God requires faith is because He is our Heavenly Father. Our relationship to Him is similar to other relationships in the sense that it includes trust in the other person, time together, love, and respect. Because we cannot fully know another person, let alone an infinite God, all relationships require some degree of faith (trust). God is our Father and it takes faith to believe that He loves us and that He provides for our needs.Faith is also important because God is not visible to humanity. Hebrews 11:1 teaches, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." We cannot see God (John 1:18). However, we have faith in Him that provides assurance.Faith is necessary to please God. Hebrews 11:6 notes, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." Not only does faith please God, it leads to reward—eternal life, heavenly rewards, and experience of fullness of life on earth (John 10:10).Faith is important in order for believers to obey the Lord. For example, Adam and Eve had been given a command—to not eat from a particular fruit (Genesis 2:15-17). Because their faith wavered regarding this command, they ate the forbidden fruit and sinned. Contrastingly, James 2:23 shares, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."God requires faith because it allows humans the ability to choose or reject Him. Without the ability to make choices, humanity would cease to be human as we know it. Because people can choose to have faith or not to have faith, there is a way for God to know those who have believed in Him and those who have not.Faith in God is not "blind faith" as some argue. Instead, it is a choice based on the available information. The Bible, the created world, the changed lives of believers, Jesus Christ, and other ways God operates in our world provide sufficient evidence for people to choose faith in God. As Jesus taught in Luke 16:31, "If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead."Are the polls skewed?
More and more Democrats appear to be worried that they are.
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Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpREAD: Cohen testimony alleges Trump knew Stone talked with WikiLeaks about DNC emails Trump urges North Korea to denuclearize ahead of summit Venezuela's Maduro says he fears 'bad' people around Trump MORE is within the margin of error of Democrat Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonREAD: Cohen testimony alleges Trump knew Stone talked with WikiLeaks about DNC emails County GOP in Minnesota shares image comparing Sanders to Hitler Holder: 'Time to make the Electoral College a vestige of the past' MORE in the preponderance of battleground states, and Republicans are suddenly rallying behind him, filling Democrats with anxiety that the vote count could deviate from the polls and produce a Trump victory.
Asked if she bought into the theory that the polls are wrong and Trump might actually be ahead, Democratic strategist Christy Setzer responded: “I do, unfortunately.”
She pointed to Clinton’s decision to advertise in the state of Michigan, which had seemed to be safely out of reach for Trump.
“Look no further than the campaign's travel schedule and ad buys to see where they're worried — battleground states that seemed so out of reach for Trump, Clinton stopped advertising in them...and now are on the airwaves again,” Setzer said.
Partisans on both sides of the aisle are sifting through mountains of late-breaking data, looking for evidence that pollsters are erring in their analyses or underestimating one candidate’s support.
Clinton is the favorite heading into Election Day.
While she holds a small lead nationally, the battleground map that gives her some breathing room.
Trump, on the other hand, must run the table on states Mitt Romney won in 2012 – no easy feat, as Arizona, Georgia and North Carolina look like toss-ups. He must also pull an upset victory in a state where Clinton is favored, such as in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, or Nevada.
Trump argues that polls are too heavily weighted in favor of Democrats.
His concerns have been echoed by some Republicans who say that surveys may be overestimating turnout among minority voters, potentially leading Clinton to underperform on Election Day. They also argue that working class white voters who have never before voted might turn out for Trump, potentially boosting him to a surprise victory.
Most experts, however, believe the Clinton turnout machine will be the great equalizer and that talk of a “silent majority” for Trump is fantasy.
They note that in 2012, the polls underestimated President Obama’s support.
Obama and Romney entered Election Day in 2012 separated by only about 1 point in the national polls. Obama cruised to victory by nearly 4 points.
Some Democrats believe that the polls may actually be skewed against Clinton, arguing that Trump’s rhetoric is sending Hispanics to the polls in record numbers in states like Nevada, Florida and North Carolina – all of which are must-win states for Trump.
“A huge amount of attention has been lavished on Trump's ‘missing white’ supporters,” liberal writer Greg Sargent tweeted Friday. “But missing nonwhite voters could matter more. Irony: The very things Trump does to activate ‘missing white voters’ could actually activate missing *nonwhite* ones.”
The Clinton campaign held a conference call with reporters on Friday claiming it had built an insurmountable early-voting lead in Nevada, Florida and North Carolina based on Hispanics turning out in record numbers for the Democrat.
Polls show Florida and North Carolina are toss-ups, with Trump holding a 2-point advantage in Nevada, according to the RealClearPolitics average.
But many Democrats believe Clinton’s Hispanic support is being underestimated in those states, pointing to a stunning CNN-ORC survey of Nevada released this week that found Trump ahead by 6 points.
That poll attracted scrutiny for not breaking out the number of Hispanics that were surveyed, leading some to suspect they had not polled a large enough sample of Latinos in a state where a more than a quarter of the population is Hispanic.
CNN-ORC does not release cross-tabs for a demographic if the margin of error for the group is greater than 9 points.
Democrats also believe they’re being underestimated in Florida, where more Hispanics have already cast ballots in 2016 than did in the entirety of 2012.
Republicans are skeptical that these are all new voters, arguing instead that the Clinton campaign is merely cannibalizing its Election Day turnout.
“We’ll see Tuesday, but I think there is more evidence that she is having a very difficult time replicating the Obama coalition,” said GOP pollster Robert Blizzard. “She’ll do better with higher educated white voters, but among millenials and minorities — they’ll still vote overwhelming for her, but their composition might be smaller than it was four years ago.”
Meanwhile, Democrats are skeptical about claims that Trump’s support is being underestimated.
There is no evidence that masses of uncounted white voters — either voting for the first time or ashamed to tell pollsters they support Trump — will suddenly materialize on Election Day, Democrats say.
They point to a study from The Upshot’s Nate Cohn that found there has been no surge in white voters since 2012. Rather, the white voters who have joined the voting pool are younger and more likely to support Clinton, the analysis found.
“This year, Mr. Trump’s gains among missing white voters aren’t likely to be even enough to overcome four years of demographic shifts, let alone form the basis of a lasting political coalition,” Cohn wrote
“According to these data, it’s Mrs. Clinton — not Mr. Trump — who stands to gain from a surge of new voters.”
And a Morning Consult survey found that Trump is pulling the same amount of support in live telephone surveys as he is in anonymous internet polls, which would seem to undermine claims made by some Republicans that GOP voters are being underestimated because they’re ashamed to tell pollsters they’ll vote for Trump.
There are some sub-groups where Trump performs better in online polls rather than live surveys — those with a college degree earning more than $50,000 a year, for instance — but it is not meaningful enough to swing the election, the study found.
Still, pollster John Zogby said that if ever there would be a year the polls came out wrong, it would be 2016.
“There’s too much volatility here with undecided voters choosing between two candidates they don’t like,” Zogby said.
That will keep Democrats on edge until votes are counted.
One top Democratic donor acknowledged feeling some queasiness.
“I have always viewed polls to be unreliable as you have to look at overall pathways to 270,” the donor said.
That’s where Democrats are taking solace, believing their superior ground game will ensure turnout is inline with the polls on Election Day.
“This election feels a bit more like 2008 — not in the hope and change excitement, but that Clinton’s ground game and organization was best in class,” the donor said.The votes are in for Right Wing Watch readers’ Equine Posterior Achievement Award, and by a whopping margin this year’s winner is Ted Cruz. With 57.4% of the vote, Cruz easily triumphed over competitors like Michele Bachmann, Pat Robertson and Glenn Beck.
And the achievement is well deserved, considering all of the stunts from Cruz we had to put up with last year.
After triggering the government shutdown over Obamacare, he seems to be the only person in America who actually believes that President Obama and congressional Democrats were responsible for the battle, with Republican leaders admitting that Cruz and his ultraconservative allies were responsible for the disastrous shutdown. During his faux-filibuster of the health care reform law, Cruz held himself in such high regard that he even compared himself to soldiers in World War II who suffered through the Bataan Death March.
Cruz in the end failed to derail Obamacare, and was only able to damage the economy, flub basic Senate rules, grow his fundraising list and become the star of a children’s coloring book. Many of his GOP colleagues in the Senate also took Cruz to task for his role in the disastrous shutdown.
With a penchant for conspiracy theories, Cruz was literally laughed at for his claim about the government creating a “national gun registry” and mocked for invoking fears about the alleged dangers of Agenda 21.
While none of this shouldn’t come as a surprise as he campaigned for the Senate against the imagined threat of Sharia law and a George Soros plot to eliminate golf courses and paved roads, other remarks have been more chilling, like when he wondered if Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel took money from North Korea and called the families who lost loved ones in the Newtown massacre “political props.”
Cruz received a hero’s welcome at the Values Voter Summit, one of the biggest conservative gatherings, where attendees loved him so much that one called out to tell him that God is on his side during the shutdown fight.
Well-versed in the Religious Right’s “play-the-victim” rhetoric, Cruz even joked about the White House attempting to kidnap him. Cruz also joined smaller Religious Right events where he urged activists to pray against marriage equality and told the Christian Broadcasting Network that gay rights will lead to the end of free speech.
Right-wing activists love Cruz so much that he has been compared to Ronald Reagan, Vaclav Havel and the Prophet Elijah, and even birthers are lining up behind the Canadian-born Senator.
Congratulations, Sen. Cruz!
Judging by your record, you will probably win the Equine Posterior Achievement Award in 2014 too.FERGUSON, Mo. (Reuters) - The shooting of two police officers during a protest rally in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked an intense manhunt for suspects on Thursday and ratcheted up tensions in a city at the center of a national debate over race and policing.
U.S. President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder condemned the attack on the officers, who were treated at a local hospital and released. Hours after the shooting, police said they were questioning an undisclosed number of people following a raid on a home in the St. Louis suburb.
“What happened last night was a pure ambush,” Holder said at a press conference. “This was not someone who was trying to bring healing to Ferguson, this was a damn punk.”
With organizers vowing more protests on Thursday night, St. Louis County police and the state’s Highway Patrol will take over security from the local force at any demonstrations.
Security was similarly stepped up after rioting erupted in November, when a grand jury brought no charges against a white officer who shot a black teenager to death, an incident that touched off a national wave of demonstrations.
Since 18-year-old Michael Brown’s killing in August, protesters have rallied regularly in Ferguson, where tensions between African-Americans and a mostly white police force have smoldered for years.
Thursday’s shooting left a 41-year-old St. Louis County Police officer with a shoulder wound and a 32-year-old officer from nearby Webster Groves Police Department with a bullet lodged near his ear, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said.
The incident unfolded while protesters were gathered at Ferguson police headquarters to demand more changes in the wake of the resignation of its long-criticized police chief, Tom Jackson, who quit a week after the release of a scathing U.S. Justice Department report that found his force was rife with racial bias.
In one video taken at the chaotic scene, a witness can be heard commenting, “Acknowledgement nine months ago would have kept that from happening.”
Investigators wasted no time in bringing people in for questioning. A law enforcement team in tactical gear surrounded and swarmed a home near the scene of the shooting, and television images showed officers breaking through the roof with heavy tools.
Shawn McGuire, a St. Louis County police spokesman, would not confirm media reports that two men and a woman were led away in handcuffs but he said people were taken in for questioning. There were no arrests so far, he said.
Belmar said authorities had possible leads, and said the shooter used a handgun and shell casings had been recovered. Two Missouri congressman offered a $3,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Police officers respond to a fellow officer hit by gunfire outside the Ferguson Police Headquarters in Ferguson, Missouri March 12, 2015. REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant/St. Louis American
The shooting came less than three months after a man ambushed two New York City patrolmen, seeking to avenge the killings of Brown and an unarmed black man in New York.
The White House sent a Tweet that read: “Violence against police is unacceptable,” a message echoed by Brown’s family. “We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement,” they said in a statement.
Police and protesters appeared to disagree about where the shots originated. Belmar, who said police did not return fire, asserted the gunfire came from the middle of the crowd.
“I don’t know who did the shooting,... but somehow they were embedded in that group of folks,” Belmar said.
Protesters at the scene insisted the shots came from further away.
“The shooter was not with the protesters. The shooter was atop the hill,” activist DeRay McKesson said on Twitter.
Jackson, the police chief, was the latest in a string of Ferguson officials who have quit after the Justice Department report, which found the city used police as a collection agency, issuing traffic citations to black residents to boost its coffers. Activists want the city mayor, James Knowles, to step down as well.
Slideshow (16 Images)
Organizers from several St. Louis-area religious, legal and community groups, condemned the shooting but said they would press ahead with street protests.
“We deplore all forms of violence,” said Rev Osagyefo Sekou, who was in the crowd when shots rang out. “But we also deplore the findings of the Department of Justice report and the suffering and the misery that this community has endured.”
The shooting reignited a long-running debate over race and policing that has sporadically flared on social media since Brown’s killing. Among the popular Twitter hashtags was #bluelivesmatter, a play to the #blacklivesmatter slogan popularized by Ferguson protesters.
“A police officer can get away with killing someone on video. Black ppl are often blamed for crimes they didn’t commit. But #BlueLivesMatter,” read a Tweet from Keziyah Lewis.Dan Morales wants Texas to reopen its multibillion-dollar tobacco litigation, suggesting the state might be able to claim all or some of the $3.2 billion awarded to outside attorneys in that case.
So far, nobody seems to be listening.
At another time in the former state attorney general’s career, this would be the stuff of packed news conferences, lights, cameras and headlines. He was part of a generation of elected Texas Democrats who once appeared to be on their way to the offices that are instead occupied exclusively by their Republican contemporaries. He was a star, a former legislator elected statewide in 1990, re-elected in 1994 and basking, at his peak, in the sort of attention today’s statewide officials attract.
But Morales fell, and fell hard. He pleaded guilty in 2003 to charges of filing a false tax return and mail fraud, and admitted to altering and forging government records to benefit himself and others. He did prison time, lost his law license and watched his promising political career blow away.
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Instead of carrying instant credibility, he has become one of those people who walk into law offices and newsrooms hoping to generate some interest in their boxes of documents and complicated stories about things gone awry.
One problem is that his tale hinges on documents sealed by federal court order. Morales, as attorney general, hired a gang of prominent trial lawyers to sue big tobacco companies, alleging that their products had done billions in damage to the health of Texans who had to be treated, at taxpayer expense, through Medicaid.
To make a long story short, they won. State and local governments here got $17.3 billion. The legal fees amounted to $3.2 billion. The state has a room full of documents from the case, but the lawyers got a federal judge to lock their working papers away, under protective seal.
Part of what got Morales in trouble was his attempt to get his hands on some of that award, both for himself and for another attorney he had retained to work on the case. During the criminal proceedings, he got a look at those now-sealed documents that he believes the state’s attorneys have never seen.
This gets strange. Because those documents are under federal seal, he says he can’t talk about the contents. In fact, he tried to send some of those documents to Attorney General Greg Abbott, who didn’t open the package for fear of violating a federal judge’s order.
Morales is hoping the state’s lawyers will ask the courts to let them have a look. He points to a 1999 Texas Supreme Court decision concerning the duties of lawyers to their clients. In that case, which incidentally involved some of the same lawyers who handled the state’s tobacco settlement, the court ruled unanimously that a lawyer might be required to forfeit all or part of a fee for breaching fiduciary duty to a client — even if the client didn’t suffer financial harm.
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There is no evidence that anybody did anything in the tobacco case to hurt the state’s interest — save Morales and the other lawyer who went to prison. But here stands Morales, waving Burrow v. Arce in the air and suggesting noisily that the tobacco case documents sealed by the federal court might be of interest to the state. Wink, wink.
Just because Morales did time in federal prison does not mean he is wrong. And just because he was a two-term Texas attorney general does not mean he is right. It seems pretty safe to call him an unreliable narrator.
Still, it is interesting that he thinks the state might be able to snag a lot of money here. And for a group of Republican politicians who love to nip at the ankles of trial lawyers, the prospect of unraveling a large and historic set of legal fees has to be tempting.
This would be simple to sort out if the documents were available. A reliable snitch could make it more believable.
That second problem, with apologies to Morales, has no easy remedy. But the first one does, if the federal judge will let the lawyers for the state have a peek.
Who knows? Maybe it’s nothing.
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Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald supports an effort to broaden a municipality’s ability to disincorporate and permit the county to provide services. Fitzgerald said he hopes to see proposal introduced in the state Legislature by the end of the year to create more options for residents, especially in communities where the tax base is dwindling but the demand for services is not.
“This is just another choice, another tool in the toolbox. This is not a forced takeover — this is not some big move from metropolitan government,” Fitzgerald said.
Some southwest suburban community leaders pointed out that pride and desire for control could make disincorporation a difficult choice for local voters.
“If they could figure out some way of keeping some representation, some feeling that the community is not being ripped apart and absorbed…people might support it,” Bridgeville Mayor Pasquale DeBlasio said.
A possible measure would allow communities — with voter approval — to dissolve. The former community would become part of county government, and the county would provide services to the area, with taxing powers.
A bipartisan panel of experts including former county executives Dan Onorato and Jim Roddey studied the issue which led to a report by the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute of Politics. Currently, 38 states have laws allowing communities to disincorporate, and since 2000, more than 130 towns have voluntarily dissolved, the report said.
The group began studying the issue last year — prompted, Fitzgerald said, by the knowledge that even as the tax base declines in some communities, the demand for services remains the same.
There are 130 municipalities in the county, more than any county in the state. Critics say having so many boroughs, townships and cities creates inefficiencies in providing services that waste taxpayer money. For example, each community traditionally has a borough building, and has to update infrastructure.
Carnegie Mayor Jack Kobistek said he’d like to talk with his constituents about the measure.
“The big question is what kind of service would I get from the county? Is the county the most efficient and best organization to serve these communities?” he said. “I’m not saying it’s not, but government has a history of not being efficient, and not being responsive.”
He added: “I’m not criticizing but there would be a lot of questions on this.”
Carnegie — which endured a flood that destroyed much of its business district in 2004 — can balance its budget. However, the mayor adds, ”a lot of our big projects we have to pay for with credit.”
County council has not discussed the measure, which would require approval by the legislature. District 4 Councilman Pat Catena attended the May 11 news conference in which Fitzgerald, Onorato and Roddey presented the proposal.
“It would not take anything away from a small town. It’s all 100 percent voluntary. |
for it?
On a quad-core computer, each step is gonna cost you about 9 seconds. This gives a clock rate of 0.1 Hz. Suffice it to say, you won’t be proving an execution of Crysis any time soon.
Clearly, there’s a long way to go. But as prior techniques didn’t even scale linearly at all, this still represents tremendous progress.
There is one other big problem remaining. I mentioned that the calculation of the universal circuit has to be done once. That’s not quite true. The problem lies in the bit we’ve handwaved over so far. The task of converting a QAP solution to a quickly checkable zkSNARK involves the use of a “proving key” and “verification key”, which are derived from some random data selected by whoever computes the circuit. Unfortunately, knowledge of that random data is sufficient to forge proofs. This means the setup process is a weakness: how do you know that the random data used to initialise the algorithms was really destroyed? No matter how much theatre you throw at it, in the end you can’t really know for sure.
In 2016 research has shifted towards a new kind of SNARK that sits in the so-called “PCP world” and doesn’t have this problem. PCPs are probabilistically checkable proofs and are a topic for another time.
Conclusion
I hope that this article builds on Vitalik’s introduction to the underlying maths in a useful way. We need more explanations to complete the story:
The translation of a satisfied QAP to an actual zero knowledge proof.
PCPs and how they can be used in different ways to the algorithms libsnark uses.
uses. Pairing based cryptography and how pairings are used.
These are topics for another day.
Thanks to Eran Tromer and Eli Ben-Sasson for proofreading this article.Looking for news you can trust?
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Last week, Congress once again delayed federal funding to help catch rapists.
Here’s the backstory. In March, President Barack Obama asked Congress to fund a new Justice Department program designed to help states and localities test backlogs of rape kits, which include DNA evidence taken after a sexual assault and are used to identify attackers. The funding would likely also go toward investigating and prosecuting rape cases.
There are over 100,000 untested kits sitting on shelves at police storage facilities around the country—some held for decades—partly because state and local governments lack the money to process them.
In May, the Republican-controlled House passed a massive spending bill for 2015 that included $41 million for the rape kit program, and a key committee in the Democratic-run Senate approved the same spending in June. But after a spat on the Senate floor over unrelated amendments Republicans wanted added to the bill, Democratic leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) yanked the legislation. Consequently, Congress had to resort to a short-term spending bill to keep the government operating until mid-December. The House and Senate approved it last week, and Obama signed it Friday. Because it’s a stop-gap spending bill, the legislation continues government spending at current levels, leaving out most new funding—including the money for the rape kit processing program.
More partisan bickering this winter could cause lawmakers to fail to pass a full appropriations bill until February or March, according to experts on congressional procedure, forcing rape victims to wait another six months or so to see the program enacted. That is, if this spending bill does include the rape kit money. (Last Thursday, the Senate approved a separate House-passed bill reauthorizing an existing program designed to process backlogged DNA evidence from all sorts of crimes, including rape kits. But the existing funding, which was first authorized in 2004, has not been sufficient to clear the backlog—which is why advocates were pushing for the new money.)
“The slowdown in appropriating funds for the rape kit program is a classic example of how Congress’ legislative dysfunction blocks even the smallest of bipartisan initiatives,” says Sarah Binder, an expert on legislative politics at the Brookings Institution.
Spokesmen for both the House and Senate appropriations committees say they are confident that local jurisdictions won’t have to wait until next spring to get the federal money they need to process rape kits. They note the consensus on Capitol Hill is that Congress will pass an appropriations bill with the rape kit funding in mid-December. But Binder is less optimistic. If Republicans win the Senate in the midterm elections, she says, GOPers might block passage of a spending bill until they assume control of the Senate in January. At that point, Binder explains, Republicans may be tempted to “use those spending bills as leverage” to force Dems to accept Republican priorities. That could bring things to a halt in Congress and localities may have to wait longer until money is allocated for the rape kit program.
Meanwhile, local prosecutors are struggling to wade through their backlogs. Cuyahoga County, Ohio, has a backlog of 1,650 rape cases requiring investigation and the county won’t complete the probes until 2019, according to local county officials. “Our great hope from the federal money is that it would help [counties] like us…hire more investigators and advocates so we can speed that time line,” says Joe Frolick, the spokesman for Cuyahoga County prosecutor Timothy McGinty.
Kym Worthy, the county prosecutor in Wayne County, Michigan, plans to apply for a portion of the $41 million grant as soon as Congress approves the funding. “I’d like it to happen tomorrow,” she told Mother Jones in August. “Every day that goes by is another day that the victims have to wait for justice. This is the first grant of its kind where they really got what it takes.”
“[S]o many of us—mayors, police chiefs, district attorneys, victim advocates, state legislators, and governors—are doing all we can to end the backlog,” Sarah Tofte, a prominent victim advocate, says. “Isn’t it time that Congress did?”
The Senate appropriations bill with the $41 million in new rape kit processing money died this summer partly because Republicans, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), wanted Democrats to allow them to add several unrelated amendments to the huge bill. One of those amendments, sponsored by McConnell, would have made it more difficult for the EPA to impose new rules on coal-fired power plants.
The federal government does not track the number of untested rape kits. That work has been left largely to advocates and journalists. The states with the largest known backlogs are Texas and Tennessee, which each have about 20,000 unprocessed kits in storage. Detroit has more than 11,000 unprocessed kits, and Memphis has over 12,000. Detroit recently tested 1,600 of its backlogged kits, helping the city identify 87 suspected serial rapists and leading to at least 14 convictions.
Here’s a look at the rape kit backlog around the country, via End the Backlog:
Map by AJ VicensFor Immediate Release, April 13, 2015 Contact: Amy Atwood, (503) 504-5660, atwood@biologicaldiversity.org New Data: 2.7 Million Animals Killed by Rogue Federal Wildlife Program in 2014 Ignoring Calls for Reform, Agency Shoots, Poisons and
Traps Tens of thousands of Coyotes, Bears, Wolves, Foxes WASHINGTON— New data from the highly secretive arm of the U.S. Agriculture Department known as Wildlife Services reveals it killed more than 2.7 million animals during fiscal year 2014, including wolves, coyotes, bears, mountain lions, beavers, foxes, eagles and other animals deemed pests by powerful agricultural, livestock and other special interests. Despite increasing calls for reform after the program killed more than 4 million animals in 2013, the latest kill report indicates the reckless slaughter of wildlife continues, including 322 gray wolves, 61,702 coyotes, 580 black bears, 305 mountain lions, 796 bobcats, 454 river otters, 2,930 foxes, three bald eagles, five golden eagles and 22,496 beavers. The program also killed 15,698 black-tailed prairie dogs and destroyed more than 33,309 of their dens. “It’s sickening to see these staggering numbers and to know that so many of these animals were cut down by aerial snipers, deadly poisons and traps,” said Amy Atwood, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “These acts of brutality are carried out every day, robbing our landscapes of bears, wolves, coyotes and other animals that deserve far better. Wildlife Services does its dirty work far from public view and clearly has no interest in cleaning up its act.” Agency insiders have revealed that the agency kills many more animals than it reports. Many animals – especially wolves, coyotes and prairie dogs – were targeted and killed on behalf of livestock grazers or other powerful agricultural interests. Wildlife Services does not reveal how many animals were wounded or injured, but not killed. The new data also show that hundreds animals were killed unintentionally including 390 river otters, as well as hundreds of badgers, black bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, jackrabbits, muskrats, raccoons, skunks, opossums, porcupines and 16 pet dogs. The data show that the federal program has refused to substantially slow its killing despite a growing public outcry, an ongoing investigation by the Agriculture Department’s inspector general, and calls for reform by scientists, members of Congress and nongovernmental organizations. “Wildlife Services continues to thumb its nose at the growing number of Americans demanding an end to business as usual,” said Atwood. “This appalling and completely unnecessary extermination of American wildlife must stop.” Just since 1996 Wildlife Services has shot, poisoned and strangled by snare more than 27 million native animals. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 825,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.Last week VRFocus reported on NVIDIA releasing a teasing video for a new TITAN Xp Collectors Edition model. Today, the company has now officially unveiled the new graphics card and there’s actually two versions, both modeled on Star Wars.
Paying homage to the light side-dark side dichotomy, the two new cards contain hints of the Star Wars galaxy, such as the hilt of Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber, and the light panels reminiscent of the Death Star.
So the Jedi Order GPU has battle-worn wear and tear, with a die cast aluminum cover having the look of extensive, corrosive salt spray. While the Galactic Empire GPU features simple, clean lines, emulating the high-end, orderly nature of the resource-rich Empire.
The Star Wars NVIDIA TITAN Xp Collector’s Edition GPUs use the NVIDIA Pascal-based GP102 GPU, each with 3,840 CUDA cores running at 1.6GHz, and 12GB of GDDR5X memory running at 11.4Gbps, with 12TFLOPs of processing power. These specifications are exactly the same as the standard TITAN Xp which launched earlier this year, becoming NVIDIA’s new top-of-the-range consumer graphics card.
GeForce Experience users in the US, United Kingdom, France and Germany will receive exclusive pre-order access to purchase the Star Wars NVIDIA TITAN Xp Collector’s Edition graphics cards starting at 6am PT/2pm GMT, on 8th November. The cards will then go on general sale from 17th November, priced at $1,200.00 USD – exactly the same as the standard model, just looking a lot more fancy.
Because they are a Collectors Edition model the retail box packaging for the Jedi Order edition is bathed in white, and the Galactic Empire edition comes in black. Each edition also includes a collectible electroformed metal badge containing the insignia of the customers preferred alliance.
For Star Wars fans who want the best out of the virtual reality (VR) headsets, the new Star Wars TITAN Xp Collector’s Edition certainly does pack an impressive punch. VRFocus will continue its coverage of NVIDIA, reporting back with its latest product releases and announcements, or check out one of our GPU guides.Antec releases their addition to their Performance One Case series: The P110 Luce. The Antec P110 Luce lets you shed a light on your installed hardware: The frame measures 489 mm x 230 mm x 518 mm (L x W x H) and features a tempered glass panel on the side.
The mid-tower is made of 1mm+0.8 mm steel & ABS and the front panel is made of 0.8 mm anodized aluminium. The P110 Luce accommodates ATX-, Micro-ATX and ITX-mainboards and offers space for up to six 3.5" HDDs (convertible for four 2.5" SSDs) and two 2.5" SDDs as well as ten expansion slots (eight horizontal and two vertical slots). Users can install VGA cards with a length of up to 390 mm. The card holder features an extra bracket which makes it easy to adjust the actual position of the VGA and to achieve better compatibility. This also supports the weight of heavy VGA cards.
In order to keep its cool, the P110 Luce offers space for 3x120 mm or 2x140mm case fans in the front, 2x120mm or 2x140mm at the top and 1x120 mm fan in the rear. The thought-out case already comes with one pre-installed 120 mm fan at the front and one in the back. For extra water-cooling, the P110 allows to install a 280 mm radiator on top, a 360 mm radiator in the front and a 120 mm radiator in the rear. The P110 Luce offers space for CPU coolers with a maximum height of 165 mm, a maximum GPU length of 390 mm. The front bezel features 2x USB 3.0, VR-ready HDMI port, Audio In/Out and a RGB LED control switch.
The case is now available from 119€.
So is anyone else seeing Fractal Design resemblances here, or is that just me?Posted December 7, 2015 at 7:04 pm
I would point out how Diane spent most of this conversation with Tara behind Nanase and ready to use her as a literal human shield, possibly shoving Nanase towards Tara and using the force provided by the equal and opposite reaction to accelerate her own hasty retreat from avian-feline wrath, but she has a valid point.
Perhaps Nanase could use the fairy doll spell to scout ahead for wild deer? They're unlikely to be present anywhere near the roads they'll be traveling, and it would accomplish little to nothing aside from falling just short of proving that Nanase's presence in the car could somehow be useful during the brief trip in ways beyond the pleasure of her company, but surely it would be better than admitting defeat!
Then again, if she goes with Ellen, she'll get a chance to get to know Ashley. Ashley, having once kicked a soccer ball at a griffin, is bound to be a person worth getting to know better. Accept this defeat, Nanase, so that you may reap the spoils!
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Porsche on Friday revealed plans to produce its first 100 percent electrically powered sports car under its Mission E project by the end of the decade.
The Mission E concept car debuted at the Frankfurt International Motor Show earlier this year. The four-door vehicle utilizes a system power output that exceeds 440 kW and can accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in about 3.5 seconds, Porsche said.
The concept vehicle, which is charged via an 800-volt charger unit, has a range of 500 kilometers. Via a quick-charge system, its lithium-ion batteries can be bought to 80 percent power in about 15 minutes.
The final production models will be capable of recharging wirelessly via induction with a coil-based system that could be installed under its parking spot in a garage.
Green Light
Mission E, which was given the green light by the company's supervisory board, could create more than 1,000 new jobs at the company's offices and development facilities in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, according to Porsche.
The company also will invest around US$762 million at its main site and in the coming years will build an assembly plant and paint shop, while the existing engine factory will be expanded to handle the production of electric motors.
"With Mission E, we are making a clear statement about the future of the brand," said Wolfgang Porsche, chairman of Porsche's supervisory board. "Even in a greatly changing motoring world, Porsche will maintain its front-row position with this fascinating sports car."
Sports Market
Porsche's entry into the electric vehicle market might not be a major disrupter to the mainstream driver end of the market, where companies such as Honda and Ford are seeking to gain traction.
However, it could edge out Tesla, "which has owned the luxury as well as the sport market," said Devin Lindsay, principal analyst at IHS Automotive.
Tesla's Model S has made headlines as a sports car, with its ability to race from 0 to 60, he told TechNewsWorld.
That probably caught the attention of Porsche, which likely doesn't want to give up any of its share in the high-end sports car market.
Challenges in the Market
Porsche's move likely will be a costly one as it must retool its plants, retrain workers and make a substantial R&D investment. However, this is a company that has built its reputation on quality more than quantity -- and it has developed many concept vehicles as well as race-specific vehicles that are more about building the brand than moving product.
Shifting gears to an electric vehicle might not be as challenging as one might expect, said Lindsay.
"In delivery of performance, it is less complex to deliver with an electric vehicle than internal combustion engine," he noted.
"Engineers will already know what they can expect from the torque, while it might be easier to move a battery pack around the vehicle for weight distribution than it is to move a gasoline-powered engine," Lindsay added. "With an EV, they have a good idea of what they are going to get out of it."
Risks and Reward
The biggest risk will be in R&D costs, which might not translate into sales. Those risks could be outweighed by the rewards.
"In terms of OEMs, Porsche already is used to producing some low-volume-selling vehicles," said Lindsay.
"However, a lot of the technology that goes into developing those cars is used down the line in the [automobiles] that do sell in larger numbers," he added.
Some of these may filter into its partner brands that include Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Audi, Skoda and most notably Volkswagen, Porsche's parent company.
The Car Guy's Car
Porsche also could be well positioned against its rivals because it still will be seen as a traditional sports car maker that is producing an electric vehicle instead of being a tech company that is producing an electric sports car.
"The Porsche electric car both helps and hurts Tesla," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
"It helps because it validates the all-electric segment and should improve the electric charging ecosystem. It hurts because it is a direct competitor to Tesla's highest-volume offering," he told TechNewsWorld.
Moreover, Porsche sells through a stronger dealer structure and in larger parts of the country than Tesla, while it also has deeper pockets and knows how to make a better full-spectrum performance car.
"More people should want the Porsche, more people should be able to easily buy it, and the Porsche should test better by car and consumer magazines. The Porsche looks more like an exotic performance car," added Enderle.
"Tesla is going to have to up their game a lot and likely get a strong partner in order to weather this entry, but this will strengthen the electric car segment significantly,' he said.
Porsche's EV thus could appeal to the so-called "car guys" who have steered away from Tesla, which could be seen as a tech company making an EV.
"That is a big part of it for Porsche," said IHS Automotive's Lindsay.
"Tesla is for a limited audience, and there are Porsche fans that have been fans their whole life and this is a way to get an electric car where they can trust the performance and the quality," he added. "Porsche can capture or at least maintain that audience."
Peter Suciu is a freelance writer who has covered consumer electronics, technology, electronic entertainment and fitness-related trends for more than a decade. His work has appeared in more than three dozen publications, and he is the co-author of Careers in the Computer Game Industry (Career in the New Economy series), a career guide aimed at high school students from Rosen Publishing. You can connect with Peter on Google+.Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs!
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Sometimes, most times in fact, stories about the origins of Winnipeg traditions, however recent, are better left for locals to tell.
"I worry that 30 years from now, when they are shouting 'True North' at Jets games, people will be wondering where the idea for this idea came from."
Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 16/12/2011 (2629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/12/2011 (2629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Jeremy Harder with his son, Kade.
"I worry that 30 years from now, when they are shouting 'True North' at Jets games, people will be wondering where the idea for this idea came from."
— Winnipeg Jets fan Chuck Duboff
Sometimes, most times in fact, stories about the origins of Winnipeg traditions, however recent, are better left for locals to tell.
It's been a week now since the Globe and Mail told us how what's become known as The True North Shout-Out got its start at the first pre-season Jets game, "with one voice" spontaneously yelling "True North" at the appropriate line in our national anthem.
"It stuck," the Globe went on, "and now fans yell 'True North!' during the national anthem at every Jets home game."
In homage, as the Globe also reported, to True North Sports & Entertainment for bringing back the Jets and the NHL.
That part is true.
Except that's not how it happened.
Not according to the afore-quoted Chuck Duboff, who introduced me to the man behind the story of how thousands of Jets fans have come to sing "True North."
So strong and loud.
— — —
By Tuesday evening, when I finally spoke with Jeremy Harder on a wonky cellphone connection, the origins of the history of The Shout were anything but top of mind.
He had brought his five-year-old old son, Kade Jett Harder, into the city from their home in Winkler and spent hours upon hours at Children's Hospital as his little boy was stuck with needles and underwent tests.
Now the little boy was asleep.
The little boy whose middle name "Jett" speaks almost as loudly as The Shout to his father's belief the Winnipeg Jets would return years before they did.
Which seems only appropriate because, as Jeremy recalls it, the idea of doing something to thank True North first occurred to him back in late May, about a week before CEO Mark Chipman officially announced they had purchased the Atlanta Thrashers franchise and were bringing it north.
"At that time, I started to think it would be pretty neat to kind of do something to honour them," Jeremy said.
But he didn't know what or how.
"Then I was having a conversation with somebody and they mentioned that they got their name True North from the anthem. From that line in the anthem, 'the True North strong and free.' "
Jeremy said he's never confirmed if that was true, but it didn't really matter.
It's what gave him the idea.
"I thought, that's pretty neat. It's easy. All the fans have to do is yell 'True North.' "
But after years of being ridiculed by people who laughed in his face when he told them that one day the Jets would return, Jeremy was shy about shouting his idea out loud, the way he imagined the crowd at the MTS Centre doing.
"I was sick of being mocked all the time, so I kind of just ran it by a few guys to see what they said and what they thought. And they all just thought it was a fantastic idea."
By mid-summer, as Jeremy remembers it, almost two months after beginning his search for a way to thank True North, he put his idea out there on a Jets fans message board.
"I started it up there and probably 99 out of 100 responses were positive to very positive. So then I really started to promote it on the message board. Plus a little bit of Twitter," he said.
"And a lot of word of mouth."
I'm not sure why, maybe because he was on a cellphone and there was a brief pause as I scribbled down that last quote, but it was at this point Jeremy felt the need to ask me a question.
"Can you still hear me?"
Oh, yeah, Jeremy.
And we'll be hearing you for years and years to come.
— — —
I had one more question, but it was for Mark Chipman.
The question wasn't about how he felt about the True North Shout-Out.
It's clear that, as he would tell me, the "gesture" Jeremy Harder created is hugely appreciated.
But was it really, as Jeremy thought, our national anthem that inspired the use of True North in the company's name?
"No," Chipman said.
The origin is more complex.
True North, on a compass, is an "inarguable principle" of science, Chipman noted. But he believes there are also inarguable principles in relationships and, moreover, in business. And that's why, Chipman said, True North was incorporated in the name of the business he leads.
"As a reminder to us, on a regular basis, that there are principles at work and we should follow them."
In other words, the words True North were chosen to give the company, and those who work in it, a compass-like true direction.
But, as I told Chipman, I think there's another message, and a different inarguable principle at work with the True North Shout-Out than the one Jeremy Harder intended.
To me, the words True North symbolize the true home of hockey.
And there's no better, or truer, place for it to be shouted out than at a Jets game where the point is proven every time we sing O Canada.
And I hope tonight we sing "True North" louder and prouder than ever for Teemu, the truest Jet of them all.
gordon.sinclair@freepress.mb.caDemocratic presidential candidate and self-described socialist Bernie Sanders had a good weekend.
A new Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll revealed on Saturday that the Vermont senator is on the rise in Iowa.
With 30 percent of the vote, Sanders is just seven points behind Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton among Democrats in the country’s first caucus state.
His share of the vote has nearly doubled since the last poll in May, while Clinton has dropped below 50 percent for the first time.
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In another era, such a strong showing by a socialist would be unheard of. It was newsworthy enough in 2006 when his election to the U.S. Senate was announced with headlines like this: “Vermont’s Bernie Sanders Becomes First Socialist Elected to U.S. Senate.”
Sanders is unafraid to use the word to describe his politics, which pundits have spent months trying to explain. Could it be, some wonder, that the days of “socialist” being a dirty word are gone?
“‘Socialist’ has never been a complimentary term in American political discourse, but it has reached a particularly high level of toxicity during the past six years of President Barack Obama’s administration,” Politico wrote in July.
“While the president and his defenders have spent a great deal of time parrying that attack, Bernie Sanders is using the socialist label to his advantage, packing venues around the country and establishing himself as Hillary Rodham Clinton’s leading challenger...”
Millennials aren’t scared of the word
Socialism clearly is not a nasty word among younger voters – namely the millennials who have been showing up in droves to Sanders’ rallies.
A growing acceptance of the word among young Americans was revealed four years ago in a Pew Research Center survey. It found that 43 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds had a positive reaction to the word ‘socialism,’ compared with 33 percent of 30- to 49-year-olds, 23 percent of 50- to 64-year-olds, and 14 percent of Americans 65 and older.
“The older you get, the more you hate socialism,” the survey concluded.
But do they know what socialism is?
Maybe younger Americans don’t mind that Sanders is a socialist because he supports free tuition at public universities.
Or maybe they don’t know what socialism is.
Informal polling by the Campus Reform college news site in August found that millennials can’t distinguish between socialists and Democrats.
The polling followed up an appearance by Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz on MSNBC’s “Hardball,” where host Chris Matthews pressed her for to define the difference between socialists and Democrats.
Wasserman Schultz wouldn’t answer the question directly. “The relevant debate that we’ll be having over the course of this campaign is what’s the difference between a Democrat and a Republican,” she said.
Campus Reform asked young adults the same question – “What do you think the difference is between a Democrat and a socialist?” – and they were equally confused/evasive.
Blank-stare answers ranged from “I don’t know” to “Um.”
“I don’t think there’s a big enough difference. That’s probably why it was hard (for Wasserman Schultz) to actually explain,” said one student.
So what kind of socialist is Sanders?
Political writers have spent untold words in recent months trying to define Sanders’ socialist leanings.
“Exactly what kind of socialist is Bernie Sanders?” (NPR)
“Q&A with Bernie Sanders: What he means by socialism” (USA Today)
“Bernie Sanders is a democratic socialist. But what does that term mean?” (Daily Kos)
The textbook definition of socialism refers to a society where the government, not individual people and companies, own and control the major industries – the antithesis of free market capitalism.
But Sanders calls himself a “democratic socialist.” According to the website of Democratic Socialists of America, a group that supports Sanders’ campaign, “democratic socialists do not want to create an all-powerful government bureaucracy.
“But we do not want big corporate bureaucracies to control our society either. Rather, we believe that social and economic decisions should be made by those whom they most affect.
“Today, corporate executives who answer only to themselves and a few wealthy stockholders make basic economic decisions affecting millions of people. Resources are used to make money for capitalists rather than to meet human needs. We believe that the workers and consumers who are affected by economic institutions should own and control them.”
Democratic socialist “has nothing to do with authoritarian communism,” Sanders told The New Republic in April in an article titled “Stop Calling Bernie Sanders a Socialist.”
In a July interview with The Nation, he was asked about the evolution of the word and why he talks about socialism in “positive, detailed terms.”
“I happen to believe that, if the American people understood the significant accomplishments that have taken place under social-democratic governments, democratic-socialist governments, labor governments throughout Europe, they would be shocked to know about those accomplishments,” Sanders said.
“One of the goals of this campaign is to advance that understanding.”
Sanders has been trying to explain his brand of socialism for years.
“Well, I think it means the government has got to play a very important role in making sure that as a right of citizenship, all of our people have healthcare; that as a right, all of our kids, regardless of income, have quality childcare, are able to go to college without going deeply into debt; that it means we do not allow large corporations and moneyed interests to destroy our environment; that we create a government in which it is not dominated by big money interest,” he told Democracy Now! in 2006 when he was elected to the Senate.
“I mean, to me, it means democracy, frankly. That’s all it means. And we are living in an increasingly undemocratic society in which decisions are made by people who have huge sums of money. And that’s the goal that we have to achieve.”
Jesse Jackson: Sanders is ‘mainstream’
To critics who have called Sanders’ run “fringe,” the senator’s longtime friend Jesse Jackson says think again.
In August the civil-rights leader advised the senator to define socialism “in a way that takes away the label they are trying to put on him,” Jackson told CNN.
Too many people, Jackson said, “dismiss his campaign as just an angry margin. The fact is... this is mainstream.”
What Sanders’ supporters believe about socialism
Jason Wilson, a visiting fellow at the Institute for Social Research at Australia’s Swinburne University, attended a rally of about 500 Sanders supporters in Portland, Oregon, over the summer.
“When I showed up at the cavernous community center, there were over 500 people there – all drinking craft beer, talking politics and watching the live broadcast of the senator’s speech,” Wilson wrote in London’s The Guardian.
“Granted, crunchy Portland is deep in Sanders’ heartland. Nevertheless, it was notable that no one I talked to had the least misgivings about Sanders calling himself a socialist; almost all were happy to identify with the term. Few were doctrinaire, many differed in the details of what socialism actually means, but almost all were attracted to Sanders as someone whose policies might alleviate the everyday suffering of those not part of the country’s tiny wealthy elite.”
Said one supporter named Chris, who thinks the word “socialism” has been polluted by fear campaigns, had a message for his right-leaning fellow Americans: “Don’t make a good idea sound crazy just because your bad idea wants to marginalize so many people.”
“If he is a ‘socialist,’ who isn’t?”
In June, conservative columnist George Will accused Sanders of being a poser.
“Does any stricture of journalistic propriety or social etiquette require us to participate in Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s charade?” wrote Will.
“Is it obligatory to take seriously his pose of being an “independent” and a “socialist”? It gives excitable Democratic activists a frisson of naughtiness to pretend that he is both. Actually, he is neither...
“If he is a ‘socialist,’ who isn’t? In olden days, socialism meant something robust — government ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Then, voters and reality being resistant to such socialism, the idea was diluted to mean just government ownership of an economy’s ‘commanding heights,’ principally heavy industries, coal mines, railroads, etc.
“Today, ‘socialism,’ at least in Western Europe where the term is still part of the political lexicon, is the thin gruel of ‘social democracy.’ This means three things — heavy government regulation of commercial activities, government provision of a ‘social safety net’ and redistribution of wealth through progressive taxation and entitlement programs.
“For America’s Republicans, opposition to these three ubiquitous realities is avowed but not constraining. They neither plan nor pose a serious threat to any of the three, so they, too, can be called ‘socialists,’ which is a classification that no longer classifies.”
What would Jesus do?
Earlier this summer Sanders took his campaign to conservative, deep-red states in the South. Three volunteers on Facebook organized one event for him in Alabama.
They expected 30 to attend. They got more than 300.
“He’s got me excited in politics again,” said one supporter. “He’s not just in it for the money or his own career. To me, he’s what politicians should be.”
Added the supporter: “I think Jesus was a socialist.”
Will Americans put a socialist in the White House?
That’s still debatable.
In early June a Gallup Poll revealed that while 50 percent of Americans would not vote for a socialist, 47 percent said they would.
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the US Embassy’s political officer a most remarkable development which was entirely blocked out of sensational Western media. The student leaders and the PLA reached an agreement that the protestors would be allowed to leave peacefully if they disbanded their sit-in:
10. ALTHOUGH GUNFIRE COULD BE HEARD, GALLO SAID THAT APART FROM SOME BEATING OF STUDENTS, THERE WAS NO MASS FIRING INTO THE CROWD OF STUDENTS AT THE MONUMENT. WHEN POLOFF MENTIONED SOME REPORTEDLY EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF MASSACRES AT THE MONUMENT WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, GALLO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH SLAUGHTER. ONCE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED FOR THE STUDENTS TO WITHDRAW, LINKING HANDS TO FORM A COLUMN, THE STUDENTS LEFT THE SQUARE THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. ESSENTIALLY EVERYONE, INCLUDING GALLO, LEFT. THE FEW THAT ATTEMPTED TO REMAIN BEHIND WERE BEATEN AND DRIVEN TO JOIN THE END OF THE DEPARTING PROCESSION. ONCE OUTSIDE THE SQUARE, THE STUDENTS HEADED WEST ON QIANMEN DAJIE WHILE GALLO HEADED EAST TO HIS CAR. (Emphasis mine - WE)
The report of a deal between student protestors and the military to end the protest peacefully and leave had been told to me by various young Chinese in personal accounts on recent visits to Beijing, but until this WikiLeaks release of the Lilley cable, it could never be confirmed. Now it seems clear that the entire story of “thousands” of dead students at Tiananmen Square, whose very name in the West is synonymous with brutal government suppression of democracy, was largely a fabrication. The protests were real, but not the horrendous stories of slaughter.
Indeed, as I have written elsewhere, there is rather strong circumstantial evidence that suggests that the CIA and US State Department played a key role in trying to goad on the student protestors at Tiananmen Square; much like the CIA did in Hungary in 1956, in order to provoke a government bloodbath of repression. Around the same time as Tiananmen protests in April-June 1989, the Chinese government banned a Chinese NGO of US operator George Soros, the Fund for the Reform and Opening of China, after interrogating its Chinese director in August 1989 and claiming that the Soros China fund had links to the CIA. The Soros Fund according to Chinese reports had been supported by ousted Communist Party chief Zhao Ziyang.
Significantly in addition to the Soros Fund, Gene Sharp of the Cambridge Massachusetts Albert Einstein Institution, whose handbooks on “non-violence as a method of warfare” have been the “how-to” textbook for every color revolution to date, was in Beijing days before the Tiananmen events. Then-US Ambassador Lilley himself was a career CIA officer who, like then-President George H.W. Bush, had been in the secretive Yale Skull & Bones society, and who was with Bush at the CIA. The circumstantial evidence points to an attempted US destabilization of China designed to coincide with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, with Lilley the likely on-the-ground coordinator.
When the PLA failed to fill Beijing with the blood of “thousands” of student democracy martyrs, Washington could simply go with fabrication of a fantasy or virtual massacre and, because of its overwhelming control of mainstream media; most of the world could believe the Washington version.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.Fox Reporter Lauren Green's Double Standard On Reza Aslan And Islam Here Are Eight Reports On Islam From Green, Who Questioned Muslim Scholar For Writing About Christianity July 29, 2013 2:59 PM EDT ››› Blog ›››››› ERIC HANANOKI
During a recent interview, Fox News reporter Lauren Green repeatedly questioned the propriety of religious scholar Reza Aslan writing about the Christian faith when he's Muslim. Green's standard is not only absurd on its face, it's also hypocritical: Green is a Christian who frequently writes and reports about Islam as Fox's religion correspondent. Green joined Fox News in 1996 and was Fox News chief Roger Ailes' first on-air talent hire. An October 16, 2007, Baptist Press article reported that Green spoke to Christian college students about the importance of Christianity in her reporting, said journalists would achieve ultimate success by holding the Christian faith, and encouraged students not to "abandon your faith" in their work. From Baptist Press: Journalists' first obligation is to seek truth, and the only way absolute truth can be found is by measuring humanity's idea of truth against God's standards, she said. Therefore, the only way for a journalist to achieve ultimate success is to hold to the Christian faith, Green said. By having compassion on people and informing them of the truth, Christian journalists can change the world, she said. "That's my challenge to all of you -- the only way to be true to your craft is to go deeper into your faith," she said. "You can't abandon your faith, because this world will try to help you see a different light. (The world will say), 'There's a different truth out there.' "No. The law of God stands firm. There is no other truth but that. And so the only way to really understand and really do your job better is to get out there and to understand what the real truth of the world is and to never back down from it." Here are eight examples of stories that, by her flawed standard, Green shouldn't have filed:
Green: "Is There Something In Islam That Makes Believers More Susceptible to Radicalization?" Green wrote a March 10, 2011, FoxNews.com piece about Islam and violence, and wrote, "I believe essentially there are three things that may make Islam more prone to radicalization." She explained:
I believe essentially there are three things that may make Islam more prone to radicalization. One is the Koran itself. The fact that it's not a narrative makes it easier to pick and choose verses to fit your interpretation. Two, the Prophet Mohammed's own words and deeds. In Islam's early days, Mohammed spread the faith with the sword. Three, Islam was introduced into a world rife with tribalism; a shame and honor culture which revered and respected power. Much of what's going in Libya and what went on under Saddam Hussein, are extensions of that tribalism.
Green added: "There are conflicting interpretations of the Koran, but without a clear narrative, with one consensus of purpose, followers who do violence in the name of Islam can legitimately claim they are acting within the parameters of their faith."
Green Reported On Concerns That Muslim Immigrants In Minnesota Represents A "Cultural Invasion." Green filed a July 4, 2007, report for The Big Story with John Gibson about whether Muslim immigrants in Minnesota represent a "cultural invasion." During the report, Green interviewed Somali immigrants, and also reported that "behind this veneer of reasonableness, some fear the Somali community is putty in the hands of a more radical Islamic agenda."
Green Reported On Results From A Pew Research Poll On Muslims' Attitudes On Politics, Religion and Terrorism. Green reported on a Pew Research Center survey of Muslims around the world for the April 30 edition of America Live.
Green Reported On Whether Islam Is A Violent Religion. During a June 15 report for Fox News, Green aired a he-said-he-said report on whether Islam is a violent religion. Green aired a quote from Zuhdi Jasser stating that the faith most Muslims practice is peaceful, while airing another quote from Al Fadi stating that "Islam itself is violent."
Green Discussed Islam's Influence On Boston Bombers. During the April 27 edition of Fox Business' Tom Sullivan Show, Green discussed differences between mainstream and radical Islam in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Green Reported On Mosques Opening Their Doors In A Campaign To Counter Negative Stereotypes. In an October 22, 2010, piece for FoxNews.com, Green reported on how "Muslim leaders nationwide are flinging open the doors to their mosques, hoping to present a positive image of Islam." The piece quoted Muslims and also quoted anti-Islam blogger Pamela Geller, who said the openings are "bringing people to Islam to convert."
Green Reported On Criticism Of Ground Zero Mosque. A May 14, 2010, FoxNews.com piece reported: "Outraged family members and community groups are accusing a Muslim group of trying to rewrite history with its plans to build a 13-story mosque and cultural center just two blocks from Ground Zero, where Islamic extremists flew two planes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001."
Green Reported On Conflicts Over Construction Of Mosques In Towns. Green reported on the "list of midsized towns in the U.S. that are embroiled in conflicts over proposed mosques being built or bought in their neighborhoods" for FoxNews.com on July 2, 2010. Green also reported on the controversy on-air for Fox News.
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User Level This article assumes that you have worked with PhoneGap before and have a working knowledge of HTML/CSS/JavaScript. Readers should also have a working knowledge of mobile operating systems, such as Motorola Android and Apple iPhone operating systems. PhoneGap Download / Learn more Intermediate
At first glance, PhoneGap provides a very easy tool to help web and mobile developers quickly get their app to application stores using one codebase. With this article, I’ll help you dig a little bit deeper into how to use PhoneGap to take advantage of a few tricks of the trade that can help you develop faster and produce better applications. In this article, I share lessons that I learned while developing with PhoneGap for both Android and iOS devices for the popular social-drinking application, Untappd.
Doesn’t PhoneGap just work?
Let’s face it—we all know why we use PhoneGap: It’s one of the best tools out there to help take mobile and web-designed applications and transfer them to native App Stores without having to learn new languages. PhoneGap APIs are simple and easy to use compared to HTML5 functions. PhoneGap APIs make developing that much easier, however, with all great power, comes great responsibility. When developing simple applications that don’t require a data connection and serve static information, the PhoneGap solution works without fail. It does what it’s supposed to do: It allows web developers to build native applications with HTML5, CSS, or JavaScript. When you add more complex CSS3 elements, heavy transitions, and supporting multiple devices (such as iOS and Android), however, it makes you realize that there are few steps you must iron out to prevent hair loss. Through developing for PhoneGap, I’ve learned a lot of tips and tricks to make your PhoneGap apps perform well and even better than its native counterparts. Some web developers overlook a major concern when developing PhoneGap apps: We forget that our app will run on a device that has far less CPU and memory power than our desktop.
Lesson learned: Understanding native design and development patterns
When you first look at PhoneGap website, the most powerful phrase that jumps out at you is its ability to publish one codebase to up to seven different application stores. While that is certainly true, it’s important to understand the design and development principles for those devices that you plan on supporting as a native application. First and foremost, your PhoneGap application must act and feel like based on what users have come to expect from native applications versus web applications. For example, don’t require the user to “wait” to perform an action, such as a Friend Request or to “Like” something. Ideally, let users go about their business in your application without showing them the dreaded “loading symbol.” Instagram does a great job with this, especially around posting photos. Once the user selects the filter, Instagram starts uploading the photo to their servers. The user still has to enter the caption, location, and sharing option, but the photo gets a head start. This makes the experience fast and easy for the user. If the user decides to change their selection, Instagram deletes the photo later. Keeping up with this development pattern can help your application feel more native and as if it is working faster. On the design side, there are very important layout patterns to follow. For example, let’s take a look at a popular Android and iOS application called foursquare.
iOS Android
Figure 1. The foursquare app interaface on the iPhone and on the Android
While the two interfaces look very similar from a content perspective, they have one key difference in the form of a navigation and action bar. On iOS, the navigation bar is located at the bottom of the interface, while on Android, the navigation bar is located below the foursquare banner. This design pattern is common across many other applications including Twitter. The main reason that the navigation bars are switched on these platform is the presence of the physical or soft buttons that exist at the bottom of the device on Android. Adding a navigation bar at the bottom might cause the users to “fat finger” (to mistakenly press) the physical or soft buttons and interrupt their experience. While this may seem like a small change, beauty is really in the eye of the “holder” of the device. As a developer you want your app to mesh with the other apps on that platform; you don’t want your app to appear to be a clone of an app intended for another platform. Understanding the design principles of your target platform can help your application appeal to that user of that platform. You don’t want to an Android user to re-learn how to use your application because it doesn’t conform to common Android design patterns. While this may require creating multiple code bases, it’s really only the header and footer that need to change, not the inner content (that should always stay the same). These sorts of user interface tweaks can make your PhoneGap application feel much more native and provide the user with a better experience.
Lesson learned: Living by DOM
The DOM, otherwise known as Document Object Model, isn’t quite your best friend when building PhoneGap applications. One of the downsides to making rich, feature-heavy transitions and effects is the number of times that the DOM must change. For example, when you click a button and want an overlay to appear on the page, you must alter the DOM to show that element. On a desktop computer, this process is seamless because your browser has a lot more resources to work with and the Javacsript-rendering engine is better. Mobile browsers generally lack those resources. What’s even more concerning is differences between running a web-application through the mobile browsers (Safari for iOS, Browser/Chrome for Android), and their native Web View components (which is called UIWebView for iOS and WebView for Android). With PhoneGap, those two objects are combined into a single entity called the Cordova WebView. In iOS5, Apple introduced a JavaScript-rendering system called Nitro that compiled JavaScript using JIT (Just-In-Time) processing. This helped the browser quickly load the JavaScript only as was needed, speeding up page loads. The downside to this is that any third-party applications running in the UIWebView (such as PhoneGap) are not be able to use this feature, as it is disabled. With this in mind, your web app might run faster in the native Safari for iOS browser than in your PhoneGap Embedded WebView. This creates a unique problem for applications that use JavaScript heavily. Also, as you start to add more complex CSS3 elements, or hide and show pages with complex HTML structures, you might run into a situations where your applications become sluggish. Page transitions may cause the screen to flicker and load content in a choppy way. These type of actions degrade the user experience and make your app feel only like a web app, instead of a native app. While there are many solutions to conquer this problem, there are some solutions that I have found that help you miminze choppy loading and increase performance: 1. Hardware acceleration for your browser Given that your target web browser must support WebKit (specifically on iOS), you must specify the browser to add hardware acceleration to certain elements. You can do this by using the CSS properity translate3d. Typically you use this element to translate elements on a page, however, if you use the properties and don’t set any parameters, it specifies to the browser that it should start rendering content using browser hardware acceleration. Say for example, you have your HTML structured as follows:
<div id=”content-area”> <div id=”page-1” class=”page”> … </div> <div id=”page-2” class=”page”> … </div> </div>
You must apply the translate3d properity to the div.class element as follows:
div.page { -webkit-transform: translate3d(0,0,0); }
The above code triggers the CSS to be hardware accelerated, which makes scrolling and transitions much smoother on your iOS device. On the Android side, I have seen weird side effects when using this technique; I do not recommend using this property on that platform. However, the rendering on the Android WebView (especially on larger devices) appears a little more powerfully than on iOS. Note: This code only works in WebKit browsers. Remove the –webkit-prefix to allow this to work in other browsers. 2. Gradients and Box Shadows are a developer’s worst friend With the introduction on CSS3, using Gradients and Box Shadows allow most web developers to create awesome visual elements. However, these properties are very taxing on a mobile brower. In my experience, I have seen that removing gradients from item rows can increase performance significantly. Use these properties sparingly in a “News Feed style” and don’t apply them multiple times within in your structure. You can still use these styles for buttons and for other one-time elements, but stay away from using them in feeds or in areas where you are changing the DOM structure frequently. 3. Use templates and pre-compile them! When building Untappd version 2, we were getting data from our server in JSON format and wanted to build re-useable templates to quickly format the data and display it to the user. We settled on using HandlebarsJS because it offered us the ability to add logic into our templates and the ability to pre-compile the HTML templates into JavaScript-optimized versions for better performance. Through compiling, we were able to increase page rendering by two times compared to the time taken to page render pages that were not pre-compiling. 4. Minimize your DOM structure When building your HTML structure, most web developers don’t need to worry about reaching the limits of children nodes in an HTML structure. With a mobile device, however, you are limited because of the maximum memory allocation to the WebView. Believe it or not, you can crash a WebView due to an excessively large HTML structure. A great way to decrease your HTML footprint is to decrease the child elements your main structure. For example, if your HTML structure looked like the following:
<ul> <li> <a onclick=”doSomething();”>Stuff</a> </li> </ul>
You could always change the structure, as follows:
<ul> <li onclick=”doSomething();i> Stuff </li> </ul>
This can save you an extra level and, of course, you could always swap out onclick for ontouchend to have your code perform better on your mobile device. Of course this is not the be-all-end-all list of improvements you can make to your PhoneGap app, but these tips can ceratinly help you improve the performance and usability of the app.
Lesson learned: Testing and debugging
One of the most complicated tasks when building your PhoneGap app is debugging and testing. With a web application designed for mobile, you have the ability to quickly push fixes to your users, but, when submitting your application to the store, you are subject to the approval process for updates, which can take some time. Therefore, it’s imperative that you test your application extensively before launching it. With this in mind, it can be very difficult to test an application running on a phone. On the web, there are tools like Web Insepector and Firebug that allow you to see XHR requests and inspect DOM elements, however, testing on the phone becomes a little more challenging. Luckily, PhoneGap offers a great tool that can make debugging those nagging issues a lot easier. Weinre, a DOM and XHR inspector, is a tool availale for remote debugging of PhoneGap applications. With Weinre, you are able to see XHR requests, inspect the DOM, and do JavaScript profiling to see when and where re-flows occur in your application. To get started with Weinre, just add a simple line of JavaScript to your index.html file, as follows:
<script src="http://debug.phonegap.com/target/target-script-min.js#anonymous"></script>
It’s very important to make sure you change the default hash (in this case #anonymous) to something unique and secret so that no one can access that page. If you do not, an unauthorized user could potentially have access to your code via the Web Console. Once you have done this, browse to the PhoneGap Debug page. Follow the steps listed and make sure to include the unique hash that you used previously in the text box. Once you complete this you can now use the Web Inspector and XHR tools to get a better idea of what is going on under the hood of your PhoneGap app. This can help you troubleshoot issues quickly and more efficiently.
Summary
Some of the challenges I discussed may make building a PhoneGap application seem slightly daunting, but hopefully my experiences can spare you some difficulties. The truth is, if you follow the design and development patterns and use some DOM performance tips, many people won’t even notice that you used PhoneGap; but many will think they are using a native application, which is one of the goals of the platform. Of course, it is also always most important to focus on building a great app instead of building a great iOS or Android app.In a previous post, I applied a consequential analysis of a “pro-life” moral rules regime–with respect to abortion– to infer abortion on demand was the only “defensible” libertarian position(note: a bit of subtlety, but decoration with the libertarian adjective intentionally limited the scope of AoD being the only defensible position within the libertarian sphere. I wouldn’t claim that AoD would be the only defensible moral position if the scope were broadened).
Frankly, it wasn’t that particularly difficult to debunk the “pro-life” libertarian position. You simply start with the examination of the moral claim that “you can’t protect liberty without protecting life.” Well, that’s a bullshit statement because you actually can’t enforce violations against life without first defining your moral constraints against liberty. There are two exceptions to this: pacifism and total violence. But pacifism isn’t enforceable–in the sense that the enforcement of its moral claims would itself be a violation–and total violence produces no enforceable claims(there is nothing to enforce).
Once we accept that there are moral constraints against moral claims of life(an obvious example would be “self-defense”) it is a straight-forward exercise to arrive at AoD as the only enforcement regime that is not burdened by ad-hoc pacifist obligations. If, on the other hand, we make allowances for such things as “the sanctity of life,” then we introduce ad-hoc pacifist obligations into the enforcement regime. With respect to modern Christian moral claims(Christianity is the typical moral foundation for “sanctity of life”), you will likely end up with an enforcement regime that places a burden of murder against any young female who does not carry any pregnancy to term while making an exception the size of a mountain for older women who have advanced beyond optimal childbearing years–in terms of the allowance for spontaneous abortions and “assisted reproduction technologies.”
It should be easy to see the regime consequences of enforcing these ad-hoc pacifist obligations: A Political Economy of Pregnancy Enforcement. This political economy certainly gives rise to “registration,” “inspection,” “direction,” “rule-of-law driven,” “enrollment,” “indoctrination,” “control,” etc….In other words, the enforcement regime has to be collectivized. Collectivization of an enforcement regime breeds an industry of political economy. This is axiomatic.
“Regime Consequences” regarding the enforcement consequences of moral obligations should be a staple of libertarian deconstruction. But this method is often dismissed because it perhaps smacks of “consequentialism,” which is generally a dirty word in libertarian circles. If consequentialism simply means that liberty is derived as the end product of a utilitarian calculation, then I’m in full agreement with hating that word. However, if we begin with a presumption of liberty and understand that reason only applies to means and not ends, then “consequentialism” is the only productive method available. Everything else is just bullshit.
The Regime Consequences of Enforcing the “Moral Obligations” of IP & Copyright
Let us understand why IP and Copyright have become a topic of bitter dispute. Today, a market process applied to the digitization of human ideas turns the latter effectively into a “public good.” By “market process” I simply mean a process of cooperative exchange that originates outside the State Regime of political economy. I mean it very much in the old French Liberal sense of “laissez faire.” By “Public Good,” I mean it literally in the neoclassical sense, that is a good that effectively is non-rivalrous and non-excludable. That Laissez-Faire is driving human knowledge to a status of a “public good” is short-circuiting quite a few moral foundations.
Particularly among the libertarians. A pertinent example would be the recent Stephen Kinsella vs J Neil Schulman debate. Kinsella, who has experience in the legal aspects of the IP/Copyright regime, has recognized that the enforcement obligations of IP/Copyright spells doom for any meaningful sense of liberty. Thus, he has been busy reformulating “Austrian” foundations in terms of an anti-IP slant. Schulman, of course, is not interested in any this. He remains steadfast to the Objectivist moral foundation which places Intellectual Property at the epicenter of property rights and human reason itself.
Schulman will take the moral claims derived from the Objectivist foundation to the logical endpoint: a denial of “identity” itself without the recognition by others of the intellectual product of human reason. To me, this is an example of the logical endpoint of Objectivism managing to bump into the rear-end of Charles Taylor and the communitarians. Taylor’s theory of recognition is noted for denying the possibility of agent identity outside of a group context; and the group can only achieve its own identity via the recognition and acceptance by other groups. The communitarians have always denied liberalism’s category of the State as artificial, insisting instead on the ancient view that regarded “the Polis”(the State) as a natural fabric of civil society. In the liberal era, the struggle against the re-unification of the Polis with civil society is the underlying basis of “libertarian class theory.” The means of this unification, of course, is political economy. The communitarian dream of reunification will be wrought on the back of political economy. And no better foundation for this political economy than Intellectual Property. What Rand deemed the essential component of human identity, the thing she warned “the collectivists” would attack, is actually the thing the collectivists will use to forever reunify the Polis as a natural fabric of human society.
The One Public Good the State Managed to Produce–by Accident–Defines the 21st Century Political Economy Battleground
Our Progressive worshippers of authority are always chirping about the State and “public goods.” Of course, other than “defense,” there are very few actual instances of “public goods,” and most of the progressive chirping is an exercise in conflation between “public works” and “public goods.” But as we well know,the simple exercise of digging a ditch eternally binds one to moral obligation to the regime under the banner cry of “but who will dig the ditches?!!!”
Now our progressive friends are usually quite fond of informing us that the government(usually a specific government, the US Government) “invented” the internet. Now this is silly because there is no such thing as “the internet” as a single entity that was invented by any single agency. But in another sense, it is a half-truth in that the cumulative evolution of the packet-switch, global wide-area network required a ton of standardization up and down the IP stack. This standardization was an intentional, self-conscious, directed process that involved quite of(albeit largely informal) public-private “joint cooperation.” It is actually the one example of Hayek’s “planning for competition.” However, given that Western governments at the time mostly treated Telcos as public utilities, there was simply no other alternative process available. But a clinching factor was the adoption of TCP/IP– tcp/ip being one particular implementation of the OSI model–by the US Military in the early 1980s. TCP/IP has its origins in DARPA, but TCP/IP supplanted other OSI implementations around the world simply because it was adopted by the world’s preeminent global military superpower. Not because it was a superior implementation.
So the accurate statement regarding the internet is not that the Government is responsible for the existence of packet-switched, WAN networking, but rather that it is largely responsible for our particular implementation of it. Specifically, we can certainly give attribution to the US Military for the fact of a global tcp/ip standard.
The end product of this high degree of standardization in our packet-switched, WAN network is more or less an efficient “small network,” meaning the number of segments between any two arbitrary nodes approaches a small number(e.g. the “six degrees of separation” concept). Now the “public good” is not actually the network itself but the low-entropy product it is transporting: namely the digital transcription/copy/representation of human knowledge. Human knowledge effectively has become a public good. To state the three reasons for this:
(1) the efficiency from a high degree of network standardization: the global small network
(2) the low entropy of human language
(3) the relentless progression of Moore’s Law
The State finally plays a role in producing a “public good” other than defense. But the role was restricted to the resolution of coordination problems(an informal but vital role in the coordination of standards) that enabled the provision of the good and did not encompass the actual provision of the good itself. That is, the process of standardization was intentional, but the end product, our public good of consumable digital knowledge(not at all dependent on the State), was not intended.1 As soon as the “public good” became apparent, State actors revved up the political competition in the artificial exclusion to this good. In a real sense, when the State began passing its Digital Copyright Acts to enforce artificial exclusion to this good, it became clear which political critique, libertarian vs progressive, had the more accurate model of the State. Unfortunately, a political economy in the artificial exclusion to a public good of human knowledge is the very thing that can bring all of human economic activity under the political umbrella of State agency. In libertarian class terms, it is total war.
Plutocracy vs Oligarchy
Plutocracy is rule by a political class that for its own ends(usually identified as wealth). But plutocracy is not a condition where the political classes are united. Oligarchy is the condition of plutocratic unity. Generally, the political classes, globally speaking, are not united. What would unite them would be these secretly negotiated trade deals for a uniform “legal” standard in enforcing artificial exclusion to digital copies of human knowledge. It’s just another example of the consequences of “trade” serving “moral ends” and the extent moral ends can expropriated by agency. The extent of the expropriation can be seen by comparing Bastiat’s statement concerning trade and peace with that of the WTO. “Peace through Trade” can have a doublethink meaning. George Orwell provided us with the Oligarchical Collectivist interpretation of peace. Peace can also be a product of oligarchical unity.
The final coup d’etat is the militarization of the administration of the network. Currently, the administration of the internet is largely civil. But the US government’s blatant attempts to trigger a militarization of the internet serves the ends of a militarized political economy of network administration. The civil administration of the network is then supplanted by a corrupt, compliance standards regime that will in large part be engaged in the monitoring and blockage of “unauthorized traffic.” And what do you think will compose 99.999999999% of this “unauthorized traffic.” Of course, IP and copyright violations.
In case you haven’t noticed, DHS is significantly involved in the enforcement of IP and Copyright. The synthesis of political competition in the public goods of security and human knowledge that results in an equilibrium outcome of oligarchical unity not only represents the apex of Authoritarian porn but promises to turn a potential instrument of human utopia into a dystopian instrument of the most efficient and awesome spying and control mechanism possibly imaginable.
Methodology Matters
To bring this discussion back to the moral claims of J Neil Schulman, I conclude thusly: I reject Schulman’s moral claim regarding IP and Copyright because my methodology informs me that the regime consequences of the enforcement of his moral claim is oligarchical collectivism. The question of whether or not IP and Copyright require the State for enforcement is irrelevant. The State is going to use the enforcement of artificial exclusion to human knowledge as the means for a totalitarian outcome. If your own personal identity requires others to recognize your IP legal status claim regarding your mental constructions, then you need a new moral foundation.
1 An interesting discussion is to consider if purely organic market processes could likewise evolve something similar to our current internet implementation. Often, the “internet” is mistakenly identified as a type of “decentralized” network. But that’s an incomplete characterization. The “decentralizing” characteristics are emergent properties of a large degree of centralized standardization(=resolution of coordination problems). The more accurate adjectives would be “small network” and “resiliency” in place of “decentralized.” In any event, the question is interesting but irrelevant. It’s now a matter of “path dependency.” It’s in place; it works; it does not require any type of formal State central body to continue to work. The interesting question now is the extent the State corrupts it by introducing compliance–i.e., standards as a function of “planning against competition”–into the network.
AdvertisementsTerry Stotts and the Portland Trail Blazers will begin negotiating a contract extension now that the team's season is over, according to a recent report from Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.
The news -- to anyone who has followed this team's dream season -- is no surprise. In fact, the story comes on the heels of Joe Freeman's declaration that Terry Stotts deserves a long-term contract extension following the Trail Blazers' Game 3 win over the Warriors on May 7.
Stotts' contract has a team option that would keep him in Portland through the 2016-17 season, but the Blazers are looking to lock up their head coach with a long-term deal.
Here's a look at more background on Terry Stotts' masterful season and his performance since arriving in Portland and guiding the Trail Blazers:ABN - 79 332 654 835 Local History - Aboriginal History - Family History
A voluntary project, however donations are welcome via the Paypal button at the bottom of this page to help with travel costs to access libraries and archives.
Th e following website's main purpose is to make available, information that will help Aboriginal people with their family history and those wanting to confirm family stories of possible Aboriginal ancestry. The tab above will take you to the free to access index. The area covered is New England NSW and in particular the towns of Armidale, Bundarra, Glen Innes, Inverell, Tenterfield, Walcha and Wollomombi. I am doing this as a voluntary project and hope that it will help many people find their roots.
I have been lucky to have received emails of thanks from people who have found their missing link. Sometimes records are hard to dig up, or family stories are not shared. I wish you all the best in your search and hope that you find who you are looking for.
Please note that the following index contains the names of Aboriginal people who are now deceased. Some of the language used in the historical documents cited is now seen as inappropriate by today's standards. This language has been included for historical accuracy and is often written in quotation marks.
To access the index of historical records, click on the link at the bottom of this page.
Facebook Page I now have a Facebook page and separate discussion group which will help in the sharing of information. I love hearing about what you discover on my site, so feel free to send me an email. Always willing to share my advice and tips as well.
Access the collection in Armidale At the beginning of 2018 I started volunteering in the Family History room at the Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. I have donated copies of my research to the Centre and documents are available in digital format or hardcopy. My volunteer day is Wednesdays. Email for an appointment. research@armidalehistory.com
https://www.facebook.com/AboriginalHistoryNewEngland/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/AboriginalHistoryNewEngland/
Bush Camp
Original Photos are located at the UNE Archives and the State Library. Early photo of an Aboriginal camp near Armidale. Taken by C Brown Photographer who was working in Armidale in 1892. I am confident that the man standing on the right is King Bobby. It is thought that this photo may have been taken on the North Hill Camp which was on and behind where the Apex Lookout it today.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School - 1950s Mother Celestine with students shortly after St Mary's Catholic Primary School started enrolling Aboriginal Students as part of their mission to the Aboriginal people of Armidale. Source: Australian Woman's Weekly Magazine. Wed 6 November 1957. (article can be found on TROVE)
'Black Emily' - Armidale 1914
Update: The latest theory is that Emily was the wife of King Bobby / Robert King. She married Alexander McKenzie after the passing of Bobby. She died on the train from Guyra as Alexander was rushing her to the Armidale Hospital with a respiratory illness. The similarities of her and a photo of her and Bobby taken circa 1905 are striking. Reference: UNE Heritage Centre Armidale - Saumarez Photo Collection. If anyone has any more information about 'Black Emily' we would love to know. The second photo of the two is believed to have been taken on the day of the wedding shortly before she died unfortunately. 'Black Emily' who with other Aboriginal people is said to have attended Harold White's wedding to Molly Baker where they sat in the White family pew. Both |
late.
Turns out, the spark that ignites a rage inside Mr. Romney is the sight of a Republican. A Republican who is actually winning, that is.
Apparently, Mr. Romney is not content just losing to President Obama. He is now hellbent on losing to Hillary Clinton as well. In back-to-back elections.
The flip-flopping father of Romneycare came out swinging Thursday calling Donald Trump a fraud, a phony and a con man. For a wimpy loser, these are serious fighting words.
SEE ALSO: Donald Trump dismisses Mitt Romney: ‘Failed candidate,’ ‘was begging’ for endorsement in 2012
But, man, Mittens, where were all these raging haymakers back four years ago when you were running against a failed president in a terrible economy? Where was this kind of fight when you were running — and losing — one of the most important presidential races in a lifetime?
“He disappeared,” Mr. Trump later explained. “Mitt was looking for zoning for a nine-car garage in California or something.”
Youch! (By the way, Mitty, that is what you call a real haymaker.)
It is one thing to be a loser. But it is something entirely different and so much more deplorable to be a loser AND someone who despises the sight of winning.
Not to mention also being a duplicitous, two-faced hypocrite.
Reprising Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s despicable attack on Mr. Romney from the Senate floor in 2012 claiming he had not paid his taxes, Mr. Romney now makes the same blind charge against Mr. Trump.
Most astonishing, Mr. Romney even attacked Mr. Trump over changing his positions. Seriously? This, from the guy who was the original flip-flopper on abortion, socialized medicine, guns, immigration, global warming and even Ronald Reagan?
I guess you have to give at least one thing to him. Mr. Romney is an expert on frauds, phonies and con men. He gazes into the eyes of one every morning that he shaves.
Four years ago, Mr. Romney was all to happy to shower Mr. Trump with praise for his business smarts in exchange for his political donations and desperately-needed endorsement. Mr. Trump explained later that he hosted Mr. Romney for two fundraisers at Trump Tower. Mr. Trump said he had to replace the carpets afterwards because they were ruined.
Now, unwanted Mr. Romney is ruining America’s carpet and he should be shown the door and beaten with a newspaper on the way out.
If Mr. Romney wants to blame somebody for the rise of Mr. Trump, he can only blame himself. If he and his small-minded, pathetic 47-percent mentality had not lost so miserably in 2012, we would today be talking about his nomination to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and his re-election campaign.
Instead, we have a Civil War in the party Mr. Romney destroyed.
Mr. Romney, you had your shot. You failed America. Go away.
• Charles Hurt can be reached at [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at @charleshurt.
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Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.Illustration: Dan Evans
David Morse is suddenly apologetic. A wounded calf has returned from the vet unexpectedly early and he must tend to it immediately, interrupting our phone call. The calf is months old and has had a "very nasty" fall, snapping her leg clean in two. The farmer is desperate to see how the wound has healed and if the "poor lass" is recovering.
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David has worked his 500 acres of land in County Durham for the past 40 years, and often – like most within the agricultural sector – is woken at 2AM by a rogue cow or a wandering hen.
However, I'm not on the phone to discuss any of that. The reason I'm talking to David is because I'm wondering what might happen to people like him if the relentlessly-growing trend for going vegan continues. In 2016, a study found that at least 542,000 people in the UK are vegan – a 350 percent rise on ten years before. Yes, that number accounts for just under 1 percent of the country's population, but let's assume it keeps growing exponentially and, 50 years from now, we exist globally on an exclusively plant-based diet, like in that Simon Amstell show, or Heather Mills' wildest fever dreams – no production, no exportation, no nothing.
What happens to the UK economy? What happens to all those meat and fish-related jobs?
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), approximately 500,000 people in the UK work within farming "enterprises", including both livestock and arable / horticultural farmers. The latest figures show that over 17 million hectares of UK land are currently farmed, and that, in 2016, more than 10 million cows, 33 million sheep, 4.9 million pigs and almost 173 million poultry animals were reared by British farmers.
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With our largely omnivorous population, those animals produce a tidy profit for the British economy. Currently, farming and agriculture contributes about £24 billion of revenue, and £8.5 billion of Gross Value Added, to the UK economy, not including the food, service and hospitality industries that are also affected by the productivity of British agriculture. While this industry only directly accounts for 1.35 percent of the British workforce, it largely exists in concentrated areas. According to George Dunn, Chief Executive of the Farming Tenant Association, there are several areas of the country (parts of the Lake District and the Welsh uplands, for example) where "livestock production is the only feasible industry you have – you couldn't do anything else".
The fishing industry is much smaller, with 12,100 active fishermen working in 2015, and UK vessels landing a total of £775 million worth of fish.
WATCH: How to Make the Best Vegan Sandwich
Sean Rickard is a former economic advisor to the European Commission on all things farming and food-related. I ask him, roughly speaking, how many jobs would be at stake should we all go vegan. "You're looking at about 100,000 to 200,000 livelihoods," he says, "then you've got other areas that would be affected, such as tourism, foreign trade and, of course, the food industry."
Given that "food and drink is the UK's largest manufacturing sector", if we erased the majority of Britain's dietary staple, surely the food industry would face a massive hit? "Yep, probably around 100,000 jobs in food industries. Over time we'd find a way to replace them."
"Economically speaking," says Sean, "sales of food and drink in Britain are about £200 billion, per year. You would have to replace all the meat and dairy, which it simply wouldn't be possible to do. We'd have to import a hell of a lot of food, which would be a hell of a cost to the economy – probably around £50 or £60 billion per year."
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The latest figures support Sean's theory that, even if we did manage to produce shed-loads more plant-based products ourselves, they simply don't make as much money. Figures from DEFRA show that farmed crops contributed about £8 billion to the UK economy in 2016, whereas livestock output (including milk and eggs) generated around £12.7 billion. Not that the livestock farmers get to see much of it.
"Farmers are increasingly squeezed by large retailers, who push unfair pressures through the supply chain," says George Dunn. "It's really tough to earn a living; we have lots of families who are using tax credits to get by."
Only 16 percent of farmers earn an average salary of more than £50,000 a year. The general picture for livestock farmers is much more modest, with an average annual salary of £20,000, or £16,500 if you're in Wales. Purely plant-based farms, however, take home around £30,000 to £60,000 per year. Hence, if we all went vegan, it wouldn't be the wealthier farmers feeling the pinch.
"You'd be hitting the small-scale farms, which many want to keep in the countryside," says Sean Rickard. "Small-scale farmers can only entertain livestock. To farm arable crops, you need much more land and bigger, expensive machinery."
Beyond the farms themselves exist entire communities that, without livestock produce, would be pretty much destroyed. "Rural communities and rural farms would be totally crippled," says Michael Oaks, dairy farmer and Chair of the National Farming Union Dairy Board. "There's a whole raft of small dairies in the countryside that would go out of business, and I have at least 35 different companies that supply me with all sorts of things, from bedding for cows, to fencing, to feeds. Every year, I spend hundreds of thousands within the local community."
As well as the local corner shops, Michael's milk supplies butter brands such as Anchor, Arla and Cravendale – which would also take a hit in an alternate vegan universe. "There are people in the food processing industry that rely on us for the raw materials," says Michael. "If you take the farms out of rural economies, they will die. Nobody will make any money, so no one will go to the pubs because they won't be able to afford a pint."
Photo: Flickr user Takver, via
A fourth generation farmer, Anna Longthorp has tended to pigs and cows on her family's farm in east Yorkshire since she was old enough to walk, and now runs her own pork-specialist enterprise and butchery, Anna's Happy Trotters. "I've always been interested in the pigs," she says, chirpily. "They were far more interesting than crops – and I absolutely love them."
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When I put the question of job losses as a result of a national veganism epidemic to Anna, she lists a load of professions I hadn't even considered – a collection of professions involved in producing livestock and animal produce that's of a high enough standard to sell: "Holliers; abattoir assistants; agronomists; drainage engineers; forage nutritionists; vets – there would be a massive impact on job losses," Anna says.
David Morse has a similarly horrified reaction when I ask him the same question.
"The labour force would be hugely reduced," he says. "We'd have to turn to mechanical farming instead. There are so many businesses involved with our farm in order to get to the end product. The local vets, for instance, specialise in livestock. We have about 20 to 30 wagons coming onto the farm every day to supply us with something or other."
Pig farmer Anna informs me there are people literally employed to trim cows' hooves. There's an on-call rat-trapper for most farms, and even a professional chicken sexer, hired to distinguish the sex of chicks.
But if we spared the lives of God's creatures in favour of a plant-based diet, surely such jobs would simply be replaced with a niche, plant-specialist workforce? Not quite. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be as simple as everyone just switching to growing crops, partly because there just wouldn't be the demand, and also because the British countryside can't accommodate it.
Dr Jude Cappa is an animal scientist and Livestock Sustainability consultant, and is often called upon by the food industry to advise on environmental issues. As someone who spends her time uncovering the myriad ways in which animal rearing aids the environment, she finds the prospect of an entirely vegan society "very, very frightening".
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"Yes, cattle does release methane, but the benefits for the environment of grazing livestock far outweighs the costs," she says. "It's fantastic for the bio-diversity of the land – we can now use much more of the land than we used to be able to as a result of grazing. Farming animals may actually be better for the carbon footprint. Without animals, you'd have to use manufactured fertilisers, which means using more fossil fuels and chemicals."
"Not only that," she continues, "but the land isn't suitable for us to farm other things."
According to Sean Rickard, it would be almost impossible to farm purely arable crops in about a third of the British countryside, due to the under-nourished nature of the land. "Roughly speaking," he says, "if you draw a line from Edinburgh to Southampton, we've always grown plants to the right and reared meat and dairy to the left." Growing crops on hills is pretty much impossible, so you'd end up with "half the country with nothing growing". Not only would the land be bare, but it would get pretty ugly, too. According to The National Trust: "The rapid reduction of livestock farming would be disastrous for cherished species or habitats."
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board produced a report recently that detailed what would happen to the great British countryside without livestock farming. To name a few potential repercussions, you'd see: a loss of trees and wildlife; large areas of bracken, scrub inhabited by dormice; scatterings of granite boulders; wild, unkempt feral animals; and mass flooding due to dilapidated fencing. As it turns out, much of the UK's landscape as it stands today is a direct result of British livestock farmers – and their animals, of course.
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"You need animals to keep the grass down," says Sean. "In short, you need animals to keep the countryside going."
UPDATE 20/09/17: A previous version of this article stated that chicken sexers are hired to encourage chickens to mate, when actually they distinguish what sex a chick is.
More on VICE:
The Unhealthy Truth Behind 'Wellness' and 'Clean Eating'
There Is Nothing Pretentious About Being a Vegan
Clean Eating Is Giving Veganism a Bad NameOver the river, through the woods and armed with a plane ticket to the mystical depths of Central Europe lies jaw dropping mountain peaks, hills of rich green grass and crisp cerulean lakes that are screaming to be dove into on a summer day. And while these locales might be the reason for most travelers’ journeys, deep in the heart of central Europe, in the country of Slovenia, lies an exclusive vino treasure.
While exploring Slovenia’s major cities one can find stunning architecture dating back centuries, chefs who excel in the culinary arts and also one of our favorite things: wine. But the most interesting way to encounter Slovenia’s wine isn’t by tasting it, but instead by journeying to the city of Maribor to visit the oldest living vine in the world.
While walking around the old part of the city, you may, however, miss this natural wonder if you walk too quickly past Vojašniška street. There, leaning up against a non-descript pale eggshell house is a lone, ash-colored trunk. A simple, black steel fence protects this branch-like structure, which looks as if it has been petrified and never removed from where it resides.
But while the trunk may look ancient and old, as you walk toward the vine and look up you’re greeted by lush, forest green leaves climbing up the wall of the house. A little closer look and you will notice huge bunches of plump grapes hanging from the vine, just waiting to be plucked. Meet “Old Vine,” the oldest grape producing vine in the world that’s still very much alive and well.
Standing tall next to what is now known as the Old Vine House, this viticulture beauty hasn’t moved since it was planted back in the 1500s – meaning it’s been in that same spot for nearly 500 years. In fact, it you stop by Styrian Provincial Museum in Austria, you can find paintings of Vojašniška street that are dated around the mid-1600s, and in the artwork you will find Old Vine, leaning up against the same building as it is today.
That isn’t the only record of this vine’s extensive age. In 1972, a professor from the University of Ljubljana declared after some light drilling and investigating that the vine showed the age of 375 years if not older. This vine is truly an antique and has gone against the odds to stay alive.
And the odds were not always in her favor either. Remember Napoleon? Old Vine withstood his rampage. Remember World War I? Old Vine stood strong through the conflict. This vine didn’t let anything get in her way. The city was occupied by the Nazis and bombed during World War II. We will repeat: the city was bombed in World War II. Yet, the building and Old Vine survived. Not only did it survive, it still pumped out grapes for wine. Can you imagine trying to push out grapes while your city was being occupied by the Nazis?
But that might be just what is keeping the vine going. You know the stories of elderly people claiming that eating for the love of food or working a job they were passionate about kept them alive? Vines produce grapes when they’re stressed because they want the grapes to get picked up by wildlife and taken somewhere else so the vine can grow and live in peace. So for a vine to be this old and still be pumping out grapes it probably has more stress marks than your father after you got your driver’s license.
Stress aside, let’s talk about the fruit. The large bunches of rich, dark grapes are beautiful on the vine and are also beautiful in the glass. Old Vine grows one of Slovenia’s noble grapes, Žametovka. These grapes are super juicy and sweeter than candy – a sweetness and richness that comes from Old Vine’s age. As the vine gets older it doesn’t grow as many grapes but the quality of what is produced goes up exponentially. Basically these grapes are super high quality, and since they come from the oldest vine in the world, they’re one of a kind.
So where do you send one of a kind grapes to age into one of a kind wine? Underneath the roots of the vine itself. Below the city of Maribor lies the Vinag wine cellar, one of central Europe’s oldest cellars. The cellar is huge, dark, a little musty and has tunnels that stretch around two and a half kilometers. So while you’re taking a tour through the underground wine-dungeon, the Old Vine juice is transforming into an extremely small batch of sweet vino.
When we say small batch, we really mean it. Old Vine only produces about 35 to 55 kilograms of fruit each year, so the wine is a little bit hard to come by. So hard to come by, that only about one hundred 250 milliliter bottles are made each year. We’re dying for just a single sip of possibly the rarest wine in the world and we imagine you are too, but there isn’t even a waitlist for this one. Old Vine doesn’t go through all of this stress for just anyone.
This vino is so rare, so special, that the city of Maribor only gives it out as gifts to dignitaries, officials and other prominent figures. So unless you have some connections to the Pope, Bill Clinton or Arnold Schwarzenegger, you might be out of luck (and it might be time to make some new friends). But wine isn’t the only commodity of Old Vine that is shared with gratitude: each year, Maribor gives a graft of Old Vine to a noble city in order to spread the love of wine, which allows new vines to grow. Maybe letting Old Vine migrate like it has wanted to do for the past 400 years is the city’s way of saying, “sorry for stressing you out so much and making you grow grapes.” Either way, it’s a beautiful gesture.
While we may or may not be willing to sell the rights to our first-born child for a bottle of Old Vine’s wine, with such extreme rarity, rich history and superb roots this wine might be one to cherish with our eyes and handle with care, just like the magnificent vine from which it came.
Header & cellar image courtesy of The Slovenian Tourist Board
Festival photos courtesy of The Maribor-Pohorje Tourist BoardWhat can I say? My re-match did a freaking awesome job!! He didn't have to give me 3 shirts but he did and I TOTALLY LOVED THEM!!! Seriously thank you very much Nota_good_Idea!
And like I said in the title I'm glad it was not like my dream lol The day that he messaged me that he had sent the package and I saw that it was from Cali I started having weird dreams about what it could be. The one that I remember the most was me getting a huge box filled with Styrofoam peanuts, empty glass jars labeled "California Air" and in between all that there was a White XXL shirt that said "This is all you get" with a black Sharpie.
But today once I got the envelope I was glad it was not it lol though the Jars with air would had been funny but not needed since I'm actually moving to California in less than 3 weeks.
Anyways here are the 3 awesome shirts that he got me!! It is everything and more that I could had asked. He picked a "San Diego" shirt with a cute Sea Lion on it, a FREAKING BATMAN shirt that I see myself wearing often, and a NINJA PANDA(I love pandas) shirt that is just so freaking adorable!
I got some help opening the package by my feline assistant named Whiskey and he made sure that everything was in good condition and to his standards...and might I add that they are very high.
I apologize in advance for the bad pictures and for my face that is all big and swollen because I had my Yoda(wisdom) teeth removed yesterday so I might not look my best in them pics.
Thanks once again!!
PS: Oh and also thanks for the postcard(I don't know if you knew but I collect postcards from all around the world and didn't have one from San Diego. And stickers too, I like to put them on my laptop. lol :)Gordon Ramsay attends the Fox All-Star Party on Aug. 1, 2013, in West Hollywood, Calif. Photo silhouette by Slate. Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images
We have reached a certain unanimity about the middle-aged white men who dominate our small-screen landscape: that Breaking Bad’s Walter White is a walking Greek tragedy refitted for the never-ending Great Recession, that Louis C.K. is our existential bard of morality and ethics and how to be good, and that Gordon Ramsay is Satan in a chef’s jacket. Everyone hates Gordon Ramsay. If a Ramsay-hater feels her resolve fading, she can simply consult Grub Street’s useful “20 Most Despicable Things Gordon Ramsay Has Said and Done, Ranked.” Everyone has ample opportunities to hate him, too, as Ramsay hosts roughly two-fifths of the Fox television lineup (including MasterChef, Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, and Hotel Hell), is owner-proprietor of approximately one-sixteenth of the world’s dining establishments, and has insulted, screwed over, and/or instigated feuds with about one-eighth of the global foodie elite. His bellowing omnipresence has also made him obscenely rich and therefore still easier to hate: Ramsay pocketed $38 million in 2012 alone, making him Forbes’ top-earning celebrity chef, and according to Ad Week, Ramsay “has delivered north of $185 million in sales for Fox” just in the past year, including advance commitments for his latest show, MasterChef Junior, which premieres Friday.
That Ramsay is so reviled and yet so popular is no paradox. His on-air personality fulfills the same sadistic Schadenfreude that powers so much of reality TV. As with Simon Cowell, the fundamental contradiction at the heart of Ramsay’s charisma is that his sadism is intended to help beleaguered line cooks become the very best line cooks they can be. This is Ramsay’s sacrifice to the novice chefs of America: His name is no longer synonymous with sublime cuisine but with throat-shredding tantrums bouncing off the walls of a disgusting pantry full of moldering food in the bowels of an exurban strip mall’s second-most-popular family restaurant. His appeal partly rests on the assumption that Ramsay has to be standing in that disgusting pantry not just for a paycheck but because he thinks he can help these people clean up their pantry and accounts and wait staff and relationships with one another. The man could be literally anywhere else in the world right now, doing anything, and likely earning money for it, but there he is, waving a slimy block of congealed ground beef at the hapless owner of the Fiesta Sunrise in West Nyack, N.Y.
That’s sad, because nobody remembers anymore that Gordon Ramsay is a great chef. He used to collect Michelin stars the way Kanye West collects Grammys. His lucrative decline from culinary enfant terrible to apoplectic mass-market jester is rooted in the same quality that made him such a phenomenon—the same quality that he urges all of his victim-students to nurture in themselves: his insane, carnivorous notion of a work ethic. The man cannot stop working, and so he has taken what could have been an impeccable brand and worked it to death.
Ramsay came to prominence in the U.K. in the 1998 Channel Four documentary miniseries Boiling Point as a young, terrifyingly ambitious chef in single-minded pursuit of a third Michelin star. His perfectionism was surpassed in intensity only by his astonishing verbal abuse of his staff—all of whom, by the way, had just quit their jobs in solidarity with their tyrannical boss to follow him to his new, eponymous restaurant. (The show waits nine minutes before unleashing Ramsay’s first-ever televised shit fit, triggered by a glimpse of a bright blue Band-Aid on a waiter’s finger.) The Ramsay of Boiling Point was frequently appalling, but he was also an underdog worth rooting for: a true up-by-his-bootstraps success story, having traveled from a bleak council estate through some of the toughest kitchens in England and France (his mentor was the even screamier Marco Pierre White) to, by the mid ’90s, the gig as head chef at Aubergine, the London restaurant so exclusive it famously turned away Madonna. Ramsay would be denied that third Michelin star for another three years, a tortuous wait depicted in the 2000 sequel Beyond Boiling Point. As is the case with so many monomaniacs, though, finally harpooning his white whale wasn’t an entirely positive development for Ramsay; he could find nothing left to chase but fast-track empire-building and cheaply produced reality TV.
Not that all of that cheaply produced reality TV was terrible—quite the contrary, at least with the programs Ramsay made in the U.K., including the genuinely food-centric The F-Word, the frequently charming travelogue Gordon Ramsay’s Great Escape, and especially, the original incarnation of Kitchen Nightmares. Premiering in 2004, the U.K. Kitchen Nightmares provided an intimate, borderline meditative look inside businesses with a fighting chance of survival helmed by not entirely delusional owners. (The central quandary in the episode set at an upscale restaurant in Inverness is that the food is just too fancy.) The editing and sound are far less concussive than in their American counterparts, while Ramsay’s seismic eruptions feel more like natural phenomena; he achieves a fond rapport with many of his charges, even easing into the role of ad-hoc therapist.
The problem with even the best Ramsay TV, though, is the problem with all of Ramsay: There’s just too bloody much of it. Even Fox, the Ramsay Network, can’t handle the full Ramsay. Network head Kevin Reilly passed on a U.S. version of his British hit Gordon Behind Bars, in which Ramsay teaches cooking, small-business skills, and old-fashioned diligence in a south London prison; Reilly explained to the New York Post, “We have a lot of Gordon on the air right now.” Yet Gordon Behind Bars is a show after Rupert Murdoch’s heart—less a Jamie Oliver–ish endeavor to improve prisoners’ diet and job prospects and more an expression of Ramsay’s umbrage that Britain is too soft on her sedentary, TV-watching convict population: “I thought we were a nation of grafters,” Ramsay told the Guardian by way of explanation. “I thought we had the spirit of working harder than anyone.”
Ramsay is a grafter through and through, and that’s both the key to his kingdom and his tragic flaw. He is a man who can’t say no. Even taking into account his haul of lucre for Fox, Ramsay’s past few years have been a study in failing upward: His London gastropub Foxtrot Oscar got caught serving premade “boil-in-a-bag” meals; he lost his longtime contract with Claridge’s hotel in London; he faced a class-action lawsuit by employees of his Los Angeles restaurant the Fat Cow; and endured a string of closures in London, Las Vegas, Prague, Dubai, Melbourne, Doha, and Cape Town.* What’s damning about that list isn’t that Ramsay has botched or closed so many restaurants in so many cities, but that he had that many restaurants open in the first place, while also fronting and managing a television fiefdom.
Imagine an alternative scenario: if the 1998-vintage Ramsay, flush off his Aubergine triumph, had looked to the 10-years-older, multi-Michelin-starred Thomas Keller as a role model. It wasn’t until four years after the opening of the French Laundry that Keller opened nearby Bouchon, and it was a decade before Keller opened Per Se and Bouchon turned into a (modest) franchise. Keller has published a few cookbooks, dabbled in olive oil and dinnerware, pops up on television to roast a chicken now and again, and that’s about it. He and his food could scarcely be more revered, and that’s not just because he’s a genius. It’s also because Thomas Keller has been an exquisite conservationist of his own brand, which is to say you’ll never see Thomas Keller in a Specsavers ad.
A staunch Ramsay advocate would counter that Ramsay is a populist, but being a man of the people should not mean having to smell all the rancid meat of the people’s kitchens, or even having to smile indulgently at the people’s precocious children preparing brasserie-ready meals in MasterChef Junior, which is a good look for Ramsay only insofar as there’s little chance he’ll start yelling at a 9-year-old for serving a too-rubbery octopus salad. He seems a little exhausted, a little checked out in MasterChef Junior, which is also a good look, as it summons the faintest hope that Ramsay might check out altogether for a little while and give us the chance to miss hating him. I can’t help but wonder if Ramsay ever feels a twinge of regret for allowing the bacteria of America’s most infernal dining establishments to poison his reputation. Because when others see Gordon Ramsay throwing an elk quesadilla at another man, they see a clown. When I see Gordon Ramsay throwing an elk quesadilla at another man, I see a clown, too, but also a tragic figure—a crying-on-the-inside clown, a clown who throws the elk quesadilla out of anger at his pupil but also, perhaps, anger at himself.
Correction, Sept. 26, 2013: This article originally listed both Doha and Qatar as sites of closed Gordon Ramsay restaurants. Qatar was removed from the list, as Doha is in Qatar. (Return.)Aldon Smith Checks Into Rehab
Aldon Smith Checks Into Rehab
EXCLUSIVE
Aldon Smith has entered a treatment center... multiple sources connected to the NFL star confirm to TMZ Sports.
Unclear exactly what Smith is seeking treatment for -- but the move comes days after the Oakland Raiders star denied being in a video that appeared to show him with a blunt.
The video surfaced over the weekend -- and while you NEVER see the man's face in the footage -- you can hear a voice that sounds like Smith... talking about a "fire up session."
At one point in the video, you hear the man's voice say, "They don't know it's me. It's not like I put 'Aldon Smith.'"
Smith has been to rehab before -- completing a stint in 2013 following two DUI arrests.In 2002 Warners were wondering what to do with their superheroes. From an LA Times article in 2005…
[Wolfgang] Petersen envisioned a clash between a big-city, brooding Batman motivated by anger, pain and guilt, and a Superman who was all-American, small-town and innocent. He promised “a true existential experience with visual fun.” If all went well, he said, the film could be in theaters by summer 2004.
But it had a challenger,
Meanwhile, a script by J.J. Abrams (creator of TV’s “Lost” and “Alias”) for another Superman film, the first part of a proposed trilogy, had gained favor at the studio. Horn was said to prefer the optimism of the “Superman” script to the darkness of the “Superman Vs. Batman” screenplay. He then took a step that was bizarre even by Hollywood standards: He distributed copies of both scripts to 10 other company executives and solicited their opinions.
Democracy? In Hollywood?
The vote was 11-1 in favor of “Superman” — Di Bonaventura’s was the one dissenting vote. For Di Bonaventura, the “Superman Vs. Batman” episode was just symptomatic of a larger rift, and he resigned his post the following month, in September 2002.
And now it’s time for the quote. I’ll bold it.
In the eyes of many comic book boosters, Warner Bros. made the right decision. “ ‘Batman Vs. Superman’ is where you go when you admit to yourself that you’ve exhausted all possibilities,” says Goyer, who wrote the screenplays for “Blade” and its two sequels. “It’s like ‘Frankenstein meets Wolfman’ or ‘Freddy Vs. Jason.’ It’s somewhat of an admission that this franchise is on its last gasp.”
David Goyer is credited for writing the movie Batman V Superman. He is also credited as writer and producer on Man Of Steel, the three recent Batman movies, the Blade movies, the Constantine TV show as well as behind the upcoming Krypton TV series.
But his role in the movie seems to have been diminished. In a press conference, director Zack Snyder said
Once we had committed to that idea, it was only then that it implies that a whole universe exists for Batman and Superman to exist together. I know it seems obvious in the comic book world, but it had not existed in the movies, but once that idea took root and existed as reality, it was then and only then
Goyer was the one who came up with Man Of Steel and pitched it to Christopher Nolan for when Nolan was finishing Dark Knight Rises. Nolan took the pitch to WB and got it greenlit on the strength of him and his wife Emma Thomas producing. Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder came after and Nolan and Thmas dropped out. But now Zack Snyder seems to be claiming credit for creating the DC Extended Universe and pretty much rewriting history to omit David Goyer?
They also seem to be pretending George Miller‘s aborted Justice League movie and the Batman vs Superman project we mention above didn’t exist.
With BVS producer Charles Roven joining in saying “It’s a team of us, and the team is obviously Debby, Zack, myself, Geoff Johns is part of it and obviously the [Warner Bros.] creative guys… are all a part of it.”
Missing someone? The one who wrote it all?
As for that quote, imagine a couple going to the cinema this weekend
“10 Cloverfield Lane? The Bronze? Kung Fu Panda 3? Deadpool again?”
“Let’s go see Batman V Superman.”
“I suppose so. We’ve exhausted all other possibilities.”
About Rich Johnston Chief writer and founder of Bleeding Cool. Father of two. Comic book clairvoyant. Political cartoonist.
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None foundDuring August 2010, the People of The State of Missouri approved Proposition C and nullified key parts of "Obamacare." As a matter of constitutional principle, may the People of the States lawfully do this? Or must they submit to every law made by Congress whether it is constitutional or not? Are federal judges the final authority?
I will prove that the States have the Right and the Duty to nullify unconstitutional acts of Congress. The only real question is whether Americans have the Will to reclaim our Constitutional Republic & the Rule of Law, or whether they will submit to the rulership of men who "don't care" what the Constitution says, and who see Obamacare as a way "to control the people".
Congress' Powers are Enumerated
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Will the media learn anything from their biased reporting of the Jussie Smollett story? Will the media learn anything from their biased reporting of the Jussie Smollett story?
Will the media learn anything from their biased reporting of the Jussie Smollett story? * Yes, they've gotten so much wrong recently that they're bound to be on their best behavior. No, they suffer from a bad case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Jussie who?
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1. The U.S. Constitution, which created the federal government, permits Congress to make laws only on those few objects which are listed in the Constitution. The objects on which Congress has authority to make laws applicable throughout our Country are itemized at Art. I, Sec. 8, clauses 1-16 (and in a few of the Amendments).
Since the Federalist Papers are the most authoritative commentary on the true meaning of the Constitution, 1 let us see what those Papers say about the extent of Congress' legislative powers. In Federalist No. 83 (7th para), Alexander Hamilton says:
The plan of the convention declares that the power of Congress …shall extend to certain enumerated cases. This specification of particulars evidently excludes all pretension to a general legislative authority, because an affirmative grant of special powers would be absurd, as well as useless, if a general authority was intended. [boldface mine]
In Federalist No. 39 (3rd para from end), James Madison says:
…the proposed government cannot be deemed a national one; since its jurisdiction extends to certain enumerated objects only, and leaves to the several States a residuary and inviolable sovereignty over all other |
badge embroidered to the left chest.The home shirt – which will be worn by the first-team, under-21s, youth and women's sides – has a solid royal blue back and sleeves, with contrast white crew neck and cuffs.It will feature the use of white numbers and lettering with gold trim to ensure maximum visibility – and it will be worn with blue shorts and blue-and-white socks.for the full range of kit, sizes and prices. Click here The new home and away shirts are available in sizes from age six up to adult XXL and with short or long sleeves, priced £45 for adults (£48 long-sleeved) and £35 for juniors (£37 long-sleeved).The away shirt – which will be worn for one season – is a return to the popular red-and-black stripes, worn by our league-winning heroes of 2000/01, 2001/02 and 2010/11.
Fans can pre-order now for delivery on the kit release date of Thursday 24th July exclusively at Seagulls Direct. Shirts pre-ordered before Wednesday 16th July will qualify for free UK postage.The third shirt – which may be available, as a special limited edition kit, later this season – is a bold orange-and-black V-neck shirt, which gives the team a great alternative in the event of any kit clashes.All the new shirts combine lightweight fabrics for comfort and high performance, with Nike's Dri-FIT technology, which wicks perspiration away from the skin to aid cooling.Demand is expected to be very high so pre-ordering through is strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.The shirts will be available to buy from 12 noon on Thursday 24th July, when the new-look Brighton & Hove Albion Superstore at the Amex reopens for the new season following its refurbishment. Click here to pre-order your new Brighton & Hove Albion Nike kit.Windsor police ended its investigation into a possible abduction in the 5400 block of Lassaline Avenue Sunday evening.
A seven-year-old girl, who was reported as being kidnapped around 1:15 p.m., was not abducted.
“There was no abduction,”said Staff Sgt. Greg Yearley. “The information was investigated and it was found to be untrue — it was very young witnesses.”
Three young girls were playing in Pykes Park when they said a man — described as white and in his 30s — allegedly grabbed a seven-year-old girl and drove off with her in a large white, four-door vehicle.
Police were called after the girls playing in the park ran to a house across from the park and asked for help.
“If my daughter was kidnapped, I don’t care if a little girl was exaggerating, I want to know where my little girl was,” said one of the witnessing girls’ parents, who did not want to be identified.
The mother also said a police officer took her daughter and the other girls across the park to the school to try to identify the missing girl.
A report posted on the Windsor Police website also stated that the girls offered slightly different variations of the story about the incident.
“They have everyday stories about bad guys,” said Abdul Almuhana, who’s daughter also witnessed the possible kidnapping.
He said he was convinced the incident could be a real abduction after noticing a pair of sunglasses that had been dropped and left behind by the missing girl.
“She yelled and nobody came to her,” said his seven-year-old daughter Remas.
Iris Merrifield, who lives in the area, said the neighbourhood has been generally safe since she’s moved in the area. “I’ve been here 10 years and there’s been nothing,” she said.
This year, however, she said it’s taken a turn for the worse. Just last month there was an incident in the same block where a
25-year-old man was stabbed
in his own home.
Two police cruisers blocked off the section Lassaline Avenue in front of an apartment building as the canine and forensic units were also on scene.
Around 5:30 p.m., LeClair said police were still had not found a name for the missing girl and were canvasing the area. About 40 minutes later, Windsor Police tweeted that the investigation was complete and there was no abduction.
Investigation concludes and finds that there was no abduction. Thanks for your assistance and understanding. — Windsor Police (@WindsorPolice) April 19, 2015
Though the incident turned out to be unfounded, Yearely said the response and help from the community was great. “We have to treat these as very serious,” he said.
jrankin@windsorstar.com
twitter.com/_jay_rankin
[pn_facebook_like /]Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Dan Sullivan tours the ASRC Energy Services facility and campaigns on the Kenai Peninsula in Soldotna, Alaska, on Oct. 4, 2014. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
What seems to get Dan Sullivan most excited is putting on a neon hard-hat and safety goggles, zipping up a reflective vest and talking about Alaska’s vast energy potential.
“It’s just cranking,” Sullivan, the state’s Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate, said as he led a reporter on a tour of a fabrication facility and giant platform dock jutting into Cook Inlet.
The inlet, off Alaska’s scenic Kenai Peninsula, boasts one of the country’s richest deposits of oil and natural gas, yet development here all but dried up a few years ago. As Sullivan tells the story, it took Republican state government leaders — namely a natural resources commissioner by the name of Dan Sullivan — to get Cook Inlet booming again by luring companies with land deals.
“We went on a very aggressive tear, and this basin has come alive,” Sullivan said. The liquefied natural gas facility? “Monster.” The fertilizer plant? “Big.” Has Sen. Mark Begich, the Democrat whom Sullivan is trying to unseat in one of the country’s most competitive midterm races, played a role in reviving Nikiski? “No,” Sullivan said. “No, he has not.”
He continued like this for 90 minutes. (“I’m just trying to school him,” he told his hosts, referring to a Washington Post reporter.)
Dan Sullivan tours the ASRC Energy Services facility and campaigns on the Kenai Peninsula in Soldotna, Alaska, on Oct. 4, 2014. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post)
Sullivan, who began his political career working on President George W. Bush’s National Security Council staff and at the State Department as an assistant secretary, wants a new title in the federal government. But he’s preaching a gospel of diminished federal power, arguing that regulations stymie growth.
At campaign stops, Sullivan repeats this catchy phrase: “More freedom, less government.” He argues that President Obama’s administration has been a case study in federal overreach — and that Begich has enabled the feds rather than fighting them.
Begich’s campaign countered that Sullivan’s anti-federal rhetoric rings hollow, in part because Sullivan shared responsibility for controversial government surveillance programs launched under the USA Patriot Act. Begich has been a vocal critic of those programs, which he says violate people’s privacy rights.
For Sullivan — who could help the GOP take control of the Senate by winning in November — the challenge is linking Begich to Obama, who is deeply unpopular in Alaska. Through six years in office, Begich has branded himself as an independent voice. As he said to The Post this year about Obama, “I’ll be a thorn in his [posterior].”
On energy issues, Begich has a record of backing industry development despite environmental objections. He signed letters with Republican lawmakers urging the Energy Department to expedite permit applications for liquefied natural gas exports. Begich pressed regulators to allow ConocoPhillips to build a bridge in a sensitive area so the company could drill in the National Petroleum Reserve. He also helped Shell Oil obtain federal permits to drill in the Arctic Ocean.
In an interview, Begich said he has been “carrying Alaskan values to Washington, D.C.” He noted that before he took office in 2009 — when Alaska’s congressional delegation was all-Republican and the Bush administration was in power — drilling projects were stalled. “Arctic oil and gas is now moving forward,” Begich said.
Like many GOP challengers running against Democratic incumbents, Sullivan is trying to frame the election around Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.). During a pep talk at his campaign office in Soldotna, Sullivan told supporters, “Imagine the last two years of Obama with Harry Reid in charge, how much damage could happen to this country. We need to beat Mark Begich, retire Harry Reid and start taking this country back!”
View Graphic Election Lab: See our current forecast for every congressional race in 2014
Sullivan is betting that in a state where Obama lost to Mitt Romney by 14 percentage points in 2012 — and where the number of registered Republicans is nearly double the number of registered Democrats — a partisan message will carry the day.
“I don’t know that I’m against Mark Begich, but I’ve been a Republican all my life,” Dale Bagley, 50, who owns a real estate company, said in Soldotna. “I felt like for six years, we’ve lost a valuable seat there that should belong to a Republican.”
Polling in Alaska is notoriously unreliable, but recent surveys have given Sullivan a lead of three to six percentage points.
To compensate, Begich is investing heavily in a sophisticated field organization to drive up turnout among likely supporters. Begich also is counting on three ballot measures — to legalize marijuana, to increase the minimum wage and to ban mining in Bristol Bay — to motivate Democrats and left-leaning independents to vote.
A consistent theme for Begich, 52, is his Alaska roots. He was born in Anchorage and is a son of a well-liked congressman who died in a plane crash while in office. Begich’s television ads show him flying in a tiny prop plane through mountain passes, riding on a fishing boat and driving a snowmobile in a temperature of 20 degrees below zero. His campaign slogan is “True Alaska.”
Sullivan, 49, was born and raised in Ohio and spent portions of his adult life in the Washington area, leading Democrats to dog him with questions about his residency. From 2006 to 2008, during his service in the Bush administration, Sullivan considered Maryland his primary residence and received property tax breaks there while still voting in Alaska.
“You need to understand Alaska, and you need to actually know how long you’ve been here,” Begich said in the interview. “He’s not been able to pinpoint that exact day or month or year.”
Sullivan accused Begich of focusing on “small-ball things.” He said he married his wife, an Alaska Native, 20 years ago and moved to the state three years later once he finished an active-duty tour in the Marines. His daughters were born and raised in Alaska, he said, and he left the state only to deploy overseas and work at the State Department.
“Even when I was gone, I was still serving my fellow Alaskans,” Sullivan said. “I was just doing it from places like Baghdad and Kabul and Pakistan and Washington, D.C.”
Sullivan added, “Please write this down: Mark Begich is making this campaign about, well, ‘Dan Sullivan wasn’t born here and I was.’ Mark Begich [is] the poster child of why that issue doesn’t matter.” He argued that Begich has been Alaska’s least effective senator, while the late Ted Stevens (R) — who was born in Indiana, served in the military and worked in Washington before moving to Alaska at age 30 — had been its most effective one.
In Alaska, where dynamic, headline-grabbing characters have filled the Republican stage over the years — Stevens, former governor Sarah Palin, Rep. Don Young and tea party-backed former Senate candidate Joe Miller — Sullivan stands out for his relative blandness. He is also disciplined, which makes him a favorite among party leaders in Washington.
During the tour in Nikiski, Sullivan introduced himself to a welder named Ray Stichal and asked for his vote. “Keep it cranking,” Sullivan told him. “I’m proud to say I helped drive a lot of this.”
Sullivan offered another reminder: “Four years ago, a ghost town. Boarded-up places. Right now, smoking hot.”A sight that welcomed millions of people to New York in the 1880s... the shiny COPPER Statue of Liberty as it first appeared
Statue of Liberty is made of copper just 3/32 inches thick
But it's naturally oxidised to form green 'patina' covering
Once looked far more shiny until the coating grew on top
It’s one of America’s greatest landmarks - a beacon that has welcomed countless millions of immigrants into New York and now appears on postcards and images sent around the world.
But what you may not know about the Statue of Liberty is that it hasn’t always been green - as it was made with an exterior of copper and originally had a far more shiny appearance.
Lady Liberty is made of copper 3/32 inches thick, which is the same as putting two pennies together, but it has naturally oxidised over time to form the green ‘patina’ coating.
Different: The Statue of Liberty in New York hasn't always been green - as it was made with an exterior of copper and originally had a much more shiny appearance (as shown in this mocked-up edited image)
Old pictures: These adverts for Liebig's beef extract, left, and Superior Silk thread, right, were both issued soon after the statue was built in the 1880s and show Lady Liberty in her original form
This coating actually protects the copper behind it from naturally wearing away. But the copper, along with the statue’s height, also makes her a welcoming target for lightning strikes.
The current replacement torch was installed 25 years ago and is a copper flame covered in 24 carat gold, according to the National Parks Service website.
The statue, which is located on Liberty Island in New York, will be closed for a year at the end of next month as it undergoes a $27million renovation to redevelop the interior.
But the renovations are limited to the monument, Liberty Island will remain open and the statue itself will be mostly unobstructed from view, officials said.
Nowadays: The statue, which is located on Liberty Island in New York, will be closed for a year at the end of next month as it undergoes a $27.25million renovation to redevelop the interior
The National Parks Service, which manages the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, said it will close the monument on October 28, after the 125th anniversary of its dedication.
Joseph A. Natoli Construction Corporation of Pine Brook, New Jersey, will install improved stairways and upgrade electrical and fire suppression systems, elevators and bathrooms.
The statue was closed after 9/11 for security precautions, but the base reopened in 2004 after a $20million security upgrade and the observation deck at the top of the crown reopened in 2009.Mr Davey, the Liberal Democrat Energy Secretary, accused Conservatives of attempting to “destroy” the UK’s renewables industry.
He singled out Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, warning that he is trying to “cull” wind turbines.
The Daily Telegraph last month disclosed that officials in Mr Davey’s energy department have attempted to block a report commissioned by Mr Paterson on the impact of wind farms on the countryside.
Government sources claimed that Mr Davey was concerned that the report, which will also examine how turbines affect house prices, would not “fit with Lib Dem ideology on wind farms”.
In a newspaper interview ahead of his conference speech, Mr Davey warned that Mr Paterson’s report would be “partial” and potentially inaccurate.
His aides said Mr Davey is fighting "trench warfare" with Tory colleagues over green energy.
“I’ve had Owen Paterson making noises against wind, and you know that’s not what the agreed Coalition position is,” he said.
He said that Tories opposing wind farms and other green energy policies are “irresponsible”.
In his speech to the Lib Dem conference in Glasgow, Mr Davey said that he is being forced to fight “battles” with Mr Paterson over wind turbines.
“Take the battles I fight over wind power,” Mr Davey said. “Owen Paterson would cull wind turbines faster than he can cull badgers.
“But we have prevented the stone age wing of the Conservative Party from destroying our leading renewables industry.”
The Energy Secretary also contradicted David Cameron over gas fracking. The Prime Minister has repeatedly said that fracking could reduce energy bills.
However, Mr Davey said that it is wrong to suggest that fracking “answers all Britain’s energy problems”.
In a thinly-veiled attack on the Prime Minister, Mr Davey said that he is attempting to avoid “hyperbole” over fracking and is instead “weighing up the evidence”.
“Let’s be the voice of green reason in the shale debate,” Mr Davey said. “Reject the zealots who claim it’s a catastrophe. Reject the vested interests who argue it answers all Britain’s energy problems. They are both wrong. I’ve been cautious on shale. Avoiding hyperbole, weighing up the evidence, insisting on firm regulation.”
The Prime Minister last month insisted that people across the country must accept fracking.
He said that fracking could result in cheaper energy bills for millions, tens of thousands of jobs and windfalls for communities.
He also pledged that fracking would not damage Britain’s countryside and would only result in a “very minor change to the landscape”.
Fracking, which involves fracturing rocks deep underground with water and chemicals to extract natural gas, has dramatically cut energy bills in the USA.
Ministers are hoping that it could do the same in the UK. However, the process has led to protests in West Sussex.WASHINGTON -- Former Senate Majority Leader and ex-presidential candidate Bob Dole (R-Kan.) said Sunday that he is somewhat dismayed by the current state of Congress, where gridlock has prevented many legislative pushes from getting through.
"It seems almost unreal that we can't get together on a budget or legislation," he said on "Fox News Sunday." "We weren't perfect, by a long shot, but at least we got our work done."
Dole, who served in the Senate from 1969 to 1996, wasn't fully critical of the president, but said part of the problem is that he "lacks communication with Congress" and should have gotten together with members earlier in his presidency.
Dole joked at first when asked by host Chris Wallace to quickly give his thoughts on President Barack Obama. "He's a great golfer, very articulate," Dole responded.
Still, he acknowledged it's not easy to work with the Senate, where he said "no doubt about it," cloture is being abused. He didn't spare the Republican Party his criticism, saying they need to be "closed for repairs" and come up with more plans and a vision for the future before the end of the year. Wallace asked him whether he'd even fit in with the Republican Party today.
"I doubt it," Dole replied. "Reagan wouldn't have made it, certainly Nixon wouldn't have made it, because he had ideas. We might have made it, but I doubt it."
It's tough to be a leader, he said, but his strategy was to get people together and then ask them to call him when they came to a deal. In the end, the leadership gets the blame when things go wrong, he said.Cartography Twitter has become abuzz with some local map news: last week Boston Public Schools ditched the classic Mercator projection in favor of the Peters projection for classroom maps. A trivial-sounding story to some, it’s interesting because it’s change motivated by social justice—seemingly bold but in fact a late shot in a decades-old cartographic controversy. So, perhaps we can briefly share a bit of background on map projections with Boston-area map readers.
The first thing to know is that there is no such thing as an undistorted flat map. Every single one is “wrong” in some way or another. A globe is the only way to represent the world without significant distortion. Any attempt to flatten out the round Earth sacrifices accuracy in at least one way: size, shape, and/or direction.
The Mercator projection, which you see in things like Google Maps, and which you probably knew from classroom walls, is known for gross distortion of size at high latitudes. Thus Europe appears bigger relative to, say, Africa than is true; and Greenland looks to be the size of South America when in reality it’s something like one eighth the size.
Although areal distortion is a side effect of the Mercator map’s original purpose—it preserves angles and was useful for navigation—some have argued that its exaggeration of northern latitudes promotes a very Eurocentric view of the world. Other map projections that maintain size accuracy (equal-area projections) are viewed as socially just, giving due attention to parts of the world long oppressed by European colonialism. In the 1970s Arno Peters made some waves promoting the projection which will now grace the walls of Boston schools, and which famously (to cartographers) made an appearance on The West Wing. BPS is a little late to the party, but has adopted the map for essentially the same reason: to remove an imperialist image and promote a different view of the world.
Many cartographers are critical of this projection, as the claims behind it are not novel and even erroneous, with some frustration that it proclaims “truth” yet necessarily trades one form of distortion for another. (Notably, shapes are badly distorted.)
No matter what side one takes, the fact is that a map projection is one of many tools in the cartographer’s kit that can be used to subtly—or boldly—promote a certain agenda or worldview. And as everyone knows, the only accurate world maps are those that correctly show Boston at the center of it all, right?
(adapted from Mike Bostock’s Projection Transitions)In total almost six million people have been affected by the fiasco, with 4.3 million people receiving a rebate because of overpayments.
The errors were discovered after a trawl by the Treasury of the way HM Revenue and Customs was calculating pay as you earn (PAYE) tax.
It is likely to lead to an overhaul of the entire system.
Between now and Christmas 1.4 million taxpayers will receive letters telling them that they owe money. The total amount owed is £2 billion which means on average those people face a demand for £1,428 each. Some individuals could face higher bills.
However, for some the mistake will lead to them receiving a rebate.
The total amount that was overpaid by taxpayers was £1.8 billion, meaning an average rebate of just over £400. Those who are owed money will receive a cheque, the HMRC said. In an attempt to soften the blow to the 1.4 million who have to pay money back, the amount will be taken via future PAYE payments, rather than a single demand.
Tax codes for next year will be altered to ensure the money is recouped over a period of time, probably a year.
It means many people could be at least £100 a month worse off at a time when household budgets are set to feel a considerable squeeze.
VAT rises to 20 per cent in January while the Bank of England has warned that workers face a period where inflation is going to outstrip any wage rises.
In addition, some benefits are either being frozen or possibly scrapped as the Coalition tries to reduce the deficit.
The Coalition blamed the last government for the fiasco. A senior Tory source said: “This happened because the last government failed to comprehensively reform the PAYE system. We are now dealing with that mess.”
George Osborne, the Chancellor, has said he will introduce a fairer and simpler tax system. He is certain to use the meltdown at HMRC to push for further and swifter reforms to the way tax is calculated and collected.
The tax errors came to light when HMRC officials began their usual end of year “reconciliation process”.
That process found that, of the 40 million people who pay tax through PAYE, there had been around 5.7 million cases in the past two years where the tax had been calculated incorrectly. A Treasury source said: “A decade of meddling and intervening made the tax affairs of millions of families and businesses across the UK extremely complicated.”
Ministers will claim that the Government is now using a computer system which can match taxpayers’ records up automatically and make sure the right amount of tax has been paid.Major repairs are now under-way to reduce the risk of failure of two dams on Houston’s west side.
The two dams hold back the Addicks and Barker reservoirs that lie on opposite sides of the Katy Freeway at Highway 6. Right now, there’s not much water in either reservoir. But during big storms and hurricanes, they hold millions of gallons that would be slowly released down Buffalo Bayou.
But the gate structures that allow those controlled releases have a problem.
“We have seepage that’s occurring under the conduits themselves,” says Richard Long, the on-site manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers. “It can get worse and worse and worse.”
It’s no small matter. The Corp ranks these two dams among six in the nation that are considered “extremely high risk.” Because if they ever failed during a big rain event, flooding downstream could do an estimated $60 billion dollars in damage to downtown Houston, to industries along the Houston Ship Channel, even to the Texas Medical Center.
“All of it is an effort to prioritize funding and to address the most critical issues first. And this one being up there at the top,“ says Bobby Van Cleave with the Corp’s Dam Safety division.
The federal project to fix the the Addicks and Barker dam gates is just getting started; it’ll cost $75 million dollars and is slated for completion by 2019.
The US Army Corps of Engineers will hold a public meeting about the project March 9th from 6:30-8:30 p.m at the Bear Creek Community Center.Labour has the most leftwing leader in its history. So how, in this election, did the party present a policy programme that would increase child poverty? It is a troubling question that casts a long shadow over the party’s hugely successful campaign: a campaign that in other regards stood out for its conviction and moral clarity.
The disconcerting truth is that Labour’s manifesto policies would have raised living standards for the top half and cut them for the bottom. Firstly, the party failed to promise to end huge benefit cuts that will drive a million people into poverty. The share of national income spent on benefits would have plummeted, abandoning Gordon Brown’s belief in sharing the proceeds of growth through redistribution.
Poverty in the UK jeopardising children’s health, warns landmark report Read more
Furthermore, although Labour – according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies – pledged income tax rises for the top 2%, the party’s plans for public services would have left higher-income households better off on average. The manifesto offered “something for nothing” to the top half – with new universal entitlements to childcare, school meals, university, lifelong learning and social care – but did not ask the vast majority to pay any more in tax or social insurance to fund them.
Social democrats in the Fabian tradition have long supported universalism in the welfare state, and the inspiring promise of a lifelong national education service is something that everyone on the left can get behind. But in setting out its plans Labour ditched the cherished Beveridgean ideal, that universal entitlements should be used by all and paid for by all. The new frontiers of the welfare state, including an end to tuition fees, were to be funded by “other people”: not just the super-rich, but the victims of the welfare cuts too.
So how was it that Labour stood on a programme that would have widened the gap between rich and poor? Or, to put it another way, why did the manifesto end up being more statist, but less redistributive than when Labour was last in office?
Electoral politics might be part of the answer. Promising to raise benefits or asking people to pay for new public services is not a huge vote-winner. Then again, the Liberal Democrats said they would do both. And Labour’s manifesto did not just say things to be popular: that’s why it was a refreshing change. These electoral considerations can’t have been the only reason.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest ‘The manifesto offered “something for nothing” to the top half – new universal entitlements to childcare, school meals, university, lifelong learning and social care – but did not ask the vast majority to pay any more in tax or social insurance to fund them.’ Photograph: Alamy
Could the answer lie closer to home, in the Labour party’s internal workings? It seems that, at the heart of the party, no one made the case for higher social security. Labour’s vocal membership was not campaigning for it and the unions prioritised their members’ jobs and pay. Their lengthy wishlists dominated the manifesto but they did not fight for better benefits, and so failed low-income Britain.
Next time, the expertise and talent of the whole of the party must be drawn upon. Much of it is on the backbenches, and MPs should be asked by the leadership to sit on commissions to develop new ideas. It is time for Labour to rediscover a professional, empirical approach to policy. For example, not enough people knew that a high minimum wage is no substitute for tax credits in tackling child poverty.
Labour needs fewer easy slogans and more nerdy homework.
And policies need to be considered in the round, not as discreet propositions. It was only by looking at the whole package of tax and spending plans that their inegalitarian impact became clear. Similarly, each individual idea for extending state activism sounded reasonable enough. But the nationalisation proposals as a package felt like distant, 1970s statism, rather than a democratisation of the economy to put more control into people’s own hands.
Labour exists to spread power, wealth and opportunity, not to expand the state for its own sake – a lesson learned long ago by Fabians. And in that context, the fight against poverty should have been at the front of the policy queue. Labour used to know that egalitarianism trumps state socialism; that collectivism must be based on contribution; and that evidence and practicality beat hopeful dreams. Next time Labour writes a manifesto, it needs to think harder.In October 2013, in Sangrampur (Daundia Khera) village in the Unnao district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, a local seer named Shobhan Sarkar dreamt that over 1000 tonnes of gold were buried under the ruins of an old fort of a 19th-century king, Ram Baksh Singh. Sarkar wrote to the President of India, the Ministry of Mines (India) and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to consider excavation for the supposed hoard. The excavation work began on 18 October 2013.[1] On 29 October 2013, the ASI announced that there was no gold buried in the location and stopped excavation work.[2][3] More news was released on 29 October 2013, saying that ASI Director General Pravin Srivastava said the digging area was now planned to be widened, but clarified that the excavation work by his 12-member team had not been stopped.[4] On 18 November 2013, ASI stopped the excavation and began filling up the trenches.[5]
Village history [ edit ]
Sangrampur, also known as Daundia Khera, is a village located in the Bighapur tehsil of Unnao district, about 100 km south of Lucknow city in Uttar Pradesh, India.[6] According to the 2011 census of India, it has 469 households and a population of 2672.[7]
In the 19th-century, Alexander Cunningham, the founder of the Archaeological Survey of India, speculated that the site referred to as Hayamukha by Hiuen-Tsang, a 7th-century Chinese traveller, might be the present day Daundia Khera. Hiuen-Tsang had recorded visiting Hayamukha, where he noted five Buddhist monasteries housing over 1000 members of the Buddhist sect Saṃmitīya. Cunningham considered it "almost certain" that the two places were the same, but acknowledged that there were significant differences between the early descriptions and what he saw then. He also relied upon the thoughts of James Tod, another British scholar who is nowadays not considered a reliable historian.[8][9]
Background of incident [ edit ]
In September 2013, a local priest named Shobhan Sarkar, who is also revered as a Mahant, claimed that a 19th-century king of Daundia Khera, Ram Baksh Singh, had come to him in a dream and told him that 1000 tons of gold treasure were buried under his palace.[10] In an interview to Wall Street Journal, Sarkar said that the ghost of Singh is worried about the Indian economy and he wants the treasure to be used for the economic growth of the country. Sarkar called the dream "a divine intervention" but refused to tell how, when and why only he learned about the buried treasure.[11] The British had hanged Singh during the 1857 rebellion and destroyed his palace. Sarkar wrote to the Prime Minister, President and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) about his dream but his letters went ignored. Some sources say that Sarkar then approached Charan Das Mahant, a Minister of State for agriculture and the food processing industry in the Government of India, while other sources say that the minister heard of the story from a pandit in Kanpur who regularly kept in touch with him.[12]
Minister Mahant visited the alleged treasure trove site on 22 September and 7 October 2013 and convinced the ASI and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) to inspect it. A team from the ASI visited the site on 12 October 2013 and drilled two holes at locations shown to them by Sarkar. The ASI said that they detected metal around 20 meters below the ground. The GSI report also confirmed a prominent non-magnetic anomalous zone occurring at 5–20 m depth, indicative of possible non-conducting, metallic contents or alloys.[13][14] The ASI announced the excavation of the site which began on 18 October 2013.
Excavation [ edit ]
[15] With due respect to the sadhu, ASI does not go about digging on the basis of dreams. It has not done so in its 150 years of its history. We are conducting the excavation on the basis of scientific reports and historical importance. — Dr B R Mani, Additional Director-General, ASI
The Ministry of Culture stated that the excavation would take 2–3 weeks to reach the depth of any deposits,[16] while ASI officials at the site have said that the excavation may take months, or even years, as they are using only simple basic tools like grub hoes, pick mattocks and fork cultivators. The ASI has designated an area of 80 meters from east to west and 40 meters from north to south near the fort for the excavation.[17] A team of twelve archaeologists from the ASI, led by its Deputy Director, PK Mishra, began excavation at the alleged gold treasure site in the presence of the Unnao Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The excavation took place in 10 pits, each measuring about 100 square feet.[18] Hundreds of onlookers, Outside Broadcasting B vans, and dozens of journalists from different media organizations were also present. Heavy police security was deployed and night vision cameras were installed to enhance security.[19][20] Considering the heavy crowd of onlookers, CCTV cameras were installed for security.[18] On 21 October 2013, ASI additional director, Dr. B R Mani, said that after digging 48 cm into the ground, the ASI found a brick wall, shards, pieces of bangles, hopscotch toys and a mud floor which could date back to the 17-19th centuries.[21] Until 24 October 2013, ASI has excavated 217 centimeters of ground.[22] Til 2 November 2013, ASI has excavated 571 centimeters of ground.Sub-divisional magistrate Vijay Shanker Dubey said 70 cm and 30 cm were dug up respectively in two blocks after breaking the rocky base at the fort at Daundiya Kheda village on Saturday, but there is still no sight of the treasure on the 15th day of excavation.[23]
Development [ edit ]
Following media reports that the Government of India was carrying out an excavation on the basis of Shobhan Sarkar's dream, the Ministry of Culture issued a statement to clarify that the excavation was being carried out on the basis of a report by GSI which conducted a Ground Penetrating Radar Survey at the site and reported the presence of "non-magnetic anomalous zone at 5-20 meter below the ground indicative of possible non-conductive metallic contents and/or alloys".[16][24] Additional director general of ASI B. R. Mani denied the media reports that excavation was being carried out on the basis of a sadhu's dream[15] while the ASI director of exploration doubted that any gold treasure would be found in the excavation.[24] Several interested parties came out to claim a stake in the treasure. One of the king's descendants, Navchandi Veer Pratap Singh expressed his interest.[25] The All India Kshatriya Mahasangha also staked a claim, saying that they are rightful claimants because Ram Baksh Singh belonged to their Kshatriya community.[26] Sarkar had another dream and claimed that 2,500 tons of gold was hidden beneath Shiva Chabutara of Brahm Ashram at Adampur village in Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh. It was reported that Sarkar had written to Fatehpurs district magistrate informing about the dream.[17][27] On the night of 19 October 2013, caretaker Swamy Mohandas was locked up at gunpoint inside an ancient Shiva temple at Gangaghat in Adampur village. The people responsible dug up the ground in search of the alleged treasure. Some villagers claimed that they took away hidden gold.[28]
A Public-interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking directions from the court to make proper arrangements for safety and protection of alleged hidden treasure. On 21 October 2013, the court rejected the PIL saying that it cannot pass order on the "ground of assumption".[29]
Reaction [ edit ]
Former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam said that, "according to me, science doesn't allow any guess. It [excavation by ASI] must have some logical conclusion."[30] Bharatiya Janata Party's politician Narendra Modi mocked the |
and the possibilities. I got comfortable with the back-up plan – save up enough or work while I travel – but travel, of course, is what I want to do.
It seems as if, when you’re chasing a dream, dreams test you. Dreams will throw the questions back in your face and force you to answer them. Dreams make you play your own game of survival of the fittest. Are you determined enough to chase this dream? Is this something you really dream or just think you want? What are you willing to sacrifice to chase this dream?
A good friend, in conversation about the dilemma I’m facing, said to me, I know you’ll do the right thing for you.
I know the right thing for now-me, but what about future-me? Am I screwing over future-me or am I about to create memories that without, she’ll always regret? Now-me is terrified of not having a job for a few months. Now-me is sure, however, that she can figure that out. We can find the money. But what will future-me think? Will she think, man, I should have taken that promotion? Or will she think, taking time to travel has changed my life for the better and I would never give that up?
I’m insecure about looking flakey and non-committed. Am I not gritty enough to stick around? I don’t like disappointing others right now, I’m not feeling confident in my ability to make the right decisions for future-me. Where did that confidence go? I had it two months ago when I was making these plans. Now it’s decision-time and I can’t find it anywhere. I’m wishy-washy and back-and-forth and cannot say yes or no.
Maybe that’s what dreams do. They put you to the test. They shake your confidence. They make you question yourself. They place now-you against future-you. But isn’t it supposed to be terrifying when you’re chasing a dream? I just wrote about finding solace – where is that damn solace?
I’ve told myself, my values are what will guide my decisions. This has been a year of discovering and defining what those really are. But, I’ve defined my values this year alongside a deep desire to travel. What if I’ve let my desire to travel influence how I’ve defined them? What came first – the values or the travel? How do I let them guide me if maybe they’re too influenced by my desired outcome?
To the travelers who have all had to make a tough decision, give something up, make the final call to chase their travel dream, I ask you:Former Atlanta Hawks center Pero Antic on Friday filed a civil suit against the New York Police Department, and Hawks forward Thabo Sefolosha confirmed Sunday that he will file suit this week.
False arrest, unlawful imprisonment, assault, battery, negligence, civil rights violations and malicious prosecution were listed as the claims in Antic's complaint. Under Antic's notice of claim, filed last year, $25 million was set as the maximum Antic can recover.
"The NYPD has all but conceded that they falsely and improperly arrested Pero Antic," Alex Spiro, Antic's attorney, said. "They will now be held responsible."
Pero Antic was initially charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration and second-degree harassment. Officials dropped the charges against Antic in September. AP Photo/Darron Cummings
Sefolosha's suit, which will name the NYPD and other city agencies, will likely include charges of unlawful force, unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution. Sefolosha's notice of claim, also filed last year, set $50 million as the ceiling he can be compensated for damages.
The suits stem from an incident on April 8, 2015, outside Manhattan nightclub 1Oak, where both men were arrested. Officers claimed the pair were interfering with a crime scene. Indiana Pacers forward Chris Copeland was stabbed in a separate incident.
Sefolosha suffered a broken fibula and ligament damage during his arrest and missed the remainder of the regular season and the Hawks' playoff run to the conference finals.
In October, a jury acquitted Sefolosha of misdemeanor obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Despite being offered a plea deal that would've dismissed the charges in exchange for a day of community service, Sefolosha opted for a trial to clear his name.
Sefolosha told ESPN in October that he filed the notice of claim to preserve his right to sue. He said then that he was uncertain he wanted to "go back into the legal system."
Antic was initially charged with disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration and second-degree harassment. Officials dropped the charges against him in September.
Sefolosha has logged 70 games with Atlanta this season and has averaged 6.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, with a true shooting percentage of 58.6. He ranks second among NBA small forwards in defensive plus-minus.
A native of Macedonia, Antic played two seasons with the Hawks before returning overseas to join Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Basketball League.Google Express began deliveries in New York in May and will debut in D.C. Oct. 14. (PHILIP MONTGOMERY/courtesy Google)
Google made its name finding things for people on the Internet. Now it is offering to bring them to your doorstep.
Beginning Oct. 14, the tech giant will expand its Google Express same-day delivery service in D.C., Boston and Chicago, after launching it a year ago in Northern California and expanding to Los Angeles and Manhattan this spring.
The service, which is being re-branded from Google Shopping Express, allows desktop, mobile or tablet users to order items from a variety of stores and — provided they are within a designated service area — receive the goods later that day. The service is similar to one that Amazon.com has begun offering in about a dozen metropolitan areas.
Locally, Google Express will be available only for locations in the District of Columbia initially. It will offer goods from nine stores: Giant Food, Costco, Walgreens, Sports Authority, Staples, Babies “R” Us, Barnes & Noble, L’Occitane and Guitar Center.
New shoppers are offered three months of membership for free and beyond that are asked to either pay $95 for an annual membership, $10 per month for a monthly membership or $4.99 per order, provided those orders are for at least $15 and meet certain criteria.
D.C. was chosen as a testing ground in part because of the number of locals who are pressed for time and accustomed to completing errands on their smart phones, said Brian Elliott, head of Google Shopping Partnerships. He offered working mothers as an example.
“Working moms are a pretty core consumer of this because if you can think of anyone who would like more time back in their day it’s working moms,” he said. “But we want this to be available to everybody.”
Many of the retailers are already partners of Google’s on Internet advertising. To include them in Google Express, Google outfits the stores with software to respond to orders and sends third-party delivery trucks to stores for pick-ups. Delivery vehicles and bags are branded with the service’s parachute logo.
Elliott said the service was a natural extension of Google’s interest in providing easy-to-use technology to connect businesses with consumers.
“We see places where there are long-term needs in the market to create really great user experiences, where given our tech know-how and our reach with users, that we can help make these things happen for merchants in a way that would be very hard for them to do on their own,” he said.
The expansion puts Google more squarely in competition with Amazon, which has been expanding same-day delivery and now has a grocery service, Amazon Fresh, that is available in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Seattle areas. (Amazon.com chief executive Jeffrey P. Bezos owns The Washington Post.)
A bevy of start-ups are getting into the mix as well. Postmates expanded its on-demand service to parts of the District last year and Instacart began offering its grocery delivery service locally this February.
Even Macy’s, the 156-year old department store chain, announced recently that it was testing same-day delivery in eight large metropolitan areas, including Washington, using the Deliv service.
Giant Food will be offering Google Express to shoppers even though it has its own in-house delivery service, Peapod, though it typically does not offer same-day delivery.
Giant, based in Landover, is the top grocery seller by market share in the area and will begin filling Google Express orders from two stores, in Brentwood and Shaw, located in Zip Codes that fit Google’s preferences, according to Giant spokesman Jamie Miller.
Miller said trying Google Express alongside Peapod fit with the company’s strategy to try multiple e-commerce strategies to meet customers needs.
“The retail landscape is changing fast and customers are looking for more options, including same-day delivery,” he said.
Follow Jonathan O’Connell on Twitter: @oconnellpostbizThe Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, is famous for hosting celebrities, politicians and other notable figures over the last century, but perhaps no visitor was more significant than writer Stephen King, whose stay at the 140-room neo-Georgian hotel inspired him to write The Shining. While the movie adaptation wasn’t filmed at the Stanley, that hasn’t stopped the hotel from embracing their share of fame in association with the legendary book and 1980 horror film.
Now the Stanley plans to build a 61,500 square foot hedge maze, similar to the backdrop of the heart-pounding final moments in Kubrick’s adaptation. The maze will be built from 1,600 to 2,000 Alpine Currant hedge bushes, and the design will come from a (free) public contest. Anyone is invited to submit plans for the maze, they even have templates and detailed instructions about how to create your design. Submissions are open until January 31st, 2015. (via Neatorama)Launched in 2013, the negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the United States and the European Union entered their 15th round on 3 October 2016. In New York, the EU’s Chief TTIP Negotiator Ignacio Garcia Bercero has maintained that the TTIP would work to “shape global regulations to the benefits of consumers”, although a rising number of EU state officials have acknowledged that the continuation of negotiations is a mere “face-saving exercise” after its de facto failure.
The TTIP
In short, the TTIP claims it will facilitate commercial exchanges of goods and services, and enhance transatlantic investments. These two aims are to be achieved through the removal of trade barriers, including tariffs and non-tariff measures – because it focuses more on trade regulation than on tariffs, the TTIP is part of the “new generation” of trade deals. There is indeed a distinction to be made between the “old” and “new” worlds of trade deals: as identified by Pascal Lamy, “old” deals were dominated by states and aimed to administer protection from foreign competition, while “new” deals are dominated by corporate power and aim to open markets in a world of transnational production through the eradication of regulatory differences, thus administering precaution and consumers’ exposure to risk. With “new generation” trade deals such as the TTIP, differences in regulations would be resolved by applying the principles of mutual recognition, regulation harmonisation, and regulatory cooperation. Potential economic gains of the TTIP have been advertised by official negotiators – facilitated foreign market access, cost-reductions from regulatory convergence – despite economists’ consensus on the high uncertainty surrounding the actual economic benefits to be derived from the agreement. Once finalised, the agreement will need to be approved by the European Parliament and the European Council, ratified by the 28 EU Member States, and by both houses of the US Congress. However, the prospects for smooth negotiations and successful ratification seem to have dwindled over the past 3 years, as opposition to the TTIP has soared on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Origins of Anti-TTIP Protest
From 2014 to 2016, the numbers of American and German citizens supportive of the TTIP have gone down from 53% and 55% to feeble 18% and 17% respectively. The fact that the trade agreement does not find support in the state that has not only been its strongest element politically and economically, but that has historically been at the heart of the European project holds great significance regarding support for the deal in Europe at large. German civil society has been at the forefront of European collective action against the TTIP negotiations, organizing and extending the struggle beyond its borders. When considering the factors underlying European opposition to the TTIP, one mainly finds resistance to the levelling-down of labour rights, consumer laws, and environmental regulation, as well as fears of domineering corporate power.
What industrial lobbies call ‘barriers’ to trade, citizens and NGOs refer as ‘safeguards’. The TTIP’s discourse of recognition, harmonisation, and cooperation has been interpreted by many European citizens as one of deregulation. This is largely due to the fact that bridging the gap between the EU and the US approaches to risk-analysis – respectively precautionary-principle and sound-science – seems more likely to lead to a downward harmonisation of EU to US standards than an upward harmonisation of US to EU standards. Experts have confirmed EU citizens’ fears by showing that harmonisation could seriously undermine the levels of protection of public health, safety, and the environment in the EU. Documents leaked in May 2016 by Greenpeace have provided further insight into the “scope of US demands to lower or circumvent EU protections”: for example, the US is pushing for the EU’s adoption of a ‘low level presence’ initiative regarding GMOs allowing for the import of cargo containing traces of GMO strains, which is currently strictly unauthorized in the EU due to food safety and cross-pollination concerns.
Moreover, citizens fear that the TTIP will weaken the democratic decisions of sovereign states to the benefit of multinational corporations. And indeed, as has been acknowledged in a letter from Merkel’s office to Foodwatch, policy discretion in the EU and its member states could become “somewhat restricted” by the agreement. This infringement on state’s political and legislative sovereignty would be a result of the Investor State Dispute Settlement mechanism (ISDS), enabling foreign investors to sue states before private arbitration panels. This has quite expectedly generated fears of dominance of private jurisdiction and corporate power over democracy and state sovereignty; the threat of multi-billion dollar ISDS lawsuits appearing to be an effective tool for corporate influence over governments. Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann voiced his citizens’ concerns when affirming that the ISDS would create “dangerous special rights for corporations.”
Over the last decades, Canada itself has had to battle against US corporations under the North American Free Trade Agreement, concerning issues such as the outlawing of carcinogenic chemicals in petrol, and has had to cede to corporate power on countless instances. Ultimately, the massive liabilities associated with ISDS would eat away state’s sovereignty, not only in the EU member-states and the US, but also in the rest of the world: if implemented, the TTIP is likely to set a golden standard for international trade.
The Change in European Protest Culture
In its risks and opportunities assessment, the EU clearly pitted the levelling down of regulation standards against unfair competition for European farmers and small businesses. This specific framing of the issue should have led to a collective-action problem, purposefully scattering the potential opponents to the agreement. However, no issue has mobilized Europeans citizens so much as the TTIP – in 2016, up to 250,000 people gathered in Berlin for the largest set of protests in Germany since 2003 manifestations against the Iraq war. Considering the de facto failure of the TTIP, it seems people power has regained a dynamism that had been faltering of late. The nature of this rising people power seems to differ across the Atlantic, though some characteristics are shared. The opposition against the TTIP crosses the traditional left-right divide in both the EU and the US, regrouping otherwise antithetical political entities under its banner. The UKIP and Front National have both co-opted the anti-TTIP argument, while Greenpeace, the citizen movement Campact, and the consumer protection group Foodwatch have been at the forefront of the Berlin-based Stop TTIP campaign. In the US, both presidential candidates have blamed the TTIP for its high potential in job losses. However, significant differences between the EU and the US opponents to TTIP reveal a change in European protest culture.
In the EU, opposition has united public health insurers, unions, and environmental and consumer groups, and has been revealingly strongest in Germany and Austria, two European states characterized by their high net export rates, strong social systems, low rates of unemployment, and high education levels. Although counterintuitive, this fact shows that European citizens at large protest not only against heightened prospects of unemployment, but also and more importantly against multinational firms’ dominance on regulatory procedures, the lowering of environmental and food security standards, and the democratic deficit of negotiations. In effect, a change in protest culture has taken place, enabled by the professionalization of NGOs allying and giving momentum to the movement. Protest is not just about “fighting against the four letters”, but rather about the preservation of “democracy and European values”. In short, European opposition has considered the externalities (be they environmental, social, or cultural) that would be generated by the trade deal, building its assessment of the deal on the larger social costs of the agreement rather than its pure economic costs. This is explains why Germany, a nation of exporters, is so suspicious of liberalising trade through “new generation” trade agreements.
In contrast, the TTIP in the US has become the target of anti-globalisation rhetoric and economic anxiety, with both presidential candidates accusing the Obama administration of promoting an agreement that would cause unemployment to soar and additional downward-pressure on wages. The anti-trade rhetoric in the US garners support mostly in post-industrial regions where jobs have suffered from NAFTA and China’s entry in the WTO.
To understand such stark contrast between the European and American oppositions to the TTIP, one must return Pascal Lamy’s distinction between the “old” and “new” worlds of trade deals. While in the US, we see an anti-TTIP response typical of “old generation” trade deals, the EU has produced a response that has identified the stakes and challenges characteristic of the “new generation” of trade deals.
What To Expect? The Salience of the EU and Democracy
New targets for anti-TTIP protesters are found in the “new generation” of trade deals. These include the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA), a US-led service-sector agreement to be signed between 23 political units (countries or blocs), and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a trade agreement signed on 29 February 2016 between the EU and Canada, now awaiting ratification. CETA is similar to the TTIP in that it has raised concerns regarding its effect on regulatory standards, public services, state sovereignty, and democratic transparency. Although the CETA and the TTIP are equally opposed by European civil society (in fact, the Stop TTIP campaign is directed against both of the treaties), EU state officials are inconsistent in their appraisal of the agreements: French and German politicians who have effectively declared the end of TTIP are favourable to the CETA, while Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovenia still have reservations. Surprisingly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, despite his notorious left-of-centre political orientation, has dismissed the European citizens and state officials’ reluctance as “demagoguery and protectionism” – failing to grasp the innovative dynamics underlying anti-trade protest in the EU.
In light of the change in EU protest culture, it seems that prospects for future “new generation” trade agreements are rather bleak on the old Continent. This is neither anti-Americanism, nor anti-liberalism. Rather, opposition to “new generation” trade deals has revealed the salience of the EU and democratic values across class distinctions – against all odds and despite Euroscepticism and Brexit-induced cynicism.Late Friday afternoon, Politico Magazine published an update dismantling White House claims that President Barack Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius held “dozens” of unrecorded one-on-one working meetings over the last three-and-a-half years leading up to Obamacare’s unveiling.
The update, written by Government Accountability Institute (GAI) President and Breitbart News Senior Editor-at-Large Peter Schweizer, refuted Friday comments by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney.
In a telling exchange between Carney and NBC News reporter Peter Alexander and ABC News reporter Jonathan Karl, Carney claimed the GAI report showing one meeting between Obama and Sebelius since Obamacare’s signing was incorrect because it was based on spotty White House visitor logs. The problem, wrote Schweizer in the Politico Magazine update, is that the GAI report was not based on visitor logs; it was based on the White House’s own official calendar and was further verified by Politico‘s comprehensive presidential calendar.
“Press Secretary Jay Carney said Friday, ‘Cabinet secretaries don’t regularly get entered into the visitor logs.’ The GAI report was not based on visitor logs; it was based on the White House’s own calendar and the Politico presidential calendar,” wrote Schweizer.
Carney also claimed to reporters that Secretary Sebelius “is here a lot and meets with the President with regularity,” but he admitted he did not know how many one-on-one meetings Obama had with Sebelius.
If so, said Schweizer, “Why aren’t they listed? How many meetings took place and when did they occur?”
As Schweizer pointed out, “Obama’s calendar lists 277 one-on-one meetings between the President and his Cabinet Secretaries, including 73 with former Secretary Clinton and 57 with former Secretary Geithner.” Why not Sebelius? asked Schweizer.
The Politico Magazine update then posed the question at the heart of the controversy: “If Obama and Sebelius worked together closely and regularly, why did the President publicly state he did not know about the problems with Healthcare.gov?”
Schweizer says Obama must make good on his promises of transparency. “This is the most transparent Administration in history,” Obama said previously.
Obama must level with Americans about “how much time President Obama personally spent over three-and-a-half years leading, managing, and working alongside Secretary Sebelius on his signature achievement,” wrote Schweizer.
The growing controversy places an already beleaguered Obama White House in an untenable political position. If, as HHS spokesperson Joanne Peters claimed late Friday, Obama had “dozens” of one-on-one working meetings with Sebelius, why did he promise in his roundly criticized November 14 press conference he was unaware of the serious problems with healthcare.gov that contractors had warned Sebelius of for months?
“I was not informed directly that the website would not be working as–the way it was supposed to,” said Obama. “Clearly, we and I did not have enough awareness about the problems in the website.”
And if, as the White House and Politico presidential calendars reveal, Obama held but one meeting with Sebelius in the three-and-a-half years of the Obamacare implementation, why was the President not “leading, managing, and working alongside Secretary Sebelius on his signature achievement,” asks Schweizer.
The Obama Administration has yet to produce a list of the “dozens” of dates and times it claims Obama and Sebelius spent working on Obamacare.
A recent CNN/ORC poll finds that 53% of Americans now believe Obama is not honest and trustworthy.torres development
An investor group led by New Orleans businessman Sidney Torres has plans for a high-end housing and retail development on a nine-acre stretch of land along the Lafitte Greenway in Mid-City. The purchased lots -- highlighted in yellow -- are bordered by the Mid-City Rouses on the lakeside and Bayou St. John on the riverside in between Conti and Toulouse streets. (Google Earth)
An investor group led by New Orleans businessman Sidney Torres IV has plans for a high-end housing and retail development along a prime stretch of the Lafitte Greenway in Mid-City. IV Capital, a venture capital firm owned by Torres, said Friday (June 26) it has financed the purchase of a nine-acre plot of land bounded by the Mid-City Rouses supermarket and Bayou St. John, between Conti and Toulouse streets.
The group did not disclose a purchase price. New Orleans Terminal Co. and Alabama Great Southern Railroad owned the land.
Torres and his partners said they plan to develop the area, about 380,000 square feet total, into a "high-end mixed-use residential and commercial community."
Construction of the Lafitte Greenway, a bicycle and pedestrian trail that connects the French Quarter and City Park, is set to be complete this year. The investor group also sees an opportunity to provide housing and retail as the city's new University Medical Center and Veteran Affairs hospital open.
Torres said the development team is working with builders to draft plans for a community that fits "seamless within the fabric of the New Orleans cityscape and specifically the Bayou St. John neighborhood." He envisions a mixed development with apartments and houses as well as a gymnasium, cafe and boutique hotel. Amenities would include fire pits along the bayou, playgrounds and bike paths.
Torres said the development team welcomes input from the surrounding community. "We encourage people to bring their best ideas to the table," Torres said.
Partners in the deal include hotelier and developer Joe Jaeger and Hicham Khodr, owner of Camellia Grill.New research suggests that people prefer getting electric shocks to being alone with their thoughts:
[Researchers] report on 11 experiments. In most, they asked participants to put away any distractions and entertain themselves with their own thoughts for 6 to 15 minutes. Over the first six studies, 58 percent of participants rated the difficulty at or above the midpoint on a scale (“somewhat”), and 42 percent rated their enjoyment below the midpoint. In the seventh study, participants completed the task at home, and 32 percent admitted to cheating by using their phones, listening to music, or doing anything but just sitting there. … Participants rated the task of entertaining themselves with their own thoughts as far less enjoyable and more conducive to mind-wandering than other mellow activities such as reading magazines or doing crossword puzzles. In the most, ahem, shocking study, subjects were wired up and given the chance to shock themselves during the thinking period if they desired. They’d all had a chance to try out the device to see how painful it was. And yet, even among those who said they would pay money not to feel the shock again, a quarter of the women and two thirds of the men gave themselves a zap when left with their own thoughts. (One outlier pressed the button 190 times in the 15 minutes.) Commenting on the sudden appeal of electricity coursing through one’s body, [researcher Timothy] Wilson said, “I’m still just puzzled by that.”
Tom Stafford resists the interpretation that people simply don’t like thinking:How much do you love variant covers? DC Comics has just given us an exclusive look at three variants all landing in stores in June. Check out these covers for BATMAN #1, GREEN LANTERNS #1, and SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #2.
BATMAN #1 (Tim Sale Cover)
(W) Tom King (A) David Finch, Matt Batt Banning (CA) Tim Sale
"I AM GOTHAM" chapter one No one has ever stopped the Caped Crusader. Not The Joker. Not Two-Face. Not even the entire Justice League. But how does Batman confront a new hero who wants to save the city from the Dark Knight? CAN'T MISS: Superstar artist David Finch returns to Batman alongside writer Tom King for this five-part storyline.
Item Code: APR160287 In Shops: 6/15/2016 SRP: $2.99
GREEN LANTERNS #2 (Emanuela Lupacchino Cover)
(W) Sam Humphries (A) Robson Rocha (CA) Emanuela Lupacchino
"RED PLANET" chapter one New Lanterns Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz promised to protect others in brightest day or blackest night, but as "Red Planet" begins to rise, the partners find themselves confronted with a unimaginable threat from Bleez and the Red Lanterns! THEY SAID IT: "I am psyched for GREEN LANTERNS!" says writer Sam Humphries. "Myself, Simon, and Jessica are all new to the DC Universe. We're gonna have a blast exploring it-if we don't destroy it first."
Item Code: APR160303 In Shops: 6/15/2016 SRP: $2.99
SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #2 (Carlos D'Anda Cover)
(W) Jim Lee & Various (A) Howard Porter (CA) Carlos D'Anda
The apocalypse continues as Scooby and the gang explore a mysterious facility that may hold the key to their survival. Little do they know that a particularly powerful puppy and his gang of mutated mutts are waiting in the shadows-and they're ready to attack!
Item Code: APR160371 In Shops: 6/15/2016 SRP: $3.99The story of women behind the camera, as told to and reported by cinematographer Catherine Goldschmidt…
I sat down with a group of eight estimable women the other night in Soho for the purpose of discussing our own experiences working behind the camera. We were, between us: cinematographers, camera assistants, Steadicam (and regular cam) operators, gaffers, DoP agents and lighting rental account managers; hailing from countries as wide-ranging as the US, UK, Poland, Japan, Sweden and the French Caribbean. It was a rich and varied group, and the conversation was free-flowing, open and honest. At times, we were howling with laugher; at others, we were shocked and disgusted. Overall, we were thoughtful, engaged, concerned, and positive.
What exactly did we talk about, you ask? Well, presumably you’ve heard the same frightening statistics as we have. As Martha M. Lauzen, PhD reported in her annual Celluloid Ceiling study, in 2014 the number of women working behind the camera (as director, writer, producer, editor and cinematographer) comprised just 17% of the work force of the 250 top-grossing films in the US.
Moreover, that low percentage has been stagnant since 1998. Just 5% of all cinematographers working on those films were women, a 1% increase since 1998, and 96% of the films were shot by men. Amongst the heads of departments reported in the study, female cinematographers comprised the lowest percentage of the work force, just behind directors, 7% of whom were women. The numbers for Independent Narrative and Documentary films screening at US Top Film Festivals were only somewhat better, with women making up 26% of the HoD roles overall, and 12% of all cinematographers. These numbers, again, show very little growth since 2009.
There are so many statistics out there, but as someone who’s been working in the industry in both the US and the UK for over 10 years now, I’m constantly shocked that the numbers are so small and so unchanging. When I was asked to write this article for the “Women in Film” issue, all I wanted to do was hear what my female colleagues thought and experienced and felt when it came to being a minority on set.
What started as a simple idea for an intimate round-table discussion like the one we had the other night turned into a larger survey that I sent out to my networks in both the US and the UK. In a little over two weeks, I’ve received nearly 50 responses to my 20-question survey (not technically enough for a statistically accurate sample, but enough to tell a combined narrative). The stories that I’ve been told via the survey, across our dinner table the other night, and while sitting on a “Women in Cinematography” panel at the Bristol International Cinematography Festival last week have been a mix of depressing, inspiring, maddening and funny.
I feel I have to be better at my job than the men are, in order to generate the same opportunities”
Overall, I’ve been impressed at the thoughtfulness and energy that has been put into this discussion, which I believe is an important one to be having at this point in time. As we struggle to make progress in our race for equality, the question of how women working in these technical roles are perceived and treated on and off set, and how we perceive and treat others, is an essential one to consider.
When I made up my survey, I was after qualitative responses that would reveal some unifying trends about our experiences as women working in technical roles behind the camera. The survey, which you can still see and respond to online here, begins by asking about initial impulses and inspirations, and then moves quickly into gender-specific issues.
It was after I sent out the survey that several people told me about a slightly similar study Women in Film and Television (WFTV) had done in 2009 with Skillset called “Why Her?”. In this study, they interviewed five UK-based women working in the disciplines of Camera, Sound, Direction and Screenwriting (so, 20 women in all), who were each considered “successful”. The study asked the question: what qualities or circumstances made these women successful in their respective male-dominated and highly competitive fields?
It’s an important question to consider, and it’s especially interesting to see how some of their responses stack against those I received. If “Why Her?” was after the key to success in individuals, then my survey by comparison was after the ties that bind the group. My hope was that through learning about what other women (not necessarily deemed the stand-out “successful” ones, but just working women in general) think and feel about their job and their role as a woman within the workplace, we might see some patterns emerge that would give us a more accurate sense of solidarity and togetherness that one doesn’t feel when reading about a few individuals alone.
As director Lexi Andersen was quoted as saying in a recent article published in The Guardian on sexism in the film industry, “if everybody wants to be “the chosen one” or “one of the guys”, you won’t have unity and solidarity – the only weapons that can combat the status quo.”
We are all individuals. It’s the perception of who we are we have to fight.”
Of the 47 females (including one “identifying as female”) who answered my survey, it was a fairly even 50/50 split between women living and working in the US versus the UK (with just a couple outliers in Pakistan and Brazil). Roughly speaking, around 45% reported having worked in the industry for 5-10 years, 40% for 10-20 years, 12% for less than 5 years and about 3% for more than 20 years. Of these people, the vast majority identified themselves as cinematographers, then camera operators, then 2nd ACs, with Loaders, 1st ACs, Gaffers, Key Grips and DITs in much smaller representation (note: these numbers are just who answered my survey, they are not necessarily representative of the working population as a whole).
Age-wise, the majority of responders were 30-44 years old(~60%), followed by those who were 18-29 (~30%), while the older generation, 45-59 years and 60+ years, combined made up less than 10% of responders.
Ok- so that’s who responded to my survey, but what did they say? In answer to the question of how they got started in the industry, and who were their mentors and role models, it was interesting to see that many cited both male and female role models and mentors, though some complained about the lack of the latter:
“All of my mentors and role models are or have been men. If you pick up your average American Cinematographer magazine, most of the films you read about, the work you admire, is done by men. Those people you read about become your role models. Not having access to women in these forums, and women not having access to films that make it into these forums, makes it difficult for us to recognize their work.”
“I always look up to the ladies doing well in this industry: Ellen, Reed, Rachel, Autumn, Amy, Mandy, Nicola, Uta – I try and keep up with all of them. I could go on. I’m stoked for all of them, and I look up to all of them.”
Many referenced a pure love of cinema, photography and storytelling in general as their initial inspiration, and most also cited university as the time and place where they first came into contact with the actual job of cinematographer. A few referred to their father or grandfather’s video camera as being an early jumping-off point, and a couple also mentioned painting, too:
“I wanted to be a painter. Shooting is an extension of being an artist.”
“Like a lot of kids growing up in the 80s/90s, my parents were obsessed with making home videos. Every Christmas or holiday, my Dad would lug around a massive camera filming everything from our first steps to 7 minutes of landscapes…Now […]I would be lying if I said those rubbish home movies weren’t a massive inspiration to me ending up in this job.”
Most of the films you read about, the work you admire, is done by men…women not having access to films that make it into these forums, makes it difficult for us to recognize their work.”
Only one woman mentioned her mother, which is interesting when you compare this to the findings of “Why Her?”, where strong mothers/matriarchs/female-dominated households seem a common thread. But then again, I didn’t ask specifically about family or early childhood, which I think was a key factor in the WFTV study.
Finally, several women told specific stories of when they first saw another woman doing the job as being a catalytic moment for them:
“I was in a little once-a-week, one-unit film class my freshman year in college. One day, we just watched the behind-the-scenes extras from the first season of “Lost”, and there was one woman in the camera department. They only showed her for a minute, and they spent a lot of that minute focusing on how she could “lift heavy things just like a man!” It was ridiculous. However, it was the first time I had seen, visually seen, a woman anywhere near the camera, and a light just went on for me. That was something I could do.”
I asked both if they felt like they had and also had not gotten a job due to being a woman. Across the board, almost all responders told me that yes- they had definitely gotten jobs because they were female, either due to subject matter, “sensitivity”, or the personalities of the people hiring. A few |
o operație rezervată doar experților sau oamenilor de știință. Acești analiști pot avea cunoștințe specifice și abilități tehnice pe care majoritatea cetățenilor nu le au și ei pot să evalueze diferite tipuri de risc, dar, în final, oamenii individuali sunt cei care au ultimul cuvânt în orice evaluare de riscuri. Aceste percepții diferite ale riscurilor sunt la baza neînțelegerilor legate de schimbările climatice. Condiționările culturale, sociale și psihologice au cea mai mare influență asupra percepțiilor individuale de risc.
Hazardurile sau comportamentele care amenință bunăstarea ori stilul de viață vor fi percepute drept riscante de către o societate sau o cultură anume. Dar pentru că fiecare cultură consideră diferite bunuri sau stiluri de viață ca fiind valoroase, oamenii vor aloca nivele de importanță variabile diferitelor riscuri. Unii cercetători au afirmat că cel mai probabil factor de determinare a riscurilor ecologice, inclusiv al celor legate de schimbările climatice, îl reprezintă bogăția economică. Din acest punct de vedere, riscurile climatice au fost percepute a fi mult mai serioase de către națiunile bogate, iar în cadrul acestor națiuni, ele au fost considerate mult mai serios de către indivizii cu cel mai ridicat nivel de viață.
Dar diferențele de percepere a riscurilor nu se pot explica așa de simplu. Douglas și Wildawsky au elaborat un cadru conceptual mult mai larg, cadru care a fost ulterior dezvoltat de antropologul Michael Thompson („Organizare și dezorganizare – O teorie dinamică și non-liniară a emergenței instituționale și a implicațiilor sale”, 2008), de profesorul Dan Kahan și colaboratorii săi (în cadrul Proiectului Percepției Culturale de la Yale Law School) și alții, pentru a explica de ce oamenii gradează riscurile așa cum o fac de obicei. Acest cadru a fost numit teoria culturală a riscului și el se extinde dincolo de împărțirea superficială în bogați și săraci ori stânga și dreapta politică. În loc de această diviziune, modalitatea în care sunt percepute și ierarhizate riscurile devine o funcție descriind felul în care indivizii se văd pe ei înșiși în relație cu alții, ceea ce, la rându-i, afectează concepțiile lor despre lume, valorile și modurile lor de viață.
Teoria culturală a riscului produce o clasificare în patru „moduri de viață” (vezi figura de mai jos) în care indivizi, grupuri sociale sau societăți întregi pot fi plasate (practic, e vorba de patru „triburi”!).
Clasificarea se bazează pe două dimensiuni fundamentale: gradul în care oamenii sunt orientați social (grup vs. individ) și gradul în care oamenii consideră reglementarea socială (multe legi vs. puține legi).
Axa y (verticală) descrie limitele domeniului până la care oamenii simt că viețile lor sunt circumscrise prin multe legi impuse din exterior. Axa x (orizontală) indică domeniul în care oamenii vor să trăiască în comun, ca membri ai unor grupuri sociale largi.
În această clasificare, atât „ierarhiștii” cât și „egalitariștii” au în comun un sens de solidaritate ca membri ai societății: ei tind să fie asociați în grupuri sociale puternic legate între ele.
Ei diferă, totuși, prin modul cum consideră aceste legături sociale:
Ierarhiștii apreciază o structură socială puternică, bazată pe ordine, cu interacțiuni sociale guvernate de multiple pachete de legi. Ei apreciază status quo-ul lor economic și cred că schimbările climatice amenință societatea în care trăiesc. De aceea, este probabil că ei vor adopta o atitudine sceptică.
Egalitariștii privesc toți indivizii ca fiind fundamental egali, uniți social din pură voință într-o societate guvernată de legi puține, în care fiecare are o șansă pentru orice dorință. Ei consideră natura ca fiind vulnerabilă și acest sentiment devine o parte a rațiunii lor de a exista. Egalitariștii vor căuta acele aspecte ale schimbărilor climatice care să le justifice credința lor că natura este amenințată și necesită acțiuni imediate de salvare. Cel mai probabil, ei vor deveni membri ai unor organizații ecologiste de tip Greenpeace.
Celelalte două categorii – „individualiștii” și „fataliștii” – au o perspectivă diferită asupra societății. Ambele grupuri consideră legăturile sociale din cadrul comunității ca fiind slabe. În plus, individualiștii nu văd necesitatea unei structuri sociale bazate pe reguli sau legi convenționale, în timp ce fataliștii acceptă poziția lor de indivizi izolați, dar în cadrul unei societăți stratificate și aflate sub controlul legii.
Individualiștii consideră că natura este rezilientă și sensibilă, în același timp, când este confruntată cu diverse amenințări. În plus, ei sunt persoane self-made, neavând nevoie să fie asociați cu vreun grup social constrâns de convenții sau reguli. În general, ei neagă schimbările climatice, pentru că nu acceptă intervenții guvernamentale top-down sau soluții sociale. În schimb, ei insistă pe responsabilitățile individuale când vine vorba despre ameliorarea oricăror posibile consecințe dăunătoare ale schimbărilor climatice.
Fataliștii privesc natura ca pe o loterie, capricioasă în multe privințe, cu rezultate controlate de șansă. Ei acționează ca indivizi izolați, dar îmbrățișează o societate guvernată de lege. Fataliștii își acceptă soarta așa cum este și nu încearcă să o schimbe. Ei nu încearcă să se adapteze la ori să amelioreze schimbările climatice pentru că, în viziunea lor, nu are nici un rost.
Douglas și Wildawski susțin că aceste „patru moduri de viață” – aceste diferite puncte de vedere despre relațiile dintre individ și societate – oferă mult mai multe detalii despre cum și de ce oameni diferiți din societăți diferite percep riscurile în moduri diferite.
O altă idee care oferă perspective interesante mi se pare caracterizarea Naturii ca fiind: benignă/rezilientă, efemeră/vulnerabilă, perversă/tolerantă sau capricioasă/pură loterie. Aceste moduri de a privi/gândi Natura pot fi utilizate mai departe în explorarea diverselor căi prin care riscurile asociate cu schimbările climatice sunt percepute sau discutate într-un fel sau altul de membrii unei societăți. De asemenea, există posibilitatea de a înțelege mai bine de ce anumite răspunsuri la schimbările climatice sunt favorizate în raport cu altele.
Noi toți suntem zoon politikon (animale politice), aparținând unuia din cele patru ”triburi”. Și noi toți vrem ca tribul nostru să câștige și să supraviețuiască bătăliei climatice. De aceea, referitor la dezbaterile curente despre schimbările climatice, noi adoptăm ideologia și credințele tribului nostru. Această atitudine ne întărește credința proprie, se armonizează cu ideile celorlalți membri ai tribului nostru, conferindu-le astfel rezistență sporită.
Ca o concluzie generală, percepția noastră despre riscuri climatice obiective este fundamental formată dintr-un amestec inefabil de instincte și emoții, fapte și rațiune. Nu pot decît să sper că înțelegerea și recunoașterea acestor diferențe în percepția riscurilor vor oferi soluții pentru schimbările climatice.
UPDATE 18 mai 2015: La două zile după ce am trimis manuscrisul platformei Contributors, am avut plăcută surpriză să citesc în prestigiosul The New York Times un interviu care atinge unele din ideile prezentate de mine. Intitulat Ce putem face în legătură cu schimbările climatice?, interviul are ca protagoniști pe Gary Gutting, profesor de filosofie la University of Notre Dame, și pe Dale Jamieson, profesor de studii ecologice și filosofie la New York University. O afirmație pe care m-am ferit s-o scriu eu însumi (deși sunt parțial de acord cu ea) este următoarea: „Noi nu putem opri schimbările globale…Acestea vor deveni tot mai grave.” Există, apoi,păreri interesante, congruente cu cele descrise de mine mai sus, legate de estimarea „sacrificiilor” necesare pentru oprirea schimbărilor climatice, de „justețea” și „moralitatea” acestor sacrificii. Soluția pe care o întrevede profesorul Jamieson se numește „virtuți verzi: cooperare, simplicitate, cumpătare și respectul pentru natură. Ele nu vor rezolva singure problema schimbărilor climatice, dar ne vor ajuta să trăim având un sens și grația lumii pe care o creăm”.
BIBLIOGRAFIE:
Aja, S. U., and C. Cranganu, 2015, 2nd ed., Exploring the Earth System, Kendall Hunt Publishing Co., ISBN: 978-1-4652-6989-8, cap. 14, „Taking sides”.
Cranganu, C., H. Soleymani, S. Azad, and K. Watson, 2014, Carbon Dioxide Sealing Capacity: Textural or Compositional Controls?, AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #41474, 35 p. http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/pdfz/documents/2014/41474craganu/ndx_cranganu.pdf.html
Cranganu, C., 2014, Comments on “Insolation-driven 100,000-year glacial cycles and hysteresis of ice-sheet volume” by Ayako Abe-Ouchi, Fuyuki Saito, Kenji Kawamura, Maureen E. Raymo, Jun’icho Okuno, Kunio Takahashi and Heinz Blatter, Nature, 500, August 8, 2013, p. 190-193; Journal of Scientific Exploration, v. 27, no. 4, p. 748-749.
Cranganu, C., 2014, The Deliberate Corruption of Climate Science by Tim Ball. Mount Vernon, WA: Stairway Press, 2014. 298 pp. $22.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-0988877740: Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 518–524.
Cranganu, C., 2013, Approaching Crisis of Global Cooling and the Limits to Growth—Global Warming Is Not Our Future by Shigenori Maruyama, Xlibris, 2012, 156 pp. $19.99 (paperback). ISBN 978-1477128589: Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 27, No. 3, pp. 576–579
Cranganu, C., 2011, Nonsense on stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk by M. Pigliucci, The University of Chicago Press, 2010, 336 pp., ISBN 9780226667867 : Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 393–398.
Cranganu, C., 2011, Teaching climate change: Is there a communication problem?, GSA Northeastern (46th Annual) and North-Central (45th Annual) Joint Meeting (20–22 March 2011) http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2011NE/finalprogram/abstract_183891.htm
Cranganu, C., 2010-2011, Schimbările climatice – între realitate și fictiune, România Pitorească, vol. 457 – 467, 9 episoade publicate pe pagina 2.
Cranganu, C., 2010, Teaching Climate Change – What Science Needs to Tell Us, in Gh. Iacob, I. Manolescu, C. Clipa, and A. Andries (eds), Innovation and development in the Doctoral Programs for Adapting the Scientific Research to the Knowledge Society Needs, PIM, Iasi, ISBN 606-13-0146-4, 79-85.
[i] În februarie 2004 am început să predau, pentru studenții din cadrul Honors Academy of Brooklyn College, un curs intitulat „”. Imediat, cursul a devenit popular printre studenti și continui să-l predau aproape în fiecare semestru.
[ii] Doar două exemple de penetrare politică și religioasă produsă de problema schimbărilor climatice:
Pe 31 martie 2015, Casa Albă a trimis un document către Convenția Cadru a Națiunilor Unite despre Schimbările Climatice (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), în avanpremiera summit-ului de la Paris (30 nov. – 11 dec, 2015). Documentul, intitulat Contribuția Națională Propusă (Intendent Nationally Determined Contribution), stipulează că Statele Unite își vor reduce emisiile de gaze cu efect de seră cu 26%-28% sub nivelul anului 2005 până în 2025. Imediat, Președintele Obama a fost lăudat/apreciat de ecologiști pentru decizia lui curajoasă. Dar săptămâna trecută, același președinte a dat „undă verde” companiei Shell pentru începerea explorărilor și exploatărilor de petrol în zona Oceanului Arctic. Motivația domniei sale a fost: „Este mai bine să exploatăm decât să importăm”. Aceeași ecologiști, care l-au adorat în martie, „au sărit la jugulară”, acuzându-l pe Obama că a cedat presiunilor industriei, creând, în același timp, riscuri ecologice greu de estimat. Papa Francisc (după ce a mediat recentul dezgheț diplomatic dintre SUA și Cuba) s-a angajat și el în dezbaterile despre schimbările climatice. Pe 28 aprilie a.c., el a găzduit o sesiune de o zi, intitulată „Protejați Pământul, onorați umanitatea: Dimensiunile morale ale schimbărilor climatice și dezvoltării durabile”. Din partea bisericii ortodoxe, aș cita cuvintele Patriarhului Ecumenic al Constantinopolului, Bartolomeu I, care, în deschiderea simpozionului „Marea Neagră este în criză”, septembrie 2008, a spus, printre altele: „Dacă oamenii fac ca speciile să dispară și dacă distrug diversitatea biologică a creației lui Dumnezeu… dacă degradează integritatea Pământului prin producerea de schimbări climatice …toate acestea sunt păcate”.
Ai informatii despre tema de mai sus? Poti contribui la o mai buna intelegere a subiectului? Scrie articolul tau si trimite-l la editor[at]contributors.roAggies’ plans for Kyle Field taking shape
COLLEGE STATION – When Richard Box helped celebrate the Aggies' stunning first sprint through the Southeastern Conference this season, Texas A&M's regents chairman told a crowd of thousands on campus two weeks ago, "I've been made a true believer – and I believe it's only going to get better."
A big chunk of that betterment – in addition to the Aggies finishing the regular season 10-2 and quarterback Johnny Manziel winning the Heisman Trophy – is taking shape concerning the $425 million planned redevelopment of Kyle Field.
"Our goal is to build the best stadium there is for the fewest amount of dollars, and so far we're on track for both," A&M chancellor John Sharp said Wednesday.
The Aggies recently announced Manhattan-Vaughn as their construction partner – a combination of Manhattan Construction Group and Vaughn Construction. Manhattan's resume includes Houston's Reliant Stadium and Arlington's Cowboys Stadium. Vaughn owns a long history with A&M, with recent undertakings including the Mitchell Physics Building and the Memorial Student Center.
"They're obviously well-qualified," Sharp said of Manhattan-Vaughn, now set to begin working with architect Populous on a conclusive blueprint.
A&M plans to pay for the renovation through donations to the 12th Man Foundation. A&M plans to pay for the renovation through donations to the 12th Man Foundation. Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Aggies’ plans for Kyle Field taking shape 1 / 3 Back to Gallery
A&M had hoped to make a recommendation on a final plan to its regents this past fall, but that has been pushed back to later this winter or spring. The project itself, however, is still on schedule to begin in earnest following the 2013 season, and ideally be completed in time for the 2016 season.
Some older buildings close to Kyle – including G. Rollie White Coliseum – are scheduled for demolition this summer. What's clear, too, based on the request for proposal (RFP), is A&M, home to about 50,000 students, does not intend to play its home games away from College Station for a season or two, and the seating capacity likely will be more than 100,000.
Sharp declined to discuss specifics on those two items, however, in deferring to a recommendation on the final plan from A&M president R. Bowen Loftin, and regents approval. The rebuild includes a demolition of the west side stands, the east side lower stands and the addition of a south side upper deck, in addition to plenty of state-of-the-art amenities and a grand façade.
A&M, which plans to pay for the renovation through donations to the 12th Man Foundation and bonds paid for by future stadium revenue, also intends to capitalize on the Aggies' recent on-field success – and growth.
"When I graduated from A&M (in 1972) there were a total of 14,000 students," Sharp said. "This year we just graduated 12,000. I don't think we'll have any trouble with capacity, whatever is decided upon. And with the lowest interest rates we're ever going to see, it's a perfect time to build."
Meanwhile the Aggies will close out their season against 10-2 Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 4 in one of Manhattan's projects – Cowboys Stadium.
bzwerneman@express-news.net
twitter: @brentzwernemanAs the modern office gets less formal when it comes to men’s clothing, does it really matter if you struggle to tell the difference between the two styles of men’s shoes, The Derby and Oxford? To the modern gentleman, it matters a great deal. These classic leather men’s shoes will form the foundation of your men’s style wardrobe. Oxfords have always been considered more formal dress shoes than derbys, but why and how can you tell the difference? Knowing how to spot the finer details will enable you to dress up or down your our outfits subtly and with style. You wouldn’t want to be knowingly under dressed at a formal event, or worse still, unknowingly.
Men’s Derby Shoes
A quick internet search will bring up a multitude of articles about what kind of men’s shoe a derby is. All will make reference to a men’s leather shoe with open laces, but most have slightly inconsistent definitions of what they might be. So for the avoidance of any confusion, here is my simple definition so you will never again be in doubt what these more casual of men’s shoes look like.
Open Laces
If you remove the laces, could run your finger from the top of the shoe’s tongue, down past the lace holes to the top of the shoe? If you can, it is because the laces are open at the bottom edge. It is this characteristic that defines a Derby shoe. Any reference to toe caps, or special stitching is smoke and mirrors. It is just the open laces that defines a men’s shoe as a Derby. The reason Derby shoes are considered less formal than their Oxford cousins is because the open laces allow the shoe to open much wider and as a result, are easier to put on. If you are going to wear a leather shoe in a causal setting, Derby shoes are the key to making the outfit look great, but not stuffy. Derby shoes are perfect with jeans or chinos with a crisp shirt and a nice spots coat.
Men’s Oxford shoes
Oxfords, or Balmorals if you prefer, are the basis for most formal men’s shoe available today. Often plain with a toe cap, or embellished with details like elaborate perforations or Brogueing (more of this later..). The Oxford is a truly versatile shoe that can be had in a style to suit any formal occasion from daily office wear (not that I recommend wearing your shoes every day without rotation, but you get my point) to one off events like weddings and ceremonies. The Oxford is the shoe that can do it all.
Closed Laces
Using the picture above and the same test used to determine the Derby shoes, if you (imagine this with laces removed) could not run your finger from the top of the tongue to the top of the shoe because the base of the laces is stitched to the top of the shoe, then they are Oxfords. This lends itself to a sleeker, more elegant shape that take your style to the next level and are the perfect finishing touch to a sharp tailored suit.
Wingtips and Brogues
I often read articles proclaiming wingtips and brogues are Oxfords. This is however incorrect, or at least in some situations. Wingtips are that distinctive W pattern on the top of the shoe, and Brogueing is the distinctive perforations that often accompany wingtips details. You are more likely to see these details on an Oxford shoe, but the country Brogue is a great example that usually buck the trend, as these Cheaney Avon shoes demonstrate. They are design details that can be found on Derbys and Oxfords alike.OMAHA – With all the runs Arizona has scored in the NCAA tournament, it's sometime easy to forget the Wildcats can pitch a little as well.
Konner Wade threw a complete-game six-hitter Sunday night and Robert Refsnyder homered, helping give the Wildcats a 5-1 victory against two-time defending champion South Carolina in the first game of the championship series in the College World Series. Game 2 of the best-of-three series is today (8, ET, ESPN2), and the Wildcats can win their first national title since 1986 with a victory. Game 3 if necessary would be Tuesday.
Wade (11-3) has pitched three complete games in the postseason, including two in the CWS, and has given up only five earned runs in 35 innings in the NCAA tournament. He struck out three Sunday and walked one. He threw 110 pitches, 73 for strikes.
"I can't say enough about my defense tonight," Wade said after the game. "You can pitch to contact with this defense behind you. In the past three starts, I've just had the same mentality: try to throw strikes and get groundballs."
Refsnyder also made a sparkling defensive play in right field when he threw out Adam Matthews at third as Matthews tried to advance from first base on a single in the seventh inning.
That ended the last threat for USC (49-19). "Konner Wade was outstanding," said Gamecocks coach Ray Tanner. "We were never able to do anything offensively."
Tanner said after the game that his All-American left-hander, Michael Roth (9-1) would "likely" pitch the must-win game today. Roth is coming off a two-hitter in a victory Thursday against Kent State, so he would be going on three days' rest. Arizona will likely go with either James Farris (7-3) or Kurt Heyer (13-2) the nation's victory leader. Both are righties.
"We've talked about one in a row for six weeks now," said Wildcats coach Andy Lopez. "That's all we've talked about. One in a row. Play good baseball tonight and show up tomorrow night and play good baseball tomorrow.
"We understand where we're at. These guys understand who they're playing. They understand it's not a tournament somewhere in South Dakota."
The Wildcats (47-17) are averaging 9.3 runs a game in the NCAA tournament and have won 10 games in a row.
Refsnyder continued his torrid tournament hitting when he drove a 2-2 pitch from Gamecocks starter Forrest Koumas into the South Carolina bullpen in right field to give the Wildcats a 2-0 first-inning lead. The homer scored Johnny Field, who had singled.
With USC's rotation taxed because the Gamecocks had to play two elimination games Thursday and one Friday to reach the title series, Tanner called on right-hander Koumas (2-3) to start Game 1. Koumas had made 17 appearances this season but only three starts. In 25⅔ innings, he had allowed 27 hits with 28 strikeouts and 16 walks.
Koumas, who started the first game of the championship series last year against Florida, missed more than a month with a stress fracture in his elbow and had not pitched in the NCAAs. He pitched 1⅓ innings May 25 in the Southeastern Conference tournament against Florida, allowing one hit and one walk.
He ran into trouble again in the third, starting when shortstop Joey Pankake committed an error on a leadoff grounder by Arizona's Trent Gilbert. Joey Rickard and Alex Mejia then singled to account for one run. Refsnyder was intentionally walked, loading the bases. Koumas was then pulled in favor of right-hander Evan Beal. He induced a double-play grounder from Seth Mejias-Brean, limiting the damage.
The Wildcats got a second unearned run to make it 4-0 in the fifth. Field drew a one-out walk, took second on a wild pitch, reached third on an errant throw by catcher Grayson Greiner and scored on a single by Mejias-Brean. South Carolina finally broke through against Wade in the sixth on a leadoff double by Greiner and a two-out RBI-single by Evan Marzilli.
But Arizona made it 5-1 in the seventh when Refsnyder reached on an infield single and later scored on a single by Bobby Brown.
"It was a good ballgame for us, and hopefully, we can get another one tomorrow," said Lopez, who won his only national title 20 years ago at Pepperdine. "You're thankful when a young guy (Wade) gets better as the season goes on. … He was marvelous.
"We had a couple of opportunities to cash in (for more runs), but a lot of that has to do with the people on the other side. It's good to be on top of a very good opponent."
The Gamecocks have faced elimination three times before in the CWS and still sounded confident after the game.
"A couple of days ago we were in the same situation," said Marzilli. "You've got to go up there, got to take one pitch at a time and can't get ahead of yourself. We have to come out tomorrow and pretend like nothing ever happened and go out and hopefully get a win."
Even with Roth throwing, however, USC might need to score a few more runs to prolong its season. The Gamecocks have scored only 11 times in their last five games.Konan of Akatsuki has a unique ninjutsu style which manipulates and weaponizes paper.
Her teacher recognized her talent for origami as a child and encouraged her to turn that artistic talent into an unorthodox tool. Infusing scraps of paper with chakra to make an impromptu weapon was a common tactic but Konan spent her entire life honing this skill to create something more useful and deadly than most would expect.
She even held the hope that she would one day pass these jutsu down to her children as the beginning on a ninja clan. This dream would never come to fruition but the tragedy that stole it from her is what motivated her to create her signature jutsu, the Dance of the Shikigami.
With this jutsu, Konan can physically transform her body and clothing into thousands of pieces of paper with yang chakra. She possesses instinctual control over every single sheet as they are essentially an extension of herself, as much a part of her as her own hands and feet. The jutsu actually made her one of the few shinobi capable of levitation and flight as she could control her own movement through the air just like her paper, partly inspiring her moniker as Amegakure’s Angel.
This paper is innately stronger than any other kind. It can be as hard as steel without losing any of its flexibility, water runs off of its surface without soaking it and particularly hot fire is needed to burn it. Konan’s favored method of attack is to shape her paper into weapons such as spears or shuriken to assault her enemies, combining their toughness with speed and numbers. And it is well-suited for restraining her opponents as she can wrap them in enough sheets of paper that they are incapable of any movement she doesn’t allow, levitating them along with the paper.
Her paper can even change its colour to camouflage itself against its surrounding, based on how Konan looks human even when she’s composed of paper as it perfectly replicates her true appearance. She can even create three-dimensional structures that look close enough to the real thing to fool most, potentially allowing her to surround an enemy with her weapons without them realizing until it’s too late.
And a related skill to this is Konan’s ability to inscribe sealing formula directly onto her paper which she uses primarily to create her own explosive tags. Any sheet of paper can be made several times more deadly when she can turn it into a explosive as well. This in fact led to her deadliest jutsu which is capable of a level of destruction that few can match.
And as long as she has enough chakra to sustain the jutsu, she is more paper than flesh. In this state, she doesn’t feel pain and is practically invulnerable to real harm since she lacks internal organs and can replaced her damaged parts by creating more paper. The way to truly defeat would be to destroy enough of her paper form that she can’t recover or drive her to exhaustion to end the jutsu and leave her as vulnerable as anyone else.
Related Jutsu
Paper Clone Jutsu – Konan can create a perfect replica of herself from paper. It functions with few differences to many other clone jutsu but is able to separate itself into sheets of paper and recombine at will, just like her Dance of the Shikigami. Its most useful trait is that Konan can mix explosive tags into their bodies so that they can explode at will without concern for their own ‘lives’.
Paper Person of God Jutsu – Konan devised this jutsu to defeat the one she believed to be Uchiha Madara by overcoming his powerful space-time ninjutsu. The idea behind it was inspired by Hanzo of the Salamander who once disguised his explosive tags to ambush Nagato. Over time, Konan prepares at least thousands upon thousands of explosive tags – if not billions upon billions – with her abilities and hides them within her chosen battlefield to detonate at the opportune moment and start several minutes worth of continuous explosions.Sunday's vote in the House of Representatives is huge for Barack Obama. He found his voice on healthcare – after the special election in Massachusetts took away his filibuster-proof Senate. He took an issue that seemed dead, a party in disarray, and an administration on the defensive and rallied them.
President Obama has managed something that eluded Roosevelt, Truman, Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Clinton, and both Bush Sr and Bush Jr. Winning national health insurance – even this weak version – will be his legacy. And it restores his reputation as an effective and eloquent force. Even more important, he avoids a loss that would have diminished his star to the vanishing point. Lose this and he becomes Jimmy Carter. Win it and he does what even the greats could not do.
And here's something people are missing: this was the Democrat's signature issue. It has been since 1945 (when FDR designed a reform and left it as a legacy to Truman who made it the cause of his life). When was the last time a Democratic president rallied his party on one of their issues and overcame fierce Republican opposition? Bill Clinton (1993-2001) did not manage it once; he won essentially Republican issues – budget balance, Nafta, welfare reform. Jimmy Carter (1977-81)? No, again. To find a Democrat winning a contested victory on a Democratic issue you have to go back to Lyndon Johnson before the 1966 midterm. Forget the politics for a moment. On the substance, I'd consider this the biggest Democratic victory in 45 years.
And the midterm test that everyone is focused on now is shortsighted. Lyndon Johnson changed America with the Civil Rights Act (1964) and Medicare (1965). No Democrat and few Republicans would mess with those laws. Lyndon Johnson usually ranks as a near great president – and without Vietnam he'd rank even higher. But he got buried in the 1966 midterm election. For people with an eye to history, the midterm test is not a reliable one.
Is the health reform good for Republicans? No. They already have the anti-government crowd sewed up. Before the vote they could make two arguments: 1. Democrats can't get anything done; 2. And what they want to do is bad – too much government. Now, they lose the "Democrats are ineffectual" argument. As to the second argument, the Dems have a chance to prove them wrong with an actual programme.
But there's one final point that no one should miss. The politics continues. Democrats have a chance to reframe this debate and take their momentum on to other issues. Republicans will try to keep portraying Democrats as wild and out of control. But look at how zany the politics have been. The Republicans dominated that debate for a year. Then, crazily, they won a long-shot special election – and promptly lost control of the debate. Nothing became Obama so much as his response to a stinging defeat. What's |
4 Mr Green was pictured leaving his home on Friday after it was revealed he had been forced to resign
Peter Jordan - The Sun 4 Theresa May will now look to replace Mr Green in the New Year
"He set up a war room in his office to ensure none of the smears went unchallenged.
“David also went in to see the PM several times to lobby her on Damian’s behalf.
"He pleaded with her not to give his head on a plate to the police.
AFP or licensors 4 Brexit Secretary David Davis set up a 'war room' and begged the PM not to fire him
MOST READ IN POLITICS SO BRAZEN Migrants sneaking into UK call 999 THEMSELVES as they don't fear being sent home HEZ BAN IRE Jeremy Corbyn sparks fury by saying there's no 'evidence' to back Hezbollah ban Exclusive CORB OUT Corbyn forced to apologise for hiding freebie NYC trip paid for by anti-nuke group Exclusive WHERE CREDIT'S DUE 4m set for £3k Universal Credit boost - but others plunged into poverty WAGE WAR Get the lowdown on the National Living Wage and the amount you are entitled to party's 'too sorry' MP reignites anti-Semitism crisis saying Labour's been 'too apologetic'
“It was his view that there was more to be concerned about the behaviour of these former officers than the minister they were targeting.”
Downing Street has ruled out a rush to replace Mr Green — though Mrs May is said to be plotting a wider reshuffle of her top team in the New Year.
The Remainer’s departure leaves a huge gap in her carefully balanced Cabinet but she may choose to have no deputy.
Mrs May is keen to reboot after losing three ministers in six weeks, with Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and International Aid chief Priti Patel also leaving.A black New Jersey community college professor was fired after she appeared on Fox News to defend a black-only Memorial Day Celebration in New York City.
The event was advertised as an “unapologetically black space,” which naturally caused a firestorm in conservative media. This led Lisa Durden, a political commentator who was an adjunct professor at Essex County College in Newark, to appear on Fox News to discuss the controversy.
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“Boo-hoo-hoo,” Durden said sarcastically in the June 6 interview with Tucker Carlson. “You white people are angry because you couldn’t use your white privilege card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter all-black Memorial Day celebration.”
The exchange quickly turned heated, with Carlson, a man clearly capable of making and breaking careers, going on to call Durden “hostile and separatist and crazy.”
“You’re demented actually,” Carlson said. “You’re sick and what you’re saying is disgusting and if you were a Nazi I would say the same thing to you.”
Two days after the interview, the school suspended Durden, who taught courses on mass communication and culture, from her teaching duties with pay, although only about a week remained in the summer school session. Two weeks later, Durden was fired from Essex, a campus that is federally designated as a “Predominantly Black and Hispanic Serving Institution.”
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In an interview with The Washington Post after her removal, Durden didn’t mince words. “I was publicly lynched,” she said. “They didn’t let me finish the class and they disrupted the learning process. I had a right to free speech, and I exercised that right.”
In a lengthy statement—posted in text and video form on Friday—Essex County College President Anthony Munroe said the school was “immediately inundated with feedback from students, faculty and prospective students and their families expressing frustration, concern and even fear that the views expressed by a College employee (with influence over students) would negatively impact their experience on the campus.”
“In consideration of the College’s mission, and the impact that this matter has had on the College’s fulfillment of its mission, we cannot maintain an employment relationship with the adjunct,” Munroe, who is also black, said in the statement.
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Leslie Farber, Durden’s attorney, confirmed to NJ.com that her client is considering legal action against her former employer.
“I believe their first suspending and then firing her was directly because of her appearing on the Tucker Carlson TV show, and is a violation of her federal and state constitutional rights to free speech,” Farber said.The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma has revealed that the visual style of the upcoming Zelda for Wii U drew inspiration from anime. Before deciding which art direction the game should take, Aonuma and the rest of the development team wanted to make sure they would settle on a distinguishing look. Aonuma previously said that Zelda for Wii U looks “more amazing” now compared to when it was first unveiled. The title is expected to make another appearance at next year’s E3.
“I was told by many people that it was ‘beautiful,’ Aonuma said. “I thought about various ways to make the graphical style fit the vast new Zelda world; imitating the real world attached an important feeling of realism, and making it look different to the past [Zelda titles], this was done by drawing inspiration from Japanese animations. Now, compared to what we showed you at E3, it has become something even more amazing.”PHOENIX – Two brothers were arrested Tuesday following a joint probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) that led to the seizure of nearly 200 pounds of methamphetamine that had been smuggled in from Mexico.
Jayro Haro-Lopez, 34, a Mexican national unlawfully in the United States, and his brother Hernan Haro-Lopez, 28, of Phoenix, were taken into custody on state charges of possessing dangerous drugs with the intent to distribute, resisting arrest and unlawful flight from law enforcement. If convicted of the charges, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of five to 10 years in prison. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
“This case is a direct result of the ongoing collaborative efforts by HSI with its federal and local partners,” said Louie Garcia, acting special agent in charge for HSI Phoenix. “Drug smuggling poses both a security and a public safety concern in our communities. We’re continuing to use all of the resources and tools at our disposal to address these threats.”
A multi-month investigation, involving HSI special agents and deputies with the MCSO, revealed that Jayro was closely involved in distributing methamphetamine smuggled in from Mexico. Through targeted surveillance, investigators identified a storage locker in Phoenix belonging to an unidentified woman. Tuesday afternoon, law enforcement officers watched the brothers arrive at the location in separate vehicles and remove a box from the storage locker. The box was then transferred to Jayro’s vehicle. Both men’s vehicles then left the location. After trailing the two vehicles for several miles, deputies attempted to stop them. While Hernan’s vehicle pulled over immediately, Jayro attempted to flee, causing two separate car accidents before abandoning the vehicle. After a short foot chase, Jayro was arrested.
“It takes cooperation and coordination across agencies to keep our communities safe,” said Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone. “MCSO is committed to working with our partners in law enforcement to make it tough for drug gangs to operate and endanger our communities. We’re pleased with a very successful outcome.”
Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.
HSI and the MCSCO received substantial assistance with the case from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mesa Police Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), both CBP’s Office of Border Patrol and its Office of Air and Marine.Pit bull advocates will hereby know July 1 as "Dog Breed Independence Day" in South Dakota.
On Tuesday, a law goes into effect that stops localities in that state from regulating dogs by breed. Breed specific legislation -- or BSL, as these sorts of laws are known -- are most often directed at pit bulls and dogs who look like pits, but whose genetic provenance is unknown. The American Bar Association, President Obama and many others say such laws lead to a surfeit of homeless animals and other ills without any increase in public safety.
The National Canine Research Council finds that BSL is on the decline nationwide: Utah's governor signed a BSL ban this past spring that goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2015. Nevada, Connecticut and Rhode Island enacted similar legislation in 2013.
South Dakota's Senate Bill 75 passed the state legislature in early March and was signed by Governor Dennis Daugaard (R) a couple of weeks later.
The law, which is short and sweet, provides that no local government "may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance, policy, resolution, or other enactment that is specific as to the breed or perceived breed of a dog. This section does not impair the right of any local government unit to enact, maintain, or enforce any form of regulation that applies to all dogs."
Ledy VanKavage, senior legislative attorney for Best Friends Animal Society -- an animal welfare group which pushed for the legislative effort in South Dakota -- cheered the new law.
“July 1 is a declaration of independence for dogs in South Dakota,” said VanKavage in a news release. “This is an enormous victory for dogs and the families who love them."
Best Friends also announced a rally at the state capitol to be held on Tuesday, with South Dakota lawmakers and animal welfare campaigners as well as a famous pit bull named Ray. Ray was rescued from Michael Vick's dog fighting operation in 2007 and now enjoys life as a couch-lounger and pit bull ambassador.
Freedom from BSL does not stretch all the way from sea to shining sea quite yet, but Best Friends representative Jacque Johnson -- who adopted Ray on Valentine's Day this year -- told the Rapid City Journal she thought South Dakota might open the door to other neighboring states adopting more progressive pit bull policies.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The FBI deployed at least 10 flights of surveillance planes equipped with advanced aerial surveillance technology, including infrared and night-vision cameras, to monitor the Baltimore riots earlier this year, according to government documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union.
A man, protesting the death of Freddie Gray, is detained by police after defying a curfew in Baltimore, Maryland April 30, 2015. REUTERS/Adrees Latif
The flights, totaling more than 36 hours and involving at least two planes, occurred over Baltimore from April 29 to May 3, showed the flight logs provided to the ACLU under the Freedom of Information Act. The ACLU, a civil rights group, released the logs to Reuters and other news organizations on Friday.
Half of the flights carried Baltimore police, in addition to FBI officials, and a majority of them occurred at night over Baltimore during several days of civil disorder that followed the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody.
The FBI has previously acknowledged that surveillance flights occurred.
In congressional testimony last week, FBI Director James Comey did not elaborate in detail on how surveillance flights are conducted or approved.
But he acknowledged that planes were also used at the request of local authorities during protests last year in Ferguson, Missouri, after the shooting death of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man, by a white police officer.
The documents released by the ACLU “fill some of the gaps that we and the public have had about the government’s use of surveillance technology on these planes,” said Nathan Freed Wessler, a staff attorney at the ACLU, which is concerned about privacy and profiling issues raised by aerial surveillance.
The Baltimore Police Department referred questions about the flights to the FBI.
In a statement to Reuters, FBI spokesman Christopher Allen said each Baltimore flight “produced infrared and day color, full-motion FLIR (forward-looking infrared) video evidence which is maintained in accordance with record retention policies.”
An FBI memo dated May 1 described the support provided at the request of the Baltimore authorities.
“The potential for large scale violence and riots throughout the week presents a significant challenge for the Baltimore Police Department for airborne surveillance and observation,” the memo noted in its justification of the flights.
One plane used was a Cessna propeller plane that, according to documents from the Federal Aviation Administration, possessed an infrared camera mount and a multi-sensor camera system manufactured by FLIR Systems, an Oregon-based company.
The widespread and largely secretive use of aerial surveillance has drawn attention from Congress, where lawmakers in recent months have pushed the FBI to be more forthcoming about the legal authority and technical scope of such flights.T
he day that it happened, the United States Postal Service unveiledcollectors’ set—a five-stamp commemorative booklet featuring Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, each set against solid, neon backgrounds.
A father in Cheyenne, Wyoming took a hammer to his daughter’s cell phone after learning the girl, thirteen, sent and received 20,000 text messages in a single month. Their bill totaled $4,756.25, as their plan did not include messaging.
A man in Waco, Texas was arrested in his hotel room after stabbing his roommate, who allegedly farted, while hours south, a sea turtle named Allison was fitted for a neoprene ninja suit after losing three of her four fins. The accessory reestablished normalcy amongst her peers, moving one Sea Turtle Inc. employee to later tell reporters, “Now that’s a sea turtle doing what a sea turtle does best.”
Britney Spears told a Vancouver audience, “Drive safe, don’t smoke weed, and rock out with your cocks out.”
Facebook gained its 200 millionth user.
New York Magazine published The Michelle Obama Look Book.
And Public Enemies unveiled its first full-length trailer.
But before any of that, in the early hours of morning, my friend Kevin waited on the sidewalk outside his split-level home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Upstairs, in the tub, his former girlfriend lay dead.
Kevin had suffered what doctors would later call a “psychotic break,” or a state of “psychotic dissociation,” or they would say, very simply, “he was not aware of his environment,” but all that really meant was he stabbed his former girlfriend twenty-seven times in the neck and upper torso with a kitchen knife I’d once used to slice up lemons.
“I don’t know what happened,” he told the police over the phone, but he was sorry—he was so sorry—and he was scared, and would they come?
He said, “I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
Five blocks away, I lay sleeping in my apartment above a law office, dreaming of the ocean or undercurrents, the way mountains can rise from nearly nothing and in their landscape become everything, and while I could later imagine that police cruiser driving first down Washington St. and then Lincoln Avenue—see the early morning commuters clicking on their turn signals and pulling over along the shoulder—I didn’t see that car or its kaleidoscope of color.
I didn’t hear the noise.
I slept soundly, and that cruiser continued moving—quickly traversing the space between us—and then the whole morning was quiet, and my friend Kevin stopped waiting.
F
or three years, I’ve done nothing but write and think of Kevin—how it felt to lose my friend, how in losing him, I lost myself—and I have written, too,Kevin: monthly letters that arrive in his maximum-security prison and detail my everything, because I know it’s what he craves most. Not his freedom, necessarily, but to know a life not stuck in stagnation. He seeks a break from the mundane, a way to feel inspired, a letter that says,andand
This, however, is not about my friend Kevin. This is about Emily, the girl he killed, who was a girl I never knew, a girl I never even tried to know because she was three years younger and that, somehow, mattered. We were students of Gettysburg College, and Emily was a lanky sophomore, just declaring a major the week I met her. I was a senior who spent her evenings in bars, in restaurants, in the pub near the downtown rotary, ordering beers and sweet red wine. I was drafting an honors thesis, applying to graduate schools, and because in Pennsylvania Emily couldn’t even sit at our table if we ordered alcohol, in one of the only memories I have of her, she’s standing beside Kevin at my twenty-first birthday party as a waiter leans down gently to tell her she cannot sit at our gigantic table.
“I’m sorry,” he says politely, “but this lady’s ordered a flight of beer.”
It was never that I was purposefully indifferent to Emily, but that her inconsequentiality was all I knew. Emily was young, with so many years and experiences ahead of her, and in the worlds I’ve since imagined, she’s working as a foreign diplomat, or she’s on a plane above an ocean. She’s heading to northern Africa to teach English in a clean, bright classroom, and I see her in pencil skirts, her hair held up in a neat, tight bun. That final year in Gettysburg, my attention was on my studies, my friends, the places I hoped to go. In nine months’ time, I’d leave Gettysburg, and leave Pennsylvania, and I’d cross the country or an ocean or go to I don’t know where, but in no way did I anticipate it mattering who Emily was or might have been.
This is what I can thought, whether I feel comfortable admitting that truth or not.
She and Kevin had been dating off and on for months the night he killed her, and I didn’t think of her in the three years that followed because it seemed to me all but impossible. There was a wall of grief around my heart; I could not stand to build another.
Instead, I let those years pass slowly, quietly, subtly, without ever contacting her friends or family. I never bothered to reach out to anyone who cared about her at all. I tried so hard not to notice her absence, in fact, that time’s accumulation seems to me now devastating. Three years is the same amount of time, I’ve learned, that it takes a newborn baby to understand puzzles, sort objects logically, recognize emotions, form conscious friendships. Three years is how long it takes a peach pit to become a fruit-bearing tree, how long it takes an average American male to propose, how long a beta fish typically lives.
Three years, and because I didn’t want to think about what Kevin did or, more specifically, who he did it to—not really, anyway—I spent that time instead studying thunderstorms, reading Hemingway, touring the Philippines. I spackled a wall and caulked a bathtub and pitched a vinyl tent in a western desert. I learned Tagalog and saw a waterspout, bought a handheld blowtorch and roasted ducks, and Emily, of course, did not a single one of those things.
In a small town in Illinois, I split dessert with the nation’s best juggler.
In a small town in eastern Iowa, I kissed Flava Flav on his stubbly cheek.
In an island in the South Pacific, I sat on a bar stool while a woman ran a bamboo shoot across my body—again and again and again—and I waited as she blew in, as she blew out: her attempt to undo a curse. “Has it been there long?” I asked, bewildered, and she lowered her eyes, not knowing my language.
Three years, and every night I climbed into bed always hoping there’d be no energy left to dream of Emily, but of course I always did: no longer were my dreams of dresses or even homes, of men I’d truly loved, but Emily, always Emily—I saw her taking notes in some sun-lit classroom, or writing stories, or reading books. Other nights, I dreamt I was hovering somewhere above her, descending a rusting fire escape, running barefoot down the sidewalk to arrive in her darkened bedroom before the letters could arrive in the soft, brown mulch. Those testimonies to her memory, to how much she truly mattered.
I stood beside her body, still alive and flush with sleep, and tugged gently at her smooth, white wrist.
“Come with me,” I always said. “Come now—there is no time.”
Miles away, on the battlefields of Gettysburg, from all that danger, we sprawled out on our backs to stare up at the bright, white moon. We imagined patterns in the stars, and I pointed my finger upwards, saying, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor.
The dreams always began the same—with darkness and a patchwork of stars—but in every dream, I stayed beside her. In every dream, I kept her safe.
“Just a little longer,” I always said, and together, we waited for night to end.
I
was the last person Kevin saw that night—the last person before Emily—because he walked me home and then he killed her; he wanted to make sure I “got in safe.” And while I am aware—and always have been—that Emily’s trauma is not my trauma, that her murder is not my own, I find in these past three years, I’ve grown increasingly desperate to learn and know her.
These urges come to me naturally and in the most inconvenient of places: while waiting in line at the carwash, while listening to a country song about a gravel road. If I were a braver person, I might attempt to see her family. I might ask to meet her brother. I might drive to rural New Jersey to sit beside them in their living room, a ceiling fan spinning in lazy circles, and maybe then I’d manage to learn her, so as to undo my former indifference.
“What’s her favorite food?” I’d ask, and then I’d ask if we could make it. We’d stand together in their cool, clean kitchen and spoon cubes of bread over chicken cutlets.
But even after these three years, I remain too terrified to contact her family. I remain too scared to drive through her state. My association—and continued association—with Kevin seems nothing if not awful, especially when I think of her family.
I think of them and I think, Shit. I think, What are you doing, writing the man who killed her.
But the problem remains simple: the Kevin who killed Emily is the same man who first walked me home. We passed a 7-11 and a Chinese restaurant and a pet shop that sold canine tuxes and wedding dresses, made-to-order dog bones and plastic booties. I stood before their storefront and I pointed to their display—Do you see those tiny laces? Can you imagine that yellow raincoat?—and Kevin laughed, nudging me along.
“It’s late,” he said, “let’s go.”
Kevin was calm that night, collected, normal, although I’d later wish he wasn’t. He was acting so strange, I’d want to say, because at least that would make some sense. But the Kevin who walked me home was the same one I’d always known, and while I’ve felt a variety of emotions these past three years, anger has never been one of them. To be angry, it seems to me, would be to imply I believe he had control over what he did. And the truth—scary as I find it—is that I don’t believe he did.
I think it was chemical in nature. I think his mind honest-to-god broke. He’d been suffering for months from severe depression and suicidal ideation, all the while repressing everything—not speaking with a therapist, not taking his medicine—and I think it took its toll. I think he finally snapped. Worse yet, not one but three mental health evaluations all confirm what I find horrific: that a person can lose their ability to act on what they know is right or wrong.
That emotion has that power. That so, too, does instability.
W
hat I know now as fact: Emily suffered massive hemorrhaging, fingernail-shaped abrasions, marks “consistent with manual strangulation” in addition to her stab wounds.
There was discoloration on her eyelids, cuts on her forearms, hands and wrists.
There was blunt-force trauma to her head and neck.
There was evidence of a struggle.
At the time of her death, she was wearing blue velour sweatpants, a tie-dyed hooded sweatshirt, and a gold t-shirt that read “Forever,” and for the longest while, this information—what I read as public documents in the Adams County courthouse—was the most I ever knew about Emily, both before her death and after.
I know her better now.
I know from her online memorial, for example, that Emily liked watermelon. That her favorite sport was swimming. That in high school, she participated in the Model United Nations, and in a photo I’ve found online, she’s waving a flag at Liberia’s table.
She was vegetarian, a Cancer, a member of Amnesty International.
She pitched tents to raise awareness for homelessness in the middle of our college campus, and in the sixth grade, she wrote a letter to our president. I like to imagine what she said.
I know Emily liked art—most recently, creative writing—and she was slowly learning Arabic. She was apple-cheeked and a brunette and spent her summers working at Dairy Queen, twisting vanilla soft-serve into plastic cups. She owned many pairs of bright glasses.
But I am afraid to ask for more. Instead, I browse her online memorial and the non-profit organization her parents founded in her name. The Emily Fund, it’s called, and their slogan is, Do one thing.
“Choose one or a few dates during the year to raise awareness about the social issues that most move you,” the website reads, and then there’s a pop-up calendar with 60 dates: ideal opportunities for making a difference. “Find the cause that matters most,” I read, and then I consider them quietly:
March 1: Energy Day, day the Peace Corps was founded in 1961.
July 26: Americans With Disabilities Act signed in 1990.
December 1: Antarctic Peace Treaty established in 1959.
Pick a cause, I think. Do something, except I never do. Every time I see them, I’m startled into lack of movement: how there are all these things I could be doing while I otherwise just sit around and think of her.
Elsewhere on the page, I can browse photographs of Emily, whole pages in an online archive. I can learn her retroactively, and many nights, I do: I see Emily eating a marshmallow from a stick in her Brownie uniform, or clutching her skirt on a sandy boardwalk. She’s sitting in a pile of leaves. She’s hooded in a bright green jacket, the fur trim pulled tight around her face. Her mouth is of the expression of someone who will live a long, safe life, her eyes wide and full of color.
It is the world of Emily that I never knew, that I never even tried to know. They are the memories that are all anyone has of her anymore, and it’s as close as I will ever get.
She was nineteen the night she died. Five blocks away, I was asleep.
I
n the only other memory I have of Emily, she’s drinking red wine from a Solo cup in my apartment, just six months before her murder. It’s Halloween, and she’s Kevin’s new girlfriend—a purple fairy with nylon wings. I ask her to take my photograph. I nudge her, hold up my camera, and say, “Please?” I say, “Would you mind?”
I pose beside a referee, a soccer player, and a banana.
Of the many photos of that night, Emily is only ever the glittering black wings in the background of my posing. Me, beside a cupcake decorated like a spider. Me, beside a pumpkin. Me, dressed in yellow, a flirty bumblebee in black high heels.
And now—years and a thousand miles away from that night, that town, that world—I think of Emily and wonder.
How did she like to eat her spaghetti?
Did she ever have a dog?
I wonder now if Emily had been to Europe, or if she ever wanted to, or what color she might paint her toenails if she was around to paint them now.
In the most difficult moments, I find myself hoping that Emily at least saw the Pacific Ocean before she died, or Yellowstone, or the Grand Canyon at the very least. Recently, while on a cross-country road trip, I stood on the edge of that dusty basin, all the endless red rock below, and thought, I hope that Emily saw this.
This is what happens now. I feel sadness about everything. I have no idea, of course, what Emily did or did not see, because of course I have no reason to mourn a woman I barely knew.
“It’s not like you were friends,” someone told me once. “So it’s scary, sure—that proximity—but you don’t have a claim in all this sadness.”
As if sadness is an entity one seeks desperately to call one’s own.
I grieve, Emerson writes in his often-quoted essay “Experience,” that grief can teach me nothing, and perhaps this is my greatest fear: that more than Kevin, more than Emily, more than any inherent violence, I fear that these three years—which have had very little and yet everything to do with me—have ultimately imparted nothing, have caused no wisdom to arrive, that the destination where I now find myself I would have reached without this trauma.
That rather than a journey of knowledge or insight, I have instead suffered my way into a significance that has nothing to do with me. Has nothing, and means nothing, because it was simply something that happened, something I’m attempting to make some sense of, and instead I’ve wasted years obsessing and imagining and reimagining everything. Because even after all this time, I still don’t know what most needs saying. I still don’t understand what happened. Or how or even if I could’ve stopped it, had I tried.
Kevin will never write to me about Emily, although I now try with increasing frequency. You can ask about anything, he writes, but it’s too much pain to think of that.
Instead we talk about books and movies and philosophy and television. Sometimes, he sends me stories I only ever find difficult. In them, a woman stabs a man, or a man writhes across a table. Blood soaks deep into the wood, he writes, eventually pooling in a loaf of bread.
It’s hard to say what I find most troubling: his cryptic stories or what I’ve done. Both of us, it’s clear, are searching for understanding. We both suffer from a lack of peace. Our brains are playing tricks because we can’t make sense of what has happened. And so we find ourselves obsessed: Kevin with what he did, and me with why he did it, and now, who he did it to.
He is attempting to make sense of what remains nonsensical, so I don’t tell them that they bother me. My health seems the least of our concerns. I worry mostly about his, and whether he’s getting the “support as needed,” as it states on his prison intake file. He will not tell me about that world and when I ask, he ignores my questions.
What else can I think to tell you? he writes. Yesterday we got watermelon!
As humans, we seek a resolution. We want to say, Here’s what I’ve learned. But there remains no way to explain how even if I’ve no stake—even if I barely knew that girl at all—I think of her all the time. I am rendered heartbroken when I see her face and I’m rendered heartbroken when I think of her family.
Or when, in April, the buds are reborn—because their death is only temporary—or when the people who love her most change their Facebook pictures to hers in tribute. And for those weeks, it’s like she’s there: she’s commenting on a Snoop Dogg picture, or she’s inviting her friends to a barbecue.
You have to listen to this! she writes, and it’s so unsettling because of course she can’t.
But it’s these moments—however hard—that I remember what is true: that the heartbreak of who I’ve become will never equal the loss of what Emily was. It will never equal whatever they feel: the people who bothered to get to know her.
But this weight deep within my stomach? It’s not just for Kevin and it never was.
It is for her, always for her.
I grieve for Emily, absolutely.
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DONATEMichael Collins
Before it ever arrived at the president's desk for signature, the health reform act contained a fatal poison pill.
The most creative sector of the business community has a dagger at its heart in the form of the relentless, unyielding, and over burdening cost of health insurance. The self-employed and very small businesses have seen their insurance premiums climb 20% to 75% since 2009. To purchase an adequate family plan, a self-employed person will pays an amount 50% to 70% of the nation's median personal income, $32,000 a year, for family health plan. This includes premiums, deductibles, and out of pocket expenses. That is twice the cost for relatively generous plans at medium to large size companies. Very small businesses, two to twenty employees, pay about the same (Image: Paul Henman)
Wasn't health reform supposed to take care of just this sort of inequity? Didn't the title of the bill say it all? The Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act There is no protection for the self-employed when they have these stark choices facing them due to unaffordable insurance rates. They can give up working for themselves; buy adequate insurance and take a huge hit to income; buy a substandard plan and hope that whatever comes up is covered; or, abandon insurance at real risk to their health and, in some cases, their lives.
What would the country be like if here were no self-employed individuals, no very small businesses?
Apple started out as two entrepreneurs in a garage. Microsoft began as a small tech company in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There is an impressive list of high revenue, high performing companies that traveled the route of self-employment and very small businesses.
The nation cannot afford to lose the extraordinary resources offered by the self-employed and very small business sector. It cannot afford the loss of small businesses that provide services like your favorite diner; solo and small group health practitioners; repair people; computer consultants; yard services; etc. The list goes on.
Business creativity and personalized services are on the chopping block, all because the self-employed can't afford their health insurance anymore than they can afford to risk their lives without adequate insurance.
This did not happen by accident. Before it ever arrived at the president's desk for signature, the health reform act contained a fatal poison pill.
State Insurance Commissioners in Charge
The very same people who failed miserably to protect the self-employed and small businesses in the past are now in charge of protecting them in the future. They were written into the health reform legislation early on. They have powers to determine the share of insurance premiums spent on your medical care and much more.
We were told that the president's healthcare reform legislation was special; that it would force insurance companies to spend the following shares of insurance premiums on actual medical expenses: 80% for single plans (individual and family) and 85% of premiums for small businesses. This was implemented for 2010.
Medium to large sized companies self-fund their health benefits. They pay the costs and have insurance companies manage the plans. These firms already spend 85% or more of their health benefits on medical care.
The self-employed and very small businesses are different. They cannot self fund their healthcare. They must buy directly from health insurance companies.
That is where the state insurance commissioners come in. Their group is called the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). This association wrote the federal regulations that define what is and what is not considered medical care. Their definitions influenced insurance premiums. By doing that, they determine how quickly companies have to meet the 80-20 or 85-15 ratios referred to as medical loss ratios (MLR). Prior to this national standard, MLRs required by state regulations were any where from 55% to 70% for medical care.
NAIC was named to write more than just MLR regulations for the act (see Appendix). The regulations are implemented by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. NAIC defines allowable delays to putting the ratios in place. It defines "market destabilization" and "credibility" factors that allow an adjustment of MLRs in favor of insurance companies. The state insurance commissioners association has the broadest of powers to determine the quality, quantity, and cost of medical care.
Hijacking Health Reform Legislation
NAIC is a $75 million dollar organization. A third of its income comes from health insurance companies who pay fees to access data that NAIS collects. The association gains income from the very organizations they are tasked to regulate in the states. These are also the same insurance companies who are highly dependant on the health reform MLR and other regulations NAIS is writing for the new health care act.
There is a clear appearance of undue influence on NAIC by the insurance companies that help fund the organization. In 1998, Ralph Nader wrote an open letter demanding independent funding for the group to reduce this influence. To make his point, Nader described a NAIC research finding on minority discrimination that upset the health insurance companies. The companies simply withheld payment for data fees, the core income for NAIC, until NAIC "backed off" of its position. The letter exposed an ongoing problem but failed to generate any change.
The organization lacks independence from the insurance industry. Skepticism about the organizations effectiveness is well justified.
NAIC is governed by twelve elected and thirty-eight appointed state health commissioners. Those running for election need campaign funds. Insurance companies are major contributors. Those appointed gain the office from governors. For the appointed, the contributions are just one-step away from the commissioners.
Elected and appointed commissioners have hefty political baggage. These are not the type of objective analysts and thinkers you want writing critical regulations that will affect your health.
These are just some of the reasons to expect little or no change in rates for those who purchase their insurance directly, primarily the self employed and small business owners. Were there any reason to expect change, the change should have arrived by now.
On October 21, 2010, we saw the future. NAIC announced that it had completed its model regulations on medical loss ratios. On the very same day, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced that:
"We will work quickly to promulgate this regulation, using the NAIC recommendations as a basis, because we believe these new policies will help ensure not only cost savings but higher quality care for consumers. We look forward to working closely with NAIC throughout the process." Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary HHS, October 21, 2010
Sebelius must be |
es. Towards Epsilon Nought. Dr. Ascariado: You identify as an atheist, I believe. SCP-3380-A077: I am of the belief that belief itself is a disease, yes. Read a lot of Dawkins. As a logical thinker we must discount out these sorts of rituals immediately before the mental illness takes us all. Dr. Ascariado: Okay, as logical thinkers, let's think logically. A lot of what you have just told me seems an awful lot like doctrine of some kind, no? Or the ravings of someone who is not stable, right? SCP-3380-A077: (scoffs) This is obvious and logical to anyone with a brain. Any sane person can see what I can see. Closing Statement: Based on similar results with other SCP-3380 instances, it seems these sorts of delusions are common. I'm also noticing unusual upticks in Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression when instances are given therapy to help them ease out of their delusions. Unusally for extremism, these bouts of anxiety occur after exposure, not before. In fact, no SCP-3380 subject displayed symptoms consistent with the development of religious zeal prior to exposure. - Dr Ascariado.
Addendum.4 - SCP-3380-A034 Diary Excerpt:
SCP-3380-A034 was permitted a diary and blunt writing implement after consistent good behavior, in order to understand the extent and progression of his 3380 infection. This note was delivered to both Dr. Ascariado and Dr. Jones, the onsite psychologist on September 22, 2017
Last night I had a glorious dream. I dreamed about a man who has always held a very special place in my heart, Kurt Gödel, except he wasn't a man, oh he was a godbeast of a thing, GÖDEL. I had always admired his work but now he appeared before me and I felt my heart swell with pride and joy at carrying on his work. He appeared as a quadratic function from my youth, all cut up and rearranged and full of variables oozing pus from every cut and blood dribbling from his infected derivative of a mouth. I was so scared but he hushed me and his form no longer disgusted me but filled me with beauty. GÖDEL stared into my soul and I saw his eyes dancing with Epsilon Noughts, just pouring out of there, and within his soul there danced a number just as great, that of f-1(7), equal to, if you calculate the infinities surrounding it, the Epsilon Nought. The void around us was black as ink and beautiful as night. He was naked, and offered himself to me. I could see his back, and it branched into a surreal number tree. He told me he loved us, and loved what we are doing. I could see the logic, A to B, as he spoke it and I saw that it was true. He offered himself to me and I entered within him. His penis was not a penis but a TI-84 and I fell to my knees weak at it. I melted into a factorization, and I sucked off the alephs until the sperm filled my mouth and dribbled down the smooth continous curve of the graph until it hit the limit and could go no further. The genetics within the sperm possessed divine instructions encoded in base-4. No sorry it wasn't divine it was not divine it was just sperm. It melded into our thoughts and I could see where STEM will be in the immediate future. The sperm is the life and we must preserve it. As we danced I watched fire catch the Dedekind hallows at the end of the number line, and Epsilon Nought stood there, dancing and singing f-1 (7) infinities onwards. He whispered something in my ear, gently, and I saw what I must do, what we all must do to achieve this forever. We calculated a child together. It was a wonderful dream, I would have liked to continue sleeping to continue dreaming it. Every child should be forced from birth to turn away from all else and find that same black void and howling orgasm inside the basis of a covalent bond.
Following this, all recorded SCP-3380-A instances in custody reported identical dreams, and kept attempting self harm to further carve surreal number trees on their skin. When questioned, instances would universally say they were "putting it in" and refused to elaborate. This applied to all instances not previously determined to continue carving. Notably, all instances showed extreme hostility towards female personnel, regardless of previous levels of sociability.
Addendum.5 - Incident 3380-Bet:
On 8-November-2017, 10:21 AM, five SCP-3380-A instances broke into Princeton Cemetery and exhumed the corpse of Kurt Gödel. Based on reports, instances erratically shouted at the corpse for several minutes and intermittently asked for mathematical proofs that would "solve educational heretics." Following this, the instances repeatedly carved surreal number trees onto the skeleton and tombstone until apprehended by police officers. Officers describe instances "sobbing" as they were brought into custody.
Amnestic regimens to witnesses and social media disinformation procedures are underway.
Addendum.6 - SCP-3380-A034 Note:
The following was written by SCP-3380-A034 on 8-November-2017.
He came back to me last night. The void was pink and GÖDEL was smiling at me. I shouted at him, I demanded answers for why he had lied to us. I cried and grabbed onto him and shouted and sobbed. GÖDEL didn't answer. GÖDEL smiled. I kept asking as I clawed and teared teared teared and gazed into his eyes. The number line was burning and the ordinals were the crucifix. The eyes pushed inwards with Epsilon Nought gushing over my thumbs. Dedekind cuts segmented his essence. I asked one last time and no matter how much of its head was left it just kept smiling at me. I scraped the last dried seed from my mind and saw a part of the spine that wasn't eaten, minute and curled around zero. The inverse of the inverse of the inverse of the inverse of 7. The real 7. The 7 that slinks with theta and adds up to zero no matter what you do. The fetus should've been strangled but we knew it was too cute for that. It was a grand forest of epsilons (positive and negative and squared and rooted and $i$) but we knew the heart wasn't that big. The infintesimals at the end of infinity lock my heart. I went down its spiral to the smallest abyss, and I ended up below. I looked below, and it smiled.
Addendum.7 - SCP-3380 Update: SCP-3380-A instances have begun carving the Greek letter theta (ϑ) onto their body, often over existing carvings of omega. Questioning of this yields no response, though instances appear to silently mouth random syllables in response.The ANZ Heroes Aspirants Cup returns this Sunday at 11am AEST. Teams from the Australian and New Zealand region will have the chance to sign up and compete in this one day, double elimination event in the hopes of taking top prize.
This month’s prize pool has received a healthy cash boost thanks to contributions from Polter, Grumpshot, Hykkup and other donators who wish to remain anonymous. This is in addition to skins codes that have been kindly donated by Blizzard ANZ.
June Prize Pool:
First place will receive $150 cash
Second place will receive $50 cash + five hero skin codes
Third place will receive five hero skin codes
Event organiser, Disconcur, has been humbled by the support the event has received so far, and encourages everyone who is interested in growing competitive Heroes of the Storm here in Australia and New Zealand to participate or tune in to the livestream.
“Last month saw nine teams enter and an average of 160 people tune in to watch the tournament. This month we have community members showing their support by throwing in cash to help further incentivise teams to bring their best. These are all very encouraging signs for Heroes of the Storm in our region,” he said.
“The Aspirants Cup is open to all teams of all skill levels and there is no entry fee to participate. I look forward to seeing who comes out on top!”
As with last month, the event will be a single day, double elimination tournament. However, all games will now be a best of one, with the Grand Final being a best of three. This change has been made to cut down on wait times between games. Maps will be chosen by veto.
For those who just like to watch, Disconcur and Rankonius will be return to our screens when they shoutcast the tournament live on the ANZ Heroes Twitch channel.
For more information, or to sign up to the event, visit the Aspirants Cup page on BattleflyI’m not allowed to serve in the military anymore. According to President Donald Trump, transgender service members are effectively banned from the armed forces. Adding insult to injury, Trump also described my community in one of the most inappropriate ways possible. He used “transgender” as a noun.
….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
The president isn’t the first person to do this. Shortly after Trump’s tweets hit the news cycle, a slew of writers and public figures began using incorrect terminology to announce the news. Paste used the term “transgenders” in its headline. Military.com called trans people “transgendered,” and so did well-meaning Sen. Tammy Duckworth in a pro-trans interview with Anderson Cooper. Business Insider announced the news with a Facebook headline that read, “Trump bans transgenders from joining the military in a tweet.”
On some level, it’s understandable that reporters and politicians would have a hard time writing and speaking about the trans community properly. Words go in and out of style. Trans issues have only garnered mainstream attention in the past few years. But part of being a responsible journalist and policy maker, as well as a considerate citizen, is keeping up with the modern lexicon. Anything less is unfair to the trans community and signals to others that using outdated terms is OK.
Describing us as “transgenders” or “a transgender” feels dehumanizing. It makes us feel like an object. It’s inappropriate for a professional, established website or entity to talk about trans people that way.
So to break things down, here’s what you need to know to make sure you write and speak about transgender people with the respect and dignity they deserve.
Use the terms “trans” or “transgender” as adjectives, not nouns
Screengrab via Business Insider/Facebook
“Transgender should always be used as an adjective,” GLAAD writes in its media reference guide. A transgender person should never be referred to as a noun like “transgender,” and the trans community should never be called “the transgenders.” Instead, identify transgender people by using the word “transgender” as a descriptor.
Therefore, “She is a transgender woman” is appropriate. So is “He is a transgender man.” For describing trans people in their entirety, use the terms “transgender people” or “transgender individuals.” And when talking about the wider community formed around trans people, call this “the transgender community.” Otherwise, calling us “transgenders” makes us sound like another species.
“Trans” is also an acceptable shorthand replacement for the full term “transgender.” But it may be clearer to begin a piece of writing by using “transgender” so readers understand that “trans” is an abbreviated form of the full word.
Stick to preferred pronouns and names
Screengrab via ABC News/YouTube
A couple years back, I wrote a student column on trigger warnings that was picked up and subsequently mocked by conservative pundits. Since then, a couple of books have referenced the article. But most writers don’t put in the time and energy to research my gender transitioning, so they end up using my dead name whenever they reference me in books, papers, and articles. It hurts pretty badly, but going out of my way to correct them would expose the world to my old name.
When a trans person’s given name is used in an article, it feels like a slap in the face—the same goes if you are talking to or about a trans person in real life. Always use a transgender person’s chosen name and pronouns when referring to them. Using a transgender person’s old, given name is called “deadnaming,” and it’s considered highly offensive. This is because doing so references a part of a transgender person’s life that never truly described who they were in the first place. Conversely, using a transgender person’s chosen name is affirming.
For instance, when referring to Caitlyn Jenner, never refer to her as “Bruce Jenner.” Always call her Caitlyn Jenner, and use she/her pronouns.
Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule. The National Center for Transgender Equality cites the New York Times Style Book on this, arguing that deadnames can be mentioned when “newsworthy or pertinent.” For instance, when writing about the 1976 Olympic Games, it is newsworthy to point out that Caitlyn Jenner transitioned and was previously referred to as Bruce Jenner. But it is neither newsworthy nor pertinent to ask a transgender woman on the street what her deadname was unless she purposefully goes out of her way to talk about her given name at birth.
Keep up with contemporary terminology
Photo via Ted Eytan/Flickr (CC-BY-SA)
In the early 20th century, “transvestite” was a much more common term that transgender people used to talk about trans individuals. Magnus Hirschfeld originally created the term in 1910, and he stressed at the time that there was a difference between transgender individuals and crossdressing.
Over the years, that distinction blended together, to the point where “transvestite” is often interchangeable with “crossdresser.” Today, “transvestite” is largely confined to the dustbin of history for the trans community. In other words, it’s a highly inappropriate term to describe trans people. I would never use “transvestite” to describe myself, nor would I use it as a journalist to describe a trans person.
Cis people: Please don't say "transgendered"/"a transgender", instead please use transgender/a transgender person, and please correct others — Robin Webber (@ShortSlytherin) July 26, 2017
The only thing I don't like about that recent review of my book is the use of the term "transgendered" Stahp. — AWildGayRide (@RealDorianDawes) June 18, 2017
“Transgendered” has similarly become outdated over the past couple decades. As writer Helen Boyd points out, “transgendered” was purposefully used back in the ’70s and ’80s to imply that a person had transitioned. It was like using the word “queering”; as the logic went, trans people were “transgendering” gender. Over time, the -ed and -ing suffix were simply dropped, and the term became outdated. Today, it’s considered highly inappropriate and best left avoided.
Meanwhile, “transsexual” has undergone a similar problem. While some trans people still use the term in reference to themselves, many of us prefer not to call ourselves transsexuals because it implies our gender and sex are linked together. Which is most certainly not the case. For that reason, unless a person self-identifies as a transsexual, it’s better to refer to the transgender community as “transgender” or “trans.”
GLAAD’s media reference guide provides important information on trans terminology, its origins, and whether a word is contemporary or outdated. While it’s intended for journalists, it’s also an excellent source for anyone with questions about which words are affirming or discriminatory.
Avoid phrases like “born a man” or “born a woman”
When I first started working as a news reporter, I wrote an investigative piece in which I interviewed a transgender woman. During the editing process, my editor proceeded to add in that the transgender source I interviewed was “born a man.” He was afraid cisgender readers wouldn’t understand that she transitioned genders, so he wanted to add in the phrase to clarify. In reality, saying that my source “was born a man” was terribly offensive to my interviewee, and the edit nearly ruined my credibility as a writer.
For journalists, public figures, and the world at large, it’s important to describe trans people with the utmost respect. Using phrases like “born a man” or “born a woman” invalidates a transgender person’s gender identity. GLAAD calls this a “reductive” phrase and instead encourages talking about gender transitioning in a more sensitive light.
“People are born babies and a doctor decides the sex based on a quick look at the baby’s external anatomy,” GLAAD states. “A transgender person’s gender is much more complicated than a simple glance at external anatomy can capture.”
If you need to explain transgender topics to a reader, GLAAD says that writers should use terms such as “assigned male at birth” or “designated female at birth.” For example, if a journalist interviews me and wants to talk about my gender transitioning, they should write, “Ana Valens is a transgender woman. She was assigned male at birth, and later transitioned while in college.” It would be highly offensive for a journalist to say, “Ana Valens was born a man,” because I was never a man—I was just assigned a sex and gender at birth.
Avoid honing in on physical features that will ‘clock’ a trans person
Screengrab via Janet Mock/Instagram
When I was in college, our student newspaper brought me on as a sensitivity reader for an interview feature on a transgender student. My job was to read through the writer’s draft and make sure their description of the interviewee was respectful and affirming. Simple enough.
But the writer opened the story by describing her interviewee’s Adam’s apple on her neck. It was a highly transphobic description of the student because the writer was trying to gender the trans student’s physical features as masculine. I told editorial to take out the phrase.
This happens frequently in long-form stories that focus on a transgender subject. Writers latch onto physical characteristics that “clock” the subject as transgender: height, physical features, body shape, beard shadow (or lack thereof), just to name a few. It’s pretty offensive and aims to recenter the piece on the sex the person was at birth, not on the person they identify as.
For the uninitiated, when a transgender person is “clocked,” that means they are seen as transgender by bystanders. The Advocate says the word is used “to reflect that someone transgender has been recognized as trans, usually when that person is trying to blend in with cisgender people, and not intending to be seen as anything other than the gender they present.”
When someone points out a transgender person’s “clockable” features it suggests that every transgender person is noticeably transgender. That just isn’t true. It also suggests that trans people can and should be identified for physical aspects that mark them as trans, in order to reveal a transgender person’s assigned gender at birth. In other words, it implies that trans people are deceptive people hiding something from the world.
Not only is this transphobic, it also doesn’t make sense. In reality, every person has some androgynous features, which means anyone could be seen as transgender if a strong enough argument is made.
Don’t obsess over a trans person’s gender transitioning
Photo via Ted Eytan/Flickr (CC-BY-SA)
There are some stories where a person’s gender transitioning is highly relevant. Chelsea Manning, for instance, is a trans woman who transitioned while in prison. Her gender transitioning is an important part of her life story and her role in the public eye. She works as a trans activist and fights openly for transgender rights. Plus, she’s pretty open about her gender transitioning in military prison.
This is not the case for every transgender person. Gender transitioning is a highly personal and highly sensitive subject. When in doubt, unless a transgender person is specifically open to talking about their gender transitioning, a journalist shouldn’t bring it up during an interview, nor should any person do so when they meet a trans person. And if gender transitioning does come up, remember not to focus too heavily on the role that surgery plays in transgender peoples’ lives. Many trans people simply refrain from going under the knife, either due to financial issues or a lack of interest.
“Not all transgender people choose to, or can afford to, undergo medical surgeries,” GLAAD explains. “Journalists should avoid overemphasizing the role of surgeries in the transition process.”
Writing and speaking about transgender issues can be tough. But trans rights are becoming a modern civil rights issue, covered daily by outlets like the New York Times or the Washington Post. For journalists and policy makers, accuracy means using the right terminology. Otherwise, it can set a harmful precedent.
So when in doubt, do your research. Double check, then check again. It could save your credibility—and a targeted community a lot of heartache.A challenge in writing a tool to extract the control flow of python bytecode is that there are so many Python bytecodes versions to choose from, about 25 or so by now (if you include pypy variants).
The bytecode in the example graph with its JUMP_IF_FALSE followed by some POP_TOP s and PRINT_NEWLINE instruction, reflect Python before 2.7.
However the example in one of the comments from the Flare_bytecode_graph with its POP_TOP_IF_FALSE is 2.7. Python 3 drops the PRINT_ITEM instruction.
Anyone writing such a tool will have to come to grips with that; or be happy with living in a single version of Python, for which 2.7 is probably the most popular choice. Or you could ensure that the version of Python you are running matches the bytecode you want to analyze and use the current dis and opcode modules that Python provides. But even here those modules change over time, not in the least being the particular bytecode instructions.
I wrote a python package called xdis for those who want to work across all versions of Python bytecode, and don't want to be tied with using the same version of Python that the bytecode requires.
The next thing that you'll probably want to do in this endeavor is to classify instructions into categories like those which can branch and those that can't and if the branch is conditional or not.
Python has some lists that cover some of this, ("hasjrel", "hasjabs") but alas it doesn't have the categories that are most useful. And for possibly historical reasons the categories are lists rather than sets. But again xdis to the rescue here; it fills this information in with sets "CONDITION_OPS", "JUMP_UNCONDITIONAL" and "JUMP_OPS".
Using this I've written https://github.com/rocky/python-control-flow which uses xdis and has some rudimentary code that will create a control flow graph and dominator tree for most Python bytecodes. There is some code to create dot files and I use graphviz to display that. I notice that Python, can create a lot of dead code.
The intended use of that package is to reconstruct high-level Python control structures. There is some rudimentary control structure detection, although this needs a lot more work. Python control structures are pretty rich when you include the try/while/for "else" clauses, and the "finally" clauses. Even as is, the annotated control flow of the basic blocks very helpful in manually reconstructing structured control flow.
When this is finished, I can replace a lot of the hacky code for doing that in uncompyle6.
And this leads me to the list of decompilers mentioned in the accepted answer...
As stated, those particular versions of uncompyle and uncompyle2 handle only Python 2.7. As suggested, there are older versions that handle multiple Python versions 1.5 to 2.3 or 2.4 or so. That is if you have a Python 2.3 or 2.4 interpreter to run this on.
But none of these projects are actively maintained. In uncompyle, there are currently 25 or so issues with the code, many that I have fixed in uncompyle6. And this is for a version of Python that no longer changes! (To be fair though there are some bugs in uncompyle6 that don't exist in uncompyle2. And to address those, I'd really need to put in place that better control flow analysis)
A number of the bugs in uncompyle could easily be fixed by just doing the same thing that uncompyle6 does, and I think some of that I've noted in the issues. At this point uncompyle2 is much better than uncompyle, and if you are only interested in Python 2.7, that is the most accurate.
As for pycdc, while it is pretty good for its relatively small size (compared to uncompyle6), it too isn't maintained to the level that it would need to keep up with Python changes. So it is weak around Python 3.4 or so and gets progressively weaker for later versions. Uncompyle6 is like that too, but currently less so. pycdc has over 60 issues logged against it and I doubt those will be addressed anytime soon. Some of them aren't that difficult to fix. My own (possibly slanted) comparison of those two decompilers is https://github.com/rocky/python-uncompyle6/wiki/pycdc-compared-with-uncompyle6A RAGING mob screamed and shouted abuse outside court at a group of 27 men and two women accused of a string of sex crimes against children.
Protesters wearing balaclavas were pictured gathered at the front of Leeds Crown Court, West Yorks., as the defendants arrived today.
SWNS:South West News Service 14 A protester is held back the police as he shouts at the defendants arriving at Leeds Crown Court today
SWNS:South West News Service 14 One man can be seen hiding his face under a hood and with a scarf while another man holds up his phone
SWNS:South West News Service 14 A mob screamed and shouted at the defendants as they arrived at court for the hearing this morning
A group of 29 people have been charged with historical sex offences against children.
Prosecutor Richard Wright QC told the court that the defendants have been split into three groups which are set to face three different trials early next year.
Mr Wright QC said: "We are not going to serve all of the evidence for each defendant, there will be discrete cases served for each."
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The first group are set to go on trial on January 8 next year.
The trial for the first group is provisionally expected to last ten weeks.
Judge Recorder of Leeds Peter Collier bailed all of the defendants apart from two who are in custody for separate offences.
SWNS:South West News Service 14 Police were also in attendance as a 29-defendant child abuse case got underway
SWNS:South West News Service 14 Two men can be seen covering their faces with balaclavas outside the court
Recorder of Leeds Peter Collier said: "Your bail conditions will continue on the same terms.
"If you don't come to court when requested then this is a separate imprisonable offence.
"You each have to prepare a defence statement by the 17th August. If you fail to do so it may go against you in the trial.
"If you break conditions of your bail you could be arrested and kept in custody until the case is over."
SWNS:South West News Service 14 One man can be seen shouting at a defendant as he passes through on his way to court
SWNS:South West News Service 14 Protesters pointed and shouted as people arrived at the court, where the defendants are charged with historical sex offences against children
SWNS:South West News Service 14 Angry demonstrators surrounded those arriving at Leeds Crown Court to answer charges over a string of sex crimes against children
SWNS:South West News Service 14 A man in a hooded top is seen with his arm on a woman, handing her a bottle as she holds her head in her hands
SWNS:South West News Service 14 Police tried to hold back the angry mob as they screamed abuse at the defendants, who are set to face three different trials early next year
SWNS:South West News Service 14 People were seen using their camera phones to film the defendants as they arrived at court
SWNS:South West News Service 14 Some of the demonstrators covered their faces with balaclavas, caps and hoodies
SWNS:South West News Service 14 The groups of protesters arrived at the court in Leeds this morning while police were on hand to contain the crowds
SWNS:South West News Service 14 The group of 27 men and 2 women appeared at Leeds Crown Court as a crowd of angry protesters waited to greet them
WHO'S CHARGED? THE FULL LIST OF 29 DEFENDANTS... The first group are set to go on trial on January 8 next year. Amere Singh Dhaliwal, 34, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., is accused of 54 charges, including 21 charges of rape and 14 charges of trafficking with a view of sexual exploitation. Dhaliwal is accused of charges against eleven different girls from 2004 to 2011. Irfan Ahmed, 32, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with nine offences including making an indecent image of a child. Zahid Hassan, 28, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with 20 offences including six charges of raping a girl aged 13 or under. Mohammed Kammer, 32, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with two offences including rape of a girl under 15. Mohammed Aslam, 29, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with two offences including rape of a girl under 15. Abdul Rehman, 30, from Sheffield, South Yorks., was charged with seven offences including raping a girl under 15. Raj Singh Barsran, 32, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with three offences including sexual touching of a girl over 13. Nahman Mohammed, 31 from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with three counts including trafficking a person for sexual exploitation. Zubair Ahmed, 30, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with two offences including raping a girl under the age 15. Hamzha Saleem, 37, from Old traddford, Gtr Mancs., was charged with three counts including human trafficking. The second group are set to stand trial on April 16 2018. The trial is provisionally set to last for six weeks. Mansoor Akhtar, 25, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with three offences including attempted rape of a girl under the age of 13. Mohammed Asaf Akram, 31, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with 14 offences including four charges of raping a girl of thirteen or under and one charge of threatening to kill. Wiqas Mahmud, 36 from Huddersfield, West Yorks.., was charged with three offences of rape of a girl under 15. Nasarat Hussain, 28, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with five offences including rape of a girl under 15. Sajid Hussain, 32, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with five offences including rape of a girl under 15. Mohammed Irfraz, 28, from Huddersfield, West Yorks.., was charged with eight offences including false imprisonment. Faisal Nadeem, 30 from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with three counts including raping a woman 16 or over. Mohammed Azeem, 31, from Bradford, West Yorks., was charged with three offences including rape of a girl under 15. Zulquarnian Dogar, 29, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with two offences including sexual touching of a female aged 13 or over. Manzoor Hassan, 37, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with four offences including inciting the sexual exploitation of a child aged between 13-17. The third group are set to face trial on 3 September 2018. The trial is set to last for six weeks. Niaz Ahmed, 53, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with three offences including sexual assault on a female. Mohammed Imran Ibrar, 32, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with four offences including arranging the commission of a child sex offence. Asif Bashir, 32, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with five offences, including three counts of raping a woman 16 or over. Everton la Bastide, 50, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with two offences including sexual touching a girl of 13 or over. Saqib Raheel, 30, from Dudley was charged with two offences including trafficking for sexual exploitation. Usman Khalid, 29, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with three offences including assaulting a girl under 13. Aleem Javaid, 27, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with two offences including supply of a class B drug. Mrs Naveeda Habib, 38, from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged on one count of neglect of a child. Mrs Shahnaz Malik, 55 from Huddersfield, West Yorks., was charged with one count of neglecting a child.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368Even if Bernie Sanders somehow managed to beat Hillary Clinton in both Iowa and New Hampshire—a fate that is still not outside the realm of possibility heading into December—he will have a brick wall waiting for him in South Carolina.
According to an average of recent polling from that state, Clinton leads Sanders by nearly 50 points. And a large part of that lead is due to the Vermont senator’s lack of both familiarity and favorability with African-American voters. After #BlackLivesMatters protesters interrupted his stump speech over the summer, Sanders felt the unforgiving wrath of Black Twitter, which pressed him to start taking them more seriously.
But three months later, in a CNN/ORC poll, still Sanders trailed Clinton by a whopping 55 points among black voters, while at the same time leading her by 13 points among white voters (with the inclusion of Vice President Joe Biden).
All of this explains why Sanders is so thrilled about one of his latest outspoken supporters: Atlanta rapper Killer Mike.
Killer Mike first endorsed Sanders back in June, but on Monday, he made it official by introducing the candidate at a rally at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. Leading up to the event, he urged his followers on Twitter to give the candidate a shot, saying things like, “It will be a disappointment if I'm the only Rapper at #BernieSanders Rally In ATL tomorrow” and “He is addressing Unions, Ending the drug war, prison Reform all things that our communities need addressed.”
Anyone who questioned his conviction was left with no doubts after the rapper delivered his powerful speech introducing Sanders, even comparing him to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at one point.
But after referencing King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Killer Mike clarified, “I’m not here to talk about the dream that you think is unattainable so you settle for less. I’m not here to talk about utopian society where everyone is forgiven and no one has to pay for past debts.”
“What I am talking about today is Martin King post the Washington march,” he continued. “Martin King on the war on poverty. Martin King against the war machine that uses your sons and your nephews to go to other lands and murder.”
With these words, he was casting Sanders as more than an idealistic dreamer. In Killer Mike’s view, it is the candidate’s unyielding conviction that is needed to make real change happen.
“I have to tell you that in my heart of hearts, in my heart of hearts, I fully believe that Sen. Bernie Sanders is the right man to lead this country,” Killer Mike declared to cheers from the crowd. “I believe it because he, unlike any other candidate, said, ‘I would like to restore the Voting Rights Act.’ He, unlike any other candidate, said, ‘I wish to end this illegal war on drugs.’ Unlike any other candidate in my life, he said that education should be free.”
“Stay encouraged. Stay invigorated. Stay bold. Stay confronting bullshit at every turn!” the fired-up rapper added, before quoting lyrics from his own “Untitled” track.
“I don’t trust the church or the government. A Democrat or a Republican. A Pope or a bishop or them other men,” he rhymed. “But after spending five hours tonight with someone who has spent the last 50 years radically fighting for your rights and mine, I can tell you that I am very proud tonight to announce the next president of the United States: Sen. Bernie Sanders.”
In his quest to court black voters, Sanders has appeared in Ebony magazine, had a televised “Soul Food Sit-Down” with Larry Wilmore and uttered the words “black lives matter” during a Democratic presidential primary debate.
But if Sanders’s fate with black voters is going to change, it could be Killer Mike’s endorsement that sets things in motion.
Born Michael Render, Killer Mike has made a powerful impact on both hip-hop and politics dating back to his work in the early 2000s with OutKast, through his more recent collaboration with El-P as Run the Jewels. During the aftermath of the uprising in Ferguson, Missouri, |
justify these disgraceful attacks on me."
Mr Palmer added his voice to recent claims that News Ltd newspapers have run a perceived fiercely pro Tony Abbott campaign, including a front page on The Daily Telegraph with the headline "Kick this mob out', under a photograph of Kevin Rudd.
"Since I formed the Palmer United Party I have been the subject of some malicious reporting in The Australian newspaper," Mr Palmer said.
"The Australian, under the direction of Mr Murdoch, is clearly campaigning for Tony Abbott in this election and they see Palmer United as a threat."
"Mr Murdoch has sacked journalists and allowed his editors to turn their newspapers into propaganda sheets that Joseph Goebbels would be proud of."
The editor of The Australian, Clive Mathieson, said the newspaper stood by every word of the article.
"Mr Palmer is already suing The Australian for defamation. There has been nothing malicious about our reporting and we stand by every word," Mr Mathieson said.
"Anyone running for the highest office in the land deserves serious scrutiny. Mr Palmer has placed his business competence at the forefront of his pitch to voters.
"All The Australian has done is test the statements and claims made by Palmer about his companies, his business relationships, the source of his wealth and his policies. We will not be discouraged by legal threats and intimidation."Porn model fired as the face of German far-right party because she has sex with a black man in her new movie
Ina Groll, or 'Kitty Blair', was face of National Democratic Party of Germany
She encouraged men to join far-right party by dressing in revealing outfits
But she has been fired after senior NDP officials watched her new porn film
In the movie, titled 'Kitty Discovers Sperm,' she has sex with a black man
A porn star who was the face of a German far-right party has been fired - because she has sex with a black man in her latest film.
Ina Groll, who goes under the porn name 'Kitty Blair', had been widely featured in a high-profile campaign by the National Democratic Party of Germany (NDP).
She encouraged men to join the party by standing outside election polls dressed in revealing outfits.
Sacked: Ina Groll (pictured, left, taking a selfie and, right, as her porn alias, 'Kitty Blair') has been fired as the face of the country's National Democratic Party - because she has sex with a black man in her latest porn film
Porn star: Ms Groll had been widely featured in a high-profile campaign by NDP, which was founded in 1964
But the blonde model has now been fired after senior NDP officals watched her latest porn film - and discovered she had slept with a black man.
As the face of NPD, Ms Groll attended promotional events and starred on posters, while making friends with many senior neo-Nazis across Germany.
Party officials were apparently willing to turn a blind eye to Ms Groll's career choice, which saw her star naked in a number of adult films.
But they could not ignore her sexual encounter with the black male in her latest movie, titled Kitty Discovers Sperm.
Representative: She encouraged men to join the party by standing outside election polls dressed in revealing outfits. Above, Ms Groll poses with a member of the NDP, which is widely perceived as a neo-Nazi organisation
Confident: But the model has now been fired after NDP officals watched her film, titled: 'Kitty Discovers Sperm'
And once Ms Groll's actions were made public, a Facebook page was even formed to remove her from the party.
One member of the party wrote: 'Those who sell their body for money and disgrace their race have no place in our party.'
Following lengthy discussions and a party meeting, NDP officials decided to sever all ties with the porn star.
Posing: Ms Groll was sacked following a number of lengthy discussions and a NDP party meeting
Founded in 1964, the NDP identifies itself as Germany's 'only significant patriotic force'.
The party, widely perceived as a neo-Nazi organisation, is currently represented in two of the country's 16 state parliaments.GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Rangers captain and top-pair defenseman Ryan McDonagh will miss Wednesday’s game against the Hurricanes in Carolina with an abdominal strain, a nagging issue that could keep him sidelined longer.
McDonagh has appeared in all 21 games, averaging more than 23 minutes a night, including more than five minutes per game on special teams. He has played through the “lingering” issue, coach Alain Vigneault said after Tuesday’s practice.
“It’s something that has been there for a little bit, doesn’t seem to be getting better right now... so our doctors are checking it out,” said Vigneault, who acknowledged that the problem was why McDonagh was given practice days off for “maintenance” or treatment in recent weeks, including Oct. 18, Oct. 24 and Nov. 1.
Asked if McDonagh could play Friday against the Red Wings, Vigneault said: “No idea. I just know it’s been bothering him... our docs have been on top of it. We just want to double-check things. We’ll know more (Wednesday).”
Injuries have not been a factor for the Rangers, with the fewest man-games lost to injuries (eight) in the NHL.
Without McDonagh, who blocked three shots in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Ottawa, defenseman Brendan Smith was moved up into his spot with Nick Holden. Steven Kampfer will move into the lineup on the third pair with Marc Staal. Kevin Hayes will replace McDonagh on the second power-play unit.
“Mac plays anywhere from 22 minutes to 28 minutes, and they’re important minutes,” Vigneault said. “So many guys are always looking to get more minutes, here’s an opportunity to play some more important minutes. I’m expecting our d-group to step up.”
The second pair of Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk also is expected to see more time against the Hurricanes (9-6-4), who have collected points in eight of their last 10 games.
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“Mac’s a warrior, as you know” said Smith, who played with McDonagh at the University of Wisconsin. “They’ve decided that it’s best to keep him out so he can be ready down the line. So we’ve all got to be working smarter, not harder.”
Blue notes
At least 15 minutes of practice was spent on power play entries, which has been the key reason the Blueshirts (10-9-2) are 0 for 9 with the man-advantage in the last three games and dropped from third-ranked in the league to sixth. “We haven’t lost confidence,” said Shattenkirk, who quarterbacks the first unit. “We know what we’re doing wrong. We need to be clean entering the zone. Once we’re in, we’ve had some opportunities, made some good plays.”... The Rangers, who have won seven of nine, are 2-5 on the road... Henrik Lundqvist, coming off his second shutout of the season, will start his 10th straight game... Center David Desharnais will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game.There’s a style I’ve been feeling a lot recently that I thought was worth a ramble. The name I tend to use for it is lazy luxury; I’ve also heard the term casually wealthy used. It’s all about dressing in super elegant, luxurious garments, but with a disheveled, lazy, comfortable vibe. Picture the kind of shit you’d wear if you were a romanticised caricature of a Manhattan playboy: so rich that everything you own exudes luxury, but equally so rich that you don’t need to impress anyone, so you make no effort to be “presentable”.
The main styling cues for this look arise from corrupting traditional #menswear styling with excessive doses of comfort and decadence. So you’ve got fairly traditional pieces like blazers, trousers, and loafers, but with a big presence of luxurious fabrics like silk, velvet, and cashmere (plus lighter stuff like linen for more summery looks). You’re gonna go for comfier details like natural or unstructured jacket shoulders, and slightly more relaxed pants. You’re also gonna wear everything in a lazier way: think unbuttoned shirts, messed-up cuffs, fuck-it tucks… all those details that basically indicate that you kinda just rolled out of bed and meticulously sculpted your perfectly disheveled look threw on the first outfit you could grab.
A bunch of designers play with these kinda vibes to varying degrees. The two most obvious choices are my boys Haider Ackermann and Dries Van Noten; both make extensive use of luxurious fabrics and details, while consistently pushing a relaxed, disheveled, lazy vibe. Other brands to check out include Etro, Lanvin, and Ralph Lauren Purple Label.
Of course, while luxury is the name of the game, you don’t necessarily need to drop stacks on big designers to pull this off – the right pieces from more classic or basic brands can look dope too. The key thing to aim for is the paradoxical intersection of formalwear and pyjamas. Here are a couple of examples:
Suede or velvet loafers. Are they dress shoes? Are they slippers? What’s the difference? Why not both?
. Are they dress shoes? Are they slippers? What’s the difference? Why not both? Striped, plaid, or otherwise patterned trousers. Are they half a statement suit, or half a pyjama set? Both loose, flowy cuts and tigher stretchy ones can work very well.
. Are they half a statement suit, or half a pyjama set? Both loose, flowy cuts and tigher stretchy ones can work very well. Long-ass lightweight drapey coats. Linen, wool, silk are all good options. Here you’re looking for that overcoat / dressing-gown duality, so something like a belted closure is a great option. Similarly, some kind of noragi or kimono type deal can do the same thing.
. Linen, wool, silk are all good options. Here you’re looking for that overcoat / dressing-gown duality, so something like a belted closure is a great option. Similarly, some kind of noragi or kimono type deal can do the same thing. To up the “elegance” a little, a velvet smoking jacket. Nothing screams luxury more than velvet, and with soft shoulders and a relaxed draping cut you’re still super comfy. I think I read somewhere that the smoking actually evolved from the dressing gown, so really it’s basically loungewear.
. Nothing screams luxury more than velvet, and with soft shoulders and a relaxed draping cut you’re still super comfy. I think I read somewhere that the smoking actually evolved from the dressing gown, so really it’s basically loungewear. Aggressively soft sweaters. Bonus points for exotic wools like cashmere, alpaca, mohair etc. Turtlenecks are particularly great for maximum coziness.
The above list is a good starting point, but more often than not almost any item made from a suitably luxurious material can work – particularly silk and velvet. Essentially anything sufficiently soft with a bit of a lustre can do the job.
I’m gonna finish the rambling here and just dump the rest of my inspo photos for this look. Where possible I’ve linked each photo to the website or IG page of its owner, so check some of those out (this is also true of the earlier photos)
If you liked this post and want more of my fashion ramblings, please subscribe to the usuallywhatimdressed.in mailing list at the top-right of this page – and while you’re up there, check out the links to my Instagram page, @usuallywhatimdressedin.In a big-city newspaper exclusive, The Boston Globe today uncovered evidence that The Onion, a website that claims to be “America’s Finest News Source,’’ is in fact not a legitimate news source, but a website full of satire and fake news.
The newspaper discovered the shocking truth after scouring a recent Onion article. The article is headlined “Pretty Cute Watching Boston Residents Play Daily Game of Big City.’’ The giveaway that the article was satire was the use of the word “charming’’ in the same sentence with the “T,’’ the city’s trolley and subway system. Bostonians use many words to describe the “T’’ and it’s fair to say, the Globe has learned, that “charming’’ is not one of them.
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Another obvious mistake was the Onion’s quoting of a Boston College student, who said “It’s really cool going to school in the city.’’ Any savvy Bostonian knows that describing Boston College as being “in the city’’ is obviously a falsehood.
If there was one clue, more than all the others, to the article being suspicious, it was a reference to people eating a big, fancy dinner at the top of the Prudential Center. When a reporter queried a person entering the Prudential Center and asked if there is a restaurant on top, the man laughed and said, “That’s wicked funny.’’Really, guys?
Most people were happy to hear that triple j are changing the date of the Hottest 100, moving it away from Australia Day and onto a more inclusive date in the last weekend of January.
Most, but not all. Today Triple M — the radio station of choice for Big M drinking, rock-listening, barbecue-having blokes of Australia — announced they’ll be having their own countdown on Australia Day, triple j be damned. The countdown, dubbed ‘The Ozzest 100’, will “include all the songs that define Australian music”.
“So, the taxpayer funded FM has decided that there’ll be no soundtrack for Australia Day. Let’s face it, that’s usually full of hipsters or kids making music on a Mac,” said Triple M, in a statement that can only be interpreted as a personal attack on Our Flume. “At Triple M, we’re going to give you what you’ve asked for. The perfect Australia Day soundtrack.”
Unlike the Hottest 100, The Ozzest 100 isn’t asking audiences to vote on their favourite tracks of the year — the only criteria is that the songs have to be “Aussie”.
Unfortunately, it looks like you won’t be able to head over to the Triple M website and start flooding it with votes for A.B. Original’s ‘January 26’ — voting hasn’t been made public, and is instead reserved for existing Triple M subscribers.
Of course, it’s fine for Triple M to hold their own countdown celebrating Australian music. But deliberately holding a poll on Australia Day ignores the reason why triple j changed the date of the Hottest 100: it’s a day that causes considerable pain for Indigenous Australians, and one that many associate with violence and dispossession.
In response to increasing scrutiny over how and when we celebrate Australia Day, triple j launched a survey this year to find out how strong support was for a date change among its listeners — eventually announcing that 60 percent of respondents were in favour of celebrating on a different date.
Voting in the triple j Hottest 100 is open now with this year’s results set to be announced on Saturday, January 27.To celebrate Ada Lovelace day – oh, Ada is just basically the world’s first computer programmer – here’s alook at seven inspiring women in technology, either pioneers from the past who have shaped the current tech we often take for granted, or women currently working in Stem and making waves. Technology is still a sector with a vast gender imbalance, but these women prove how much technology could gain from sorting it out, and fast.
Sheryl Sandberg
The woman who introduced “ lean in ” to the cultural lexicon. Sandberg is the chief operating officer at Facebook, whose employee makeup is 68% male according to June 2015 figures, and she previously worked for Google. Sandberg was included in the world’s 100 most powerful people by Time in 2012, the year she became the first women on Facebook’s board of directors. The magazine said she “understands intuitively the potential of social networking to create positive change on a grand scale”.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Sheryl Sandberg takes a selfie with Tim Armstrong, chief executive officer of AOL. Photograph: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Joan Clarke
Brought recently to mainstream attention thanks to the Academy Award-winning biopic of Alan Turing, The Imitation Game, Clarke was one of the team cracking codes and deciphering ciphers at Bletchley Park during the second world war.
Clarke, who was played by Keira Knightley in the feature film, was recruited into the Government Code and Cypher School in 1939 after studying at Cambridge.
Bletchley had thousands of women code breakers who, until recent years, had been overshadowed. Thankfully, now the likes of Clarke, Betty Webb and Mary Every are being given their due.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Bletchley’s women coders: Lady Marion Body, Jean Pitt-Lewis, Betty Webb, Marigold Freeman-Attwood, Margaret Mortimer and Jean Tocher. Photograph: Graham Turner. Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian
Radia Perlman
Perlman is sometimes referred to as the “mother of the internet” (which she does not like ) because of her invention of “spanning-tree protocol” (STP). Put simply, SPT prevents repetition of information and action when a network is shared by one or more machines (known as bridge looping ).
Perlman, who studied at MIT and whose mother was a programmer, has registered more than 100 patents. Kinda lazy. She once told an interviewer she actually “hates” technology and gets annoyed when people ask her to fix their printer, for instance.
Speaking on advice she would give young engineers, Perlman said: “Start out with finding the right problem to solve. This is a combination of “what customers are asking for”, “what customers don’t even know they want yet” and “what can be solved with something simple to understand and manage”.
Radia Perlman, who took a PhD in Computer Science from MIT. Photograph: Radia Perlman
Hedy Lamarr
An actor by profession, Lamarr basically invented radio frequency-hopping on the side, when she was drafted into the war effort to “focus her efforts on countering torpedoes”, as you do. Along with George Antheil, Lamarr tweaked radio frequencies at sporadic intervals between transmission and reception, creating a system in which messages could not be easily intercepted.
In addition to being a glamorous 1940s Hollywood movie star and a radio innovating genius, Lamarr also once invented a variation on a carbonated soft drink and a traffic light
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Hedy Lamarr, who makes you feel inadquate. Photograph: Everett Collection/REX/Everett Collection/REX
Zoe Quinn
One of the most prominent women in the games industry, Quinn developed the interaction fiction game, Depression Quest for the web. You can play Depression Quest here. Players are “given a series of everyday life events and have to attempt to manage your illness, relationships, job, and possible treatment. This game aims to show other sufferers of depression that they are not alone.”
Quinn has worked on many other games including They Bleed Pixels, and has become a prominent woman in the gaming industry along with Anita Sarkeesian, who analysed the depiction of female characters in video games, and Brianna Wu, another video game developer and head of development at Giant Spacekat.
Video game developer Zoe Quinn, who made Depression Quest. Photograph: Samuel Kirby
Mitchell Baker
Baker is the executive chairwoman of the Mozilla Foundation. Mozilla makes free software – you are probably aware of their popular browser and OS mobile operating system, Firefox. Apparently known as the “Chief Lizard Wrangler” at Mozilla, Baker was inducted into the Internet Hall of Fame in 2012.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Mitchell Baker, chairman and full-time executive of Mozilla. Photograph: Frank Baron for the Guardian
Lila Tretikov
Tretikov is the executive director of the Wikipedia Foundation. Tretikov started out as as a software engineer back in 1999, and was involved in several software patents. Treitkov was the chief information officer of SugarCRM, which produces web software, before she joined Wikipedia in 2014, succeeding Sue Gardner. In an interview with the Guardian following her appointment she said:
“The only thing we can do to change things, is to charge ahead and change things through actions, through trying. Who knows, in 50 years we could be trying to help men change the status quo of the world, where women have been proven the capable ones.”As I finish up this post, I am currently out of beer. You might think this would put me in a bad mood… and normally you’d be right. But we are mere hours away from our match up against QPR and have five Premier League matches under our belt, and so far this season, West Ham have made pundits look quite stupid and pre-season betting odds like like a joke.
We are currently sitting on eight (8) points, with two wins, two draws, and a solitary loss (in a match that we simply did not turn up for). In those five games, we have three clean sheets and a goal difference of +1. All told, this is not what most “experts” expected of West Ham under Sam Allardyce at the start of this campaign.
Chastised for his neolithic football, West Ham have looked much tougher to beat since Big Sam’s arrival than they have in a long time, with a high team energy and work ethic, cohesion, and spirit (thanks in no small part to our captain, Kevin Nolan). But there’s more to this team than simply parking the bus and hoofing the ball 70 yards up the pitch and hoping for a miracle.
Not to get off topic, but Southampton, who played “better football” all last season, looks like the Premier League’s new whipping boys, conceding six to Arsenal (admittedly one of the league’s strongest sides) because they insist on pressing high and playing open, attacking football, which leaves acres of space for the opposing attackers to exploit. West Ham, meanwhile, lays deeper, uses team defending, and hassles the hell out of the opposition in the middle of the pitch.
Sure, we play long balls frequently, but we also play great crosses from the wide positions and some great through balls, too. The point is, we look solid enough to beat people, and not from one particular style of play, but from freekicks, corners, long balls, crosses, and occasionally well-worked moves. What you can’t argue with is that, when we lose the ball, everybody tracks back and helps out.
When we do go forward, we spread the play to the flanks very well, and our crosses consistently look dangerous. Our record over these first five matches has shown that we are tough to beat. Now on to a few of my highlights so far this season…
Kevin Nolan looks set to have a 15 goal season from midfield, and that’s without taking penalties. But his contribution in terms of leadership both on and off the field is simply invaluable. Every time we concede a foul in midfield, Nolan picks up the ball and has a chat with the referee and opposing players, allowing time for our boys to get back into position. Simple, but brilliant.
And you can see how much he’s committed to the club simply by the look on his face after his two brilliant but failed attempts at goal and his actual goal against Sunderland. Make no mistake, the man’s a winner. And while he hasn’t always been the most appreciated of players by the fans, he’s certainly convinced me. He is all over the pitch, encouraging and organizing the team, and you can bet that he’s been instrumental in getting Andy Carroll nice and settled in East London.
The signing of Diame looks to be extremely astute, with the big man showing strength, grit, intelligence, and a surprising amount of skill in the middle of the pitch. He and Noble combine fantastically to shield the back four and allow our wide players and Kevin Nolan to push up quickly.
But he offers more than just defensive security, with his seemingly endless energy, tireless running, and efficient passing really adding to our attacks. He has to be our signing of the transfer window thus far.
As for Diame’s buddy in midfield, are we all in agreement that Mark Noble looks to have improved even more? Vital when looking at West Ham’s tactical disposition, Noble had the most touches (123) of the ball in Europes Top 5 leagues during the weekend of the Sunderland match (credit to @FootyBrains for the stat, and if you have a twitter account then give them a follow!), and he totally dictates our tempo, play, and distribution, while giving our back line some great protection.
So far this term, he has a pass success rate of 87.3 %, or 288/330 (again, credit to @FootyBrains, really go give them a follow, it’s a great account!), showing he’s a true product of The Academy, and thank heavens he has just signed a new three-year deal with the club. He frequently makes the simple pass, and by that I mean the smart pass, keeping our team in possession and pulling the opponents out of position.
His movement off the ball is really quite good, and his ability to swing the play to the flanks is uncanny. Still an underrated aspect of his play are his corners and freekicks, which created countless chances and general havoc against Sunderland. He’s not only West Ham through and through, but he’s top quality as well.
Shifting the focus away from midfield (our strength this year in my opinion), I want to give some praise to our defense (including Jussi) for their impressive start to the season. Under Big Sam’s approach, defenders rely more on discipline, steel, and nous rather than blinding pace or skill, as the team defends as a unit, but that doesn’t mean individuals haven’t been impressive in and of themselves.
Winston Reid looks to finally be fulfilling the promise he showed during the 2010 World Cup for New Zealand, and he’s been a real rock at the back and a real threat on corners. Guy Demel has made the jump up from the Championship well, and seems to have found his feet at right back. Strong and tough, he’s shown on a couple of occasions that he’s willing to make a well-timed overlapping run.
It’s nice to see James Collins back again, though he’s made several key errors (his failed passed led to Sunderland’s goal) and it’s a bit sad to see Tomkins on the bench. Still, Collins is a reliable, experienced center back, and can you really complain that your backup central defender is James Tomkins?
Jussi Jaaskelainen has come into the squad nearing the twilight of his career, having worked under Big Sam before, to cover for the money seeking (and bench warming) Rob Green. While he hasn’t been perfect, he’s kept us in games plenty of times simply because he has the reactions of a 21 year old on crack. His performance at Norwich was truly a Man of the Match display.
Up front, Andy Carroll is our clear number one choice to lead the line, and it looks like he’ll be fit enough to at least get a run out against Arsenal on October 6, which is encouraging, as we looked infinitely more dangerous against Fulham than we have before or since.
We can only hope that Liverpool don’t recall Carroll in January (he really doesn’t fit into the system Brendan Rodgers has implemented). I believe there’s still so much more to come from Carroll. Our first choice backup is Carlton Cole, who plays more or less the same game as Andy Carroll, but lacks the extreme physicality that Carroll possesses.
He looked isolated and overwhelmed against Norwich, and while he looked better against Sunderland, he still managed to be neutralized quite often. Still, Cole is a threat with both his head and his feet, and he’s got plenty of experience at the highest level. Vaz Te is listed as a forward but continually finds his play restricted to the right flank in our standard 4-5-1 formation. He is probably our best player at dribbling at defences, and he’s shown he can be just as dangerous in the Premier League as he was in the Championship.
We really discovered a gem when we bought him for a mere half million. Sadly we have seen very little of both Matt Jarvis and Yossi Benayoun, but when they came on against Sunderland at around 60 minutes, West Ham immediately looked much more dangerous. Jarvis’s crossing and dribbling was particularly good and Benayoun’s habit of drifting into the middle almost led him to score a goal, if only his legs were but a few inches longer.
Now, I don’t want to take anything away from Matty Taylor, who is incredibly solid and reliable and who can deliver some exquisite deep crosses, but he simply doesn’t possess the flair or pace that Jarvis does. Either way, though, West Ham certainly has options going forward with how we want to play on the wings. Look to see Jarvis and Benayoun getting more and more time this season.
If you’ve read this far, I applaud and appreciate your dedication. To wrap it up, I’m very pleased with the squad (and manager) so far. We’ve made a fantastic start, and I hope we continue to build on it before our schedule gets tougher, because thus far we’ve definitely had it a bit easy. Big Sam has silenced most of the critics and West Ham are a team that can be quite dangerous going forward, even when the play is a bit predictable, and almost always a tough team to play.
Teams won’t like the idea of facing us with the way we’ve been playing. Big clubs won’t like the prospect of breaking us down. Things are looking good, and we are where we belong. Bring it on.
Follow Patrick on Twitter – @ptempiPharrell Williams could be headed for the GRAMMY history book this year. Williams is nominated for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, an award he previously won in 2003 as a member of the Neptunes (with Chad Hugo). If Williams wins this year, he'll become only the third producer to win in this category both on his own and with a partner. The first two were Quincy Jones (he won twice on his own and once with Michael Jackson) and Babyface (he won three times on his own and once with L.A. Reid).
This year's other nominees are Rob Cavallo, Dr. Luke, Ariel Rechtshaid, and Jeff Tweedy. This is the fifth nomination in this category for Cavallo (who won in 1998), the third for Williams and the second for Dr. Luke. Rechtshaid and Tweedy are first-time nominees in the category.
The 56th GRAMMY Awards will mark the 40th year that the award for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical will be presented. That milestone is a good excuse to look back at the winners and nominees in the category through the years.
The Recording Academy added the Producer Of The Year category in 1974, 16 years after the inaugural GRAMMY Awards. The nominees that first year were Thom Bell, Rick Hall (who will receive a Recording Academy Trustees Award this year), Billy Sherrill, Lenny Waronker, and Stevie Wonder. On March 1, 1975, Bell was announced as the first winner.
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical is now one of the night’s most anticipated awards. (The Non-Classical portion of the title was added in 1980 to distinguish the category from Producer Of The Year, Classical, which was introduced in 1979.)
Babyface has won Producer Of The Year four times, more than anyone else. He and Reid won as a team in 1992, when their credits included the Boomerang soundtrack and hits by TLC and Bobby Brown. Babyface won on his own three years in a row, from 1995 through 1997. (He’s the only producer to win the award in back-to-back years — much less score a “three-peat.”)
Jones and David Foster are close behind, with three Producer Of The Year victories each. Peter Asher, Arif Mardin and Rick Rubin have each won the award twice.
Jones was the first two-time winner in the category and also the first three-time winner.
Foster, who was born in Victoria, British Columbia, has won the award more times than any other producer who was born outside of the U.S.
Mardin holds the record for the longest span of Producer Of The Year awards: 27 years. He first won in 1975 (when his credits included albums by Bee Gees and Average White Band) and again in 2002 (the year of Norah Jones’ Come Away With Me).
Mardin set another record in 2002 as the oldest Producer Of The Year winner. He was 70 at the time.
The youngest winners of Producer Of The Year to date are Steve Lukather and Steve Porcaro of Toto and Michael Jackson. All were just 25 when they won.
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis have received the most nominations for Producer Of The Year: 11. Jones and Foster are runners-up, with eight each. Babyface is next in line, with six.
Nigel Godrich, best known for his work with Radiohead, holds the bittersweet distinction of the most nominations without a win: five.
Wonder, who won in 1976, was the first self-produced artist to win. Many others have followed his lead, including last year’s winner, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys.
Four self-produced artists have won in tandem with creative partners: Bee Gees (with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson), Jackson (with Jones), Lionel Richie (with James Anthony Carmichael) and Phil Collins (with Hugh Padgham).
Other twosomes to have won are Jam & Lewis, who had played together in the Time; Babyface & Reid, who had played together in the Deele; Brian Eno & Daniel Lanois; and the Neptunes (Williams and Hugo), who are members of N.E.R.D.
Producer Of The Year winners have diverse backgrounds. Before becoming a top producer, Asher played a part in the British Invasion as one-half of Peter And Gordon. Foster and the members of Toto were in-demand studio musicians. Jones was a top arranger and Hollywood film scorer.
Prior to winning Producer Of The Year, many recipients had previously won GRAMMYs in other capacities. Phil Ramone and Neil Dorfsman had won as engineers; Steve Lillywhite and Brendan O’Brien as engineer/mixers; and Larry Butler, Toto’s David Paich and Narada Michael Walden as songwriters.
Producer Of The Year winners have come from all over the world. Asher, Collins & Padgham, Eno, Lillywhite, Mark Ronson, and Paul Epworth were born in England. Foster and Lanois were born in Canada; Bell in Jamaica; Mardin in Turkey; Bee Gees in Isle of Man; Ramone in South Africa; and Walter Afanasieff in Brazil.
Six women have been nominated for Producer Of The Year (though, as yet, no woman has taken home the award). Janet Jackson was the first woman to be nominated. Jackson, Jam and Lewis were cited as a team in 1989 — the year of her hit-laden album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814.
In a similar fashion, Mariah Carey and Afanasieff were nominated as a team in 1991 — the year of her sophomore album, Emotions.
Paula Cole was the first woman to make the Producer Of The Year finals on her own. She was nominated in 1997, the year of her breakthrough album, This Fire.
In 1998, for the first (and, so far, only) time, the Producer Of The Year finals included two women: Sheryl Crow and Lauryn Hill. Crow was nominated for her work on The Globe Sessions; Hill for her work on The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill and Aretha Franklin's "A Rose Is Still A Rose."
The sixth and most recent instance of a woman receiving a Producer Of The Year nomination came in 2003 when the writing/producing team the Matrix, which includes Lauren Christy, were nominated. The team's work that year included tracks by Liz Phair and Hilary Duff.
There have been two ties for Producer Of The Year. In 1984 Foster tied with Carmichael & Richie. In 1992 Babyface & Reid tied with Eno & Lanois.
Sadly, seven past winners for Producer Of The Year are no longer with us: Larry Butler, Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, Jackson, Mardin, Jeff Porcaro, and Ramone.
As noted above, The Recording Academy added the Producer Of The Year, Classical category in 1979. James Mallinson was the first winner. Robert Woods and Steven Epstein are tied for the most wins in the category with seven each. There have been three female winners: Judith Sherman (three times), Joanna Nickrenz (twice) and Elaine L. Martone (once).
View a complete list of winners for the Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical and Classical categories.
(Paul Grein, a veteran music journalist, writes for Yahoo Music.)The Wonder Woman movie is still creating a lot of buzz around the character, and maker Vladimir Mariano from Desktop Makes has created a 3D print of her famous tiara to go along with it.
This design is, of course, based on the tiara as seen in the movie worn by Gal Gadot. Because of this it is missing the red star in the centre which is usually seen in the comics, but it is film accurate.
The simple print is attached to an elasticated headband to keep it secure, and a few layers of any bronze paint give it the required look. There’s no word on whether it can be thrown like a boomerang, so we suggest against it.
You can find the files to print your own over on Thingiverse, MyMiniFactory or Pinshape.
If you’re interested in how this design was made, check out Desktop Makes’ quick tutorial video as well as their online course which teaches you how to make it yourself in Fusion 360.Beginning today you are going to see tons of stuff in the media on the subject of Obama nominating a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia (and he does have every right to make a nomination) and obligation of the US Senate to take any action on that nominee (they have no such obligation). Nearly all of it will be hysterical. Not hysterical, as in funny (though it will be that, too), but hyster |
desperate bid to shake up the race.
Fiorina delivered some slashing lines against Trump, but on Sunday night she toppled from a stage at a Cruz rally, providing more fodder for the bizarre 2016 campaign season.
No path to the nomination: Trump recorded a crush win in Indiana, taking all 57 delegates on board
Former vice-presidential candidate Carly Fiorina speaks to the crowd before Cruz's speech
She then watched as the emotional Republican hugged members of his family, including father Rafael
She then turned to Cruz and gave him a hug. Fiorina was announced as running mate in a last-ditched bid to reignite the campaign
Twice a loser: Carly Fiorina, who dropped out of the race early on, ended up losing again before the presidential election race proper could start, an unprecedented turn of events
In another tough break, Cruz decided to confront a protester in Indiana who repeatedly got the better of him, mocking the senator to his face as 'Lyin' Ted' and calling him 'Canadian.'
With Cruz out, Trump's only remaining competitor is Kasich, who holds press and fundraising events in DC Wednesday.
Trump still could find himself getting hit on the airwaves.
Katie Packer, chair of the Our Principles super PAC released a statement vowing to continue to 'educate' voters about Trump.
'We continue to give voice to the belief of so many Republicans that Trump is not a conservative, does not represent the values of the Republican Party, cannot beat Hillary Clinton, and is simply unfit to be President of the United States,' she said in a statement.
Top GOP election lawyer Ben Ginsberg said one of the emerging questions is whether the Republican National Committee would ‘turn over the keys to the kingdom’ to Trump now that he is the presumptive nominee.
The main question, he said, is whether the RNC will let him run the convention.
'There are still enough traps in the rules that I know the Trump people are aware of that they have to guard against,' he said.
Although he was hated by many of his colleagues in DC, Cruz became the embodiment of some of prominent members of the establishment as the last chance to defeat Trump.
He even won the support of South Carolina Lindsey Graham, who is considered a deal-maker who eschews tactics like the disastrous government shutdown.
Cruz's loss in Indiana was overwhelming. With 85 per cent of the vote counted, Cruz was trailing Trump by 37 to 53.
Despite repeated appeals to his faith, and blasting Trump for cursing and boastfulness, he lost evangelical voters to Trump, according to exit polls.
IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS: HEIDI CRUZ IS ACCIDENTALLY ELBOWED IN THE FACE BY HER HUSBAND IN AWKWARD STAGE HUG Twitter and Instagram users lampooned Ted Cruz within seconds of him conceding the Republican nomination race after he accidentally elbowed his wife Heidi in the face. The Texas senator hugged her after his concession speech before jabbing his finger into her face and hitting her with his elbow as he embraced his father Rafael. An Instagram user posted a video of the awkward moment on Instagram, captioning it: 'When you're the Zodiac killer and you want to murder your wife but everyone is watching so you elbow her in the head instead.' She was referring to a meme dating back to March 2013, when someone on Twitter joked for the first time that Cruz was the serial killer who claimed to have murdered 37 people and had five confirmed victims in California in the 1960s. A woman lamented: 'And poor Heidi Cruz takes the loss harder than anyone - in the face.' More people exploited the Zodiac killer line to poke fun at Cruz, with one of them circling letters spelling out 'Zodiac' in a headline that read: 'Ted Cruz to drop out of presidential race' and wondering what the senator was going to do next.
A Cruz supporter stands in the crowd looking completely dejected as Cruz announces he is dropping out of the race
Eleanor Darragh, Cruz's mother, looks emotional as she listens to him announce he is suspending his campaignKotaku East East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.
PC gaming company Nexon is replacing voice actress Jayeon Kim in MMORPG Closers after controversy over a t-shirt erupted online.
Yesterday, Kim tweeted a photo of herself in a t-shirt that reads “Girls Do Not Need a Prince.”
As tipster Sang notes, the shirt is apparently connected to feminist Korean website Megalian. (Over on Real Koreans, there’s an explainer on Megalian, detailing its supporters and detractors.)
The shirt caused a ruckus online in South Korea, and today, Nexon announced it was replacing Kim. The only reasons Nexon gave were, as tipster Lively Duly notes, “relating to the matters under controversy at this moment.” Tipster Sang adds that Nexon carefully uses the word “replacing,” adding that it will be in the process of replacing her character’s voice over the next few weeks.
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The shirt, as Sang notes, is apparently for a Megalian spin-off site called Megalian4, and that site says it’s not directly related to Megalian.
On Twitter (via Sang), Kim wrote how she didn’t really have strong feelings about Megalian either way, writing that she simply thought it was a site that fought misogyny. She added that she’s not a member of Megalian and that if she did something wrong, she’s willing to accept responsibility.
The controversy over the shirt doesn’t stop with Nexon and Closers. Another game, Hero Warz, also announced it would be replacing the voice actress.
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[Thanks subtly_stunning for the tip!]A homeowner in Florida was awarded $187,000 in legal fees from a years-long court battle over the right to park a pick-up truck in his driveway. Now the homeowners association is going to have to pick up the tab for $300,000 in fees.
The homeowner first moved in in 1997, and it was years before the association decided he couldn’t park his pick-up truck in his driveway. Not having a garage that could accommodate the large truck, he decided to fight.
The homeowners association lost in 2008, but then appealed the decision.
“They just didn’t care,” the homeowner told FOX 13. “It was like, ‘our rules overrule what your community says because we’re a master association and, you know, we’re right and you’re wrong.’ I couldn’t believe I had to go hire an attorney just to defend myself against this, what was a meritless lawsuit.” … “I think what people should take away from this is that homeowners should be left alone unless it’s a very serious issue,” the homeowner’s attorney said. “And, certainly, requiring a homeowner to spend over two hundred thousand dollars to defend themselves simply to park a vehicle in the driveway just doesn’t make any sense at all.”
Homeowner wins right to park truck in own driveway [Fox 13]Washington (CNN) Hillary Clinton is enjoying a strong summer but her party's voter registration advantage is shrinking in three battleground states that could decide the election, according to a CNN analysis of newly released registration data.
With 10 weeks to go, Clinton is favored in CNN's latest Electoral College map. And there are still more registered Democrats than Republicans in Florida, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. But the GOP has improved its position in all three states by adding hundreds of thousands of voters to the rolls.
Shifts in voter registration don't necessarily indicate who is attracting new voters, because the rolls are fluid. People switch parties, or move to a new state. Voters die and are removed from the list. And other factors -- like this year's competitive GOP primary -- can boost registration levels. But when available, these statistics provide clues about the electorate and the changing political landscape.
GOP gains ground in Florida
On Election Day in 2012, there were 557,544 more registered Democrats in Florida than Republicans. But President Barack Obama only won the state by 74,309 votes out of more than 8.4 million ballots cast.
This time around, Clinton could have a smaller cushion, because the GOP added about 300,000 more voters than Democrats since November 2012. About half of those Republicans were added in the past year alone, according to the Florida Department of State. The Democratic edge is now about 259,000.
Some of this shift has been driven by changes in Florida's white electorate. Democrats lost almost 195,000 white voters since the 2012 election, while Republicans gained about 149,000 white voters, the Department of State reported.
But there is good news for Democrats: They added 92,000 Hispanics to their voter rolls since 2012, and two-thirds of them were registered between February and August of this year. A Florida Democratic Party official also said three-quarters of all first-time voters registered since 2012 were non-white.
"I don't look at this as being dire for Democrats," said Professor Daniel Smith, who teaches political science at the University of Florida. "Their registration has been healthy, and their demographics are more representative of the state electorate. On the Republican side, it's disproportionately white."
In 2012, Democrats padded their lead by 102,000 voters in the fall. To replicate that, they could look to the 800,000 college students returning now to Florida schools. Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine held a voter registration event Friday at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
Tightening in North Carolina
North Carolina was the second-closest state in 2012, when Republican Mitt Romney won by only about 92,000 votes. It could be tight again: Trump and Clinton are essentially tied there in the latest CNN/ORC poll.
So far, compared to this time in 2012, the Democratic lead has narrowed by about 123,000 voters, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. And in the past year, Republicans doubled Democrats in terms of registration gains. The current Democratic lead is almost 642,000 voters.
Even though Democrats have the clear registration edge, Republicans still hold the governorship, both U.S. Senate seats, and 10 of 13 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. There is one possible explanation: Some Tar Heel Democrats might not be stalwart Democrats after all.
"If you're 70 years old, and you registered 50 years ago, more of those older people all registered as Democrats," said Carter Wrenn, a veteran Republican strategist who has managed nine winning statewide races in North Carolina. "A lot of those older people are ticket splitters. About 15% of Democrats, mostly older Democrats, usually vote for the Republican nominee for president."
Dem edge drops in Pennsylvania
The latest polls suggest Clinton has a clear lead over Trump in Pennsylvania, and Democrats have long enjoyed a wide registration edge in the Keystone State. They still lead today, but it's smaller than at any time since November 2007, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Republicans outpaced Democrats this past year, netting 83,000 more voters. This helped drive down the Democratic advantage to about 916,000, which hasn't been under 1 million in a presidential year since 2004, when Democrat John Kerry beat President George W. Bush by about 144,000 votes.
Kerry, and then Obama in 2008 and 2012, carried the state because they netted hundreds of thousands of votes from Philadelphia. To close the gap this year, and to make a play for the state's 20 electoral votes, Trump has focused on Rust Belt towns in Western Pennsylvania, where he thrived in the primary.
"We're an area that was historically Democratic but has been trending Republican for about 20 years now," said Michael Korns, chairman of the Westmoreland County Republican Committee, in the Pittsburgh suburbs. "We're seeing an acceleration of a trend that we've been seeing develop over the years. We're getting people to embrace the Republican Party and actually become full members."
Rep. Tom Marino, Trump's chairman in Pennsylvania, said the campaign believes at least 80,000 Democrats have switched their registration to the Republican Party this year.
Democrats see progress out west
In Colorado and Arizona, Republicans have a registration edge, but Democrats are narrowing the gap. In the past year, Democrats netted 45,000 more voters in Colorado and about 19,000 in Arizona.
Ten years ago, Colorado Republicans had registration edge of 170,000 voters. That shrunk to about 33,000 voters in 2012, and today it stands at 12,000, according to the Colorado Secretary of State. The Democratic gains are likely coming from an influx of Hispanic and college-educated voters.
"We continue to see strong support for Hillary Clinton in expanding diverse communities across the country," said Clinton campaign spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
Boosted by these gains, and by strong polls, the Clinton campaign recently decided it won't reserve airtime for television ads this fall in Colorado. As that state becomes less competitive, Arizona is heating up: Clinton trails Trump by just 5 points in the latest CNN/ORC poll.The mildly surprising 7-2 Vikings versus the very surprising 7-2 Rams might be the most intriguing matchup on the Week 11 slate. It pits the NFL’s top-scoring offense (L.A.) against the NFC’s toughest defense (Minnesota). It’s a showdown worthy of a breakdown.
Rams offense vs. Vikings defense
The Vikings have eight former first-and second-round picks on defense alone, six of whom were drafted by this team. Each year they’ve gotten better in head coach Mike Zimmer’s imposing zone scheme, which is sprinkled with complexities. It’s not that the Vikings show unpredictable coverages. In fact, on running downs, it’s almost always single-high safety zone (aka Cover 3). On passing downs, it’s a two-high safety zone—either Cover 2 or Cover 4 (or, if the offensive formation is unbalanced, Cover 6, a combination of both). What’s challenging is how the Vikings get to these zones. There can be a lot of movement post-snap. Zimmer employs a variety of zone blitzes, with athletic D-linemen like Danielle Hunter, Brian Robison and Everson Griffen all capable of dropping into coverage. Back deep, safeties Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo are two of the best disguise artists in football. Tremendous speed allows them to exaggerate when disguising.
The Rams are at their most dangerous when head coach Sean McVay knows what coverage the defense will be in. No one is better at concocting route combinations that exploit a predicted look. Cover 3 and Cover 4 are two that McVay thrives against, since his downfield switch releases (aka receivers crossing paths vertically) naturally attack cornerbacks here.
But your O-line must give the QB time for these to work. A dynamic front four is part of the reason Minnesota can be diverse in its zone movement. Tackles Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen get you into third-and-long, where rushers like Griffen, Hunter and Anthony Barr (a blitzer) take over. Los Angeles’s vastly improved O-line faces its biggest challenge to date.
Jared Goff has progressed tremendously in Year Two, but he remains a work in progress when throwing with defenders in his face. Goff still must fight his natural tendency to back up against interior pressure. Zimmer does not employ his trademark double-A-gap blitzes as much as he used to, but it would make sense to bring them in this game. Not only can that get Goff playing hastily, it also ensures one-on-one blocking against Minnesota’s edge rushers. On the left side, Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth has been outstanding when he wins on initial contact, but when he’s in reactionary mode, his 35 years of age show. Griffen’s low-to-the-ground bull rush could pose problems for the 6' 7" veteran.
The risk of going double-A-gap is you’re weak on the edges. That’s a problem against Todd Gurley, who has killed defenses by turning the corner in the zone running game and catching balls in the flat. There’s also Tavon Austin, whose jet sweep action is a big part of Los Angeles’s attack.
Vikings offense vs. Rams defense
The Vikings have been almost as strong as the Rams when it comes to defeating predicted coverages. Case Keenum has prospered as a fill-in starter because he plays with decisiveness in coordinator Pat Shurmur’s well-designed scheme. The Vikings are crafty in their presnap movement and switch releases off the ball. They put cornerbacks in a bind early in the down, allowing the superb route running of wideouts Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs to win later in the down.
Rams top corner Trumaine Johnson travels with opposing No. 1 receivers at times. This season for Minnesota, that’s been Thielen, though given that Diggs lines up outside more often, it might be more prudent for Johnson to play there. Johnson will travel into the slot, but generally only if it’s man-to-man coverage.
Regardless of the matchups, Los Angeles must make Minnesota operate off schedule. Forcing Keenum to play outside of structure can unmask his physical limitations. A great weapon for breaking down a play’s structure is defensive tackle Aaron Donald. He typically aligns opposite the opponent’s worst guard. That’ll likely be veteran Joe Berger on the right side, given that on the left side Nick Easton, while less experienced, is a stronger athlete. Either way, the Vikings will have to slide their protection towards Donald.
Prediction: Vikings 26, Rams 23
Film Note Elaboration
"Better than his numbers" applies more to #Bengals RB Joe Mixon (2.9 avg) than any other player. One of NFL's 6 or 7 best pure runners. — Andy Benoit (@Andy_Benoit) November 9, 2017
Joe Mixon’s yards per carry has now skyrocketed to 3.0 after he gained 37 yards on nine runs against the Titans last Sunday. It’s a shame to see his talent wasted behind a faulty Bengals O-line. It’s not just the much-maligned tackles (Cedric Ogbuehi, Eric Fisher and Andre Smith) who are struggling. The interior O-line has been spotty (at best). Left guard Clint Boling, in particular, has had trouble on pull-blocks.
Cause for Concern?
We’ve learned a lot about the Buffalo Bills these last two weeks in lopsided losses to the Jets and Saints, the chief lesson being that the Bills are not at all equipped to play from behind. They don’t have speed at wide receiver (Kelvin Benjamin’s arrival changes nothing here), which makes life difficult for new starting quarterback Nathan Peterman. The best parts of Buffalo’s aerial attack all stem from the ground game. If the ground game can’t function, the offense won’t.
Keep an eye on
Colts defensive lineman/linebacker Barkevious Mingo. You remember the sixth overall pick of the Browns in 2013. Mingo never put on the weight or developed the fundamentals to blossom in Cleveland, but at 27, he’s found a role for Indy while filling in for an injured John Simon the last three games. Mingo is Indy’s amoeba piece in sub-packages. He lines up all over the formation and is used in most of Indy’s designer pass-rush tactics—stunts, twists, blitzes and zone exchanges. He also can cover at times, a skill he flashed late in his Cleveland years. Last week Mingo had a third-and-6 red zone stop against Le’Veon Bell out of the backfield.
Injury Impact
Richard Sherman’s absence hurts, but the Seahawks won’t have to change their playing style. With man-to-man being so much more prominent in their scheme, the key players (as it pertains to what defensive coordinator Kris Richard can and can’t call) are the men in the middle: safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, and linebackers K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner. An extended absence from multiple guys here would mean more Cover 3, less man. Either way, whoever fills in at left corner (and don’t be surprised if it’s ultimately the damaged-but-not-broken ex-Dolphin Byron Maxwell, who signed earlier this week) will still play press-man along the boundary. They won’t be as good as Sherman, but the defense can at least maintain its identity.
Non-football thing on my mind
You know how you can see your breath when it’s cold? We need a word for that. I propose the noun broxation. It’s as portmanteau of three words: breath, oxygen and condensation. Think of how much easier our lives become in winter with the word broxation (which, by the way, I’ve just added to my Microsoft Word dictionary).
Guy 1: Hey Charlie, was it cold when you went Christmas caroling?
Guy 2: Not too bad, but there was some broxation from the carolers.
Guy 1: Remember how cold it was last year when we went?
Guy 2: Yeah, I was broxating like crazy.
Guy 1: She thought I puffed a cigarette.
Guy 2: Did you?
Guy 1: No, I just broxated.
Basically, however you use the word burp, that’s how you can use broxate.
• Question or comment? Email us at talkback@themmqb.com.By THE BLUE & GRAY PRESS STAFF
With less than one week remaining before Election Day on Nov. 8, the presidential campaign has fully accentuated the bitter division between conservative and liberal American public regarding policy views of all kinds.
Although this divide in politics has become transparent, most evident through social media, we at The Blue & Gray Press continue to urge students to consider all candidates running in the election.
While we at The Blue & Gray Press have already declared that we will endorse no candidate in this election season, we strongly believe that exploring all options can benefit us all. By exploring the stances of other candidates on political issue, we empower ourselves with the knowledge and ability to make better informed decisions on policies that will inevitably impact us.
On Nov. 6, Green Party Presidential nominee Jill Stein will be speaking at the University of Mary Washington. Joining Stein will be Green Party Vice Presidential nominee and human rights activist Ajamu Baraka.
This event marks a major opportunity in which students can expose themselves to different ideas. Regardless of these decisions, being as informed of a voter as you can is important. This will be Stein’s last campaigning spot before Election Day.
This event, which will be open to all UMW students including the public, will take place this Sunday, Nov. 6, from 7- 9 p.m. in the Chandler Ballroom in the University Center.
While we at The Blue & Gray Press cannot emphasize enough the importance of voting in the Presidential race, we would also like to emphasize the importance of paying attention to all candidates and casting your vote in each race as local and county governments are the closest to the voters in impacting our lives. Down ballot voting is something we need to all take into consideration for this coming election as well.
Regardless of where your values lie on the political spectrum, come Election Day, we encourage all students to exercise our most important right, which is continually fought for and defended by Americans today.Since Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump clinched their respective nominations, one of the most pernicious emergent narratives has been that this presidential election is pitting two historically unpopular candidates against each other. The narrative implies that they are equally unpopular, and for the same reasons. This could not be further from the truth.
On Meet the Press, Chuck Todd led a discussion with guests Democratic Senator Cory Booker and Republican Senator Bob Corker, about Hillary and Donald being “polarizing.”
When Booker made it plain that a false equivalency was being drawn between the two candidates, noting that Donald has engaged in “gratuitously demeaning women, demeaning Muslims, demeaning Latinos at a time where our country needs reconciliation” and “callously stoking hate and fear and inflaming divide,” Todd insisted that Hillary “is almost as polarizing and as divisive.”
Watch:
This media narrative is so manifestly objectionable that the editorial board of the Washington Post penned a piece straightforwardly addressing the false equivalence: “Both are unpopular. Only one is a threat.” After noting that Hillary “is not a dumpster candidate,” they observe:
Mr. Trump, by contrast, has waged a campaign based on bigotry, ignorance and resentment. … Just in recent days, Mr. Trump tweeted out an anti-Semitic image circulating on neo-Nazi websites and attacked the media for reporting as much. … He praised one of the most vile dictators of the 20th century. … [He] mocked a disabled reporter, proposed banning Muslims from entering the United States, attacked a judge based on his ethnicity, celebrated violence at his rallies, demeaned women and promised to round up and deport 11 million undocumented immigrants. [He] vaulted to political prominence with race-based attacks on the incumbent president and launched his campaign by calling Mexicans rapists.
This false equivalency is something we have called out a number of times at BNR. My colleague Peter Daou made the case on CNN. And I recently wrote: “Further, as we have previously pointed out in this space—and will no doubt be obliged to keep pointing out—Trump has a high unfavorable rating because of what kind of person he is and the things he has actually done, while Hillary’s high unfavorables are largely a function of nearly three decades of persistent negative media narratives with their roots in both classism and misogyny.”
Despite efforts to conceal them, there are demonstrably meaningful differences in who has an unfavorable view of which candidate—and why.
Here, for example, are the demographic groups where Hillary’s favorability ratings are above 50 percent, as reported by Gallup on May 27:
And here are the demographic groups where Donald’s favorability ratings are above 50 percent:
No, that is not a mistake. There is literally not a single one of all 62 of Gallup’s demographic categories in which Donald is above 50 percent favorability—not even white men 50 and over.
Just in sheer numbers, the disparities between Hillary’s favorables and unfavorables are fundamentally different. But the context of those numbers is critically important, too: She is liked by a majority of the very same groups who are consistently under attack by Donald, his surrogates, and his supporters.
Donald is disliked, in large part, because he is a bigot and a bully. And Hillary is disliked, in some part, because she refuses to alienate the same marginalized people that Donald targets. In a March article in the New York Times about white male voters who don’t favor Hillary, white men expressed their concerns that she was spending too much time talking to and about people who aren’t white men.
One man said plainly: “She’s talking to minorities now, not really to white people, and that’s a mistake.” Another said: “If I’m a woman, I probably vote for Hillary. If I’m Hispanic, I vote for Hillary. Blacks will vote for Hillary. But white people, especially white men—she has a big problem there.” A third complained: “I really wonder if she wants people like me in the Democratic Party.”
The modern Republican Party didn’t invent the identity-based divisions in this country, but they have ruthlessly exploited them, fomenting profound resentments against marginalized people—resentments which Donald has now made the centerpiece of his campaign.
Hillary, on the other hand, has spent her campaign talking about what she is going to do to help the marginalized people harmed by these resentments and the institutional systems of oppression that have been erected to safeguard privilege. “Breaking down barriers” is central to her message. Opportunities, access, justice for people who are denied these things.
I cannot put this any more plainly: Donald is polarizing because he traffics in bigotry. Hillary is polarizing because she advocates eradicating it.
And, of course, because she has herself been subjected to decades of public personal attacks on the basis of her identity. To conflate Hillary’s unpopularity with Donald’s while casually eliding her womanhood is deceptive in the extreme.
We still live in a culture where being a woman matters. A lot. Even in spite of the absurd rhetorical pretzels into which people will twist themselves trying to argue their criticisms have nothing to do with her gender.
What a ludicrous contention on its face that her being a woman has nothing to do with why she is “divisive,” when her candidacy is history-making because there’s never before been a woman in her position.
Her supporters, however, are not fooled by any of this claptrap. We see her capacity to unify—Bernie’s supporters are unifying behind her at a remarkable pace—and we see her dedication to addressing the concerns and amplifying the voices of marginalized people, even when it’s unpopular with the privileged people driving the national conversation.
The question of whether any candidate has the capacity to unite the country is the wrong one to ask. No candidate in our deeply partisan country has the singular capacity to unite us all. The question is whether any candidate is running a campaign that seeks to unite people.
Clearly, Hillary is doing that—and Donald emphatically isn’t. If people refuse to unite behind Hillary because unity requires centering people who have been left out, that isn’t her fault.
If social progress were popular, we wouldn’t need social progress in the first place. Resistance is what necessitates champions.
Hillary is a champion. Donald is an exploiter of the very divisions she seeks to remove.
They aren’t unpopular, or divisive, or polarizing, or whatever variation, because they are the same. To the absolute contrary, they are both “unliked” for reasons of their inherent difference.Arriving in Seegson Communications was ideally going to be a reprieve from the alien after my initial encounter. While certainly it did make some distance between myself and the xenomorph, it did introduce me to something else that was equally challenging by introducing the Working Joe’s.
Picking up from the end of our first diary, we enter the Seegson Communications wing and are introduced to the ‘Working Joe’s’: a series of rubber-faced automatons which bear a resemblance to many of the androids that appear throughout the Alien series. While these androids are largely humanoid, there is little consideration for imbuing human characteristics upon them. While functional and autonomous as non-player characters in the game, it’s clear from their design that they are intended as slave workers to operate many of the functions within the Sevastopol station. To say I was wary of their intent and the any potential (read: guaranteed) turn in the plot, was an understatement. I had left one problem only to immerse myself in another. Only this time, the problem was standing right in front of me.
There had been some reference to the Working Joe’s back in the opening hour of the game, with painted scribbles on walls warning us of their intent. Any subsequent skepticism is warranted given their design: with voices often lifeless and monotone and little expression to be derived from their rubber faces. If anything it was a reminder of a totally different film and game series: as it is indicated in James Cameron’s Terminator (and indeed in several video games such as Future Shock), the T-600 series of robot had rubber skin. They were easily spotted and clearly identified as a threat. Beyond all this, there is the fundamental fact that any non-player character I had met was either aggressive or (vaguely) cooperative. The big difference between those two classifications, was that the majority of cooperative characters I had met were either distant, crippled in some fashion, or dead.
[pullquote]Any non-player character I had met was aggressive or vaguely and unwillingly cooperative. However, the majority of cooperative characters were either distant, crippled or dead.[/pullquote]
The sense of unease attributed to the Joe’s walking around, even if passive to my presence, was tolerable given that the alien itself was not around; allowing me to relax the stealth muscles I had only just crafted in part 1. In the opening hours, we had only just began to train these skills, first with hostile humans and then secondly with the alien, even if that latter exchange was rather brief. It’s smart to take a moment to relax this tension and the challenge it presents to allow us some reprieve. Given this isn’t going to be a short game, allowing me the chance to take a break is going to help maintain my playthrough.
Well, I’m more or less committed to this given I’m going to do the whole diary, but it would at least make things easier.
The actual purpose of this segment of the game became rather clear not long after, as we discover a motion tracker lying on a workbench. It evokes the style of motion trackers seen in both the original movie, but also in James Cameron’s sequel. I found it interesting that its design seems to be derived more from the tracker in Aliens. I imagine this is partially due to the fact the tracker in Alien was cumbersome and the user interface wasn’t exactly obvious. The other reason arguably being screen time: the tracker in Aliens is iconic, with the scenes in which it is adopted heavily being some of the most memorable from that film. It has subsequently been adopted in some form in almost every game inspired by the Alien series. As a result, Creative Assembly have made an interesting visual and functional design that is both pragmatic while also a retro-imagining of technology from Aliens, which takes place some 40 or 50 years in the future.
Regardless, it becomes apparent that this area of the station is designed to be a safe place to test out the tracker. The Working Joe’s have been rather passive thus far and can move around the environment freely. As a result, the tracker proves to be a fun tool for observing these AI characters in the current game state. We can observe whether characters are moving, but with a number of caveats and features that continue to make the motion tracker an interesting game mechanic:
1) It adheres to the original conceit of the tracker in that we know how far away a NPC is, but we still have the mental task of then identifying the location relative to the local geography.
2) We cannot really focus on the tracker and the environment at the same time. The need to focus our eyes on a particular object means we focus on one or the other. This is the first time I have seen this implemented such that depth-of-field shifts depending on the focus of the players eyes. I love how such a simple mechanic will increase the tension in hostile situations.
3) If we cannot watch the tracker, we can still listen to it. Audio confirmation of objects proximity through a radar-like pulse can both inform and panic the character with ease.
4) We learn throughout this chapter that this tool is not 100% reliable: with interference in the signal while travelling through air vents: which are a key part of the aliens strategy.
But thankfully, we don’t have to deal with the alien right now. So it becomes apparent that at some point, these Joe’s will become hostile, given the need to train me in how to use this new tool while refining my stealth skills. So having been given the narrative context of trying to get in touch with Amanda’s colleagues, we find ourselves trapped in this corner of the station where the Joe’s are now actively incapacitating or killing humans in the area. Despite this, the Joe’s are not systematically exploring the map and instead exhibit routine navigation behaviours. Unless a Joe hears something in proximity or catches you in their (limited) line of sight, they will simply continue their walking pattern. This provides a safety net: with this deterministic behaviour offering an opportunity to learn how to use the motion tracker. The observations in the motion tracker, tied with our implicit knowledge that the behaviour of the Joe’s are fixed, allows for a smooth learning curve and you quickly gain a sense of accomplishment by successfully avoiding several of these androids in quick succession. Of course, it’s important to appreciate the simplicity of the Joe’s AI behaviour in comparison to the alien which – at present – is still something of an unknown. It’s a long process, largely due to my own conscientious approach, but we successfully get in contact with my colleagues and receive a new objective to head towards the San Cristobol medical wing. All the while, I gain a new set of really useful skills in a relatively safe environment. As we now return back to the transit hub after Seegson Communications, we can really put these skills to the test.
[pullquote]I was such an idiot: everything I had just been taught I ignored and foolishly walked into the open[/pullquote]
We head back to the transit hub, specifically to the location I saw the alien kill three people earlier. The first thing that happens, due to my own stupidity is that I first get grabbed by a supposedly dead Joe and then the alien kills me. We saw this at the end of the first diary entry. In hindsight, I was such an idiot: everything I had just been taught I ignored and foolishly walked into the open, made too much noise and pretty much offered myself to the xenomorph. Did this alleviate the tension and unease I felt? A little, but not enough. However, it was something of a relief to finally die by its hand. Hopefully, as we die more at the hands of the AI, this will be relaxed even more.
As this chapter of the diary wraps up, we successfully navigate back through the transport hub towards the San Cristobol medical wing. As noted, the alien is moving around this area and while the experience is relatively short, it does give us some time to test the motion tracker against the alien. One feature of the motion tracker that is as useful as it is frustrating is that we can almost always detect where the xenomorph is and can even track it as it moves around the map using air vents. Sure, this is a highly useful bit of information, but at the same time, the game never lets us forget that this creature is nearby. It’s only when it has moved beyond the range of the scanner can we have some sort of reprieve. However, given that this thing can move quickly through airvents that do not respect the local topography, such a distance can be quickly eliminated. Despite this, we’re now a little more prepared for what will come my way next, thanks to the primitive behaviour of the Working Joe’s and how the use of simple AI techniques can act as a tutorial for future gameplay sequences.
Enjoying AI and Games? Please support me on Patreon!One of the AJ-26 engines set to launch with a future Antares rocket has failed during testing at the Stennis Space Center on Thursday. Sources claim the engine “exploded” on a Stand located in the E Complex at the famous rocket facility. The failure is currently under evaluation, although it may delay the next Antares launch that is tasked with lofting the the ORB-2 Cygnus to the International Space Station (ISS).
AJ-26 Failure:
The Antares launch vehicle has enjoyed a highly successful early |
osh of UC San Diego; Pierre Vanderhaegen of the Université Libre de Bruxelles; and Takayuki Sassa of Hokkaido University.
Funding for the research came from the National Institute for Health (NINDS) and ADI-Novartis funds.The batteries developed for the high demands of all-electric Mercedes-Benz cars are finding a new application as in-home energy storage units. Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s a lot like the Tesla Powerwall.
Mercedes-Benz parent company Daimler AG announced that the storage units are being manufactured by its subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE (Daimler has a real love of all caps). The batteries are being sold, installed and supported by partners like utility and solar tech companies. That makes sense, because the storage units are usually installed along with solar panels. The units are already available in Germany, and Mercedes says it will be expanding the program internationally.
Up to eight of the columnar 2.5 kWh lithium-ion battery modules can be combined, with a maximum capacity of 20 kWh all together. According to Mercedes, this is enough to capture surplus solar power for later use with “virtually no losses.” The price of the units hasn’t been disclosed, since it can include several components: the unit itself (or two or three), maybe some photovoltaic panels and the installation.
Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE has been making units like this since 2015 for industrial uses. The systems were designed to be scalable; thus the quick entry into the private home market. Daimler is banking on its energy storage subsidiary in a big way — it’s invested more than $500 million in a second battery factory at the Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE site that will begin operating in the summer of 2017.
As a comparison, the Tesla Energy Powerwall serves the same purpose, with arguably more style. The Powerwall has 6.4 kWh of energy storage “for daily cycle applications,” according to the website. Like the Mercedes units, these can be installed in multiples for solar systems that need to store more energy. We do know how much the Powerwall costs — $3,500. We also know that demand was high, with a reported 38,000 reservations when the Powerwall was announced last year. That level of demand seems to leave plenty of room for a competitor like Daimler AG to jump in with its road-tested battery technology this year.Last year, the horse American Pharaoh became the first since 1978 to achieve the Triple Crown, winning in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Having a single political party win all three branches in Washington, however — controlling the White House and Congress and having a majority of Supreme Court justices nominated by a president of your party — is even rarer. The Democrats last achieved it in 1969. The Republicans managed it for four and a half years under George W. Bush, but before then had not done it since 1931.
With the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia earlier this year, however, both parties now have a shot at the political Triple Crown in the upcoming election. The Democrats can achieve it if they can somehow retake Congress, the Republicans if they can somehow retake the White House. Both Clinton and Trump therefore have a chance at making history this year. One of them could soon become a political stud, while the other (hopefully Trump) could be sent off to the glue-factory.
Democrats and Republicans
The last time the Democrats controlled both the White House and Congress (but, not the Supreme Court) was during a two-year span from 2009 until 2011, at the start of Obama’s first term. Before then, the Democrats had not controlled both branches of government at the same time since 1992-1994, and before that not since 1976-1980. They did not manage to control Congress at all between 1995 and 2007, and in 2007 and 2008 only controlled it narrowly with the help of left-leaning Independent senators Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman.
The Republicans, on the other hand, have controlled both houses of Congress since 2015, and did so also from 2003 until 2007 and from 1995 until 2001. (The 2001 streak ended half a year after George W. Bush was elected when, in May of 2001, sitting Senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican party to become a Democrat-leaning Independent). Before then, however, the Republicans had not controlled both houses of Congress simultaneously since 1953-1955, during the first two years of the presidency of Republican Dwight Eisenhower.
For a long time, the Republicans’ bane was the House of Representatives. For forty years, between 1955 and 1995, the Republicans failed to win the House even once. Yet they have reached the promised land since: they have won the House in nine of the past eleven elections, and today control the largest House majority they have had since 1928. Winning big in the House in the election of 2010, the first election following “the Great Recession, was particularly nice for the Republicans, as in 2011 the US had its once-a-decade redrawing of congressional district boundaries. The Republicans were therefore able to redraw four times as many districts as the Democrats were. Taking the House back is by far the main hurdle the Democrats will have to winning the political Triple Crown.
In contrast to the House of Representatives, the Senate and White House have not been kind to the Republicans of late. They have lost the Senate in four out of the past five elections and the White House in four of the past six presidential elections (or four of five, if you count the Bush-Gore-Nader election in 2000 as a wash). That they have staved off a Democrat Triple Crown during this period is only because they have enjoyed Republican-appointed majorities in the Supreme Court for decades. Their Supreme Court dominance has been legacy of having controlled the White House for 20 out of 24 years between 1969 and 1992, under Republican presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, and Bush. By the start of Bill Clinton’s presidency, only one of nine justices had been appointed by a Democrat president.
This huge Supreme Court majority was in part a lucky break, however. It was a result of Democrat Jimmy Carter (president from 1977-1981) having been one of just four presidents in US history, and the only one since the 1860s, not to get to appoint any Supreme Court judges. Clinton only appointed two in eight years, meanwhile, whereas Bush Sr. and Reagan together appointed five in twelve years and Nixon and Ford together appointed four in eight years. According to some Democrat supporters, this Court majority was not only unlucky but also, eventually, unjust, since it was the majority-Republican Court ruled that Bush defeated Gore in Florida during the 2000 election, which in turn resulted in Bush getting to appoint another two justices to the Court during his two terms in office.
Odds For 2016
According to Nate Silver’s data journalism website FiveThirtyEight, Trump has roughly a 13 or 26 percent chance at beating Clinton (depending on whether you use their “polls-only” or “polls-plus” forecast). While FiveThirtyEight has not released their predictions for Congress yet, they have also explained why they see the Senate race as possibly being a very close one this year. They have said as well that for the Democrats to retake the House will require at least a Clinton landslide victory (defining landslide as a double-digit popular vote margin, which has not happened since Reagan, Nixon, or, for the Democrats, Lyndon Johnson) — and they have the odds of such a Clinton landslide at 35 percent or lower.
Historical Circumstances
It is clear that, in modern times, it usually takes fairly special circumstances to bring about a situation in which one party controls the Congress and White House at the same time. The Democrats did it for two years after the 2008 election because of excitement over Obama, disappointment with George W Bush (and Sarah Palin), the financial crisis in late 2007, and frustration with the Iraq War. The Republicans did it for a few years under Bush Jr. — during which time they also had a Supreme Court majority — but they only achieved this through the narrowest of victories over Al Gore in the 2000 election, and they may also have been bolstered by 9-11, which occured just over eight months into Bush’s presidency.
The Democrats, similarly, did it for the first few years of Clinton’s presidency, in the wake of the 1991 recession and Desert Storm, and with the help of Clinton’s political skills and a unique ticket headed by two Southern Democrats (Clinton from Arkansas, Gore from Washington D.C. and Tennessee). Republicans Reagan, Bush Sr., Ford, and Nixon never managed to have their party run Congress, but another Southern Democrat, Jimmy Carter, did so during all four of his years in office, which he came into in the election following Watergate and the end of the American Vietnam War. It probably also helped that, unlike Clinton’s – and even Obama’s – mostly feigned religiosity, Carter was in actuality a devout Christian.
Before that, though, one party controlling multiple branches of the government used to happen quite frequently. The Democrats dominated Washington D.C. during the eras around WW1, the Depression, WW2, and most of the post-WW2 generation, while the Republicans dominated the post-Civil War generation and the “Roaring ‘20s”, then took office again following Democratic president Truman’s waging of the Korean War and Democratic president Johnson’s massive troop surge into Vietnam. In the twentieth century, the Democrats had the political Triple Crown from 1939-1952 and from 1962-1969, while the Republicans had it from 1921-1931. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency was particularly impactful, not only because of the Depression and War but also because he had personally appointed eight of the nine judges on the Supreme Court by the time he left office.
That is all in the past though. For the 2016 election, going by the odds of FiveThirtyEight and by other predictions that have been made, there is perhaps a 10-20 percent chance the Democrats will win their first Triple Crown since 1969, and also a 10-20 percent chance that the Republicans will get their first Triple Crown since 2006. Clinton or Trump, then, could end up becoming the next American Pharaoh.
AdvertisementsHeavy smokers may experience sadness after quitting because early withdrawal leads to an increase in the mood-related brain protein monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), a new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has shown. This finding, which was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, may also explain why heavy smokers are at high risk for clinical depression.
Using an advanced brain imaging method, a team led by Senior Scientist Dr. Jeffrey Meyer discovered that MAO-A levels in the brain regions that control mood rose by 25 per cent eight hours after withdrawal from heavy cigarette smoking. These levels were much higher than in a comparison group of non-smoking study participants. All 48 participants filled out questionnaires, and smokers with high brain MAO-A levels during withdrawal also reported greater feelings of sadness.
"Understanding sadness during cigarette withdrawal is important because this sad mood makes it hard for people to quit, especially in the first few days. Also, heavy cigarette smoking is strongly associated with clinical depression," said Dr. Meyer, who holds a Canada Research Chair in the Neurochemistry of Major Depression. "This is the first time MAO-A, a brain protein known to be elevated in clinical depression has been studied during cigarette withdrawal."
MAO-A "eats up" chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, that help maintain a normal mood. When MAO-A levels are higher as in early cigarette withdrawal, it means that this removal process is overly active, making people feel sad. For this study, MAO-A was detected using a brain imaging technique called positron emission tomography (PET). CAMH has the only PET scanner in the world dedicated solely to mental health and addiction research.
A specific substance in cigarette smoke, called harman, may be responsible for these changes, the researchers note. During active smoking, harman attaches to MAO-A. During early withdrawal in heavy smokers who had 25 or more cigarettes a day, MAO-A levels rose rapidly to a level beyond that seen in the healthy comparison group.
"This study opens new ways to prevent sad mood during cigarette withdrawal to make it easier to quit smoking. For example, it may be possible to improve the existing cigarette filters that partially screen out harman, or regulate the amount of tryptophan contained in cigarettes, since tryptophan becomes harman when it burns," said Dr. Meyer, who is also head of the Neurochemical Imaging Program in Mood Disorders at CAMH's Research Imaging Centre, and professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto. "We also identified MAO-A as a target to shut down during the early critical stage of withdrawal with a short course of medication, but this requires further study."
"This finding may explain why heavy smokers are at high risk for clinical depression," says Dr. Anthony Phillips, Scientific Director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's (CIHR's) Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, which funded this study.
The study was also supported by the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, the U.S.-based Brain and Behavior Fund (formerly NARSAD), and the Canada Foundation for Innovation.A single drop of blood is teeming with microorganisms--imagine if we could see them, and even nanometer-sized viruses, with the naked eye. That's a real possibility with what scientists call a "perfect lens." The lens hasn't been created yet but it is a theoretical perfected optical lens made out of metamaterials, which are engineered to change the way the materials interact with light.
While a perfect lens--and the metamaterials it's made of--is almost perfect, it's not foolproof. As the field of research expanded in the past 15 years, more and more challenges arose.
Now, researchers at Michigan Technological University have found a way to possibly solve one of the biggest challenges, getting light waves to pass through the lens without getting consumed. The journal Physical Review Letters published their study this July and is a continuation of work done by Durdu Güney, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Michigan Tech.
Güney worked alongside Mehdi Sadatgol, a PhD candidate at Michigan Tech, and Sahin Kaya Özdemir and Lan Yang, both at the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering of Washington University in St. Louis. As the team writes in their paper, "These findings open the possibility of reviving the early dreams of making'magical' metamaterials from scratch."
The Promise of Metamaterials
Metamaterials are often based on natural materials but can be altered to have completely different optical properties. Metamaterials go beyond the limits of natural materials such as glass, plastic, metal or wood. To do that, the base used for making a metamaterial--like the thin silver films Güney's group uses--that are tweaked at the subwavelength scale so that light waves interact with the material in new ways. While no one has created a perfect lens yet, the metal base Güney tests would look more like a traditional glass lens; light would pass through instead of reflecting off the metal.
"Aluminum and silver are the best choices so far in the visible light spectrum, not just for a perfect lens but all metamaterials," Güney says, explaining metamaterials have been successfully created with these metals, although they still tend to absorb light waves. "Loss--or the undesired absorption of light--is good in solar cells, but bad in a lens because it deteriorates the waves."
The solution for a sharper image then is to offer up a sacrificial light wave.
Negative Index Metamaterials Solution
The solution to absorption is all in the light waves themselves, which behave strangely in metamaterials. To create their sci-fi light-bending properties, a perfect lens relies on negative index metamaterials. Positive and negative refer to how a material responds to propagating and decaying light waves, which are like the yin and yang of optics. Most materials--positive index materials--allow only propagating light waves to pass through. Negative index metamaterials on the other hand don't just pass through propagating light waves but also amplify the decaying light waves.
"In order for the perfect lens to work, you have to satisfy a lot of electromagnetic constraints," Güney explains. "We don't know how exactly the required optical modes [light waves in the material] need to be excited and protected in the lens for the perfect construction of an image."
This difficulty has led researchers to try numerous modifications of the metamaterial make-up, adding bulk, mode-by-mode nit-picking and increasingly complex models. But Güney and his team propose moving away from the complications and going back to the light itself. In their plasmon-injection scheme (shorted to pi-scheme or π-scheme), the researchers take advantage of knowing which light wave crumbles as it passes through the negative index lens. They use this wave--destined to fail in the lens--to shield the desired light wave, allowing it to pass through unscathed.
"With this approach, you can engineer this sacrificial wave," Güney says. "It is difficult to construct this wave in other approaches."
Moving the technology forward could mean more accessible medical technology and lightweight field equipment, just for starters.
"Imaging is one of the key technologies for this work," Güney says, adding that a perfect lens could make science and medicine real for people. "It will make life easier to understand because people will be able to see it with their own eyes."Former president Bill Clinton’s star power was on full display on Super Tuesday as he appeared in Boston, Newton, and New Bedford to stump for his wife, Hillary Clinton, while voters around Massachusetts cast their ballots in the presidential primary.
A crowd of about 200 had assembled outside the Newton Free Library when the former president pulled up at about 10:45 a.m. in a caravan of police cars and Secret Service vehicles and stepped out of a cream-colored sport utility vehicle.
“Pull the lever for Hillary!” Clinton declared outside, showing support for the former secretary state as she attempts to squeeze out a victory over rival Senator Bernie Sanders in the Bay State’s primary.
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“Oh my God! It’s Hillary’s husband!” one man cried out as Bill waded through the crowd, shaking hands, kissing babies, and stopping to have conversations with voters.
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“This is phenomenal,” said Rosalie Weener of Brookline. “Honestly, I’ve had dreams of meeting them and now I’ve met them both. I was phone banking for Hillary last night and I’ve met her, and now I’ve met him.”
Hillary Clinton and fellow Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders are close in the polls and in a statistical dead heat according to one.
Earlier Tuesday, the ex-president and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh appeared together at a polling place in the city’s West Roxbury neighborhood, where they greeted voters and school children.
Walsh said the GOP candidates for president are ‘‘an embarrassment to the office’’ after voting for Hillary Clinton near his Dorchester home.
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After leaving Newton, Clinton headed to Buttonwood Park in New Bedford where about 1,000 people awaited him, according to police estimates, and he was introduced by Mayor Jon Mitchell.
“Thank you all for participating,” Clinton told the crowd, in a video posted on SouthCoastToday. “I especially thank those of you who support Hillary, but we ought to give the others a round of applause too.”
Clinton said Massachusetts had been “very, very good” to his family and that the Clintons had been “pretty good” to the Bay State.
“We can all rise together again,” he said. “Hillary says the way to do it is to build ladders of opportunity, and get rid of the barriers — economic and non-economic — so we can all climb ladders and rise together.”
Mitchell said Hillary Clinton is “very familiar with this place,” having come to New Bedford during the 1970s to do research for the Children’s Defense Fund on legislation requiring schools to widen acceptance of disabled students.
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“We got the word out just yesterday about this, and look at the crowd,” Mitchell said. “New Bedford is very important to any Democrat in a statewide race. You need the turnout here.”
Among those in attendance was Diana Painter of Fair Haven, who wore a button supporting Sanders. “I came because I’m a Democrat first and a Bernie supporter second, and I wanted to be here because I want to be supportive of Hillary just in case,” she said.
A 94-year-old woman on her way to vote at the nearby polling place said she had missed Clinton’s appearance by minutes. “I am here and I am going to stay healthy to keep voting for Hillary,” she said.
Lane Turner/globe staff Bill Clinton posed with supporters in Newton.
Below are scenes of Clinton’s appearance in Boston:U.S. Could Learn Lessons From Africa's Ebola Response
MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
We're going to hear now from an American doctor who spent three weeks in Sierra Leone last month treating Ebola patients. He's Dr. Lewis Rubinson, an intensive care physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He's also specialized in disaster preparedness.
LEWIS RUBINSON: So I obviously had anxiety, but this is also work that I've been doing for my entire career, both in terms of health care system response as well as had done work on viral hemorrhagic fevers from my background in bio-defense and bio-security. So I thought if not me then who? And clearly they needed additional people to assist.
BLOCK: And how much training did you have before you went to Sierra Leone, about personal protection?
RUBINSON: Personal protection I'd been teaching almost all of my career. But honestly, the personal protection equipment that we use there, which is mostly applying World Health Organization and MSF principles for PPE, were more extensive than anything I had seen before. And when you get there, you're not trying to re-create the wheel. You get there, you meet people who've been doing it successfully, you know that Doctors Without Borders has been responding to Ebola for 20 years and there's been a lot of different thought and implementation and lessons on what personal protective equipment to use. So while I did jump right in, I had excellent buddies teaching me each step of the way. And again, it wasn't like I was unfamiliar with it, but you still need to learn the processes that they want to employ.
BLOCK: Well, as you think about seeing patients again at the University of Maryland Medical Center and think about preparedness around the country, what lessons have you brought back from your experience in Sierra Leone that might apply in this country, which obviously is seeing nothing on the scale of what's going on in West Africa?
RUBINSON: There are nearly 6,000 hospitals in the U.S. It wouldn't have made sense to me that every single facility would have the ability to be honestly prepared. It doesn't mean that there doesn't need to be an appropriate level of the ability to identify patients and provide early treatment and keep staff safe. I think that's really on every institution because we can't control where patients present. But I think out in West Africa, we got very, very good at being 100 percent all of the time. You had to. In the U.S. there's no technological fix for this. We can't buy a widget and just solve it and give it to the hospital and say, you're prepared right now. Most of this is about diligence, it's about discipline and it's about 100 percent adherence. And I think, again, that's very hard to imagine that every facility could do that. Not because they aren't good facilities, it's just there are other priorities that they need to be taking on at the same time. Again, every facility needs to be able to identify the patient, take care of the patient early, keep the staff safe, but I think it's very hard to imagine that every facility would be good at managing a patient throughout their course of the disease, especially if they get very sick, like had happened in Dallas.
BLOCK: That does raise all sorts of questions though. Even in those initial stages, as you say, you can't control where a patient might present. Staff would need to be protected even in those early phases and you're saying it's unreasonable to expect that every facility, every staff worker, would know the protocols and be fully protected. So there do seem to be a lot of gaps there.
RUBINSON: No, I think that's fair. But it's not an all or none, Melissa. You know, if you're focusing on early identification and isolation, most of that's going to come through the emergency department or entries from the community. That's where you can concentrate a lot of your teaching, right? It doesn't need to be every single worker in every single site. So while I think clearly it would be best if we had a strategy to teach everyone and to keep them adherent, I think what we've learned from many other things as there's a tradition of knowledge and there's only so much training you can do. So if you concentrate your training on your high-risk areas - because we're still only talking about eight patients, you know, over just under 1 million hospital beds. Focus on the infrequent but high consequence. That area is mostly going to be your emergency department and other entrances from the community. Do very good teaching for those people and then do regional planning to try and see if there are places that are willing to go beyond that to make sure that all of their processes are in place to be able to care for a patient from day one all the way through to the end of their hospitalization.
BLOCK: Dr. Rubinson, thanks very much for talking with us.
RUBINSON: Sure. Thank you, I appreciate it.
BLOCK: That's Dr. Lewis Rubinson, an intensive care physician at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
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NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.Because of Alan Krueger’s appointment to the CEA, I figured there would be a lot of interest in his previous work on the minimum wage. In order to figure out how that body of work has aged, I reached out to friend-of-the-blog Arindrajit Dube. Dube is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst who has also done similar studies on the minimum wages, including the major 2010 work Minimum Wage Effects Across State Boundaries. Dube was kind enough to write the following guest post, examining Krueger’s work 15 years later.
Originally Posted At New Deal 2.0.
Alan Krueger’s recent appointment to head the Council of Economic Advisers has led to renewed interest in his book on minimum wages, coauthored with David Card, called Myth and Measurement. In that book, published in 1995, the authors forcefully argued that the evidence showing minimum wage increases killed jobs was fragile. Their own case study comparing fast food restaurants in New Jersey and Pennsylvania after a minimum wage increase in New Jersey showed that if anything, employment rose in New Jersey following the legislated hike.
Myth and Measurement went on to argue that the totality of evidence pointed towards the inadequacy of the simple supply-and-demand model for understanding the labor market for low-wage workers. Instead, they argued employers have some power to choose wage polices: paying a little bit more would attract more workers to a company and reduce the number leaving the company because of a better offer, but would mean higher labor costs due to paying more to those who would have stayed at the firm anyway — the “inframarginal” workers. Card and Krueger called this the “dynamic monopsony” model, and they argued that it accorded with the data much better than the canonical supply and demand model.
The reaction to the book was unforgettable, even for those of us who were mere undergraduates at the time. Mixed in with praise for the authors’ clear-headed (if brave) analysis was scathing commentary from established labor economists who considered Myth and Measurement nothing short of heresy. In his 1995 review of the book inIndustrial and Labor Relations Review, Daniel Hammermesh scolded the authors that “[a] wonderful world of reduced inequality through higher wage minima with no loss of jobs is regrettably not an option.” It has been an eventful 16 years since the publication of that book, so it seems a good time to take stock of how the authors’ central theses have stood the test of time. Writing a retrospective review of Myth and Measurement is particularly tempting, since I just finished a review of the more recently published book Minimum Wages by David Neumark and William Wascher for the Journal of Economic Literature, which should be coming out in September. (For the uninitiated, Neumark and Wascher have staked out a position in the minimum wage debate arguing that minimum wages reduce jobs and increase poverty, and therefore implementing them is generally an undesirable policy.)
So what have we learned from — and since — Myth and Measurement? Let me highlight three things. First, it is useful to understand the methodological contribution of Card and Krueger’s work. The idea of using “natural experiments” — where there is a sudden change in policy — was a hallmark of their work and since then has become a standard device in the empirical economist’s toolkit. Additionally, the idea that geographical proximity is a good way to construct a control group has been strongly vindicated by many studies, including ones looking at minimum wage impacts. Indeed, today there is a plethora of studies using border discontinuity designs. While there were problems with their case study when it came to properly accounting for statistical power (something that I take up below), overall Card and Krueger’s work has made a lasting (and positive) methodological contribution.
Second, Card and Krueger’s own follow-up work (Card and Krueger 2000), as well as subsequent studies, largely validated the claim that fast food employment does not drop in any meaningful way in response to the kind of minimum wage increases that we have seen in this country. While critics typically focused on the fact that they found sizeable positive effects on jobs in some cases, the more policy relevant point of the book was that minimum wages do not seem to “kill jobs” while they raise wages at the bottom. This point has been firmly borne out by careful follow up research.
And finally, the idea that search frictions may mediate minimum wage impacts has been taken up by numerous papers since Myth and Measurement — and has become much less controversial than at the time it was proposed. All in all, I would consider that a pretty good track record for any book in economics.
Findings on Employment
Let’s begin with the book’s core empirical findings about the impact of minimum wages on jobs in the fast food industry. What most stirred up the profession was that in some of Card and Krueger’s specifications, employment in New Jersey actually rose in response to the mandated wage increase in a statistically significant fashion. The positive effect was inconsistent with the competitive model, but was consistent with a monopsonistic model where employers have some wage setting power.
However, the authors pointed out that in other specifications (especially those that were not weighted by firm size), the estimates were much less precise. They argued that “at a minimum, we believe that our estimates call into question the prediction that an increase in the minimum wage will lead to significant employment losses at affected firms. In particular, even our least precise estimates reject the hypothesis that the elasticity of demand for labor by fast-food employers is greater than 0.3 in absolute value.”
Subsequent research that built on Myth and Measurement has found that while the sizeable positive effects in some of their specifications were likely due to chance, the lack of job loss was very much a robust finding. Card and Krueger’s own subsequent analysis in 2000 using Unemployment Insurance filings by firms (which was closer to the universe of firms in the two states than their original sample) over a longer period already moved towards this view, as the employment elasticities, while still positive, were smaller in magnitude and not statistically distinguishable from zero.(1) My own work with William Lester and Michael Reich (2010) demonstrated this point by comparing contiguous counties across state borders and pooling over 64 different border segments with minimum wage differences over a 17-year period (1990-2006). It’s like doing 64 different NJ-PA “experiments” and pooling them together. In the figure below, the dark line shows the distribution of the measured employment elasticity across the 64 “experiments.” The four vertical lines are four different published estimates from individual case studies in the literature.
Local areas are buffeted by all kinds of economic shocks, and even if these are not correlated with minimum wage increases on average, they lead to clustering in the data, leaving us with less statistical variation than may be apparent at first glance. Such clustering was not accounted for in Card and Krueger’s work or virtually in any work during that time, which explains why a sizeable positive effect could be found by chance alone. Since then, we have learned that computing standard errors without accounting for such clustering can lead to false precision. At the end of the day, however, our key conclusions were similar to Card and Krueger’s, as the implied labor demand elasticity was effectively zero, and “statistical bounds (at the 95% confidence level) around our contiguous county estimates of the labor demand elasticity as identified from a change in the minimum wage rule out anything above 0.48 in magnitude.” (The labor demand elasticitity measures the proportional change in employment for a group of workers in response to a proportional change in their wages.) Importantly, although one of the common criticisms of Myth and Measurementwas that it only considered short-run responses, we also showed that was not a fatal flaw. Even when we considered long-term effects using a 17-year panel, the finding of no disemployment effect remained.
What about other research since Myth and Measurement that has looked at the effect of minimum wages on jobs in the U.S.? The most common since the 1990s has been the “state panel” approach pioneered by David Neumark and William Wascher. Like the individual case study, it uses only differences in minimum wages across states to form inference. However, instead of comparing two areas that may be similar based on, say, proximity, the “state panel” studies effectively compare all states to all states, while accounting for possible differences by including statistical controls. The state panel approach has tended to find negative effects, especially when considering a high impact demographic group such as teenagers.(2) For example, in their 2008 book titled Minimum Wages, Neumark and Wascher review 10 state panel studies following up on the initial controversy; nine out of 10 of these studies find evidence for jobs loss.
There are some obvious virtues for the state panel approach, since it uses a lot more variation than an individual case study. However, it also assumes that we can find enough control variables to include in our regression that will make Texas look like Massachusetts. As it turns out, this is a heroic assumption that badly biases the results.
In a series of papers (Allegretto Dube Reich 2009, 2010; Dube Lester and Reich 2010, 2011) we show the nature of bias in the state panel studies. The kind of states that have tended to have higher minimum wage in the past 20 years have been quite different from those who have tended to have lower minimum wages. As an example, today 11 states plus DChave a local minimum wage of at least $0.25 above the federally mandated minimum of $0.25/hour. Eight of these 11 states are either in New England or on the West Coast. (The remaining three are Illinois, New Mexico, and Nevada.)
In other words, there is a very strong regional component to the minimum wage variation. This can lead to very misleading inference if we compare teen employment growth in, say, Texas and Massachusetts. Given factors such as climate, proximity to Mexico, and others that are usually not fully accounted for in state panel approaches, we might expect very different trends in employment in those states quite apart from minimum wages. Similarly, the growth rate in low-wage jobs has been quite different in states like Texas, North Dakota, and Indiana even thought these states have had the same binding minimum wage (i.e., the federal) over the past two decades. Unless one controls for the “unobserved” (or more accurately “not directly observed”) sources of heterogeneity in the growth prospects across areas, conclusions may be badly flawed. A telltale sign of this flaw that our studies revealed is that in the state panel model, the job losses occur substantially prior to the actual change in policy.
So what are some ways of correcting the deficiencies of the state panel approach? One fruitful way is to recognize the core insight of Card and Krueger’s research design that compared areas across the NJ-PA border. When comparing places directly across a border, many other (potentially unobservable) confounding factors are roughly similar. We implemented this strategy in numerous papers using a variety of data sets (QCEW, QWI, CPS, Census). The results were unambiguous: whatever group we considered — restaurant workers, teenagers, teenagers of disadvantaged backgrounds — the state panel approach always produced an erroneous negative estimate when it came to employment. Once we accounted for the regional heterogeneity, there was no employment loss to speak of. Other authors who have accounted for such heterogeneity largely confirm that employment effects from minimum wage increases in the US have been close to zero or even positive (e.g., Addison et al., 2009, 2011).
Inadequacy of the Simple Supply and Demand Model of the Labor Market
Another important part of Myth and Measurement argued for the inadequacy of the simple supply-and-demand model in thinking about the low-wage labor market. Card and Krueger’s primary evidence for this view was that employment didn’t fall, and may have risen, in response to a minimum wage increase. A simple model of “monopsony” is a firm that has some wage setting power due to search frictions. Employees say to themselves, “If my employer doesn’t give me the raise I was promised I might look for other jobs, but there is no guarantee I’ll find one to my liking immediately.” Conversely, raising |
far less developed and that the prohibitions will also potentially damage internet based businesses – by banning or limiting presence on websites, social media etc. TW is not a big direct advertiser, so it has focussed primarily on impositions on its own business model. [Note: here I am surprised that they did not draw on the argument that tobacco advertising is banned because of the harm smoking does: recital 3 of the tobacco advertising directive 2003/33/EC asserts that the directive is: intended to protect public health by regulating the promotion of tobacco, an addictive product responsible for over half a million deaths in the Community annually, thereby avoiding a situation where young people begin smoking at an early age as a result of promotion and become addicted.]
92-94 covers Article 20(6) which extends Article 18 on cross border distance sales of tobacco products to e-cigarettes. The EU legislature provided no justification for allowing member states to ban cross border sales (recalling that this is a single market directive designed to promote free movement of goods) and further maintains there is no evidence to justify it anyway – specifically that this allows young people to access these products with greater ease, noting that e-cigarettes are hardly used by young people, and to the extent they are it is mostly be existing smokers. TW recommends an alternative ‘proof of age’ system at the point of sale backed by law prohibiting sales to under-18s.
95-96 covers Article 20(7) on submission of sales and other commercial data. No equivalent obligations are imposed on cigarette makers and the requirements are too vaguely specified to be meaningful and may clash with data protection legislation. Argues that overall market surveillance is best conducted by the regulator or other public body – as in other fields.
2. Principle of equality or non-discrimination
97-100 states that in some circumstances the directive is more burdensome than for tobacco (97-8), but also states that given the large difference in public health impact they should not be treated as comparable (99) and gives six examples of where the TPD imposes burdens not faced by tobacco vendors (100).
101. Draws this together as a distortion of competition and violation of the free trade principles.
Note: I think there would be a strong case even if the restrictions were identical to tobacco – and they ought to lean more heavily on their statement at para 99 – tobacco and e-cigarettes simply are not comparable. The best exposition of the equality principle is Case 304/01 Sept 2004 Spain v European Commission para 31
… the principle of equal treatment or non-discrimination requires that comparable situations must not be treated differently and that different situations must not be treated in the same way unless such treatment is objectively justified.
3. Principle of subsidiarity
102-103 the case for harmonisation through single market legislation is weak and not adequately justified, and that the only justification made related to the different treatment of e-cigarettes as medicines – which is not relevant under the finalised TPD.
[Note: I don’t think this is a particularly strong rationale in practice, even if it works in law – in many ways the directive allows too much member state discretion – e.g. on banning flavours, distance selling, and arbitrary classification of e-cigarettes as medicines etc – they are right however that no adequate justification has been made under subsidiarity principle for the EU assuming the competence to impose these harmonising measures]
4. Charter of Fundamental Rights
104-108 deal with the directive’s impact on rights to property and to run a business guaranteed under Article 17 and 16 of the CFR respectively. These paragraphs show how the restrictions criticised as disproportionate above affect the proper exploitation of the claimant’s commercial property. This section is probably ‘belt and braces’ showing another basis on which the TPD infringes established principles of the European Union.
Questions referred to the ECJ
1. Is Article 20 of [the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU] invalid, either in whole or in a relevant part, for one or more of the following reasons: 1.1. It imposes either as a whole or in relevant parts a series of obligations on electronic cigarette manufacturers and/or retailers which infringe the principle of proportionality? 1.2. For equivalent or similar reasons, it fails to comply with the principle of equality? 1.3. It distorts competition in the relevant markets for electronic cigarettes and traditional tobacco cigarettes? 1.4. It fails to comply with the principle of legal certainty? 1.5. It fails to comply with the principle of subsidiarity? 1.6. It infringes the rights of electronic cigarette manufacturers or retailers under Articles 16 and/or 17 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights?
Will it work?
Will they win? I think this case is very strong. But we cannot rule out a court taking a political stance on this or somehow considering these products as variants on NRT – and we haven’t seen the defence yet. But on its merits this case should succeed – removing most or all of Article 20. The EU does require genuine public interest justification for overriding the principle of free movement of goods, and does not allow gratuitous distortions of competition without justification – and TW make that case convincingly.
Is there a nightmare scenario? What if they win and strike out Article 20? Would the EU and/or UK simply revert to requiring everything to be regulated as medicines? I really doubt it – the support for that has dwindled as more people have begun to recognise how that would play out in the market, and the highly burdensome, expensive and time consuming process that MHRA has imposed on the one company that has achieved an authorisation. It would immediately be challenged as unlawful – most people have started to understand that e-cigarettes are not medicines in law or common sense.
What should happen if they win? When the European Parliament dumped the proposal to regulate these products as medicines as medicines on 8 October 2014, they should have taken e-cigarettes out of the directive and started again with a new legislative proposal, based on sound science, options appraisal, a decent impact assessment and consultation. If Article 20 is struck down, they should start that again and, given the strength of the case, start working on it now. Alternatively they could leave it to member states for a few more years and return to the issue if and when there is a case for it. At the same time the industry should get its act together and be clear what standards it want to be held to – that work is advancing well. I was particularly pleased with the outcome of the Commission on Advertising Practice which defined the sensible new UK rules on e-cigarette advertising, which could replace the obviously disproportionate near-total ban conceived in the EU.
Legal arguments not deployed so far
The TW case rests primarily on complaining about unlawful measures included in the final text of the directive. However, there are also numerous process requirements coded into the treaties. Violation of these would in themselves by sufficient to challenge Article 20, because of the way it was made in a closed process of European Parliament amendment followed by Trilogue negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission. These arguments are as follows:
1. The requirement to consult. No consultation was conducted on the actual proposals agreed or anything remotely close to them. Article 11.3 of the Treaty on European Union: 11.3. The European Commission shall carry out broad consultations with parties concerned in order to ensure that the Union’s actions are coherent and transparent. Article 2 of the Protocol on the Application of the Principle of Sustainability and Proportionality 2. Before proposing legislative acts, the Commission shall consult widely. Such consultations shall, where appropriate, take into account the regional and local dimension of the action envisaged. In cases of exceptional urgency, the Commission shall not conduct such consultations. It shall give reasons for its decision in its proposal.
2. Requirement to give reasons. The recitals to the Directive make false assertions and do not provide adequate justification for the measures in the directive. Article 296 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, establishes the requirement to state reasons: Legal acts shall state the reasons on which they are based and shall refer to any proposals, initiatives, recommendations, requests or opinions required by the Treaties. The reasons given should be evidence based and properly justified.
3. Requirement to produce an impact assessment. There is no impact assessment for these proposals – even though they will regulate a multibillion euro industry, thousands of businesses and the choices available to millions of consumers. Article 5 of the Protocol on the Application of the Principle of Sustainability and Proportionality: Any draft legislative act should contain a detailed statement making it possible to appraise compliance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. … This statement should contain some assessment of the proposal’s financial impact and, in the case of a directive, of its implications for the rules to be put in place by Member States, including, where necessary, the regional legislation. The reasons for concluding that a Union objective can be better achieved at Union level shall be substantiated by qualitative and, wherever possible, quantitative indicators. Article 5.4 of the Treaty on European Union: 4. Under the principle of proportionality, the content and form of Union action shall not exceed what is necessary to achieve the objectives of the Treaties.
4. Requirement for national parliament scrutiny. The proposals were defined and finalised without adequate time for scrutiny in member states. Article 4 of the Protocol on the Application of the Principle of Sustainability and Proportionality: The Commission shall forward its draft legislative acts and its amended drafts to national Parliaments at the same time as to the Union legislator. The European Parliament shall forward its draft legislative acts and its amended drafts to national Parliaments. The Council shall forward draft legislative acts originating from a group of Member States, the Court of Justice, the European Central Bank or the European Investment Bank and amended drafts to national Parliaments. (emphasis added).
5. Proper legal procedure for a new legislative proposal. There is credible argument that Article 20 is in itself a new legislative proposal, and should go through the full ordinary legislative procedure, under Article 294 TFEU. In effect the Parliament and Council created a brand new legislative proposal through amendment and trilogue in October-December 2013. The Commission proposal had 272 words, compared to 1900 in the final text of Article 20 (plus greatly expanded recitals and text of other articles that Article 20 applies to e-cigarettes) – and final text is completely different to the Commission proposal. It is a brand new legislative proposal constructed and passed through Trilogue, side-stepping the full process and disciplines of Ordinary Legislative Procedure. Trilogue is really there to close narrow differences, not to completely change the underlying principles or be a vehicle for smuggling new legislative proposals through the legislature.
These process arguments show why such poor legislation came to be made – they lend weight to TW’s contention that the measures are disproportionate, and exactly what you might expect when policy is made on the hoof in a negotiation.
Challenges to the directive
Totally Wicked case – C-477/14
Government of Poland – Case C-358/14 – is challenging the menthol ban. Poland has a high use of menthol.
Phillip Morris International – is challenging several aspects of the directive, and is supported by Japan Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco. The PMI statement of facts and grounds alleges that the directive is invalid because the EU Legislature has acted without a valid legal basis, that parts of the Directive are disproportionate, that it delegates too much power to the European Commission and that it infringes the principle of subsidiarity (encroaches on powers of member state parliaments. BAT is challenging several aspects of the directive, using similar legal arguments to PMI… see article here. The BAT/PMI cases have been joined: case 547/14. See commentary here.
Video discussion of the Totally Wicked case
In which I interview the Totally Wicked boss, Fraser Cropper, and TW’s lawyer.by
The air was a bit cooler this weekend, reminding us that the summer won’t last forever.
It’s almost August. Back to school stuff is all over the stores. Before you know it – leaves will start falling from the trees and Christmas decorations will be going up.
But let’s try not to think about that just yet. There’s plenty of summer left to enjoy.
Here are a dozen different things to do in Northeast Wisconsin while the weather is still warm. So mark your calendars!
1. AirVenture EAA – Oshkosh, July 29 – August 4th
Every summer the control tower at Wittman Regional Airport becomes the busiest in the world as aviation enthusiasts flock to America’s biggest fly-in.
The week-long AirVenture at the EAA in Oshkosh includes airplanes from the past and the future. There are spectacular air shows, food, music and more. This year the band Chicago will be returning to perform on opening night. Families can catch a special screening of the new Disney film Planes (a follow up to the popular Cars series).
You can also watch demonstrations from a flying car and marvel at the incredible Jetman flying through the sky.
Celebrities who love airplanes have also been known to make appearances. That includes Harrison Ford and this year Gary Sinise (CSI New York, Forrest Gump) will be performing with the Lieutenant Dan Band on August 2nd.
Find out more at AirVenture.org.
2. Taste on Broadway – Green Bay, August 1st
Broadway in Green Bay really comes to life during the summer. Besides the weekly farmer’s market, one of the biggest events is Taste on Broadway.
You’ll get to sample some of the best and most unique restaurants in the Green Bay area while catching live music from local bands. There will be local beer from places like Titletown Brewery and Hinterland.
The food goes far beyond burgers and beer brats (although you can find those too). How about a bacon-crusted caramel apple from Syrah Restaurant, some sushi rolls from Phin or Red Velvet cake bites from Republic Chophouse?
When you attend you can purchase tokens or tickets, which you then use to purchase food and drinks at the event. It’s easy to spend quite a bit, but you’ll have a ton of fun sampling everything. This is a great way to test out area restaurants before you actually decide to visit.
Find out more at OnBroadway.org
3. Fox 11 Packers Family Night, Green Bay – August 3rd
There’s a lot of excitement around the upcoming Green Bay Packers season. But isn’t that always the case?
It all starts with the unique tradition of Family Night – when the Packers play themselves. Only Packers fans would pack Lambeau Field to watch the team practice, right?
The truth is – this is a really fun event that has much more than football. It’s the perfect chance for folks without season tickets to experience Lambeau, and a great example of how the Packers and their fans really are like family.
The fireworks show at the end of the night is especially cool. Colorful explosions go off all around the stadium as the music blares creating quite the spectacle. But the loudest it gets during Family Night is when all the kids sing along to the SpongeBob SquarePants theme song.
Now, let’s just hope Packers Family Night doesn’t get called off because of rain!
Find out more about Packers Family Night
4. Feast With the Beasts at the NEW Zoo – Suamico, August 5th
No, you do not get to eat the albino alligator. It’s Feast With the Beasts – not on them.
But there will be some interesting cuisine around the grounds of the NEW Zoo. This is an event similar to Taste on Broadway where you can sample food from a wide variety of local restaurants, stores and distributors until you fill up your belly.
However, in this case you purchase tickets ($30 in advance $35 at the door) and then eat as much as you want.
Plus, you can hang with all the animals as they chow down too. Watch the snow monkeys eat the bugs they pick off each other, or even stop by and feed the giraffe!
Some of the participating restaurants include Big Tomatoes, Caliente, Hagemeister Park, La Java and Zesty’s Frozen Custard. But there are many more.
Find out more about Feast With the Beasts
5. Mile of Music Festival – Appleton, August 8th – 11th
2013 marks the first year for this exciting music fest, and we really hope it continues. Mile of Music is folk-rock musician and Appleton native Cory Chisel’s gift to his hometown.
Chisel has really made a name for himself in the independent music scene. In the process, he’s made a lot of friends and connections. That has enabled him to take the lead on this impressive project.
More than 100 bands are coming to perform at 30 different venues along College Avenue. There will be local favorites like Greg Waters & the Broadstreet Boogie, some of the biggest acts in the state like Field Report and Phox as well as a great variety of indie artists from all over – including Justin Townes Earl, Caroline Smith and Rodney Crowell.
Of course, Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons will also put on a headline performance.
Chisel wants Mile of Music to be similar to the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. It would really be amazing to have something like this take off in the Fox Valley. So we encourage you to be part of it.
There are plenty of free shows, but you’ll need tickets to the headlining and featured acts. The best deal might be the $99 VIP Pass, which gets you into anything that’s not at capacity.
Find out more about Mile of Music and see the complete list of artists
6. Hamburger Fest – Seymour, August 9th & 10th
From a music festival to a food festival…
Every summer, the community of Seymour celebrates its claim to the title of Home of the Hamburger.
This event kicks off with an impressive hot air balloon rally on Friday. The vibrant, glowing balloons light up the sky at dusk. (Balloons also ascend on Saturday and Sunday)
Saturday is all about burgers. Hang out with Hamburger Charlie, eat a chunk of the giant cheeseburger, and take a ride on the ketchup-covered slip and slide. There’s also a parade, car show, live music, the Bun Run and of course – a burger eating contest.
Find out more about Hamburger History in Seymour
This year’s festival theme is “A Quarter Century of Quarter-Pound Burgers.” Admission for BurgerFest is just $3 in advance and $5 at the gate. From photos on the Home of the Hamburger Facebook page – it looks like comedian Larry the Cable Guy has stopped by in the past.
Find out more about the Seymour Hamburger Fest
7. Tall Ships Festival – Green Bay, August 16th-18th
Green Bay is one of only six cities in the nation selected to host this unique event. Seeing these ships up-close is a pretty amazing experience.
The little kid inside you will want to pretend to be a pirate or Christopher Columbus.
You can take tours and rides on these majestic vessels, including the Flagship Niagara battleship shown here. It played an important role in the War of 1812 – helping to seize control of Lake Erie and take Detroit back from the British. The Niagara was rebuilt in 1988.
There will be eight other tall ships to check out at Leicht Park. Plus, you’ll also find plenty of other family fun where kids can dig for buried treasure and create art projects. The Maritime Market will host a wide variety of vendors, and there will be live music at night.
Find out more about the Tall Ships Festival
8. Artstreet – Green Bay, August 23rd – 25th
Artists from your own community and all over the country will come to Green Bay to show you what they’ve created.
There will be around 200 different visual artists and artisans selling their work at Artstreet in the city’s downtown.
You’ll see original painting and pottery, unique fashion items and more. From quirky and whimsical to stunningly beautiful – you’ll find it all at Artstreet.
In addition to visual art, performance art will be celebrated with dancers and musical performances on three different stages, and there will be authors doing book signings too. You can also catch art demonstrations and bring the kids to a special area where they can create their own art.
Find out more about Artstreet
9. Dog Dayz Afternoon – Neenah, August 24th
For some people – machines are works of art. That’s what the classic car and motorcycle show Dog Dayz Afternoon is all about.
Check out the vintage bikes and pre-1969 hot rods, or bring your own to Memorial Park in Neenah and show it off! This is the third year for this charity event, which is supporting YouthGo in 2013.
Besides all the metal and chrome – there will be good music too. Including performances from Hollis Brown and John the Conqueror.
Read WhooNEW’s story on John the Conqueror
Find out more about Dog Dayz Afternoon
10. Kites Over Lake Michigan – Two Rivers, Aug. 31 & Sept. 1st
This Labor Day weekend tradition on the lakeshore is a cool way to say so long to the summer months.
Now in its eight year, Kites Over Lake Michigan has grown into one of the largest kite festivals in the Midwest.
You can see high-flying stunt kites, and gigantic show kites during the day. Then catch a fireworks show and the release of sky lanterns after the sun goes down. This year they are trying to break a record for he number of sky lanterns being released. You can even buy one of your own at the festival and be part of it all.
There’s also free kite-making for kids and kite flying classes for newbies.
Take note that a lot of the events for this festival are dependent on the wind, so there’s no strict schedule. Organizers say they operate on “kite time.”
Find out more about Kites Over Lake Michigan
11. Taste of Downtown Golf Outing – Appleton, September 6th
Like to golf? Like to eat? Try out this event at Reid Municipal Golf Course in Appleton. It might be one of your last chances to hit the links before the sand traps become snow traps.
Appleton Downtown Inc. calls the outing a fun networking event. You don’t have to be a great golfer to play. It’s a scramble, so golfers of all skill levels will enjoy themselves. There’s even mini-golf for folks who just want to putt around.
$80 gets you 18 holes with a cart. Plus, you get to eat lunch right on the course. Food and drink will be provided by Flannagan’s Wine Review, The Bar on the Avenue, Vince Lombardi’s Steakhouse and others.
Find out more about the Taste of Downtown Golf Outing
12. Octoberfest in Appleton – September 27th and 28th
Yes, we’ve now officially ventured into the fall season, but Appleton’s Octoberfest (without the “k”) is really the last bash of the summer festival season.
They even hold it just before we turn the calendar to October to make sure it’s not too chilly at night, although there’s a good chance it will be sweatshirt weather by then.
The fest kicks off with the License to Cruise car show where more than 400 classic and custom vehicles will be on display along College Avenue.
There will also be five different music stages with hot local acts and food from 100 different vendors representing area non-profits.
Top it off with arts and crafts up for sale and a Family Fun area where kids can enjoy carnival games and rides, face painting, balloons and more!
Find out more about Octoberfest in Appleton
What Else is Happening This Summer?
These are some of the bigger events going on in Northeast Wisconsin over the next couple of months. But we know there’s a lot of other stuff to do.
The farmer’s markets in Appleton and Green Bay will be going strong into autumn. And if you ever need ideas for places to visit, check out our article and infographic on 10 Things Worth the 30-minute Drive Between Green Bay and Appleton.
What events did we miss? Leave us a comment below and tell us about it!Peter Bleser, a lawmaker with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), had his parliamentary immunity lifted on Wednesday, as prosecutors launched an investigation against him for suspected breach of trust and party financing laws.
As part of the probe against Bleser, authorities searched the CDU's headquarters in Berlin and Mainz, the capital of Bleser's home state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It remained unclear, however, whether documents and computers had been seized.
Read more: How Germany's party donations influence elections
According to investigators, Bleser is alleged to have accepted some €56,000 ($66,000) in illegal donations from 2004 to 2015, first as the chairman of the CDU's district association in Cochem-Zell and then as the party's treasurer in Rhineland-Palatinate. The donations are believed to have come from former secret agent Werner Mauss, who in October was handed a two-year suspended sentence for tax evasion to the tune of €50 million.
Watch video People & Politics # Party Funding - The Debate Rages On # 12.02.2010
According to the public prosecutor's office, the donations appeared as if they had been transferred from a law firm although it should have been evident that the money had only been passed on to the firm by a third party.
Given the dubious source of the money, it should have never entered the CDU's coffers. According to the law governing political parties in Germany, donations amounting to more than €500 that are not ascertainable or are recognizably from an unnamed third party may not be accepted.
The CDU's general secretary for Rhineland-Palatinate, Patrick Schnieder, said the accusations of embezzlement against Bleser had come as a "surprise," but stressed that the party would cooperate with authorities "fully" and in the interest of "full clarification" of what had gone on.
Bleser is currently serving as parliamentary state secretary at the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection, under Minister Christian Schmidt.
dm/kms (dpa, AP, Reuters)Posted by Szymon Masiak
We are living in very interesting times. We are being molded by the environment and we are trying to pass the upbringing we received onto our children. I have a saying I like to repeat: "We create the history". I imagine that everyone, who works in this branch of business (special effects, video editing and motion graphics) agrees with that statement. What is more, we also create the future.
This article was written for everybody, who buys plugins and lives in a motion graphics; Apple Motion, Adobe Premiere, AE & Final Cut X world. My name is Szymon Masiak, I am the founder and owner of MotionVFX.
We believe in hard, honest work. Everything our company has achieved is the outcome of hard work of the whole team and we mutually struggle for collective success. Everyone of the 15 people in our staff knows that creating a good product depends on making it great and making it original, so we don't tolerate imitating or copying someone else's work. However it may be that not everyone works this way and by stealing from others (yes, I write with full awareness of the gravity of that word) they release products that appear to be an exact copy of our work.
On February 5th 2013 about 3:49 PM (GMT+1) we released a brand new product called mDusts. It's a collection of 100 2K (2048x1152) Apple ProRes 422 files. Despite the fact that the pace we work with is sometimes crazy I try to think of every possible aspect of our products to make every client happy. I think of myself as of a professional and we, MotionVFX, deliver only professional products.
We have worked on mDusts for the last several weeks using RED One camera (which we bought for these kinds of productions), our new video studio and an old vacuum cleaner (we used flour in some shots, but it didn't look as natural as an actual dust from the old vacuum cleaner). We have all the source R3D files, which in some cases were shot at even 4K.
Every company that is a part of the Final Cut Pro X environment keeps an eye on the competition and, from my experience, everyone tries to stay out of each other's way. Besides MotionVFX there are several brands that produce plugins for FCPX (e.g Noise Industries, CrumplePop, Ripple Training, Industrial Revolution or Red Giant), but, from time to time, a less known (often completely new) company arises and releases a product similar to one that already exists in your collection. Sometimes this product IS from your collection and is half the price of your plugin. You put so much money and time into this project and you start to wonder: how is this possible?
Pixel Film Studios was recently taking us aback by the pace, in which they created and released their products. There seemed to be no week without a release of a brand new plugin. I was often wondering: "How is that possible? They have to have at least 50 people in their team to keep it all together!" I was thinking this way until 48 hours after the release of our mDusts, they added a brand new product to their offer. It was called Produst.
One of my Twitter friends, Nate B. sent me a question: "Did Pixel Film Studios straight up resell your dust stock as their own "ProDust?" Ironic that they came out with it days after you guys did." I read the message twice, because I couldn't believe in what I was reading and then I got petrified. I nervously went to their website, watched the promo movie and my blood pressure measurements went through the ceiling.
The process of creating such elements is characterised by remembering certain unique elements or moments (e.g. one speck of dust blown by the vacuum cleaner moving in a specific way).
It is physically impossible for two people to shot two thousand or more organically flowing particles in the same way. There is no way for a camera-shot material to show two different places across the globe with 1) identical dust particles 2) corresponding air flow and conditions.
The first thing our team shouted after watching the competition's promo was: "These are our mDusts!". We started our investigation by purchasing the "competitive" product. In the meantime, one of our team members was browsing the site of our competition (a mirror link can be found here: Original Produsts Site - PLEASE NOTE that they have replaced their promo video last night however we've downloaded their original video which is available here: Original Produsts Promo) and noticed one of our mDust elements used in their promo movie. "I remember shooting this bit!" - he said.
He created a screen shot and overlaid our mDust_042.mov over it. He adjusted the scale, rotation and flipped it, and it turned out that the competition is using our files. Exactly, dust particle for dust particle. You can watch and judge for yourself here (please play it in HD and full screen):
After downloading the product we had purchased, we noticed that it contains 100 files and takes about 15 GB of disk space - just like mDusts. How did they release such a similar product just two days after mDusts' premiere? Read further below...
(screenshot from original Produst Delivery - click to see it full screen. Original files were replaced last night by Pixel Film Studio so don't bother downloading them)
This is how original files were packed:
(screenshot from Speed Download software showing when we have downloaded Produsts)
I decided to purchase and compare Produst with mDusts after I discovered an order in our mStore that was placed by Chrisitna Austin less than 10 hours after mDusts' release.
I don't know whether you know that Pixel Film Studios is run by David Austin and his wife Christina Austin. After looking into the log file I noticed that mDusts were purchased by Christina on February 6th 2013 around 02:17 (GMT+1). Coincidence? We think not, but we are not lawyers or the police. We are just software and application tools developers trying to make great, unique and highly useful products for our customers around the world.
Five people (including me) started comparing the files. Produst's files were created on February 6th 2013, so Mr. and Mrs. Austin had to work hard that day to only scale down the files to HD (our files are sold in 2K resolution). We knew our files well, but would we be able to proof that Pixel Film Studio sells our files without permission and for half of the original price? The answer came after a few minutes of comparison. Watch the video below and draw your own conclusions.
Hard to imagine, isn't it? On the example above you can see how our mDust_05.mov was flipped in X axis, scaled down and slowed down to about 97% of its original speed. The additional "blue dust" was added to draw our attention away from the fact that this is our file.
Here is the video with both files next to each other:
Now I was certain: the footage sold by Pixel Film Studio was created from our files!
I kept talking to myself that coincidences like that may happen, but still, I kept comparing the files.
Here is our mDust_019 and Produst 038 comparison:
It turned out that we were absolutely right! These were our files. Sure, they were modified, moved around, scaled and sometimes slowed down... BUT THEY WERE OUR FILES!!!
You can download both files here to compare them by yourself: mDust_019 and Produst 38 (right click to download the files).
As an addition, here is our original R3D file to compare: mDust_019_R3D_File.zip
Make sure to compare the dates! Our R3D files were created in November 2012!
Here's another example where our mDust_023 was rotated, scalled and mixed with another file to create Produst 68 file:
What should I make of it? Maybe you can tell me? Maybe you are a victim of fraud as well? Maybe I should quote the guy from the television and say: "Check it and start fighting for your rights"? If that's what making plugins in Pixel Film Studio looks like then maybe it is time to ask yourself a question: is your plugin bought, modified, repackaged and sold for half a price?
Additionally, I must say that a couple of companies similar to ours reacted to one of our Tweets during the weekend, suspecting similar behavior from the PFS's side. They asked me to remain anonymous, as they are conducting their own investigation.
Moreover, Pixel Film Studio has a couple of other products in their offer that on further examination appear very similar to ours.
For instance, On October 10th 2012 they purchased our mLooks product. A couple of weeks later they released 2 similar plugins - Provintage and Provogue. They've also purchased our mFlare and released something called Proflares. Conclusions? Draw them yourselves...
You will probably ask: what did I do to clarify the situation between me and Pixel Film Studio. I sent them an e-mail, which you can read below. Additionally, I wrote a post on their Facebook profile, stating that their product violates MotionVFX's copyrights. I got banned and my post was removed. The same thing happened to other people, who wanted an explanation: what are the differences between your product and mDusts?. All those questions began to dissapear. Moreover, all my comments from the Produsts promo on Vimeo were deleted.
Here's my correspondance with Pixel Film Studio:
(Click the image above to read it in full screen)
Am I really mistaken? Am I really incapable of recognizing my own work? Or maybe I'm just a silly Pole, who is not a native English speaker? I leave that for you to decide. Just remember that we have all the original R3D files, from which mDusts were created.
In the end you might wonder: how did I realize that it was them, who bought our product? Checking the mDusts orders we came across the Austin's address. All we had to do was compare the surnames and locations with Pixel Film Studio's data. Later on we bought their "product", compared the files and everything became clear. We were defrauded. Not only MotionVFX, but everybody, who bought anything from Pixel Film Studio. Maybe some of their other products were based on your files?
At the end of the day we all lose if we steal from each other.
We hope this is an honest mistake but all the evidence to date certainly seems to point in the other direction. If you feel you have been wronged in any way we would love to hear from you. We are pursuing all the legal avenues open to us, but frankly we would rather make more great products for you than spend our time building legal cases.
On behalf of everyone in our company and for the thousands of great customers, partners and friends we have around the world, I apologize for any confusion.
If you have purchased any products and you are as confused or professionally and personally hurt as we are, contact me and I will make it right for you,
Sincerely,
Szymon Masiak
motionVFX.com
PS.
I wrote the above article and made all the comparisons between Feb 8 - 11 after downloading Produsts from Pixel Film Studio. In the meantime, Pixel Film Studio replaced their Produst trying to make it looke more like their own production. It was probably a very intensive weekend for them to replace elements they have stolen from us, as they even released a 9 min long video showing that they didn't steal anything. I'm glad we had downloaded the files they have originally started to sell before they replaced them.
Also a few minutes ago I've got an email from a friend who received the following message from Mr. Austin: "We are trying to do damage control MotionVFX has been posting slander all over the internet about our company and we are trying to defend ourselves peacefully. Very easy to prove him wrong But he has been making fake composites of our stuff and his to ruin our brand. Not cool. We made a sample of each of our dust effects so people could compare. Im trying to handle this peaceful but he never responds to emails.".
My comment: this is pathetic.
Today's morning I have also received an email from a different company, which would like to stay anonymous, saying: "There are some pretty suspicious things - for instance, their film grain pattern appears to be taken from someone else and then tiled to make it "different". This seems so be their approach - take other people's assets and then mash them up to hide the origin.".
Judge it for yourself.
* UPDATE, Feb 14, 2014
Yesterday, I received the following |
a criminal investigation. They do not demand that Fannie, Freddie, Ambac, the FHFA, and Pimco file criminal referrals about Countrywide's frauds. They do not demand that Fannie, Freddie, and the Fed refuse to purchase or take as collateral any mortgage instrument from Bank of America. No one at the Harvard Club in New York moves to kick Bank of America's officers out of their club! The financial media treats Bank of America as if it were a legitimate bank rather than a "vector" spreading the mortgage fraud epidemic throughout much of the Western world.
For the sake of our (and the global) economy, our democracy, and our souls this willingness to allow elite control frauds to loot with impunity must end immediately. The control frauds must be taken down and their officers removed promptly. Receivership is the way to begin to reclaim our souls, our economy, and our democracy and Bank of America has the track record that makes it a good place to start. It is sufficiently large and powerful that its receivership will send the credible signal that America is restoring the rule of law and that even the most elite frauds will be held accountable.
Next we need to remove the rest of the "too big to fail" institutions -- we call them systemically dangerous institutions, or SDIs -- to reduce the global systemic risks that they pose. We are rolling the dice with disaster every day. The SDIs are inefficient, so shrinking them will reduce risk and increase efficiency. We need to follow three types of policies with respect to SDIs.
They cannot grow larger and compound the systemic risk they pose. They must create an enforceable plan to shrink to a level and functions such that they no longer pose a systemic risk within five years. Until they shrink to the point that they no longer pose systemic risks they must be regulated with far greater intensity than other banks. In particular, control fraud poses so severe a risk of triggering another global financial crisis that there must be no regulatory tolerance for control frauds at the SDIs. One of the best ways to reduce their risks is to mandate that high levels of executive compensation be paid only after sustained and superior performance (at least five years), and with "claw back" provisions if compensation was obtained by fraudulent reported income or seriously inadequate loss reserves.
Appointing a receiver for an SDI will be a major undertaking for the FDIC, but it is also well within its capabilities. Contrary to the scare mongering about "nationalizing" banks, receivers are used to returning failed banks to private ownership. Receiverships are managed by experienced bankers with records of competence and integrity rather than the dread "bureaucrats." We appointed roughly a thousand receivers during the S&L and banking crises of the 1980s and early 1990s under Presidents Reagan and Bush.
Here is how it works. A receiver is appointed on Friday. The bank opens for business as normal (from the bank's customers' perspective) on Monday. The checks clear, the ATMs work, and the branches all open. The receiver's managers direct the business operations, find the true facts about the bank's operations, senior managers, and financial condition, recognize the real losses, and make the appropriate referrals to the FBI and the SEC so that the frauds can be investigated and prosecuted.
The receiver is also a well-proven device for splitting up banks that are too large and incoherent by selling units of the business to different bidders who most value the operations.
Dealing with the "Dirty Dozen" Control Frauds
Simultaneously, we should put in place a system to replace the existing cover up of the condition of other banks with vigorous investigations and honest accounting. The priority for these investigations should be the "Dirty Dozen" -- the twelve largest banks. The Fed cannot conduct a credible investigation. It has taken so many fraudulent nonprime loans and securities as collateral that it is the leading proponent of covering up these losses.
The FDIC should lead the investigations (it has "backup" regulatory authority over all banks), but it should hire investigative experts to add expertise to its Dirty Dozen examination teams. The priorities of the teams will be identifying existing losses and requiring their immediate recognition (the regulatory authorities have the authority to "classify" assets that can trump the accounting scams that Congress extorted from FASB). The FDIC should prioritize the order of its examinations of the largest SDIs on the basis of known indicia of fraud. For example, Citi's senior credit manager for mortgages testified under oath that 80% of the loans it sold to Fannie and Freddie were made under false reps and warranties. The Senate investigation has documented endemic fraud at WaMu (acquired by Wells Fargo). The FDIC should sample nonprime loans and securities held by Fannie, Freddie, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the Fed to determine which nonprime mortgage players originated and sold the most fraudulent loans. This will allow the FDIC to prioritize which SDIs it examines first.
We should also create a strong incentive for financial entities to voluntarily disclose to the regulators, the SEC, and the FBI their frauds, their unrecognized losses, and the officers that led the frauds -- and to fire any officer (VP level and above) who committed (or knew about and did not report) financial fraud. Any SDI that originated or sold more than $2 billion in fraudulent nonprime loans or securities should be placed in receivership unless it has conducted a thorough investigation and made the voluntary disclosures discussed above prior to the commencement of the FDIC examination, and developed a plan that will promptly recompense fully all victims that suffered losses from mortgages that were fraudulently originated, sold, or serviced.
We make three propositions concerning what we believe to be institutions that are run as "control frauds". To date, this situation has been ignored in the policy debates about how to respond to the crisis. The propositions rest on a firm (but ignored) empirical and theoretical foundation developed and confirmed by white-collar criminologists, economists, and effective financial regulators. The key facts are that there was massive fraud by nonprime lenders and packagers of fraudulent nonprime loans at the direction of their controlling officers. By "massive" we mean that lenders made millions of fraudulent loans annually and that packagers turned most of these fraudulent loans into fraudulent securities. These fraudulent loans and securities made the senior officers (and corrupted professionals that blessed their frauds) rich, hyper-inflated the bubble, devastated millions of working class borrowers and middle class home owners, and contributed significantly to the Great Recession -- by far the worst economic collapse since the 1930s.
Our first proposition is this: The entities that made and securitized large numbers of fraudulent loans must be sanctioned before they produce the next, larger crisis. Second: The officers and professionals that directed, participated in, and profited from the frauds should be sanctioned before they cause the next crisis. Third: The lenders, officers, and professional that directed, participated in, and profited from the fraudulent loans and securities should be prevented from causing further damage to the victims of their frauds, e.g., through fraudulent foreclosures. Foreclosure fraud is an inevitable consequence of the underlying "epidemic" of mortgage fraud by nonprime lenders, not a new, unrelated epidemic of fraud by mortgage servicers with flawed processes. We propose a policy response designed to achieve these propositions.
S&L regulators, criminologists, and economists recognize that the same recipe that produced guaranteed, record (fictional) accounting income (and executive compensation) until 2007 produced another guarantee: massive (real) losses, particularly if the frauds hyper-inflated a bubble. CEOs who loot "their" banks do so by perverting the bank into a wealth destroying monster -- a control fraud. What could be worse than deliberately growing massively by making loans likely to default, converting large amounts of bank assets to the personal benefit of the senior officers looting the bank and to those the CEO suborns to assist his looting (appraisers, auditors, attorneys, economists, rating agencies, and politicians), while simultaneously providing minimal capital (extreme leverage) and only grossly inadequate loss reserves, and causing bubbles to hyper-inflate?
This nation's most elite bankers originated and packaged fraudulent nonprime loans that destroyed wealth -- and working class families' savings -- at a prodigious rate never seen before in the history of white-collar crime. They created the worst bubble in financial history, echo epidemics of fraud among elite professionals, loan brokers, and loan servicers, and would (if left to their own devices) have caused the Second Great Depression.
Nothing short of removing all senior officers who directed, committed, or acquiesced in fraud can be effective against control fraud. We repeat: Foreclosure fraud is the necessary outcome of the epidemic of mortgage fraud that began early this decade. The banks that are foreclosing on fraudulently originated mortgages frequently cannot produce legitimate documents and have committed "fraud in the inducement." Now, only fraud will let them take the homes. Many of the required documents do not exist, and those that do exist would provide proof of the fraud that was involved in loan origination, securitization, and marketing. This in turn would allow investors to force the banks to buy-back the fraudulent securities. In other words, to keep the investors at bay the foreclosing banks must manufacture fake documents. If the original documents do not exist the securities might be ruled no good. If the original docs do exist they will demonstrate that proper underwriting was not done -- so the securities might be no good. Foreclosure fraud is the only thing standing between the banks and Armageddon.Starting with the 2011 State of the Union, White House staffers produced an "enhanced" State of the Union address by publishing charts, graphics and tables to the White House website and social media channels. The 2013 enhanced State of the Union featured over 100 slides and 27 charts. This year the White House promises to deliver the most interactive State of the Union yet. In anticipation for tonight's speech, we've offered 17 charts of our own to better explain a core message in this year's State of the Union: economic inequality in America.
In the United States, income inequality is at its highest since 1928
By the end of 2013 America's poorest 23 million citizens failed to earn as much as the wealthiest 3,000 Americans
For example, it takes the average McDonald's employee seven months to earn what its CEO makes in an hour
It isn't just wages, differences in capital income have skyrocketed over the last decade
Top marginal tax rates remain below the historic average
Even though productivity is rising, wages remain flat since 1950 (assuming adjustments for inflation)
And people earning less than $50,000 annually are the most fearful of losing their job
Minority families are hit harder as an average white family is six times as wealthy as a black or Hispanic family
The earnings gap between men and women persists as women still roughly earn 77 cents on the dollar
The typical minimum wage employee works in leisure and hospitality or retail
And minimum wage workers are more likely to be women
Things are poised to get worse as the bottom 90% continues to go further into debt
Americans want the government to reduce income inequality, but they lack the confidence that the government can pull it off
For example, safety net programs can lift half of all households out of extreme poverty
Yet SNAP is projected to shrink in 2014
And abuse of government assistance is widely misreported as families receiving public assistance spend less than other families
Finally, it may be 100 years since World War One, but the President may want to note that public spending on infrastructure, research and education has shrunk to World War Two levelsThe Basics of Dash Evolution
Dash Evolution uses a tiered network design, which allows users to do various jobs for the network, along with decentralized API access and a decentralized file system. Evolution is a Decentralised platform which acts as Wallet/Marketplace. It will have the feel of a service such as Paypal except users will retain control of their funds. In addition it will not be subject to AML/KYC laws that a centralised service such as Paypal must adhere to.
For this article’s sake I am going to assume you already have a basic understanding of Evolution. So if the brief overview above was not enough for you, then please watch this interview of Evan Duffield, Dash’s Lead Developer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlPEniN-LEA
The Implications of the Merchant/App Store
Evolution’s Merchant/App Store is in my opinion a huge deal and a deal that I think most people haven’t quite realised yet. An easy way to understand what the Merchant/App Store means, is to compare it to things that already exist, so let’s get going.
The Merchant/App Store can easily be understood when looking at platforms such as Facebook. Facebook like Dash started with a basic product, Facebook’s product was all about the user. Facebook allowed users to connect with one another and create somewhat of a social profile.
For Facebook this was only the beginning, they soon expanded from what I would call a product into what I now would call a platform. This platform build out was initiated through the creation of Business pages and the opening up of their API. This allowed merchants and developers to tap into Facebook’s huge user base, which was enough of an incentive for developers/merchants to build out the platform for Facebook.
By bringing Merchants/Developers into the picture, Facebook provided more value to the consumer which in turn brought more users to Facebook and then in turn brought more Merchants/Developers, which in turn brought more users. Anyway, you get the picture, the snowball effect had started and Facebook had just left their product phase (sole value creators) and moved into a platform in which developers/merchants helped create value with them.
Dash on the other hand similarly started with a product, it allowed users to send, receive and store a digital asset. This digital asset provided better interest than a bank (masternodes), as well as allowing private and instantaneous transactions.
This was a great start but just like Facebook it was only the beginning. Dash is now looking to expand from this product like state into a platform. Dash is doing this through the Launch of the Evolution which will allow businesses to create their own profile, as well as the opening up of DAPI (decentralised api). This will allow merchants and developers to tap into Dash’s user base and begin the expansion from Dash as a product to Dash as a platform.
As we mentioned earlier when you bring Merchants and Developers into the picture, you end up providing the consumer with more value, which in turn brings more consumers, which in turn brings more merchants. Once again, you get the picture, this is the beginning of the snowball effect for Dash and the transition from Dash as a product (sole value creators), to Dash as a platform in which merchants/developers will help create value along side us.
For more details on the Merchant/App store, check out this interview of Evan Duffield explaining it in-depth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7T-a2xm5c0
How will Dash’s Platform get its Initial Traction
Building a platform is a step in the right direction but building a platform does not automatically mean that you get traction. To get that snowball rolling you need to make sure that incentives are aligned. So are there enough users for Dash to incentivise merchants/developers to use Dash as a platform or are there enough merchants/use cases to incentive users to hold Dash?
At the current levels, I would say that Dash barely has enough users to incentivise merchants/developers to use the platform. It might get the odd few but many won’t join in on the action unless there are more users or some other kind of an incentive. So how do you get more users and is there more than only one incentive for merchants/developers?
One way that Dash is aiming to get more users is by the creation of their Evolution wallet, which will have interest bearing accounts, direct access to the merchant/app store and a nice clean user interface that has usernames and passwords, instead of alphanumeric addresses and backups. This product alone should bring in more users and get the ball rolling but there is more than one way to skin a cat and Dash’s core team might have found it. Dash’s core team have got plans to explore a more direct approach to getting merchants and developers onto the platform through utilising Dash’s Self Funding Model.
Dash’s Self Funding Model allows for Dash to put paid agents/integration teams on the ground. By having agents/integration teams, Dash can seek and find willing early adopting merchants and then set them up with accepting Dash, free of charge and hassle free. This will get things moving in terms of merchant adoption, which in turn will begin to bring in more users.
It is critical to get the ball rolling, as once you get the ball rolling you will begin to see a positive feedback loop kick in. This positive feedback loop will take form in more users coming on board because the agents/integration team are doing a good job of recruiting merchants/adding use cases. When more users come onto the platform then the job of the agents/integration teams will become a lot easier, as they will be able to give the merchants/service providers the incentive of tapping into a large user base, free of charge and hassle free. Who would say no to that.
Conclusion
Every business today is faced with the fundamental question that underlies Platform Thinking: How do I enable others to create value? Dash has found this answer and is working towards executing it as we speak. The next year or so is going to be pretty exciting to watch Dash slowly move from a product to a platform!
P.S. If you would like to see a preview of Dash Evolution then check out this video from Amanda B Johnson, she gives us a great preview of what is to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J4m04Tkfb4Attorney General Loretta Lynch is facing a storm of criticism for her meeting--however impromptu--with former President Bill Clinton, and it remains to be seen whether the onslaught will have any impact on her role as the final arbiter in the FBI's investigation into Hillary Clinton, and whether she or her staff mishandled classified information through the use of a private email server while she was Secretary of State.
The watchdog Judicial Watch has called on the Justice Department inspector general to investigate the meeting between Lynch and Clinton because it "creates the appearance of a violation of law, ethical standards and good judgment," according to a release.
Why did Bill Clinton meet with Attorney General?
Judicial Watch also charged that the meeting "creates the broad public impression that "'the fix is in.'"
The watchdog has also sued the State Department for the release of records on Clinton top aide Huma Abedin's employment at State, the Clinton Foundation and a consultancy. It has been deposing some of Clinton's top staffers from her tenure as secretary of state, including Abedin this week.
GOP presumptive nominee Donald Trump called the meeting between Lynch and Bill Clinton "one of the big stories of this week, of this month, of this year." He said on the "Mike Gallagher Show" that it was "terrible and nobody can understand why nothing's happened. And you see a thing like this and even in terms of judgment, how bad of judgment is it for him or for her to do this?" Later, in an interview with Sean Hannity that will air on Fox News Channel Thursday, Trump said he was "flabbergasted" by the meeting.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in a statement that the incident "does nothing to instill confidence in the American people that her department can fully and fairly conduct this investigation," and he called on her to appoint a special counsel "in light of the apparent conflicts of interest."
And Democrats, too, are concerned about the way the meeting appears. Former top Obama adviser David Axelrod tweeted that it was "foolish to create such optics."
I take @LorettaLynch & @billclinton at their word that their convo in Phoenix didn't touch on probe. But foolish to create such optics. — David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) June 30, 2016
Sen. Chris Coons, D-Delaware, said in an interview on CNN that she should have told the former president, "'Look, I recognize you have a long record of leadership on fighting crime but this is not the time for us to have that conversation. After the election is over, I'd welcome your advice.'"
Lynch, for her part, has downplayed the meeting with Clinton.
Was Bill Clinton's meeting with Loretta Lynch inappropriate?
The meeting occurred around 10:30 p.m. PT. The Attorney General had been traveling all day -- to Baltimore for an address about youth violence and gangs, and then to Phoenix to meet with police and top officials to promote community policing.
Bill Clinton was in Phoenix to do some fundraising, an aide told CBS News. Clinton also attended a meeting with roughly ten elected officials and community leaders. According to John Gomez, a vice president of Cartwright School District who attended the meeting, the group met at the office of a local law firm for about 45 minutes and discussed Arizona's role in the general election.
Hillary Clinton's campaign did not respond to a request for more information about the meeting.
The conversation between the former president and attorney general was, according to Lynch, "primarily social."
"Actually, while I was landing at the airport, I did see President Clinton at the Phoenix airport as I was leaving, and he spoke to myself and my husband on the plane," Lynch told reporters Wednesday. "Our conversation was a great deal about his grandchildren. It was primarily social and about our travels. He mentioned the golf he played in Phoenix, and he mentioned travels he'd had in West Virginia."
An aide to Bill Clinton says that he spotted her on the tarmac, but CBS News has been told that she was in an unmarked plane. Lynch did, however, have an advance team on the ground that Clinton may have seen or spoken to.
CBS News' Hannah Fraser-Chanpong and Alexander Romano contributed to this report.Monopolies came to the United States with the colonial administration. The large-scale public works needed to make the New World hospitable to Old World immigrants required large companies to carry them out. These companies were granted exclusive contracts for these works by the colonial administrators. Even after the American Revolution, many of these colonial holdovers still functioned due to the contracts and land they held.
A monopoly is characterized by a lack of competition, which can mean higher prices and inferior products. However, the great economic power that monopolies hold has also had positive consequences for the U.S. Read on to take a look at some of the most notorious monopolies, their effects on the economy and the government's response to their rise to power.
Sherman's Hammer
in response to a large public outcry to check the price fixing abuses of these monopolies, the Sherman Antitrust Act was passed in 1890. This act banned trusts and monopolistic combinations that lessened or otherwise hampered interstate and international trade. The act acted like a hammer for the government, giving it the power to shatter big companies into smaller pieces to suit its own needs.
Despite this act's passage in 1890, the next 50 years saw the formation of many domestic monopolies. However, during this same period, the antitrust legislation was used to attack several monopolies with varying levels of success. The general trend with the use of the act seemed to have been to make a distinction between good monopolies and bad monopolies, as seen by the government.
Case Study 1: International Harvester and American Tobacco
One example is International Harvester, which produced cheap agricultural equipment for a largely agrarian nation and was thus considered untouchable, lest the voters rebel. American Tobacco, on the other hand, was suspected of charging more than a fair price for cigarettes—then touted as the cure for everything from asthma to menstrual cramps —and consequently became a victim of the legislator's wrath in 1907 and was broken up in 1911.
The Benefits of a Monopoly
Case Study 2: Standard Oil
The oil industry was prone to what can is called a natural monopoly because of the rarity of the products it produced. John D. Rockefeller, the Founder and Chairman of Standard Oil, and his partners took advantage of both the rarity of oil and the revenue produced from it to set up a monopoly without the help of the banks. The business practices and questionable tactics that Rockefeller used to create Standard Oil would make the Enron crowd blush, but the finished product was not near as damaging to the economy or the environment as the industry was before Rockefeller monopolized it. (For more on this sector, read Oil And Gas Industry Primer and Unearth Profits In Oil Exploration And Production.)
Back when there were a lot of oil companies competing to make the most of their find, companies would often pump waste products into rivers or straight out on the ground rather than going to the cost of researching proper disposal. They also cut costs by using shoddy pipelines that were prone to leakage. By the time Standard Oil had cornered 90% of oil production and distribution in the United States, it had learned how to make money off of even its industrial waste - Vaseline being but one of the new products it launched.
The benefits of having a monopoly like Standard Oil in the country was only realized after it had built a nationwide infrastructure that no longer depended on trains and their notoriously fluctuating costs, a leap that would help reduce costs and the overall price of petroleum products after the company was dismantled. The size of Standard Oil allowed it to undertake projects that disparate companies could never agree on and, in that sense, it was as beneficial as state-regulated utilities for developing the U.S. into an industrial nation.
Despite the eventual break up of Standard Oil in 1911, the government realized that a monopoly could build up a reliable infrastructure and deliver low-cost service to a broader base of consumers than competing firms - a lesson that influenced its decision to allow the AT&T monopoly to continue until 1982. The profits of Standard Oil and the generous dividends also encouraged investors, and thereby the market, to invest in monopolistic firms, providing them with the funds to grow larger.
The Limitations of a Monopoly
Case Study 3: U.S. Steel
Andrew Carnegie went a long way in creating a monopoly in the steel industry when J.P. Morgan bought his steel company and melded it into U.S. Steel. A monstrous corporation approaching the size of Standard Oil, U.S. Steel actually did very little with the resources in its grasp, which can point to the limitations of having only one owner with a single vision. The corporation survived its court battle with the Sherman Act and went on to lobby the government for protective tariffs to help it compete internationally, but it grew very little.
U.S. Steel controlled about 70% of steel production at the time, but competing firms were hungrier, more innovative and more efficient with their 30% of the market. Eventually, U.S. Steel stagnated in innovation as smaller companies ate more and more of its market share. (To read more about Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan, check out The 5 Most Feared Figures In Finance.)
Clayton Improves Sherman's Aim
Following the break up of sugar, tobacco, oil and meat-packing monopolies, big business didn't know where to turn because there were no clear guidelines about what constituted monopolistic business practices. The founders and management of so-called "bad monopolies" were also enraged by the hands-off approach taken with International Harvester. They justly argued that the Sherman Act didn't make any allowance for a specific business or product and that its execution should be universal rather than operate like a lightning bolt attacking select businesses at the government's behest.
In response, the Clayton Act was introduced in 1914. It set some specific examples of practices that would attract Sherman's hammer. Among these were interlocking directorships, tie-in sales, and certain mergers and acquisitions if they substantially lessened the competition in a market. This was followed by a succession of other acts demanding that businesses consult the government before any large mergers or acquisitions took place.
Although these innovations did give business a slightly clearer picture of what not to do, it did little to curb the randomness of antitrust action. Major League Baseball even found itself under investigation in the 1920s, but escaped by claiming to be a sport rather than a business and thus not classified as interstate commerce.
End of a Monopoly Era?
The last great American monopolies were created a century apart, and one lasted over a century. Others were very short-lived or still continue operating today.
Case Study 4: AT&T and Microsoft
AT&T Inc. (T), a government-supported-monopoly was a public utility — that would have to be considered a coercive monopoly. Like Standard Oil, the AT&T monopoly made the industry more efficient and wasn't guilty of fixing prices, but rather the potential to fix prices. The break up of AT&T by President Reagan in the 1980s gave birth to the "baby bells." Since that time, many of the baby bells have begun to merge and increase in size to provide better service to a wider area. Very likely, the break up of AT&T caused a sharp reduction in service quality for many customers and, in some cases, higher prices, but the settling period has elapsed, and the baby bells are growing to find a natural balance in the market without calling down Sherman's hammer again.
Microsoft, Corp. (MSFT), on the other hand, was never actually broken up even though it lost its case. The case against it was centered on whether Microsoft was abusing its position as essentially a non-coercive monopoly. Microsoft has been challenged by many companies over time, including by Google, over its operating systems' continuing hostility to competitors' software.
Just as U.S. Steel couldn't dominate the market indefinitely because of innovative domestic and international competition, the same is true for Microsoft. A non-coercive monopoly only exists as long as brand loyalty and consumer apathy keep people from searching for a better alternative. Even now, the Microsoft monopoly is looking chipped at the edges as rival operating systems are gaining ground and rival software, particularly open source software, is threatening the bundle business model upon which Microsoft was built. Because of this, the antitrust case seems premature and/or redundant.
The Bottom LineThat's a staggering amount of money—even in the prohibitively expensive American political climate. As supporters have pointed out, the amount raised in Santa Barbara is more than three times as much as it took on average to win a seat in the House last election cycle, according to Open Secrets. Indeed, industry spending on the ballot question far exceeds the amount raised in each of the state's 53 congressional races this fall.
No polling data exists, but observers say the election's outcome is still up in the air. They point to the spending habits of energy companies and to previous state-level polls—in May, for instance, a poll commissioned by green groups found that more than two-thirds of Californians back a statewide moratorium.
Meanwhile, about 250 miles north in rural San Benito County (pop. 57,600), industry-backed forces are outspending local anti-fracking activists by a 15-1 margin. And yet, the race is going down to the wire. Environmentalists say they don't have the money to commission polls, but Kristina Chavez Wyatt, the president of a third-party firm Farmhouse Communications that has helped conduct polling for the energy industry, told me the race is "close." (She would not share specific numbers but stressed that many voters were misinformed about the measure.)
In Denton, Texas—a college town of 123,000 people in the heart of the Barnett Shale, where the nation's fracking boom took off—the energy industry has raised about $231,000, according to the latest data, about five times more than supporters of "Pass The Ban." The measure's opponents haven't publicly disclosed their polling data, but the chairwoman of the pro-drilling Denton County Republican Party told the New York Times earlier this month, "If the election were held today, we would lose."
That race has gotten nasty. Two activists from the group Frack Free Denton received death threats. A pro-drilling website run by two local men charges local anti-fracking activists of having ties to the Kremlin. (Some of the activists have appeared on RT, the Russian state-funded news channel.) "I don't even know anyone from Russia and I'm a seventh-generation Texan," says Sharon Wilson, one of the accused. "If I had to predict before they buried us in money, I would say we would have easily won. Now I think it will closer but I still think we'll win."Over the long run, the Rangers could well miss Oscar Lindberg, the 25-year-old Swede who was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in Wednesday’s expansion draft extravaganza following a breakout playoff performance.
But in the short run, and within context of the fourth-line center’s place on the depth chart and his usage over his first two NHL seasons by coach Alain Vigneault, the Rangers escaped relatively unscathed as concerns 2017-18.
In sacrificing Lindberg to the NHL’s 31st franchise, the Blueshirts were able to hold onto backup goaltender Antti Raanta, 27-goal-scoring speedster Michael Grabner and valuable checking wing Jesper Fast, all of whom were also exposed to the draft and have more immediate value to the club.
While up to 10 teams are believed to have made trades with the Golden Knights in order to direct the Golden Knights’ selections, The Post has confirmed Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton did not enter into any such deal with his counterpart in the desert, George McPhee.
Lindberg scored three goals in the playoffs, all coming in the second round against Ottawa following an impressive two-way showing against Montreal in the opening round of the tournament. But given the Blueshirts’ depth chart in the middle that, at least for now, features Derek Stepan, Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes, Lindberg was probably ticketed for another season on the fourth line.
And even if the Blueshirts do trade Stepan once the NHL roster freeze is lifted Thursday morning, it is likely the team would have either sought to acquire a top-six center on the free-agent market or move J.T. Miller back to his original position on the middle rather than elevate Lindberg. Now, of course, either of the above options would become mandatory if Stepan is moved.
Lindberg missed the early portion of last season following hip surgery during the preceding summer and then understandably struggled to catch up. He recorded 20 points (8-12) in 65 games after posting 28 points (13-15) in 65 games the previous season as a rookie during which he skated primarily at left wing. A restricted free agent, Lindberg is expected to compete for a top-line center spot for Vegas.
“Oscar loves New York and he loves winning, but he also loves ice time,” Claude Lemieux, Lindberg’s agent, told The Post. “He’s going to have a great opportunity to play major minutes and a major role in Vegas.”
The fleet Boo Nieves, who spent his rookie pro season with the AHL Wolf Pack last season, is probably the leading candidate from within to assume the center slot on the Rangers’ fourth line. Former Ranger Brian Boyle, who would provide a critical upgrade at the dots and on the penalty kill, is an impending free agent, though the chance of a reunion is probably remote.
Raanta, who went 16-6-2 in 26 starts with four shutouts and overall.922 save percentage and 2.26 GAA, has one year remaining on his contract. Thus, it is possible the Blueshirts could seek to recoup assets by trading the 28-year-old Finn rather than allowing him to scoot for free next year. Raanta, who was the subject of several inquiries prior to the protected lists being filed last Friday, carries a $1 million cap charge.
If that is the case, the Rangers would be in the market for a backup to Henrik Lundqvist who could be entrusted with up to 25 starts. Ondrej Pavelec and Anders Nilsson are impending free agents who could fit into the backup cap slot.
Rangers 23-year-old defenseman Brady Skjei was named to the NHL All-rookie team, it was announced Wednesday night.
After playing seven games and five playoff games in 2015-16, the Rangers’ first-round pick (28th overall) from 2012 kept his rookie status and ranked second among rookie blueliners this past season with 34 assists, 39 points and a plus-11 rating in 80 appearances.
His 39 points were the most by a Rangers rookie defenseman since Brian Leetch in 1988-89.
— Brett CyrgalisThe ISIS Fighters we dropped the bomb on? According to the March for “Science,” it’s just another example of us repressing a marginalized people. Yes, the same March for “Science” that has nothing to do with science in the first place (see The March For Science Has a Problem with Bill Nye… Because He’s a White Male and ‘March for Science’ Forced to Apologize for Calling Women… ‘Female’?!)…
The organization behind the “March for Science” tweeted the Trump administration’s bombing Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan is “an example of how science is weaponized against marginalized people.” The march’s Twitter account sent out the tweet lamenting the bombing in reply to a post by activist Zellie Imani with the Black Liberation Collective — a group of students dedicated to “globe to bringing about freedom and liberation for all Black people.” The “March for Science” is being organized by activist scientists and environmentalists opposed to the Trump administration’s policies and proposed cuts to federal agencies. The march is planned for D.C. on Earth Day April 22.
The tweets have since been deleted, but you know what they say about the internets…
Appears @ScienceMarchDC has deleted some Tweets. Maybe just delete the entire account to be safe. pic.twitter.com/LRmaF8b9ri — Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) April 13, 2017
“The GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast is 1 example of how science is weaponized against marginalized people.”
That’s my favorite of the tweets. Because MFS (March for Science), is suggesting there’s more than one way science marginalizes people. An interesting take, especially if all you care about is… science.
It’s a tantamount admission of what they actually care about: how “science” oppresses or “marginalizes” people. Like how DNA determines both our humanity and our sex. As in unborn people are people, and they’re either male or female since conception. No men born in women’s bodies or women born in men’s bodies. That’s another example of science “marginalizing” people.
But back to ISIS. I say once a group has marginalized itself into killing infidels, we have every right to use science to our benefit. In this case, bombing them back to the stone-age from whence they’re still living. Think of MOAB as just opening a door back in |
is used for eating and cooking, and this is contaminated by with fluoride," says Dr. Chatpat Kongpun, who works at the Ministry of Public Health Thailand. "Some of the younger generation still suffer health problems, but their problems are not as severe as those of the older people," he says.
In Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, the lack of drinking water is a serious problem because it usually only rains during the monsoon season between May and October. That’s why people in Ban Mae Toen drink from the lake.
At the time of a report by the Australian University of Tasmania in 2007, the village had 1,092 inhabitants, 11.2 percent of whom had lumps in their throats like Da. Much of the rest of the population was affected by other conditions. One in three men and two out of three women over 45 years old had some degree of limb deformity. Twelve were unable to walk, 21 had walking difficulties, and 65 percent had stained teeth.
The report pointed to iodine deficiency as the cause of the health problems, saying that ingesting water contaminated with fluoride hinders the absorption of iodine, which is necessary for the human body to function properly—especially the brain and the thyroid gland. When the thyroid does not have enough iodine to perform, it has to work harder, and this causes it to swell, making a goiter.
Iodine is especially vital for the development of the brain and nervous system of babies during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. “The fetuses of pregnant women who have drunk contaminated water may experience brain damage, deaf-mutism, and mental disability," says Pornithida Padthong, who was head of communications at UNICEF Thailand until 2013 and worked in the village of Ban Mae Toen.
To help solve the problems caused by fluoride in the village, the Rotary Club of D'Entracasteaux of Tasmania, in Australia, which also funded the report, introduced a water tank supply in 2003 and provided the villagers with receptacles to store the rainwater.
“The main water tank of Ban Mae Toen comes from a borehole three kilometers [two miles] above the village, and has been piped to houses since 2003”, says Neil McGlashan, who worked on the report. The foundation also gave sacks of iodized salt to the villagers.
Officially, nobody drinks from the lake anymore, but according to a report by the organization from 2007, the supply may not be enough to see people through the dry season. “About 50 percent of pregnant women [still] suffered from iodine deficiency when I worked in the village last year," explains Pornithida Padthong, suggesting that people in Ban Mae Toen may still be drinking poison to this day.
Follow Ana Salvá on Twitter.Kim Kardashian gets trouble on Twitter when she posts prayerful comments on the Middle East conflict.
Kim Kardashian's tweet photo at Marine Corps Ball with Sgt. Martin Gardner (Photo11: Kim Kardashian) Story Highlights Kim Kardashian gets Twitter trouble
Prayerful posts on Mid East conflict sparks backlash
Deletes tweets, apologizes
Kim Kardashian is learning a Twitter lesson for celebrities: There's no plus side to even seeming to take sides in the Middle East conflict.
First she tweeted Friday to her 16.6 million followers that she was "praying for everyone in Israel" now that Israelis and Palestinians are shooting at each other again with rockets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, air strikes on Gaza, and a possible new ground war in the offing.
When her first tweet produced a backlash of angry, vicious tweets, including death threats, she added that she was "praying for everyone in Palestine and across the world!" More angry tweets and death threats followed.
So she deleted both, according to Twitchy.com, which archives deleted tweets, and directed her followers to a "message for you guys" on her blog in which she "owned up" and apologized in a thoughtful, even graceful, statement.
"I decided to take down the tweets because I realized that some people were offended and hurt by what I said, and for that I apologize," she wrote. "I should have pointed out my intentions behind these tweets when I posted them. The fact is that regardless of religion and political beliefs, there are countless innocent people involved who didn't choose this, and I pray for all of them and also for a resolution. I also pray for all the other people around the world who are caught in similar crossfires."
She wasn't entirely without friends on Twitter; lots of tweets supported her. Russell Simmons tweeted "there is no need to apologize. ur intention to promote love to ur 16m followers is much appreciated."
The old saying about how it's never good to discuss sex, religion or politics in polite company now makes even more sense for celebs on Twitter, the Hyde Park Speakers' Corner of the Internet, a rowdy free-for-all where users attack each other's opinions with abandon.
Clueless actress Stacey Dash, for instance, was stunned by the furious backlash when she tweeted support for Republican Mitt Romney before last week's presidential election.
After deleting her tweets, Kardashian went back to her usual Twitter topics — her fashion and social life. She tweeted a picture of herself and her escort, Sgt. Martin Gardner, at the Marine Corps Ball in Greenville, N.C., she attended Thursday night.
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/ULph0AA federal judge has given the go-ahead to a lawsuit filed by the parents of an autistic teenager who was shot multiple times with a Taser after he stopped to tie his shoe on the lawn of a Missouri Highway Patrol trooper.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan this week denied dismissal motions filed by the five law enforcement officials named as defendants in the case by the parents of Christopher Kramer.
His parents sued both the trooper who called 911 after Kramer stopped on his lawn and the Maryville, Missouri, police officers who, responding to the call, chased Kramer down, shot him with their Tasers and beat him with a baton.
The lawsuit, which was filed in January, seeks actual and punitive damages for violations of Kramer’s constitutional rights and for wrongful detention.
Kansas City lawyer Arthur Benson, who represents the parents, declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. Attorneys for the defendants could not be reached for comment.
According to the lawsuit:
Kramer, then an 18-year-old student and member of his high school’s track team, was running home from school one evening when he stopped on the edge of trooper Jim David Farmer’s yard to tie his shoelace.
Farmer approached him and asked, “Can I help you with something?”
Kramer, who had been detained a few days earlier by police at Northwest Missouri State University and was frightened by the experience, ran away. Farmer yelled at him to stop, chased him and then called the Maryville Police Department and asked for their help. He told them that Kramer had been heading toward his front door.
Responding, two Maryville officers caught up with Kramer as he was running and unsuccessfully tried to block him with their patrol cars. They then gave chase on foot. Meanwhile, a third officer arrived and tackled Kramer.
Two of the officers ordered him to quit resisting as Kramer wailed and screamed. One of them then shot Kramer with his Taser three times, twice in his right shoulder and once in his buttocks.
Kramer managed to get to his feet and, while attempting to flee, was shot with the Taser again. Then, when he continued to struggle and wail, he was shot a fifth time.
As Kramer continued to cry, one of the officers began striking him in the legs with an expandable baton. Kramer, uncomprehending, cried, “I don’t want,” “want to go, please,” “got to go home, please,” and “go go, please.”
One of the officers struck him three times on the left side of the face with his fist. The police, now joined by a fourth officer who stunned Kramer twice more with his Taser, finally managed to subdue and handcuff him.
In seeking to have the case dismissed against him, Farmer claimed he was not responsible for what happened after he called police dispatch. Gaitan rejected that argument.
“Trooper Farmer, by identifying himself to dispatch, would have known that the dispatcher and police officers would treat his report with greater credence than that of a private citizen,” Gaitan wrote. “If Trooper Farmer hadn’t called 911, moreover, it is certain that none of the events that followed would have occurred.”
Gaitan also declined to dismiss the case against the other defendants in their individual, as opposed to official, capacities.
The defendants had argued that their stop of Kramer was consensual and only escalated after Kramer attempted to flee. They also argued that they had a reasonable suspicion that Kramer had trespassed on a fellow law enforcement officer’s property.
Gaitan rejected both contentions. Even if what Farmer reported to dispatch was true, he wrote, it “did not rise to the level of providing reasonable articulable suspicion of any criminal activity.”
Kramer graduated from high school last year and now works an hour a day at the Hy-Vee supermarket in Maryville.
Dan Margolies is KCUR’s health editor. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.Irene Yee is the first to tell you that she doesn’t fit the climber stereotype. She wears technicolor clothing, dyes her hair bright red, and is frank about the fact that she doesn’t climb hard. Based in Las Vegas, outside the Red Rocks climbing mecca, she’s a self-professed weekend warrior with a day job as a carpenter with Cirque de Soleil. But over 33,000 followers know her as @ladylockoff on Instagram, where she has gained recognition for her authentic shots that mainly showcase amateur women climbers.
Yee’s shots portray what climbing looks like for average people, from prepping gear and starting a climb to finishing and celebrating back on the ground. She captures expressions of terror and frustration. Rather than pros, her subjects are other weekend warriors she’s out climbing with, representing a diversity of ages and skill levels. She calls her unique approach “climbing for the rest of us,” and she believes it’s key to increasing women’s participation in the sport. “We get these snapshots of climbers in media, and these glancing blows accumulate until you think: This is a climber. This is what women do. This is what an athlete does,” Yee says. “And because that image doesn’t fit into your life, you think you can’t do it.”
The mainstream images of “real climbers” that Yee is talking about tend to fall into three categories. There’s the close-up action shot of the athlete on lead, taken from overhead to give a sense of dizzying height. There’s the wide shot with a vast sky, big wall, and tiny body to convey an epic feat. And, of course, there’s the nomadic-existence shot that makes you wonder how #vanlife climbers can be so photogenic without a working shower.
For Yee, the image that changed everything was a photo of pro climber Sasha DiGulian with painted nails. “I thought: You can be girly and still rock climb? I realized that just because I didn’t fit into the mainstream perception of what climbing is, that didn’t mean I couldn’t be a climber.”
Yee wants her photos to help break down the walls that keep women from trying something because they worry that they won’t be good enough, won’t fit in, won’t [insert insecurity here]. “One image can change all that and make you think, Oh, maybe I can do that,” Yee says. “Social media is an incredibly powerful platform for telling us that this thing we thought was true is not true at all—it’s that sense of possibility and empowerment I hope to inspire in women.”
Yee Breaks Down Her Approach in Five Shots
“Climbing teaches you who you are, including acceptance of your situation. Sometimes we’re sitting on ropes thinking about the next move or just giving ourselves a break. It’s my job to show those things, because that’s what happens. We just don’t often see it in social media or magazines.”
Some of Yee’s favorite shots capture the strength of a climber the moment she overcomes her fears on the wall. “There’s CrossFit muscle, yoga muscle, and then there’s rock-climbing muscle, the kind you don’t see until you see her struggle. Climbing is about pushing your limits, whether you’re on a 5.7 or a 5.13.”
Where most professional photographers might scout locations, wait for light, and set up a shot, Yee produces her images based on the circumstances. “I just show up and think, OK, this is what I have today. If the butt shot is what I’ve got, I’m going to work with it and figure out how to make it the coolest butt shot ever. Most climbers look at their feet while they’re climbing, so the butt shot is actually a great opportunity to get a photo of their face. That’s part of being creative: When you’re given something that’s less than ideal, what good can you make out of it?”
Yee views herself as an active participant in the climbing trip, which is a large part of what makes her photography special. “A lot of photographers I’ve met are people who document. I interfere, because I’m part of the group. I’m up on that line screaming, ‘You got this!’ I love seeing women try new things, and I love the psych level and determination that comes from being part of a group of women who are stoked to be out together.”
In Yee’s opinion, conventional climbing photography fails to capture joy. “Most climbers aren’t pro climbers. They’re just taking the time to do what they love, and they’re making it work in their everyday lives—like me. When you have a spark for something, and you do it because you love it, that excitement comes through so clearly, and people want to be part of it.”Android (root): If you’re one of the lucky few to receive Android Marshmallow, and you have root, you can try out a hidden, experimental multi-window layout buried in Android.
This multi-window layout is extremely experimental, so this is your warning. Don’t do this unless you know what you’re doing. Google hasn’t officially announced this, it’s not supported, and apps will likely break. However, if you want to play around with it, here’s how to turn it on:
Use a root-enabled file browser to mount the “system” folder on your phone’s storage. Open the “system” folder. Select “build.prop” and open it with a root-enabled text editor (which most root file explorers should have built in). On a new line at the bottom of the file, add the following line: persist.sys.debug.multi_window=true Save the build.prop file and reboot your phone.
Now, you should have multi-window enabled. To activate it, open a couple of apps, and then tap the multitasking button. You’ll see a new icon next to the X in the title bar of the apps in the multitasking rolodex wheel. Simply tap this icon and choose where you’d like that app to go. The previous app in your list will fill in the other side.
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Right now, this feature isn’t very robust, which makes sense. It’s not supposed to be activated by anyone outside Google. However, it’s there if you’d like to fiddle around with it.
How to Unlock the Hidden Multi-Window Mode in Android 6.0 Marshmallow | WonderHowToSporting News has been naming an MLB Player of the Year since 1936. This year's recipient, for the second season in a row, is third baseman Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers.
The 2013 baseball season was, in many ways, a celebration of Mariano Rivera, who was Sporting News' American League Comeback Player of the Year as he returned for one more campaign as the New York Yankees' closer after a devastating knee injury in 2012. Rivera was feted at the All-Star Game, where he was named MVP, and received parting gifts from rival teams as he made his final tour around the majors.
Rivera closed out his career with one last year of dominance as a closer, with 44 saves, a 2.11 ERA, and a 54-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He was still Mariano Rivera. And on August 11, Miguel Cabrera was Miguel Cabrera.
On a 2-2 count in the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium, after having fouled two pitches off his leg and looking like he might not be able to even stay in the game, Cabrera blasted a Rivera pitch over the center field wall in Yankee Stadium. On the mound, Rivera could be seen saying, simply "Wow."
Cabrera wowed everyone in 2013, and that is why players from around the major leagues made the Detroit Tigers' third baseman Sporting News' Major League Player of the Year for the second straight season. The vote was not close, with Cabrera named on 141 ballots to 35 for Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis. Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout got nine votes, with eight apiece going to Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, three to Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and one each for five other players.
— See the full list of SN MLB Players of the Year, 1936 to 2013
A variety of injuries, including the technicolor leg bruises he suffered in his at-bat against Rivera, helped "limit" Cabrera to 44 home runs and 137 RBI, meaning that he finished behind Davis in both categories and could not win a second straight Triple Crown.
"I don't focus on the leg," Cabrera said. "I just focus on what I can do at the right time and try to do my job."
Cabrera did that, for sure. The 30-year-old from Venezuela led the majors in batting average at.348, on-base percentage at.442, slugging percentage at.636, OPS at 1.078, and offensive winning percentage at.832 -- that one means that a lineup of nine Cabreras, with average pitching, could expect to go 135-27. The Tigers don't have nine Cabreras, because nobody does, so they went 93-69, winning the American League Central before advancing to the ALCS.
SN AWARDS: AL Rookie | NL Rookie | Managers | Comeback players
"He's tough as nails," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "I have so much respect for him. Everybody is conscientious these days about people earning their money. You talk about somebody who is earning their money, this guy feels like he owes it to the Detroit Tigers and our fans to be out there, he owes it to the team.... Obviously I think he's the best player in the league."
So do Cabrera's peers. It is exceptionally rare for a player to be named SN's Player of the Year in back-to-back years. Cabrera is the fourth man to earn that distinction, joining Ted Williams (1941-42), Joe Morgan (1975-76), and Albert Pujols (2008-09).
"I don’t look at it as a club," said Cal Ripken, the SN Player of the Year in 1983 and 1991. "I look back at it as two great years for me personally, and I was judged on those years. Cabrera, every year looks like an MVP year when you look at his numbers. The significance of him in that lineup and the value he has in that lineup, I mean, he’s an MVP candidate from spring training. It’s a foregone conclusion."
And that won't change in 2014, when Cabrera tries to become the first player since the award's inception in 1936 to go for a three-peat.
SN 2013 ALL-STAR TEAMS: American League | National League
VOTING RESULTS
Player of the year (voting by AL and NL players)
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers-141
Chris Davis, Baltimore Orioles-35
Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels-9
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers-8
Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates-8
Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks-3
Five players-1
PREVIOUS TIGER WINNERS
1945-Hal Newhouser, LHP
1968-Denny McLain, RHP
2011-Justin Verlander, RHP
2012-Miguel Cabrera, 3BIt stars neither plumbers, apes, nor princesses, yet Metroid has proven to be one of Nintendo’s most beloved, enduring and influential franchises.
The very first Metroid, launched more than three decades ago for the Nintendo Entertainment System, helped popularize an entire genre of game now lovingly referred to as Metroidvania — a term that mashes up the game monikers Metroid and Castlevania. Metroidvania games see players work to earn abilities that unlock new parts of a large, interconnected map. It’s a formula that’s stood the test of time, proving satisfying and habit-forming for multiple generations of players.
“It may sound a bit grandiose,” said Yoshio Sakamoto, one of the key team members on the original game and currently the executive officer with Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning and Development (EPD) group, in an exclusive interview with Post Arcade.
“But I think the essence of the game is like a microcosm of our daily lives. You have a goal you’re working towards, you make progress, you discover and experience a variety of new things, you overcome hardships along the way, and that’s really similar to the joys and emotional moments we all experience.”
More than helping to create its own category of game, Metroid gave players one of the medium’s first paradigms for a strong, non-sexualized female protagonist in the form of space-based bounty hunter Samus Aran.
“[Making her a woman rather than a man] was an idea presented by a staffer during the final stages of development on the original game,” said Sakamoto, explaining Samus’ origin. “We thought learning the main character is a woman would be a sort of surprise present for the players who made it to the end of the game. It was a nice idea and the team unanimously supported it.”
Game makers ranging from Axiom Verge‘s Tom Happ to Cave Story‘s Daisuke Amaya have cited Metroid and its heroine as prime inspirations, and all one need do is play their games, infused with intricately designed maps and novel power-ups, to see just how much Metroid influenced their work.
You have a goal, you make progress, you discover and experience a variety of new things, you overcome hardships along the way. That is really similar to the joys and emotional moments we all experience.
But modern players don’t need to look to other games to get a Metroid fix. Nintendo’s franchise is still alive and strong. The upcoming Metroid Prime 4 – the latest in a series of action adventure games that pull the series’ old side-scrolling formula into the third dimension – will likely arrive on Nintendo Switch next year. And long-time fans received a treat in Metroid: Samus Returns, just released for Nintendo 3DS. It’s a lovingly crafted remake of the second game in the franchise, complete with updated graphics and new powers to bring the experience in line with the expectations of modern audiences.
Sakamoto served as producer on this reimagined version of a decades-old classic. “I wasn’t involved with Metroid ll,” he said, “but I’d been thinking for some time I would like to do a remake and put my own spin on it. I also thought it was very important to present to Metroid fans and game fans in general an opportunity to experience in this new version something that was very influential in subsequent stories, which is the first meeting between Samus and the baby Metroid.”
Sakamoto had plenty of ideas about how to go about transitioning a quarter-century-old game to modern hardware, which would permit not just more sophisticated visual flourishes – including livelier and more detailed backgrounds – but also meaningful improvements to how the game is played, such as using the 3DS’ lower screen to display the game map, which he says makes the action more accessible to a broader group of players.
“There is a tremendous amount of additions, changes, and improvements,” said Sakamoto. “I think the most distinct of these are the melee counter and the Aeion abilities. We also included a lot of things that weren’t in the original but were part of subsequent titles in the series.”
To bring his take on the second Metroid to life, Sakamoto turned to MercurySteam for assistance. The Spanish studio had earned a reputation as a distinguished Metroidvania designer thanks to its work on recent games in the Castlevania series, including Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate for 3DS, making it a good candidate to help modernize the aging Metroid II.
“I don’t know exactly how Nintendo knew about our interest in the Metroid franchise,” said José Luis Marquez, the game’s director, in an interview. “The truth is that we never hid our passion for Metroid as we publicly expressed it more than once. Fortunately for us this interest was heard and reached the people who could make this collaboration possible. Then one day we received a call from [Nintendo].”
Marquez says he and his team felt “a great sense of responsibility” working with one of the most iconic video game characters of all time. He understood that he owed established fans – of which he is one – a game that stayed true to the series’ classic 2D roots while pushing the formula further, mixing new abilities with old ones while transforming the experience so that it could be enjoyed by newcomers.
Understanding the only way an established game property will continue to thrive is to make it appealing to younger generations, Sakamoto agreed that the remake should resonate with new players. And he’s been happy with the feedback he’s seen so far.
“I think the reactions have varied depending on [their age],” he explained. “I think a lot of [younger players] thought ‘this is really hard!’ But I also think many who experienced the fun of an ‘old style’ game for the first time found it really appealing.”
As for the future of his storied franchise, Sakamoto is predictably coy – and willing to admit that much depends on the game’s vocal community.
“For the time being I’d like to leave [Metroid’s future] up to the imagination of all the fans who’ve supported Samus,” he said. “I think it’s likely their imagination and my own vision are in synch, and that’s what I’m hoping for.”Aleix Vidal's Barcelona future is in the balance and will be reviewed in January. Even though the player has a deal until 2020, the club could decide to move him on in the winter, although they'd prefer that not to have to happen. Robert Fernandez met Vidal's agent in Andorra on Monday to reflect on what's been a difficult year of adaption.
Vidal joined the club in June 2015 during the best moment of his career. He'd won the Europa League with Sevilla, beating Dnipro in the final, Vicente del Bosque had called him up for Spain duty and he would debut against Costa Rica. It was all good news. However, his time at Barcelona has since been complicated.
FIFA's transfer ban meant he could only train with his new team-mates until January. He made his debut in the Copa del Rey against Espanyol and rotated in and out of the side until March 12, which proved his last game in 2015-16 season. It was against Getafe at Camp Nou in La Liga.
FRUITLESS CONVERSATION
Luis Enrique didn't give him any more minutes, but in pre-season he re-opened the door. Aleix Vidal explained that he had a chat with his manager in which "he gave me his opinion and I also told him what I thought." The right-back came out of the meeting in a positive frame of mind. "The best thing is that we solved out differences," he said, before enjoying minutes in the summer.
He started the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup and the game against Alaves, when Luis Enrique was not impressed with his performance. Since then, he's been left out of the squad for the next six matches. His negative spiral has continued and an exit may prove the only option if things don't change.An Independent Study of Mike Vick and Penalties
September 29, 2011 by Ray Mitchell's Jheri Curl
As Kevin Negandhi might say, a lot has been made about Michael Vick getting the opposite of special treatment when it comes to getting roughed up because he happens to be able to run forward more often than other quarterbacks. So I wanted to see if I could come up with a high level way of seeing if this is true. After watching Vick get shellacked by the Falcons a few weeks ago, I started making some graphs, because graphs are fun. Thanks to Brian Burke at Advanced NFL Stats, I looked at the play by play data from 2010 to compile some penalty data.
Now, for a few disclosures:
This is obviously a small sample size, 1 year, and some quarterbacks only drew one or two penalties.
For QB total hits I added Sacks + Runs + QB hits, because these are when quarterbacks can be hit, and I don’t know any great websites for QB slides data, so shut up.
QB hits represent a % of the total QB hits allowed by their offensive lines, based on the % of a team’s pass attempts the QB accounted for.
All the quarterbacks in the chart drew either a personal foul (which I then re-classified as Unneccessary Roughness or Roughing the Passer), an Unnecessary Roughness call, or Roughing the Passer. However, I removed Bruce Gradkowski, Tony Pike, Brian Hoyer, and Matt Stafford due to lack of snaps.
The data isn’t perfect. I had to make a judgement call on an unnecessary roughness penalty. When the penalty was called on a defensive lineman or linebacker that was not part of the tackle, I assumed that they committed the foul against the quarterback, the same did not go for cornerbacks/safeties.
So let’s get to it.
First up is Unneccessary Roughness. The problem with Unneccessary Roughness is that it is seemingly interchangeable with Roughing the Passer. However, since one can draw an Uneccessary Roughness penalty when one runs or passes, I’ve included rushing attempts for this graph, which could depress Vick’s rate a little, but he would still be below average. The difference between him and the average decreases from.72% to.63%.
Next is Roughing the Passer, so this includes only QB hits and Sacks to determine the percentage of penalties/times hit.
Vick got roughly the same number of Roughing the Passer calls, but as a percentage of the times he was hit, still below average.
Finally, the total number of 15 yard penalties drawn. Obviously based on the previous two graphs Vick is going to be below average, but here it is just for kicks.
So based on 2010 data, albeit a little subjective, it appears that Vick does have a case in his complaints to the league about not getting the calls. Not to mention, even without these graphs, it appears plainly obvious in watching Eagles’ games that he should be getting more calls, but that is coming from an Eagles fan’s perspective.
If people want to see the spreadsheet I used, let me know in the comments or an email.
AdvertisementsImage Text: LURKING: Privacy International report finds 21 countries retaining personal data
PRIVACY INTERNATIONAL, a UK-based registered charity that defends and promotes the right to privacy across the world, has warned that EU member states are retaining personal data when they shouldn't be.
PI released a report yesterday (Sep 6) detailing the current data retention regimes across 21 European Union member states and the state of their (lack of) compliance with two landmark judgements by the CJEU which determined that EU law prohibits general and indiscriminate retention of communications data and requires that all data retention regimes comply with the principles of legality, necessity, and proportionality.
The report also shows that, out of the 21 states Privacy International examined, zero are in compliance with current data retention standards (notably the e-privacy directive and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights), including: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Privacy International Head of Policy and Advocacy Tomaso Falchetta said: "Blanket and indiscriminate retention of our digital histories—who we interact with, when and how and where—can be a very intrusive form of surveillance that needs strict safeguards against abuse and mission creep."
"Our communications data is no less sensitive than the content of our communications. It is clear that current data retention regimes in Europe violate the right to privacy and other fundamental human rights. In particular the European Court has made clear that general, indiscriminate retention of communications data is disproportionate and cannot be justified, not even on the grounds of fighting crime."
"While some states have recognised the need to reform, there is little evidence that they are moving to change their laws to bring them into line with their obligations under existing human rights law."
The Voice is celebrating its 35th birthday this year. Share your Voice memories, comments and birthday wishes on social media, using the following hash tag: #Voice35Years
Read every story in our hardcopy newspaper for free by downloading the app.Gov. Mike Pence Friday said the federal government has “no business” in mandating all public schools allow transgender students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity.
“I have long believed that education is a state and local function,” Pence said in a statement. “Policies regarding the security and privacy of students in our schools should be in the hands of Hoosier parents and local schools, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC.”
The letter, issued by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, does not carry the force of law, but does indicate that schools could lose federal funding if they do not comply.
Meanwhile, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz rallied behind the guidelines created by the Obama administration.
“In Indiana, we have already seen schools take steps to ensure that their students and staff feel safe regardless of race, religion, sex or gender identity,” Ritz said in a statement. “I will support their efforts, and will continue to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn in a safe and welcoming environment.”
The guidelines come as the Obama administration and North Carolina battle in court over the state’s new law requiring people to use the bathroom based on their gender at birth.Ever since Marvel revealed the fiery chain-wrapped design of the light rail at Comic-Con International: San Diego, there have been rumors that Ghost Rider, Marvel’s Spirit of Vengeance, may be coming Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Now, just ahead of the beginning of the second day of San Diego Comic-Con 2016, Marvel may have given us our biggest hint yet.
Ryan Penagos, a.k.a. Agent M tweeted a photo from the Marvel booth on the convention center floor. The Doctor Strange movie costumes have been removed. Instead, there’s mysterious something covered in a tarp, and we have a feeling we know what it is. The shape of the object suggests that it could very well be the car driven by Robbie Reyes, the most recent Ghost Rider.
HMMM. what is this mysterious new object taking up a huge section of the #MarvelSDCC booth?! #seeeekrits pic.twitter.com/iFkSiDz7SE — Ryan Penagos (@AgentM) July 22, 2016
Those only familiar with original Ghost Rider Johnny Blaze (who was the Ghost Rider played by Nicholas Cage in the Ghost Rider movies) and the second Ghost Rider, Daniel Ketch, may be a little confused. Those Ghost Rider’s rode a motorcycle, not a car. Robbie broke with that tradition, ditching the motorcycle for a muscle car that resembles a Dodge Charger. Based on the shape of the object under the tarp on the convention floor, we’d say it’s very likely that kind of vehicle.
The Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Comic-Con panel takes place at 3 p.m. PT today in Ballroom 20 of the San Diego Convention Center. Sounds like the perfect time to reveal that another iconic Marvel Comics will be making his way onto the show for Season 4. Given how dark and gritty the characters can be (many fans expected him to headline a new Marvel Netflix series), it could also justify ABC’s decision to push Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. back to the 10 p.m. timeslot.This is a continuation of my 24 hr clock from 2012. I organically intended to include these circuits, but ran out of time (and PCB board space) to get it done.
This is what it does:
1) It keeps track of the day of the week with 7 separate LEDs. The weekend LEDs are a different color :)
2) It keeps track of the month with 12 separate LEDs
3) It keeps track of the day of the month with 7-segment displays... with a catch
Here are some caveats:
1) Not every month has 31 days... I know this, but considering I wanted to do this with only basic logic and not a micro-controller, I was aiming for simplicity. So, the clock is designed to count 31 days for each month and for one more catch, it counts from 00-30. So when it rolls around to 00 it really means its the first of the month.
2) The 4017 chip normally counts to 10, but I needed it to go to 12 to display all the months of the year so two 4017 chips are connected together with an AND gate. You may have to increment the month manually from August to September, but otherwise this is the only "bug"
Lastly, this project gave me an excuse to order a cool custom laser etched case for it from ponoko.com! This is a fairly niche project because it relies on my 24 hr clock I made last year, but it could be done I suppose if it had some other daily input mechanism.The Curious Case of the Curious Case
Joanna Stern tested Apple’s new Smart Battery Case for five days, and likes it a lot:
Let’s get this out of the way: The bar for battery-case design is extremely low. Most are chunky and made of black matte plastic, requiring you to attach two pieces to your phone. You choose a battery |
need to put all these other agendas aside. Deep freeze them. We need to grapple with an acceptable way to create low cost shelter, and fast.
[Image credit: Headlines News]
The images in today’s post were gathered from news agencies on Seattle’s homelessness over the last 2 years. We recommend following the links and reading the stories as they give an alarming report on the crisis.
As our comments section is closed, we’ll be taking the dialogue to Twitter.
Thank you from Team BUILDFalsifying history and repudiating democratic rights: Floyd Abrams’ attack on WikiLeaks
By David North
31 December 2010
Floyd Abrams, who played a significant role nearly 40 years ago in the legal defense of the New York Times’ publication of the Pentagon Papers, has endorsed the government’s campaign against WikiLeaks and its editor Julian Assange with an intellectually dishonest column in the Wall Street Journal.
Entitled, “Why WikiLeaks Is Unlike the Pentagon Papers,” Abrams’ column, published Wednesday, claims that Assange’s publication of leaked cables and exposure of government secrets bear no resemblance to the actions taken by Daniel Ellsberg in 1971. As drawn retrospectively by Abrams, Ellsberg was a paragon of political respectability, who took care that his exposure of 43 volumes of secret documents, which he had copied illegally while working as a RAND Corporation analyst, would not undermine US government diplomacy. Abrams backs this up by stressing that Ellsberg withheld four volumes that dealt with American diplomatic activity.
Assange, in contrast, lacks such scruples. “Can anyone doubt,” writes Abrams, “that he would have made those four volumes public on WikiLeaks regardless of their sensitivity? Or that he would have paid not even the slightest heed to the possibility that they might seriously compromise efforts to bring a speedier end to the war?”
Even before Abrams’ column appeared, Ellsberg, now 79, forthrightly denounced attempts to counterpose the “good” exposures of the Pentagon Papers to the “bad” material released by WikiLeaks. This false distinction, Ellsberg has stated, is “just a cover for people who don’t want to admit that they oppose any and all exposures of even the most misguided, secretive foreign policy. The truth is that EVERY attack now made on WikiLeaks and Julian Assange was made against me and the release of the Pentagon Papers at the time.”
Ellsberg’s position is not only principled. It also correctly identifies the political motivations of those who are now attacking Assange and participating in the international campaign of persecution and defamation directed against him. Abrams’ reference to four volumes, out of 47, supposedly withheld by Ellsberg is a red herring that both falsifies and trivializes the legal and Constitutional issues that were fought out in June 1971.
As Abrams certainly knows, the US government, in its efforts to block the publication of the Pentagon Papers by the New York Times and the Washington Post, repeatedly claimed that the exposure of these documents would gravely undermine the conduct of American diplomacy. Anticipating all the present-day arguments made by the Obama administration and the corporate media, the Nixon administration declared that the government “cannot operate its foreign policy in the best interests of the American people if it cannot deal with foreign powers in a confidential way.”
As reported in the Times on June 20, 1971, White House press secretary Ronald L. Ziegler insisted that confidentiality “‘is the very essence of the foreign policy process’ and that ‘a government must be able to deal with other governments in a confidential way.’ The press secretary also said that Presidential advisers must not be inhibited from submitting ‘candid appraisals’ of foreign policy options confronting the President. He asserted that officials would be reluctant ‘to submit points of view if they thought the documents would be disclosed.’”
In this lengthy article, the Times also noted the objections of Secretary of State William P. Rogers, who “cited the inhibiting effects that he thought publication of top-secret materials might have on foreign governments dealing with the United States.”
The Times’ report included other denunciations of the publication of the Pentagon Papers. Senator Robert Dole, then a rising star in the Republican Party, declared that the Times had been “irresponsible, perhaps dangerously and destructively,” in making the Papers public. Governor Ronald Reagan of California also condemned the Times.
Compared to present-day standards, their comments were relatively tame. But one politician quoted by the Times, Congressman Sam Stratton of New York, one of the arch-reactionaries of his day, struck a more modern-sounding note: “The publication of these documents and the attendant denigration of American leaders past and present represents at a critical time a massive injunction of aid and comfort to the enemy.”
There are, however, no reports in the New York Times of any public figure calling for the assassination of either Ellsberg or the publisher of the newspaper.
In manufacturing a significant distinction between the Pentagon Papers and WikiLeaks, Abrams is not only seeking to legitimize the persecution and criminalization of Assange. He is also repudiating the core First Amendment principles of Free Speech that the Times, and he himself, vigorously defended in 1971.
As one reads the arguments made by the legal representatives of the New York Times before a New York district court and the Supreme Court in June of that year, as they argued against the demands of the Nixon administration for a restraining order to stop publication of the Pentagon Papers, one has the impression that this case was argued in another country, and even in another historical epoch.
In its efforts to obtain a restraining order against the Times, the Nixon administration did not merely claim that the publication of the Pentagon Papers would cause embarrassment; rather, it insisted that publication would cause immense damage to the national security of the United States and place countless lives in danger.
The case was first argued in a federal district court in New York on June 18, 1971, before Judge Murray Gurfein. He seemed receptive to the claims of the government. He asked “why a patriotic press should not be willing to subject these papers not to censorship of any kind, except from a limited security point of view. I wish you would answer that because it is troubling me.”
Arguing on behalf of the Times, attorney Alexander Bickel took a position to which the newspaper adhered insistently as the legal battle unfolded. It was not sufficient for the government to assert a general danger to national security and the lives of citizens. It had to show, with extreme specificity, an obvious, immediate and unmistakable causal link between publication and the danger asserted—such as, for example, the harm that might befall soldiers on a troop-carrying vessel if the date and location of its departure were published.
The government countered with the claim that the danger to national security need not be obvious. As argued by US Attorney Whitney North Seymour, “Although it may not be obvious to the layman, to the trained intelligence man there are already disclosures which are harmful to the interests of the United States; that the international relations of the United States have already been impaired; and that we are not dealing with matters of closed history but matters which have a very current vitality and significance.”
The Times defended its right to seek out and publish “secrets.” In a scathing affidavit submitted to the District Court, its chief Washington correspondent, Max Frankel, wrote: “Without the use of ‘secrets’ … there could be no adequate diplomatic, military and political reporting of the kind our people take for granted, either abroad or in Washington… In the field of foreign affairs, only rarely does our government give full public information to the press for the direct purpose of simply informing the people. For the most part, the press obtains significant information bearing on foreign policy only because it has managed to make itself a party to confidential materials, and of value in transmitting these materials from government to other branches and offices of government as well as to the public at large. This is why the press has been wisely and correctly called The Fourth Branch of Government.”
It is worth noting here that Frankel was defending freedom of the press from an essentially bourgeois standpoint. That it appears somewhat radical today testifies to the extreme degeneration of bourgeois democratic values within the ruling class and its institutions.
Judge Gurfein refused the government’s demand for a restraining order. The Nixon administration challenged this ruling in the Court of Appeals, which granted the injunction restraining the Times. But the case moved almost immediately to the US Supreme Court, which heard arguments on June 26.
The US solicitor general, Erwin Griswold, stated that the publication of the Pentagon Papers “will, as I have tried to argue here, materially affect the security of the United States. It will affect lives. It will affect the process of the termination of the war. It will affect the process of recovering prisoners of war. I cannot say that the termination of the war or recovery of prisoners of war is something which has an immediate effect on the security of the United States. I say that it has such an effect on the security of the United States that it ought to be the basis of an injunction in this case.” Griswold added, for good measure, that “it is perfectly obvious that the conduct of delicate negotiations now in process or contemplated for the future has an impact on the security of the United States.”
In his efforts to persuade the Supreme Court, Griswold was raising the possibility that the Pentagon Papers might somehow sabotage the Nixon administration’s purported efforts to bring the Vietnam War to a conclusion. The clear implication of this argument was that the Times’ publication of the papers would cause unnecessary deaths. Without accepting this argument, it was far more substantial than any allegation hurled against the WikiLeaks’ revelations.
Justice Harry Blackmun, at that time on the right wing of the Supreme Court, expressed concern that the Times did not accept the legitimacy of prior restraint in publishing material that might lead to “the death of soldiers, the destruction of alliances, the greatly increased difficulty of negotiation with our enemies, the inability of our diplomats to negotiate, as honest brokers, between would-be belligerents.”
Bickel replied, bluntly, that he disagreed “that impairment of diplomatic relations can be a case for prior restraint…”
As to the possibility of the death of soldiers, Bickel would accept the legitimacy of prior restraint, provided that a clear and unequivocal link can be established between publication of papers and death. But no such connection had been shown by the government. At no point had it been shown that there is a “link between the act of publication as the cause of that event [the death of soldiers] and the event that is feared. That link is always, I suggest, speculative, full of surmises, and a chain of causation that after its first one or two links gets involved with other causes operating in the same area, so that what finally caused the ultimate event becomes impossible to say which the effective cause was. The standard I would propose under the First Amendment would not be satisfied by such things.”
As is often the case with extemporaneous argument, it is not always easy to follow. But in response to a pointed question from Justice Potter Stewart, who asked whether the Times would accept prior restraint to avoid the death of 100 young soldiers, Bickel replied with a precise formulation, insisting that “the chain of causation between the act of publication and the feared event, the death of these 100 young men, is obvious, direct, immediate.”
Stewart pressed his point: “Suppose the information was sufficient that judges could be satisfied that the disclosure of … the identity of a person engaged in delicate negotiations having to do with the possible release of prisoners of war, that the disclosure of this would delay the release of those prisoners for a substantial period of time. I am posing that so it is not immediate. Is that or is that not a matter that should stop the publication and therefore avoid the delay in the release of the prisoners?”
Bickel, in response, stuck to his guns. It had to be demonstrated that the single act of publishing specific information clearly and decisively determined—and not in combination with “17 causes feeding into them”—the threatened event. “Mr. Justice,” Bickel stated, “that is a risk that the First Amendment signifies a society is willing to make. That is part of the risk of freedom that I would certainly take.”
The Supreme Court, by a vote of 6 to 3, overturned the injunction that had been temporarily imposed on the Times by the Court of Appeals.
The decision was hailed by the New York Times, which declared, “The nation’s highest tribunal strongly reaffirmed the guarantee of the people’s right to know, implicit in the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.”
The position of the Times reflected the position of broad sections of the press. The Wall Street Journal joined the Times in endorsing the Supreme Court’s decision: “In our view,” it wrote, “the nation’s security lies in a continuing willingness of its people to face unpleasant facts, to engage in full and earnest debate and to protect the free, democratic institutions that make these things possible.”
Hardly a trace of such sentiments is to be found in the media as it exists today. The owner of the Wall Street Journal is Rupert Murdoch, whose vast media outlets seek to whip up the atmosphere of a lynch mob around Assange. The executive editor of the New York Times, Bill Keller, has proclaimed that he considers the right “not to publish” as important as the right to publish. Were an authoritarian military-police dictatorship to come to power in the United States, it would not have to move Mr. Keller out of his office.
As for Floyd Abrams, the erstwhile defender of the First Amendment devotes a substantial portion of his column to a discussion of the possibilities of a successful prosecution of Julian Assange. He offers suggestions as to how the Espionage Act of 1917 could be successfully employed against Assange. Abrams suggests that “if Mr. Assange were found to have communicated and retained the secret information with the intent to harm the United States—some of his statements can be so read—a conviction might be obtained.”
Not satisfied with offering advice to potential federal prosecutors, Abrams concludes his column with an extraordinary accusation against the publisher of WikiLeaks. “Mr. Assange,” he writes, “is no boon to American journalists.” Why? “His activities have already doomed proposed federal shield-law legislation protecting journalists’ use of confidential sources in the just-adjourned Congress. An indictment of him could be followed by the judicial articulation of far more speech-limiting legal principles than currently exist with respect to even the most responsible reporting about both diplomacy and defense.”
What contemptible cowardice! By exposing government lies, Assange is making life harder for those who willingly grovel before the power of the state. By exercising his democratic rights, Assange is provoking the wrath of the enemies of the First Amendment.
The last 40 years has witnessed a dreadful putrefaction of bourgeois democracy. The economic decay of American capitalism has found its legal expression in an accelerating repudiation of core Constitutional principles. The Watergate crisis, in which the Nixon administration was implicated in criminal activity, unfolded in the immediate aftermath of the Pentagon Papers controversy. In fact, the anti-democratic conspiracies plotted inside the Nixon White House—which included the planning of illegal acts against Daniel Ellsberg—developed, in part, as a response to the Supreme Court ruling on the Pentagon Papers. In the 1980s, the Reagan administration engaged in clearly criminal activity related to its prosecution of a dirty war against the people of El Salvador and Nicaragua. In the 1990s, a cabal of right-wing Republicans in Congress—in league with elements within the federal judiciary—nearly succeeded in removing a president from office through a political conspiracy. In 2000, the outcome of the presidential election was falsified with the decisive intervention of the Supreme Court. In the aftermath of that political crime, the actions of the United States have assumed an ever-more openly criminal character. Wars have been launched on the basis of lies. People have been killed, imprisoned and tortured in flagrant violation of long-established constitutional principles.
Within the ruling elite and its intellectual representatives, there has been a virtual collapse of any substantial politically-committed constituency for democratic rights. In this sense, the lining up of institutions such as the Times and past defenders of the First Amendment like Abrams behind the persecution of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks is a significant measure of the diseased state of American democracy at the end of the first decade of the 21st century.Apple today seeded the first beta of OS X 10.11.1 El Capitan to public beta testers, just days after first releasing the beta to developers and roughly a week and a half before OS X El Capitan will be released to the public on September 30.The new beta is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store.The first beta of OS X 10.11.1 introduced support for Unicode 8 and new emoji like taco, burrito, cheese wedge, hot dog, middle finger, and unicorn head. The emoji are also included in iOS 9.1, which is also in testing.Beyond new emoji, there have been no other outward-facing changes discovered, suggesting OS X 10.11.1 is a minor update that will bring bug fixes and performance enhancements. According to Apple's release notes, the beta offers stability, compatibility, and security improvements.Single-dose malaria treatment
New treatment could save 500,000 lives and help 200 million people.
We spoke to two members of the team from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard,
ResearchGate: What sort of challenges does malaria present when looking for treatments?
Nobutaka Kato & Eamon Comer: The malaria parasite is challenging because it has developed resistance to the standard-of-care drugs, including first-line therapies. To overcome this, antimalarials with new mechanisms are needed that are unaffected by existing resistances. Also, the majority of current drugs only target the symptomatic blood-stage parasites. Malaria parasites have liver- and transmission-stages that do not cause symptoms. Despite this, prophylaxis and transmission-blocking drugs are essential to prevent epidemics and protect vulnerable populations such as such as pregnant women and children under the age of five. Antimalarial drugs that target all stages of the malaria parasite are very much needed.
RG: What were the results of your study? What makes your treatment different from existing treatments?
Kato & Comer: We identified a series of bicyclic azetidine compounds that inhibit the malaria parasite in a new way, inhibition of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, which blocks parasite protein synthesis. These bicylic azetidines provide single low-dose cures and work against all stages of the malaria parasite, in multiple in vivo efficacy models. While rigorous safety analysis and optimization will be needed, our findings identify compounds with the potential to cure and prevent transmission of the disease as well as protect populations at risk, all in a single oral treatment.
RG: Can you give us a brief insight into how you found the compounds?
Kato & Comer: Antimalarial drugs have thus far originated mainly from two sources – natural products and synthetic ‘drug-like’ compounds. We suspected that new antimalarial agents with new action mechanisms could be discovered using our unique collection of 100,000 Diversity Oriented Synthesis (DOS) compounds. These compounds have three-dimensional features reminiscent of natural products and are underrepresented in typical screening collections. DOS compounds that showed signs of operating through a novel mechanism in malaria phenotypic screens were prioritized for advanced studies. We then prioritized compounds further by applying a second criterion: we looked for compounds that appeared to work in all stages of the malaria parasites’ life cycle. Finally, we prioritized compounds most likely to have the properties necessary to become antimalarial drugs.
RG: What are the next steps in your research? Do you expect any challenges when taking this from mice to people?
Kato & Comer: We need to rigorously assess the safety of the bicyclic azetidine series and address any liabilities uncovered before initiating a human clinical trial. This process is ongoing.
RG: When do you hope to have treatment options available to people?
Kato & Comer: Typically, a potential medicine for an infectious disease should take about twelve years on the journey from the first hypothesis to registration. We hope to initiate clinical trials with the series within the next four years.
RG: What does your study mean for the malaria research more generally?
Kato & Comer: From the point of view of modern synthetic organic chemistry this study shows that different chemistry yields different outcomes when applied to problems of microbial pathogens. This study also resulted in an open, data-rich resource for the malaria research community called the
Image courtesy of study published today in Nature identifies new compounds to fight the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, headed by Stuart Schreiber, scoured a library of 100,000 chemical compounds for something that met the required criteria: targeting the parasite in a novel way and working during all three stages of its life (liver, blood, and transmission). These compounds were then tested on mice, and they successfully eradicated the malaria parasites during all three stages with one low dose. All of the 100,000 compounds in the library and the data from the team’s malaria screens are publicly available via the Malaria Therapeutics Response Portal (MTRP).We spoke to two members of the team from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Nobutaka Kato and Eamon Comer The malaria parasite is challenging because it has developed resistance to the standard-of-care drugs, including first-line therapies. To overcome this, antimalarials with new mechanisms are needed that are unaffected by existing resistances. Also, the majority of current drugs only target the symptomatic blood-stage parasites. Malaria parasites have liver- and transmission-stages that do not cause symptoms. Despite this, prophylaxis and transmission-blocking drugs are essential to prevent epidemics and protect vulnerable populations such as such as pregnant women and children under the age of five. Antimalarial drugs that target all stages of the malaria parasite are very much needed.We identified a series of bicyclic azetidine compounds that inhibit the malaria parasite in a new way, inhibition of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, which blocks parasite protein synthesis. These bicylic azetidines provide single low-dose cures and work against all stages of the malaria parasite, in multiple in vivo efficacy models. While rigorous safety analysis and optimization will be needed, our findings identify compounds with the potential to cure and prevent transmission of the disease as well as protect populations at risk, all in a single oral treatment.Antimalarial drugs have thus far originated mainly from two sources – natural products and synthetic ‘drug-like’ compounds. We suspected that new antimalarial agents with new action mechanisms could be discovered using our unique collection of 100,000 Diversity Oriented Synthesis (DOS) compounds. These compounds have three-dimensional features reminiscent of natural products and are underrepresented in typical screening collections. DOS compounds that showed signs of operating through a novel mechanism in malaria phenotypic screens were prioritized for advanced studies. We then prioritized compounds further by applying a second criterion: we looked for compounds that appeared to work in all stages of the malaria parasites’ life cycle. Finally, we prioritized compounds most likely to have the properties necessary to become antimalarial drugs.We need to rigorously assess the safety of the bicyclic azetidine series and address any liabilities uncovered before initiating a human clinical trial. This process is ongoing.Typically, a potential medicine for an infectious disease should take about twelve years on the journey from the first hypothesis to registration. We hope to initiate clinical trials with the series within the next four years.From the point of view of modern synthetic organic chemistry this study shows that different chemistry yields different outcomes when applied to problems of microbial pathogens. This study also resulted in an open, data-rich resource for the malaria research community called the Malaria Therapeutics Response Portal (MTRP). This includes a trove of information on highly active compounds that is available to the scientific community to use for developing new antimalarial therapies.Image courtesy of coniferconiferPope Benedict has used the beginning of the Christmas period to ramp up his assault on gay marriage, stating that the very foundations of the family were threatened by same sex partnerships.
In his annual Christmas address to Vatican officials – one of the most important speeches of the year – he decried moves to allow same sex couples to marry and indicated that the Vatican would be willing to forge an alliance with those faiths who are also opposed to equal marriage rights.
His comments come amid mounting concern in Rome that the Catholic Church’s teachings on homosexuality are falling on deaf ears, with pro-gay marriage movements gaining ground most recently in Britain, the United States and France.
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.
During the speech the Pontiff referred to a recent study by the Chief Rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, who said the campaign for granting gays the right to marry and adopt children was an “attack” on the traditional family.
“There is no denying the crisis that threatens it [the family] to its foundations – especially in the Western world,” the Pope said. “When such commitment is repudiated, the key figures of human existence likewise vanish: father, mother, child – essential elements of the experience of being human are lost.”
The speech is the second time this week that the Pope has spoken out on gay marriages and his liberal quoting of Rabbi Bernheim’s work against gay marriage is an indication of how determined the Vatican is to use ecumenical alliances with other faiths.
In France, where President François Hollande vowed to enact his “marriage for everyone” plan within a year of taking office last May, Rabbi Bernheim has become a vocal critic of gay marriage. His study, Gay Marriage, Parenthood and Adoption: What We Often Forget to Say, argues that plans to legalise gay marriage are being made for “the exclusive profit of a tiny minority” and are often supported because of political correctness.
In the speech, the Pope also denounced what he described as people manipulating their God-given identities to suit their sexual choices – and destroying the very “essence of the human creature” in the process.
“People dispute the idea that they have a nature, given to them by their bodily identity, that serves as a defining element of the human being,” he said. “They deny their nature and decide that it is not something previously given to them, but that they make it for themselves. The manipulation of nature, which we deplore today where our environment is concerned, now becomes man’s fundamental choice where he himself is concerned.”
Franco Grillini, a prominent spokesman for Italy’s gay community, called the Pope’s words “great foolishness,” adding: “Where gay marriage has been approved, there has been no consequence on heterosexual marriage.”
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
At The Independent, no one tells us what to write. That’s why, in an era of political lies and Brexit bias, more readers are turning to an independent source. Subscribe from just 15p a day for extra exclusives, events and ebooks – all with no ads.
Subscribe nowIn another post, I wrote about the auction of a Lou Gehrig mitt that he signed and may well have used at the height of his career. The consignor is a 92-year-old man who received it as a gift when he was 12-years-old. That mitt sold for $287,500, including the buyer's premium.
If that’s too rich for your blood, there’s a fun and less expensive option. As a contributor to a hobby publication, Tuff Stuff, 20 years ago, I wrote about a machinist from Albany, Oregon: “Collector Andy Smith knows that the odds of finding a T-206 Honus Wagner at a flea market fall somewhere between winning the lottery and watching the Red Sox win the World Series in his lifetime The odds are much better that he’ll find a collectible baseball mitt. The rawhide version of the fabled Wagner T-206 is the zipper-back Ken-Wel 1930s era mitt.”
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For years collectors had coveted the mitt since seeing advertisements for it in old sports catalogs. On his regular rounds through Portland, Oregon antique shops Smith found one: “He picked up the pancake –flat mitt, zipped it open, and slid his hand inside the supple leather. He paid $250 for his glove. ‘My wife asked ‘Are you crazy?’’ Smith says. ‘I was so excited that I had to let her drive me home.’ Smith immediately sold his prize for $2000. It sold a short time later for $2500. Just when it seemed the fun had gone out of the treasure hunt, up pops a new baseball collectible so fun and so classic that it should have seized collectors’ attention long ago. With old baseball cards, programs, ticket stubs, and pennants picked clean in recent years, baseball gloves have become the final frontier of baseball memorabilia.”
In the 20 years since Andy Smith bought and sold his Gehrig mitt, the Red Sox have won three World Championships and eBay has completely upended the market’s supply and demand. In one of my posts, Buyer Beware: 10 Sports Memorabilia Items You Should Think Twice About, I wrote that “yearbooks once fetched a pretty penny until eBay flushed them out of thousands closets, attics, and drawers.” The flip side of eBay is that it has truly established rarity for desirable items.
Even the casual collector is aware of the T206 Honus Wagner tobacco card. The world’s most valuable card sold for a record $2.8 million in 2007. Legend has it that less 200 cards of the Hall of Fame shortstop were printed because either Wagner objected to smoking or because he objected to not being reimbursed for his image.
The Gehrig Ken-Wel is much scarcer. “Eight examples over 20 years make this model considerably rarer than the 50 plus T206 Wagners,” says Jim Daniel, a longtime collector who oversees a website devoted to vintage baseball gloves. “The Lou Gehrig Ken-Wel Zipper back is the Wagner card of our hobby despite selling for much less.”
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Like the Wagner, it has turned out to be a pretty good investment. Three of the most recent and best examples have changed hands privately for between $10,000 and $15,000, about six times more than what Andy Smith sold his for.
During the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Ken-Wel zipper-back Gehrig was one of the most expensive mitts on the market, selling from $9:00 to $10.00. “It was hard to justify spending that much money in the Great Depression, so we now speculate that not that many were sold,” Daniel says. The mitt’s high-end leather and sturdy construction harken back to the days when baseball gloves were made by hand in the U.S.A. and people took real pride in their work.
For whatever reason, the zipper-back, like Velcro in the 1980s, never completely caught on with baseball gloves. The innovation wasn’t wasted; Ken-Wel, a company based in upstate New York, ended up producing backpacks and other supplies for the U.S. troops in World War II.
Of course, on the 75th anniversary of Gehrig’s “luckiest man” speech, the Iron Horse’s enduring appeal sustains all high-quality vintage memorabilia associated with him. “Everyone loves Gehrig,” says Daniel. “Due to his character and work ethic, he continues to be a role model.” The next time you’re at an antique shop or an estate sale keep an eye out for one of the hobby’s holiest grails. It may not come cheap, but it will cost a lot less than a mitt Gehrig actually used.DNS: Zone Files on Ubuntu 10.04
Zones
There are several categories of zones that must be configured. You need to have forward lookup zones, which allow the nameserver to match names to IP Addresses. You’ll define these zones in the /etc/bind directory, in files with the “db” prefix.
Then, you’ll need to have matching reverse lookup zones, which allow the nameserver to match IP Addresses to names. Information for these zones will also be stored in the /etc/bind directory, also in files with the “db” prefix.
Once you’ve installed BIND9, you can look in this directory, and see that there are “db” files that define some other types of zones that the nameserver needs to do its job:
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 601 2010-03-14 16:46 bind.keys
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 237 2010-03-14 16:46 db.0
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 271 2010-03-14 16:46 db.127
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 237 2010-03-14 16:46 db.255
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 353 2010-03-14 16:46 db.empty
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 270 2010-03-14 16:46 db.local
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 2940 2010-03-14 16:46 db.root
-rw-r–r– 1 root bind 463 2010-03-14 16:46 named.conf
-rw-r–r– 1 root bind 490 2010-03-14 16:46 named.conf.default-zones
-rw-r–r– 1 root bind 165 2010-03-14 16:46 named.conf.local
-rw-r–r– 1 root bind 572 2010-03-14 16:46 named.conf.options
-rw-r—– 1 bind bind 77 2010-03-23 06:21 rndc.key
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 1317 2010-03-14 16:46 zones.rfc1918
All of these files, except for the “db.empty” file, are pre-configured and ready to use. The “0″ and “255″ files are used to set up your broadcast zone. The “127″ and “local” files are used to enable the host machine’s local loopback zone. As you may expect, the “root” file contains references to the root nameservers on the Internet. This is the only one of these files that may ever have to be changed. Periodically, you’ll want to check the Internic ftp site to download an updated copy.
The “empty” file is a template, used to help you create zone files for your domain.
; BIND reverse data file for empty rfc1918 zone
;
; DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE – it is used for multiple zones.
; Instead, copy it, edit named.conf, and use that copy.
;
$TTL 86400
@ IN SOA localhost. root.localhost. (
1 ; Serial
604800 ; Refresh
86400 ; Retry
2419200 ; Expire
86400 ) ; Negative Cache TTL
;
@ IN NS localhost.
Zone Data
Before we can actually discuss how to configure the forward lookup zones, we’ll have to discuss the different elements of the zone data.
TTL–This stands for “Time to Live”. When other nameservers obtain data from your nameserver, they’ll hold these data in cache for later use. That way, the other nameservers won’t have to consult yours quite as often. The TTL field tells these other nameservers how long to obtain these data in their cache.
SOA–The Start-of-Authority resource record indicates that this nameserver is authoritative for a particular zone, and sets certain parameters for the zone.
NS–Nameserver resource records list all of the nameservers that are authoritative for a particular zone.
MX–Mail Exchange records point the way to a mail server.
Address records–These map the names of the hosts in the zone to their IP addresses.
Alias records–These map shorter, easier to remember host names to their longer real–or canonical—names.
Forward Zones
For this example, ABC Widgets will be used to illustrate how to build DNS. They’ve finally decided to come into the 21st century by installing a modern Local Area Network. They’ll begin by defining a domain, which they’ll call abcwidgets.com. Accordingly, the name of the file for this zone will be “db.abcwidgets.com”. Since it will be on an internal network, they plan to use private IP addresses in the 192.168.0 range.
Note: For DNS zone files, comments begin with a semi-colon.
$TTL 3h
abcwidgets.com. IN SOA goodwidget.abcwidgets.com. tim.abcwidgets.com. (
1 ; Serial number
3h ; Refresh after three hours
1h ; Retry after one hour
1w ; Expires after one week
1h ) ; Negative caching TTL set to one hour
The Time-to-Live directive begins with a dollar sign. Here, the TTL is set to three hours. This is the Start-of-Authority record. It firsts sets the name of the zone. The “IN” means that this is an Internet zone. The SOA, of course, means that this is an SOA record. The “goodwidget.abcwidgets.com” is the full canonical name of the host that the primary nameserver resides on. The “tim.abcwidgets.com” is the email address of the person who’s responsible for this zone. Typically, the first period would be replaced by a “@”, but in this file you have to use a period because the “@” has special meaning.
The serial number is set to let the slave nameservers know when they should update their backup files. If the serial number on the master nameserver is higher than the one on the slave nameserver, the slave will pull down the new data for that zone. You would want to increment this number any time you update the zone files on the master nameserver.
The refresh setting tells the slave how often to check with the master server to see if zone data have been updated.
The retry setting is for when the slave nameserver fails to contact the master nameserver at its specified interval. This tells the slave how long to wait before trying again.
The expire setting tells the slave how long to keep the old zone data if it can’t make contact with have to the master.
Finally, the Negative caching TTL tells the server how long to keep any negative responses to queries in its cache. A negative cache stores information on addresses that the nameserver can’t resolve.)
Here is a list all of the nameservers for this zone.
abcwidgets.com IN NS goodwidget.abcwidgets.com
abcwidgets.com IN NS awesomewidget.abcwidgets.com
Next, list the canonical names, matched with their IP addresses, for all of the hosts on the network.
localhost.abcwidgets.com IN A 127.0.0.1
shortwidget.abcwidgets.com IN |
ism written all over them” (108).
For Bray, one of the most exciting parts of Occupy Wall Street was the opening it created for the mass dissemination of anarchist politics (112). He writes that “our message” of economic justice and participatory democracy resonated widely in the larger society (113). In addition, Occupy Wall Street was getting across an anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist critique across which would not have been possible had they been using the term “anarchism” (113). At least that is what Bray claims throughout the book, but there is unfortunately no way of knowing whether that was indeed true. Instead he says that Occupy Wall Street was “…’translating anarchy’ to people who were receptive to its contents but exceedingly wary of its usual linguistic packaging and popular rhetorical baggage” (113). Bray says that he wasn’t alone in this view—most of the self-identified anarchists—65%—wouldn’t use “anarchist” when talking to people (113). There was general agreement that people were interested in “emphasizing the ideas behind anarchism rather than their misunderstood label” (122-123).
Bray gives many examples of anarchists who used other words to describe their views within the context of Occupy Wall Street while also providing some historical examples of anarchists doing this (123-126). He argues that while “it may seem strange for anarchists to build a group or movement without specifically anarchist politics, or to use strategic language to present their ideas to society, …it’s nothing new” (124). For Bray, this strategy manifests itself in specific ways: presenting ideas in an “accessible format” (dress, language, etc), giving tangible examples rather than ideology, and starting from the position that the two major political parties in the United States are dominated by corporations (134). While over half the members of the Press Working Group were anarchists, they had broad political agreement on the following points: “(1) the current economic system is oppressive and only works for the 1%; (2) both political parties are beholden to the 1%; therefore (3) the solution can only come from people-power” (138).
While the following is a lengthy quote, Brays says that it is representative of the sound-bites the strategy of “translating anarchy” generated:
“Occupy is a response to the mass economic injustice perpetrated by Wall Street and the 1% on the American people. Since 2008, we’ve seen the banks illegally evict thousands of families while Wall Street executives get Christmas bonuses for destroying lives. But we’ve had enough! We need an economy based on human need rather than Wall Street profits that provides working people with food, housing, healthcare and education. But we’ve seen that both Bush and Obama bailed out the banks, not the people. Both parties rely on banks and corporations and prioritize the 1% over the 99%. We’ve been told to turn to the politicians for answers, but after Obama we’ve seen that movie, and we know how it ends. If we want a true democracy, we have to make it ourselves. That’s why we’re in the streets” (139).
Bray argues that this was a useful message because it had “a (partially veiled) critique of capitalism” (141). He analyzes the sound-bite for several pages, saying that “many people latched onto this kind of open, accessible messaging and pursued is anarchist(ic) currents” (146).
Bray writes that another successful example of messaging was the “we are the 99%” slogan which he describes as a means of “presenting anarchist concepts in a digestible form” (155). While he does mention some of its limits (for example, when people asserted that the police were “the 99%”), he says that it was a strategic use of “more accessible, and at times over-simplified rhetoric, for a mainstream audience in order to pull people in” (157).
…or Getting Lost in Translation?
Of course, the obvious question to ask is whether this strategy was successful at transmitting anarchist ideas to a larger population. Ultimately, Bray doesn’t make a convincing case that it was. While he mentions people who came into Occupy Wall Street as liberals and came out as anarchists, it is rather difficult to evaluate how many people reading or watching media coverage got the anarchist message that was allegedly being “translated.” In the sample sound-bite Bray gives, it isn’t very clear. One could easily use the concepts evoked within to justify any number of approaches—including voting, legislating, petitioning, or maybe, anarchist direct action. This was a consistent problem with Occupy across the United States, it seemed to be a catch all for any number of different views.
For example, Bray writes that:
“…it’s understandable that liberal journalists would interpret our rhetoric as a call for free expression and an improved social safety net, while in fact we used popular political discourse to make a case for an autonomous, non-electoral social movement working toward a non-capitalist economy that would replace the profit incentive with a prioritization of non-human need” (5).
But it wasn’t just the journalists that were missing the point, many participants in Occupy Wall Street didn’t seem to “get it” and still saw the effort as one targeted towards any number of reformist goals. Clearly, something was lost when the anarchist ideas were “translated” into mainstream rhetoric.
Bray does engage with some of these criticisms in Translating Anarchy. At various points, Bray says that it was necessary for anarchists who spoke directly about their politics and who distributed anarchist literature to push people towards anarchism (160-161). For me, that says that there were real limits to the strategy of “translating anarchy.” Near the end of the book, Bray offers some useful comments for evaluating the success of this strategy. He says that “the typical ‘Occupier’ left the movement with a tattered checker-board politics” which suggests the anarchism didn’t come across clearly either in the messaging or in people experiencing horizontal forms of organizing. Similarly, he said argues that anarchists needed to be more visible and more clear in their politics, largely by having anarchist events and organizations present. While doesn’t necessarily refute the idea of “translating anarchy,” it does question whether the ideas were all that clear in the first place. Bray writes that the practice “…could bring in progressives and left-leaning democrats and infuse their politics with anarchist ideas. Some of them left with a more critical stance on electoral politics and a greater appreciation for direct action and direct democracy, and others walked away as anarchists” (170). That doesn’t read as a ringing endorsement of the success of “translating anarchy”—as anarchists we want a lot more than “a more critical stance on electoral politics.”
Bray argues this was “an important step toward the long-term creation of a left libertarian mass movement” (170), but doesn’t provide a convincing argument as to why this is better. It seemed like another argument in favor of coalition-type politics where anarchists—as so often is the case—will get burned in the end. The anti-globalization efforts of the early 2000s come immediately to mind. While they may have offered a place to spread anarchist ideas and tactics, the larger movement was all too willing to discard anarchists once they were no longer useful. At the same time, many anarchists were too busy doing the organizing rather than pursing their goals as anarchists. This is something Bray mentions in relation to Occupy Wall Street when he writes that “most anarchists, such as myself, were putting all their energy into actually organizing the movement” and therefore could not work on projects within Occupy Wall Street that specifically articulated anarchist ideas (262).
An issue that also bears consideration is whether as anarchists it is appropriate to “hide” our views by cloaking them in populist and mainstream rhetoric. In recent years there has been much talk about using the concept of “affinity” rather than political identity as the basis for working together (largely coming out of the insurrectionary anarchist tradition). Bray doesn’t acknowledge that discussion, despite its considerable presence in anarchist discourse. Instead, he sides with the chorus of people who claim to be “anarchist” yet consistently advocate disguising their views. He advocates a “strategic” means of re-explaining anarchist ideas in plainer language without using the word “anarchy.” Of course, unless you are some kind of unthinking anarchist robot that has no capacity to consider the context of the situation you are in, this is something we all tend to do on various occasions. However, Bray seems to be arguing for a deeper avoidance of the idea of “anarchy.” Most often, anarchism is rejected as a term for the purpose of bringing in larger numbers of people. In the context of Occupy Wall Street, it isn’t hard to see how this could be problematic: people show up thinking “the movement” is about some vague concept of “democracy” only to hear that its really just a front for anti-capitalism, or as Bray writes, “most Occupy participants wanted to reform capitalism, most organizers wanted to destroy it” (4). Bray writes that the supporters of the movement (not the actually organizers) were “overwhelmingly liberal, and generally considered goals such as ‘getting money out of politics’ to be their endgames” (40). He writes that Occupy Wall Street managed to attract “a think outer layer of liberals and progressives around an inner core that was predominately anarchist in character” (40). It’s somewhat reminiscent of the leftist strategy of using popular issues—for example the anti-war movement in the 2000s—as a way to pull people in to socialist parties. No matter the case, it is a recipe for disagreement and frustration. Moreover, while it might be somewhat preferable for people to use “anarchist forms” for making decisions within social struggles, without a specific effort to articulate the “anarchism” behind those forms, they are just shells that can be used for reformist ends. Bray admits this when he writes that “there were plenty of liberals and moderates who mastered consensus process during their time with Occupy and left with essentially the same ‘repeal Citizens United’ politics they came in with” (260). Beyond that, arguing with liberals might be fun for a while, but it seems unlikely that it will eventually lead to anarchy, as anyone who has done that for any amount of time likely knows.
A Specific Type of Anarchism
While Bray’s book is about “the anarchism of Occupy Wall Street,” it’s also clear from the text that he is advocating for a specific type of mass anarchism generally associated with class struggle anarchism.
For Bray, anarchism is “…at the forefront of the world’s revolutionary left” (268). As such, Bray articulates a leftist vision of anarchism that owes much to the class struggle tradition. At various points he speaks of the “red and black flag” of anarchism (44). Not surprisingly, he argues for the things that are generally associated with that tradition: federations, large organizations, large economies, and mass society. Bray only engages arguments against these in small ways, often by simple dismissal. For example, he rejects primitivism and its advocates stating that “…those who are fine with billions of people dying in order to thin the population and return to some supposed ‘state of nature’ have nothing to do with a doctrine that prioritizes the needs of all” which is a standard smear (55). Ironically, later in the book he speaks of past ways of living as being proof that the future need not be the same as the present, which is a key point of anarcho-primitivist thought, that for much of human history we lived as “anarchists.” (75). Bray reports that the “environmental destruction” inherent in capitalism was the most popular reason why anarchists were there, a problem which the primitivist critique is attempting to address, albeit by arguing that the problem is the mass society and the structures that go along with it (65). Yet, despite this, Bray repeatedly advocates for a need for large organizations to “project our vision of global mutual aid and democratic coordination” (101). His anarchism is one of global scale, with all the structures that would entail. As he says, it’s hard for many people to see how anarchist forms could “…scale up to include large numbers of people across large geographical areas”—although he never considers that the scale itself may be the problem (101 and 262).
In providing an overview of anarchist history, Bray’s presentation seemed reminiscent of the book Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism and indeed in his endnotes he references that book. In following a similar line of thought, he argues that the anarcho-syndicalist tradition is considerably larger than what is often written (49). Moreover, he argues that the history of “capital-A” anarchism (that of mass organizations and federations) was considerably larger than that of “small-a” anarchism and that it had “much more success and popular support” (53). In Bray’s overview, the reason that “small-a” anarchism seemed “new” in the post-1960s era was because the other form of anarchism was so pervasive. Nevertheless, he admits that most anarchists of Occupy Wall Street were “small-a” anarchists. If that so, one has to wonder if they would they really want the globalized vision that Bray articulates? In light of these arguments, it follows that Bray repeatedly invokes the Spanish CNT as an example of a large anarcho-syndicalist union in which it not all members were anarchist, but where people encountered anarchist ideas through struggle—which he uses to argue in favor of “large outward-facing anarchist formations (whether implicitly or explicitly)” (54).
In discussing anarchism, Bray largely speaks in favor of his particular brand of anarchism and ignores other currents within the anarchist space. In one case, he speaks of an anarchist who identified as an “insurrectionary anarcho-nihilist” who rejects the notion of a positive program, but Bray rejects that view and argues for a “positive vision” (75). He says that when most anarchists within Occupy Wall Street spoke of future societies, they were essentially articulating anarchist-communist positions (76). Of course, this may reflect what Bray wants out of anarchism as much as anything else. Bray generally ignores anarchist currents that would challenge his ideas. This is especially true of the insurrectionary tendency, which seemed to have considerable influence on how anarchists across the United States engaged with Occupy (see for example the collection Occupy Everything: Anarchists in the Occupy Movement, 2009-2011). Instead, he seems content to bring up the common boogeymen of class-struggle anarchists, the primitivists and anarcho-punks as a way of arguing in favor of traditional federations and large-scale organizations (130-131), all the while assuming that the core question for anarchists is how to manage a global society that is quite similar to the existing world.
Conclusion
While Bray’s book has an intriguing premise and offers an interesting account of anarchist involvement in Occupy Wall Street, it has major limitations. Translating Anarchy has some interesting ideas to consider, but overall, its conclusions were not convincing and its brand of anarchism was much too narrow. Those who take the time to read through it might come away with a few useful ideas, but ultimately would find a presentation of many ideas that have been relatively standard debates within the anarchist space over the past thirteen years. These debates and discussions—whether we should be building “mass” anarchist organizations, building alternative institutions, or engaging in some other strategy—have been discussed elsewhere. At many points, the issues explored don’t even seem that relevant, for example, the strategy of building alternative institutions or primitivism, are hardly contemporary debates within the anarchist space. In many ways, the book is just another articulation of a century old strategy of revolution—without a convincing argument that it will turn out any better this time around.
Mark Bray, Translating Anarchy: The Anarchism of Occupy Wall Street, (New York: Zero Books, 2013).
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The natives call Easter Island "Rapa Nui."
Books and articles by the hundred have pointed to Rapa Nui as the inevitable result of uncontrolled population growth, squandered resources and human fecklessness. "The person who felled the last tree could see it was the last tree," wrote Paul G. Bahn and John Flenley in "Easter Island, Earth Island" (1992). "But he (or she) still felled it." "The parallels between Easter Island and the whole modern world are chillingly obvious," Mr. Diamond proclaimed. "The clearest example of a society that destroyed itself by overexploiting its own resources," he said, Rapa Nui epitomizes "ecocide," presenting a stark image of "what may lie ahead of us in our own future."
No, it doesn't, write archaeologists Terry Hunt and Carl Lipo in "The Statues That Walked," a fascinating entry in the pop-science genre of Everything You Know Is Wrong. Messrs. Hunt and Lipo had no intention of challenging Mr. Diamond when they began research on Rapa Nui. But in their fourth year of field work, they obtained radiocarbon dates from Anakena Beach, thought to be the island's oldest settlement. The dates strongly indicated that the first settlers appeared around A.D. 1200--eight centuries later than Heyerdahl and other researchers had thought.
Wait a minute, the authors in effect said. Rapa Nui is so remote that researchers believe it must have been settled by a small group of adventurers--a few dozen people, brave or crazy, in boats. The new evidence suggested that their arrival had precipitated catastrophic deforestation "on the scale of decades, not centuries." The island then probably had only a few hundred inhabitants. Some ecologists estimate that the island originally had 16 million palm trees. How could so few people have cut down so much so fast?
...
The real culprit, according to "The Statues That Walked," was the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans), which stowed away on the boats of the first Polynesian settlers. In laboratory settings, Polynesian rat populations can double in 47 days. Throw a breeding pair into an island with no predators and abundant food and arithmetic suggests the result: ratpocalypse. If the animals multiplied as they did in Hawaii, the authors calculate, Rapa Nui would quickly have housed between two and three million. Among the favorite food sources of R. exulans are tree seeds and tree sprouts. Humans surely cleared some of the forest, but the real damage would have come from the rats that prevented new growth.
"Rather than a case of abject failure," the authors argue, "Rapa Nui is an unlikely story of success." The islanders had migrated, perhaps accidentally, to a place with little water and "fundamentally unproductive" soil with "uniformly low" levels of phosphorus, an essential mineral for plant growth. To avoid the wind's dehydrating effects, the newcomers circled their gardens with stone walls known as manavai. Today, the researchers discovered, abandoned manavai occupy about 6.4 square miles, a tenth of the island's total surface.
More impressive still, about half of the island is covered by "lithic mulching," in which the islanders scattered broken stone over the fields. The uneven (p. C6) surface creates more turbulent airflow, reducing daytime surface temperatures and warming fields at night. And shattering the rocks exposes "fresh, unweathered surfaces, thus releasing mineral nutrients held within the rock." Only lithic mulching produced enough nutrients--just barely--to make Rapa Nui's terrible soil cultivable. Breaking and moving vast amounts of stone, the islanders had engineered an entirely new, more productive landscape.
Their success was short-lived. As Messrs. Hunt and Lipo point out, the 18th and 19th centuries were terrible times to reside in a small, almost defenseless Pacific nation. Rapa Nui was repeatedly ravaged by Peruvian slaving parties and nonnative diseases.
...
Easter Island's people did not destroy themselves, the authors say. They were destroyed.
...
Oral tradition said that the statues walked into their places. Oral tradition was correct, the authors say. By shaping the huge statues just right, the islanders were able to rock them from side to side, moving them forward in a style familiar to anyone who has had to move a refrigerator. Walking the statues, the authors show in experiments, needed only 15 or 20 people.
In a 2007 article in Science, Mr. Diamond estimated that hundreds of laborers were needed to move the statues, suggesting that the eastern settlements of the island alone had to have "a population of thousands"--which in turn was proof of the island's destructive overpopulation. By showing that the statues could have been moved by much fewer people, Messrs. Hunt and Lipo have removed one of the main supports of the ecocide theory and the parable about humankind it tells.A McDonald’s lawsuit over Islamic diet requirements has cost the chain $700,000 in a settlement, but the brand has not admitted wrongdoing in the case.
The McDonald’s Islamic diet lawsuit started back in 2011 when customer Ahmed Ahmed alleged that he was served a piece of chicken in one of the franchises in Michigan that was not slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law as had been suggested.
USAToday explains:
“The lawsuit alleged that Ahmed bought a chicken sandwich in September 2011 at a Dearborn McDonald’s but found it wasn’t halal — meaning it didn’t meet Islamic requirements for preparing food. Islam forbids consumption of pork, and God’s name must be invoked before an animal providing meat for consumption is slaughtered.”
According to the paper, the McDonald’s Islamic diet lawsuit was initiated when it was “confirmed from a source familiar with the inventory” that the Dearborn franchise had in actuality been guilty of serving non-halal food “on many occasions.”
The Fresno Bee cites the settlement notice as indicating halal procedures are respected in the two franchises:
“In the settlement notice, Finley’s Management said it ‘has a carefully designed system for preparing and serving halal such that halal chicken products are labeled, stored, refrigerated, and cooked in halal-only areas.'”
“The company added it trains its employees on preparing halal food and ‘requires strict adherence to the process.’ … He said although Ahmed believes McDonald’s was negligent, there was no evidence that the chain set out to deceive customers.”
After the McDonald’s Islamic diet lawsuit was settled, a lawyer for Ahmed said that “McDonald’s from the very beginning stepped up and took this case very seriously.”Product Description
DPMS Panther Oracle 5.56 NATO AR-15 Carbine - New in Box
Whether you are buying your first AR rifle, or need an affordable yet accurate plinking gun, the Panther Oracle is for you. Includes one 30 Round Magazine. Factory New in box Semi-Auto Rifle.
Barrel:
16" Lite Contour w/A2 flash hider (birdcage)
4140 chrome-moly steel
6 grooves, right-hand 1x9 twist, button rifled
Chamber:
5.56x45mm (NATO)
Method of Operation:
Gas operated rotating bolt
Bolt & Carrier:
8620 steel bolt carrier, heat treated and plated per Mil Spec
Phosphated steel bolt, heat treated and plated per Mil Spec
Weight:
Empty - 6.3 lbs.
Length:
Extended: 36 3/8"
Collapsed: 32 1/2"
Upper Receiver:
A3 Style Flat Top, Forged
7075-T6 aircraft aluminum alloy
Hard coat anodized per Mil Spec and Teflon coated black
Dust cover
Shell deflector
Round forward assist
Right hand ejection
Lower Receiver:
Forged 7075-T6 aircraft aluminum alloy
Hard coat anodized per Mil Spec
Semi-Auto trigger group
Aluminum trigger guard
Aluminum magazine release button
Stock:
DPMS Pardus Carbine Stock
Handguards:
DPMS Glacialguards ; Oval Carbine Length
Aluminum Delta Ring
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IF you are denied for a background check through a the transferring FFL and the firearm(s) must be returned to the sender, (Surplusammo.com, SAA) you will be assessed a 20% re-stocking & paperwork handling fee plus the cost of shipping upon pending refund.The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is one of the most powerful lobby organizations in the country. On March 4-6, AIPAC will hold its annual policy conference in Washington, D.C. The speakers include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Republican candidate Newt Gingrich, and a host of other powerful politicians.
AIPAC has tremendous clout, but its influence has been disastrous for U.S. foreign policy and U.S. democracy. Here are 10 reasons why AIPAC is so dangerous.
1. AIPAC is lobbying Congress to promote a military confrontation with Iran. AIPAC — like the Israeli government — is demanding that the United States attack Iran militarily to prevent Iran from having the technological capacity to produce nuclear weapons, even though U.S. officials say Iran isn’t trying to build a weapon (and even though Israel has hundreds of undeclared nuclear weapons). AIPAC has successfully lobbied the U.S. government to adopt crippling economic sanctions on Iran, including trying to cut off Iran’s oil exports, despite the fact that these sanctions raise the price of gas and threaten the U.S. economy.
2. AIPAC promotes Israeli policies that are in direct opposition to international law. These include the establishment of colonies (settlements) in the Occupied West Bank and the confiscation of Palestinian land in its construction of the 26-foot-high concrete “separation barrier” running through the West Bank. The support of these illegal practices makes it impossible to achieve a solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict.
3. AIPAC’s call for unconditional support for the Israeli government threatens our national security. The United States’ one-sided support of Israel, demanded by AIPAC, has significantly increased anti-American sentiment throughout the Middle East, thus endangering our troops and sowing the seeds of more possible terrorist attacks against us. Gen. David Petraeus on March 16, 2010, admitted that the Israel-Palestine conflict “foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel.” He also said that “Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the [region] and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support.”
4. AIPAC undermines American support for democracy movements in the Arab world. AIPAC looks at the entire Arab world through the lens of Israeli government interests, not the democratic aspirations of the Arab people. It has therefore supported corrupt, repressive regimes that are friendly to the Israeli government, such as Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. Events now unfolding in the Middle East should convince U.S. policymakers of the need to break from AIPAC’s grip and instead support democratic forces in the Arab world.
5. AIPAC makes the United States a pariah at the U.N. AIPAC describes the U.N. as a body hostile to the State of Israel and has pressured the U.S. government to oppose resolutions calling Israel to account. Since 1972, the United States has vetoed 44 U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning Israel’s actions against the Palestinians. President Obama continues that policy. Under Obama, the United States vetoed U.N. censure of the savage Israeli assault on Gaza in January 2009 in which about 1,400 Palestinians were killed; a 2011 resolution calling for a halt to the illegal Israeli West Bank settlements, even though this was stated U.S. policy; a 2011 resolution calling for Israel to cease obstructing the work of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees; and another resolution calling for an end to illegal Israeli settlement-building in East Jerusalem and the occupied Golan Heights.
6. AIPAC attacks politicians who question unconditional support of Israel. AIPAC demands that Congress to rubber-stamp legislation drafted by AIPAC staff. It keeps a record of how members of Congress vote, and this record is used by donors to make contributions to the politicians who score well. Members of Congress who fail to support AIPAC legislation have been targeted for defeat in re-election bids. These include Sens. Adlai Stevenson III and Charles H. Percy and Representatives Paul Findley, Pete McCloskey, Cynthia McKinney, and Earl F. Hilliard. AIPAC’s overwhelmingly disproportionate influence on Congress subverts our democratic system.
7. AIPAC attempts to silence all criticism of Israel by labeling critics as “anti-Semitic,” “de-legitimizers,” or “self-hating Jews.” Journalists, think tanks, students, and professors have been accused of anti-Semitism for merely taking stands critical of Israeli government policies. These attacks stifle the critical discussions and debates that are at the heart of democratic policymaking. The recent attack on staffers at the Center for American Progress is but one example of AIPAC efforts to crush all dissent.
8. AIPAC feeds U.S. government officials a distorted view of the Israel-Palestine conflict. AIPAC takes U.S. representatives on sugarcoated trips to Israel. In 2011, AIPAC took one out of every five members of Congress — and many of their spouses — on a free junket to Israel to see precisely what the Israeli government wanted them to see. It is illegal for lobby groups to take Congress members on trips, but AIPAC gets around the law by creating a bogus educational group, AIEF, to “organize” the trips for them. AIEF has the same office address as AIPAC and the same staff. These trips help cement the ties between AIPAC and Congress, furthering its undue influence.
9. AIPAC lobbies for billions of U.S. tax dollars to go to Israel instead of rebuilding America. While our country is reeling from a prolonged financial crisis, AIPAC is pushing for no cuts in military funds for Israel, a wealthy nation. With communities across the nation slashing budgets for teachers, firefighters, and police, AIPAC pushes for over $3 billion a year to Israel.
10. Money to Israel takes funds from world’s poor. Israel has the 24th-largest economy in the world, but thanks to AIPAC, it gets more U.S. tax dollars than any other country. At a time when the foreign aid budget is being slashed, keeping the lion’s share of foreign assistance for Israel means taking funds from critical programs to feed, provide shelter for, and offer emergency assistance to the world’s poorest people.
The bottom line is that AIPAC, which is a de facto agent for a foreign government, has influence on U.S. policy out of all proportion to the number of Americans who support its policies. When a small group like this has disproportionate power, that hurts everyone — including Israelis and American Jews.
From stopping a catastrophic war with Iran to finally solving the Israel-Palestine conflict, an essential starting point is breaking AIPAC’s grip on U.S. policy.
Read more by Medea BenjaminThey say you can't teach old dogs new trickks. Well, on the contrary, Tim Cahill might have something to say about that.
There are some footballers it’s simply impossible to dislike. Javier Hernandez’s schoolboy charm meant you forgave him no matter how many times he scored past your despairing goalkeeper. Dimitri Payet, well, he’s just too damn entertaining, who wants to ruin such a spectacle? Right, Middlesbrough?
Tim Cahill falls into the same, distinct category. A 5ft 10 ins jack-in-the-box of a forward, few players have perfected that all-too-rare ability to time a run to perfection, arrive in the box late and out of sight. Frank Lampard had it. Paul Scholes had it. And Tim Cahill had it, utilising his salmon-esque leap to devastating effect across eight years and 226 Premier League appearances with Everton.
However, four years after he immigrated to the deluxe retirement home of the USA and New York Red Bulls, Cahill’s still strapping on the shin pads at the age of 36. And that just makes moments such as these even more remarkable.
Just 27 minutes into his A-League debut for Melbourne City, the ball drops loose 35 yards from goal. Seconds later, it crashes into the visitors net, soaring over a stunned goalkeeper at a rate of knots. Quite simply, this is one of the greatest volleys you’ll see all season from a man who has made a career in heading.
If he wasn't a legend in his homeland already, Tim Cahill is already bringing much-needed attention to the often disregarded world of Australian football.
SEE ALSO: Tim Cahill posts message to Everton fans on anniversary of signing
Tim Cahill what a goal,his 1st goal in the @ALeague aged 36 Australia's greatest ever player ⚽️⭐️ — billy sharp (@billysharp10) October 15, 2016
Even now, I love Tim Cahill as if he was my child. https://t.co/cFLqiMSd4I — Rob Esteva (@robesteva) October 15, 2016
So ermmm, 27 minutes into his A-League Melbourne City debut, Tim Cahill did this. Take. A. Bow. — thepunterspage.com (@ThePuntersPage) October 15, 2016
Goal of the season @Tim_Cahill that will be hard to beat the rest of this @ALeague season! Unbelievable and only round 2 wow — Mitchell Duke (@mitchduke8) October 15, 2016
Just seen the goal by #Timcahill what a goal, #takeabowson — Jamie Lloyd (@jlloyd20001) October 15, 2016
Tim Cahill's goal would be better with Titanic music — Victor Yong (@BigVicDT) October 15, 2016
Boom what a goal by Tim Cahill... maybe he's too slow to make those darting runs into the box now... https://t.co/v7bFAUkwe4 — Tony Kenny (@IMTonyKenny) October 15, 2016Claim: Photograph shows the remains of an 8-inch, mummified fairy found in Derbyshire.
FALSE
Example: [Collected on the Internet, April 2007]
Do fairies live at the bottom of your garden? Do fairies live at the bottom of your garden? Maybe not anymore but a recent discovery would suggest that they probably did. What appear to be the mummified remains of a fairy have been discovered in the Derbyshire countryside. The 8 inch remains complete with wings, skin, teeth and flowing red hair have been examined by archaeologists and forensic experts who can confirm that the body is genuine. X-rays of the fairy reveal an anatomically identical skeleton to that of a child. The bones, however, are hollow like those of a bird making them particularly light. The puzzling presence of a navel even suggests that the beings reproduce the same as humans despite the absence of reproductive organs.
Origins: Most of the April Fool’s pranks that appear on the Internet on or around April 1 have petered out by a day or two later; some of the more subtle satirical articles may continue to
circulate for a few days longer before some readers recognize them as humor rather than genuine news stories. For whatever reason, though, the “mummified fairy” prank of 2007 is still going strong well after April 1 has come and gone, even though its creator has long since admitted to the hoax and the fictional tale has been exposed by major news outlets.
The mummified fairy supposedly found in Derbyshire by a dog walker at Firestone Hill near Duffield was the work of former Derbyshire resident Dan Baines, a prop maker. Baines posted an article (titled “Do Fairies Live at the Bottom of Your Garden?”) presenting an elaborate backstory about the creature’s discovery, along with several close-up photographs of the small, detailed fairy figure he created, on a web site a few days before April Fool’s Day 2007. The hoax was quite the hit for a few days as netizens debated its details and origins, and then on April 1 Baines ‘fessed up by appending the following message to his fairy article:
Thank you for the interest you have shown in my story. Thank you for the interest you have shown in my story. Even if you believe in |
model to say the least.
Have you ever been fortunate enough to construct one of these sets yourself? Have fond memories of another huge LEGO set not listed? Discuss with your fellow brickheads in the comments below.
Justin Davis is the second or third best-looking Editor at IGN. You can follow him on Twitter at @ErrorJustin and on IGN.“Yooooooooooooooge!” the Donald bellowed.
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
On Monday, a left-leaning think tank analyzed Donald Trump’s new tax plan and found it would cost roughly $10.8 trillion over a decade, more or less cratering the government’s finances into fiery rubble while largely benefiting the rich. That estimate, however, did not account for any salubrious effects the proposal might have on economic growth. What happens when you do?
Today, the conservative Tax Foundation offered an answer. Without factoring in growth, it found that Trump’s plan would actually add $11.98 trillion to the 10-year deficit. Once the boost to growth that would result from slashing taxes is factored in, it would only cost $10.14 trillion … more or less cratering the government’s finances into fiery rubble.
Theoretically, this should be problematic for Trump, who claims his proposal wouldn’t add to the debt or deficit. But the funny thing is, I actually think he’ll run with this. Because his cuts are so, so huge, the Tax Foundation—which has great faith in the ability of tax reductions to spur the economy—says the plan will create 5.3 million extra jobs over 10 years. Jeb Bush’s own deficit-ballooning tax proposal—which Trump seems to have more or less grabbed, then doctored a bit by slashing rates further—would add a mere 2.7 million jobs, according to the think tank’s math. Marco Rubio’s preferred tax cuts, which once seemed completely laughable in their own right but appear almost quaint compared with the Donald’s, would add just 2.6 million. Thus, Trump can get on stage (or heck, run a TV ad) and brag that an established right-leaning think tank believes his tax policy proposals will create twice as many jobs as his competitors’. I mean, it’s not as if his establishment-backed rivals have much standing to criticize him over fiscal responsibility. And if the short-fingered GOP front-runner needs another conservative celebrity endorsement, he can just quote this tweet from Grover Norquist. What better sell are you going to get than “Jobs. Jobs. Jobs.”?
.The @realDonaldTrump tax plan cuts business tax from 35% to 15%. This makes us competitive worldwide. Jobs. Jobs. Jobs. — Grover Norquist (@GroverNorquist) September 28, 2015
So congratulations to Donald Trump, whose lightly sketched, semihomemade, and wholly absurd tax plan seems perfectly suited to satiate the needs of a Republican primary electorate. The man is a wonder.Amid a growing frenzy in Congress over the postponed vote for the American Health Care Act is the looming threat against Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s very livelihood. As the health care bill continues to sink, many are beginning to wonder if it is a sign that Ryan should not be at the helm in the House as well.
President Trump was asked today during a brief press gaggle if he felt Speaker Ryan should remain in his position if the AHCA failed to pass. Willing to remain publicly loyal to Ryan for now, at least, Trump said “yes.”
Privately, Trump is reportedly regretful that he ever publicly supported Ryan’s brainchild healthcare bill at all.
According to the New York Times,
“Mr. Trump has told four people close to him that he regrets going along with Speaker Paul D. Ryan’s plan to push a health care overhaul before unveiling a tax cut proposal more politically palatable to Republicans. He said ruefully this week that he should have done tax reform first when it became clear that the quick-hit health care victory he had hoped for was not going to materialize on Thursday.”
Still, if the bill does die on the House Floor, there is no telling who Trump will throw under the bus to protect himself. Already, he has begun blaming Congress as a whole, but if the bill does fail as it seems it will, he may need a bigger target for the GOP to focus on.
In fact, according to sources who spoke with Bloomberg, Trump’s White House is already setting the stage to place the entire blame on Ryan.
“I think Paul Ryan did a major disservice to President Trump, I think the president was extremely courageous in taking on health care and trusted others to come through with a program he could sign off on,” Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax and a long-time friend of Trump’s, said in an interview last week. “The President had confidence Paul Ryan would come up with a good plan and to me, it is disappointing.”
Blaming Ryan does seem to be the smartest option for the take-no-responsibility POTUS. After all, Ryan was the architect of the badly-formed, universally opposed healthcare bill.
Clearly, the rising star of the GOP who was once a Vice Presidential candidate and has proudly served as the Speaker of the House may have simply bitten off more than he can chew, and in this Administration, there is no reward for failure.Well, perhaps not quite everything, but enough that were you to personally experience the demonstration and look around with your own eyes, you’d likely come to regard the mainstream media reports about Occupy Wall Street (especially the lamebrain stuff printed in The New York Post or heard on Fox News) more like loose gossip, bullshit or random fiction, than actual journalism or considered opinion.
I had the extreme privilege of visiting Zuccotti Park on three of the five days I recently spent in NYC and I’m here to tell you that I am much more excited about Occupy Wall Street—and prospects for real progressive change in this country—now than I ever could have been admiring it from afar. It was a life-affirming and quite moving thing to personally experience and hopefully I can get some of those good feelings across here.
On Wednesday, I was picked up at JFK by my old friend (and frequent Dangerous Minds Radio Hour DJ) Nate Cimmino. I checked into my hotel and since I hadn’t been to NYC for a few years, we decided to just walk from Houston Street to the OWS site. It was raining, not exactly a heavy downpour, but the rain had been steady for most of the day. When we arrived at Zuccotti Park around 4pm, it was starting to get dark and it was pretty much locked down with everyone trying to keep dry. Plastic covered everything and people huddled under makeshift tarps just trying to keep their shit together. It resembled a water-logged shanty town and hardly anything was going on. The lines for the brightly-lit food carts on the southern side of the park were the most noticeable thing at that time (these guys must be making bank, especially the falafel vendors). CNN had a mobile video van with a crane and a “crow’s nest” for getting aerial shots of the park. Dozens of NYPD officers in rain gear ringed the park, many of them female officers.
The medical area of Occupy Wall Street.
This wasn’t the right moment to get much of a feel for what’s been going on there, obviously, so I resolved to return on the weekend. Some initial observations though: Zuccotti Park isn’t much of a park at all. It’s more like a concrete plaza and it’s not very big. Keep in mind when you hear people scoffing at the size of the demonstration, that about a thousand people (give or take) is all this area would hold. If many more people tried to join in the demonstration, it would not be possible to move about. It’s already densely packed as it is.
It’s also right across the street from Ground Zero. In my mind, it was in a different (southeastern) part of lower Manhattan, so when we walked down Broadway, the sound of the drumming got louder and then all of a sudden there it was, that came as a surprise.
Greg Barris and me mugging for the camera on one of the OWS live video feeds.
On Saturday I returned to OWS with my friend Greg Barris, a stand-up comedian and restaurateur. Greg’s been taking pizza from his restaurant to Zuccotti Park since the demonstrations began. The festive carnival atmosphere that morning was a striking contrast to Wednesday’s wash-out. Colorful flags, costumed characters and people of all ages, races, creeds and personality types circulated around the square. You could see people who were arriving alone with a look of apprehension in their eyes, but soon afterward, that same person would be seen joining right in.
Several people distributed free copies of The Occupy Wall Street Journal and a lefty books lending library operated efficiently (there were even a few books that I had published). Everyone was smiling at one another and a feeling of fun and solidarity was palpable. I saw no overtly negative signs and I saw no placards whatsoever for either of the major political parties (I’d put the number of Republicans at Zuccotti Park at slightly north of “zero,” but still I saw not a single pro-Democrat or pro-Obama item anywhere, either). There’s a medical area where minor things can be tended to by volunteer nurses and medics and a food area manned by park residents. Greg pointed out one earnest-looking California blond skater-type and told me he’s seen that same guy dishing out plates of free food since the earliest days of the demonstration. The park was notably clean, not at all the unsanitary mess Fox News viewers have been repeatedly told about.
A woman who identified herself as “The Knitting Granny” sat knitting sweaters and scarfs to give to the occupiers. Children in face-paint or costumes carried signs marching with their parents. An elderly gentleman using a walker who must’ve been in his nineties told some of us that he’d been an engineer working with dams and waterways his entire career and what he knew about the “fracking” that’s planned for locations upstate less than ten miles away from New York’s main water supply scared him to death. He came to share his expertise, he told me, and to see OWS with his own eyes.
Several “super heroes” circulated around. A man in his early 30s, who came to OWS alone from Delaware, brought along a solar electrical generator and set it up so people could charge their cell phones. One fellow, who we later saw on the subway, was dressed in a barrel. He must’ve been cold. Another guy carried a “Ross Perot for President” sign and wore a Ross Perot t-shirt and badges.over his coat. He might’ve been the weirdest guy I saw there.
When you hear dismissive asses braying about how it’s “all white people”—that’s a bunch of utter nonsense. You’ll encounter as diversified a group at OWS as you would if you were in a New York City DMV office and that’s really saying something, so these sorts of haters and naysayers, can go jump in the lake. All white? Maybe in the first few days, but now, that’s simply not even in the slightest bit true.
There are TONS of attractive people at OWS and the mood is so festive and jovial that making conversation with members of the opposite sex is very easy to do. I may get shit for saying this, but it’s true: If more guys knew how many super hot women were milling around OWS, there’d immediately be a massive increase in attendance and foot traffic in the area around Zuccotti Park.
Gay? Fret not, there is a “Queer Camp,” too (look for the feather boas on the northeast side of the park). We even saw someone who identified herself as a “T-girl pornstar” make herself hoarse shouting anti-capitalism things and the very wonderful Reverend Billy is a frequent visitor. The age range is all over the place, as well. In fact, it’s hard to generalize anything at all about the people you meet there except to say that they’ve got their eyes wide open about the problems of advanced capitalism and American democracy. That’s the bottom line. THAT was the commonality amongst all of us.
Greg Barris and his sign.
Most people, it would seem, sleep at their homes but come downtown whenever they can. I got the feeling that there was a small percentage of the occupiers who were the ones who were sleeping there. When you walk around in the interior of the plaza, it becomes somewhat apparent that the folks who the media are derisively describing as “hippies,” “punks” and “homeless people” are in fact, quite often hippies, punks and homeless people. They form the more hardcore inner group that performs the very important task of holding down the park. Without their presence, Mayor Bloomberg would have put fences around Zuccotti Park in two seconds flat, so remember that when you’re there and drop a few bucks in their cans. They’re not merely scruffy panhandlers, they’re there in YOUR place if you support the aims of OWS.
Aside from the resident demonstrators and the day-trippers getting their protest on, there are also thousands of tourists milling about taking pictures. The photos they take are then uploaded to Facebook, Flickr and their blogs. The stories they bring back home and to the water-cooler at work and to their online lives will continue to spread the word about what’s going on in Zuccotti Park.
Sunday afternoon at Occupy Wall Street, I met up with Em, the “undercover banker” who sometimes writes incendiary essays for DM, Nate Cimmino, his wife Nicole and my pal, noted photographer Glen E. Friedman. It was another gorgeous, glorious day like the one before it, with intelligent and engaged people joining together for a higher purpose. (I’ve already mentioned about all of the beautiful woman down there, but I’m going to mention it once more so it really sinks in, okay?).
My favorite moment—or moments, I should say—of my three visits to Occupy Wall Street was watching the open-air Big Apple double-decker tour buses drive past, full of tourists with their fists in the air! That was an amazing thing to see. Witnessing that sight, repeatedly, I might add, was as sure a confirmation as anyone should require that a little over a month after its improbably beginnings, OWS is becoming a mainstream phenomenon. When is the last time the mainstream media took up a progressive cause? The Civil Rights movement? The Vietnam War? This is a real thing, not a flash in the pan. The fist-pumping seniors on the tour buses are but one of the signposts of the shift that’s happening in this country. Is there anyone out there stupid enough to still ask “What is their endgame?” Even someone who only watches Fox News has probably figured THAT out by now!
The only disharmonious incident I witnessed in my three visits was when a dopey-looking born again Christian crew (I’m talking total Ned Flanders-types) started telling the people assembled there, but especially the ones sleeping in Zuccotti Park, that they were possessed by demons and bound for Hell. As you might imagine that message went over like a lead zeppelin. A late 40-something gutterpunk guy and a hilariously confrontational black kid got right up in their faces with such intensity (and volume) that they quickly left. When they fucked off, deflated, everyone cheered.
Having said that, the overall scene at Occupy Wall Street does feel, in some respects, almost biblical, with one thousand iPhone carrying Joshuas shouting down the walls of a very high tech Jericho. Let there be no doubts, dear reader, I, and everyone around me there knew that we were witnessing and participating in history. It’s not going to be an overnight change, but anyone who thinks that things can or will continue on indefinitely the way they have been are going to be in for a very rude awakening.
Obama and the Democrats are going to have to move quite far to the left to satisfy their base as we move into 2012 and from what I saw, I reckon that OWS is pretty much 100% bad news for the Republicans, who are going to get the free market and tax cuts for the 1% shoved right up their goddamned asses on election day (I’m looking at you, Eric Cantor and Paul Ryan). I mean, shit, once the election season kicks fully into high gear next year, I expect to see some completely hilarious stuff happen, don’t you? It’s going to be the best election ever! Or the funniest, at least.
As the drumbeat for change in the way we “do business” in America gets louder and louder and louder, the elites will have no choice but to respond. 99% vs. 1%? Who’d be dumb enough to bet against odds like that? The changes that are destined to take place in the next decade of American life are going to make people of a conservative political disposition very uncomfortable indeed. The rest of us are going to be thrilled, though, so fuck ‘em.
From my point of view as an “old school” New Yorker parachuting into Manhattan after a few years away, Occupy Wall Street is functioning like a sun that is radiating its heat throughout all of New York City, and then via the media, to the rest of the planet. It’s extremely inspiring. As someone who lived in the city for the better part of three decades, NOW is the best I have seen NYC since the early 1980s. The energy in the streets is near an all-time high. New York is just killin’ it. Something is really happening at the moment and it’s an exciting time to be there. If you live in Philly, CT, New Jersey… go down there and check out Occupy Wall Street for yourself. If you live in the NY metro area and you haven’t been downtown, shame on you for watching it on tee-vee…
Trust me when I tell you that it pained me, absolutely pained me to be the old fart saying “New York used to be better back when I was young”... but I’ll never be tempted to say that again anyway, not after what I saw last week.
Believe.
Previously on Dangerous Minds:
The Original Occupy Wall Street: Stop the City, 1984
All photographs taken by Greg Barris from his Flickr page.(CNN) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had some choice words for US President Donald Trump Friday, accusing the American leader of "mentally deranged behavior."
But it was Kim's use of the term "dotard," that has set the internet alight. While not widely used today, the insult is centuries old, appearing in medieval literature from the ninth century.
Searches for the term have spiked in the wake of Kim's address, according to dictionary Merriam-Webster, which defines the term as referring to "a state or period of senile decay marked by decline of mental poise."
Kim, of course, did not say the word -- he was speaking in Korean. "Dotard" was the official English translation provided by state news agency KCNA for the Korean "늙다리미치광이" ("neulg-dali-michigwang-i"), which literally translates as "old lunatic."
Later in the KCNA translation of Kim's address, the North Korean leader advises Trump to "exercise prudence in selecting words," something the news agency seems to have taken to heart.Ripple has been making quite the name for itself in Asia. Bridging the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology is the smart move in 2017. It now appears the company is looking to expand into other territories as well. More specifically, they are in talks with the National Payments Corporation of India and other banks. An interesting development, to say the least.
It is good to see Ripple get acknowledged by other institutions around the world. India is a country where digital payments are definitely taking off right now. Even so, these solutions are hindered by archaic technology and solutions which can’t scale to accommodate too many users. Something that involves blockchain technology would of great help in this regard, as it can alleviate most concerns.
Ripple Technology is Coming to India Soon
Now that the National Payments Corporation of India is in talks with Ripple, things will get interesting. It seems other Indian banks are also part of the conversation, which is nice to see. Global account–to-account transfers are the main objective of this new partnership, by the look of things. More specifically, this new solution will work without being a part of a payment network.
Ripple has built up a solid reputation in this regard. The company is doing extremely well for itself. They also gained a lot of recognition over the past few months, which helps expand their presence on a global scale. Any institution in the world can hook into Ripple’s technology and benefit from real-time global transfers. It is obvious Indian banks want to benefit from this technology as well.
For the time being, all parties involved will develop solutions for travel-related payments and remittance transfers. Both of these concepts will benefit tremendously from the Ripple Consensus Ledger. Additionally, this technology will slowly make its way to the Gulf and other countries in the region. These are very exciting times for Ripple and the team, that much is evident.
Header image courtesy of ShutterstockThe technology behind Bitcoin has the potential to be a vastly superior way to move money and conduct other financial transactions because it is more secure and transparent, nearly instantaneous and less expensive.
But in a developed economy such as that of the United States, Bitcoin startups face an uphill battle in winning over consumers who already like their credit card points and find existing money transfer apps like Venmo sufficiently fast enough for their needs.
They could, however, find an opening by offering services that traditional institutions have not been able to provide, such as micropayments, in which the fee for a transaction has traditionally been higher than the amount being exchanged.
That is the opening that San Francisco-based ChangeTip is trying to exploit. Because Bitcoin can be moved for fractions of a penny, the technology is ideal for conducting micropayments. In recent months, like other Bitcoin companies hoping to expand their user bases, ChangeTip has made several moves to broaden its appeal to those outside the core Bitcoin community, including adding U.S. dollars to its platform. On Monday, the company launched an iOS app, which allows users to send and receive U.S. dollars and Bitcoin via their mobile phones.
“We have kind of completely saturated the existing Bitcoin community at this point. If you’re a Bitcoin user, you have heard of ChangeTip and decided whether or not to use it, so we need to bust out of that and get into more casual normal users,” chief executive Nick Sullivan told me last summer.
The free iOS app, called ChangeTip, enables users to post links that they find “tip-worthy,” triggering a $0.25 tip to the creator of the content and a small percentage of the tips to the “curators” — those who post the content.
The site opens with a feed of the tip-worthy submissions, giving other users an opportunity to tip the creator (and therefore the curator) as well. Tip amounts include a beer ($3.50), a coffee ($1.50), a doughnut ($.35) a euro, a dollar, a high-five ($5) or whatever tip amount they would like. I created ones called “chocolate bar,” which I valued at $2, and “cupcake” ($3). It also enables users to tip connections via Facebook, Twitter, email or text.
The iOS app adds to ChangeTip’s offerings on Reddit, Twitter, Github, Google Plus, SoundCloud, Slack and other sites that already have a well-established like economy, said Sullivan, adding “we call ourselves the love button for the internet. When you see a Youtube video that makes an impact on your life, instead of just putting an up vote, you can share your appreciation with a coffee or a beer.”
On those platforms, users tip each other via their social media profiles, and the company monitors those sites for a mention of ChangeTip and a user to receive the funds (notated, for instance, with an @ symbol on Twitter or a + on Google Plus). It then sends the amount mentioned from the tipper to the recipient, even if the two are in different countries that use different currencies. (If the recipient’s local currency is not supported by ChangeTip, she will receive her tip in Bitcoin.)
Launched in early 2014, ChangeTip has gotten traction amongst Bitcoin users, but hasn’t yet cracked the market for non-cryptocurrency enthusiasts. In another initiative designed to appeal to consumers outside the Bitcoin community, it teamed up with the charity Direct Relief last summer to launch a campaign in which 100% of the donated funds could be put toward the cause, because moving money via Bitcoin requires almost nothing in transaction fees.
Although the company believes the best currency for these tiny transactions is Bitcoin, it has decided attracting new users requires targeting consumers who have concerns about the cryptocurrency. Sullivan said most regular consumers resist using it because of the volatility in the exchange rate, with the currency being valued at as much as $1,240 in December 2013, and having dipped to as low as $177 in the January. (In the last several weeks, the value has risen, to more than $350 as of this writing.) Additionally, some of them are loath to use it because it is not a fiat currency backed by a government. Yet others have a general fear of the currency, partially because if the user does not know how to store the private key(s) to her Bitcoin address(es) properly, it can be hacked, and partially because of the reputation Bitcoin gained early on as the currency of choice for illicit transactions.
“While we maintain that the best payment channel for a global micro payments platform is Bitcoin because of low transaction fees, anonymity and the fact that it’s an abstraction layer for all the currencies on the globe, we understand people want to use U.S. dollars,” said Sullivan. “Who are we to say that they must use Bitcoin?”
Opening up the platform to U.S. dollars also means opening it up to the slowness and expense of dealing with the traditional banking system. For instance, users who top up their ChangeTip balance with a credit card will also trigger the credit card transaction fee, which can be 2 to 3%, or even more for international transactions. Though this typically gets charged to the merchant and is invisible to the consumer, that fee, which is transparent on ChangeTip and charged to the consumer, exposes the hidden costs of traditional financial services and help users understand the cost advantage of Bitcoin. (However, until December 15, 2015, the company is waiving its 1% exchange fee to convert money from Bitcoin to U.S. dollars.)
Down the line, ChangeTip envisions enabling micropayments for viewing content online, in lieu of advertising paying for content that is otherwise free to the consumer.
“We’ve lazily accepted ads as a way to monetize content but nobody loves that, so let’s find a better way to monetize content,” said Sullivan. “I would prefer to pay a tenth of a penny per page view or one-hundredth of a penny per page view for every article that I see on Forbes or The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal, The Economist or any of my favorite blog sites, rather than having to look at ads or have my data strewn all over the Internet.”
When asked about the disruption this might cause in the existing online advertising industry, which benefits a number of big players like Google, Sullivan said, “I have no moral qualms with disrupting the online advertising ecosystem. I think it’s an industry right for disruption.”
While the service has yet to catch on outside the Bitcoin community, Sullivan is confident that micropayments soon could take off in the U.S.
“A lot of people could say that micropayments have and will never work, but I think the counterexample of saying it already works, there’s already a proof point, is iTunes,” he said. “ITunes came along and introduced both lower friction and single units of being able to purchase just one song at a time. It had a significant disruption in the recording industry, and I think we’ll see more and more of that as we further reduce the friction and cost around micropayments.”(Reuters) - Online gambling firm GVC Holdings Plc, which has a presence in the Greek market through a partner, said it had seen a fall in player activity in that territory.
The company said it was too early to forecast whether this would have a material effect on the second half of the financial year for its Greek operations.
GVC's other markets continue to trade well and the board remains confident in year-end expectations, the company said, and declared a quarterly dividend of 14 euro cents.
The company operates through its partner Centric Multimedia SA in Greece, which shut its banks to limit strains on its crippled financial system.
Sports betting is incredibly popular in Greece, where companies like OPAP, Europe's second-biggest gambling firm by market value, provide numerical lottery and sports betting games.
The Isle of Man-based GVC operates in more than 20 countries and is licensed in Malta, Denmark, UK, South Africa, Alderney and the Dutch Caribbean.
GVC, which offered to buy bigger rival Bwin. Party Digital Entertainment Plc, said on Wednesday it was in continued talks with the company.
The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that GVC Holdings has offered about 900 million pounds for Bwin.Party.
(Reporting by Aastha Agnihotri in Bengaluru; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier)Here is a look at the five positions the Miami Dolphins, in comparison to the other 31 NFL teams, spend the most and least money (all via spotrac). As you’ll soon learn, Miami really needs better production for what it’s paying from its defensive line and could very well receive outstanding production for what its paying at many positions, including receiver, linebacker and running back. In general, Miami (operating with $16.9 million in cap space, which is 14th-best in the NFL) and $8.2 million in dead cap money (just worse than the league average) is managing the all-important salary cap fairly well.
Most salary cap allocation:
Defensive line — (1st in the NFL at $45.2 million, or 29.2 percent of the total cap). Analysis: Is Miami getting a proper return on investment? The Dolphins were 30th in the NFL in rush defense last season and tied for 19th in the NFL in sacks. Ndamukong Suh ties up $19.1 million in 2017, as he is the highest-paid defensive tackle in the league and 15th-highest paid player in the NFL. There are six big names in this group (Suh, Cameron Wake, Andre Branch, William Hayes, Charles Harris and Jordan Phillips) and first-year defensive coordinator Matt Burke must find a way to increase the overall production. Quarterback — (6th in the NFL at $23.6 million, or 15.2 percent of the total cap). Analysis: Ryan Tannehill counts $20.3 million against Miami’s cap in 2017 (6th among NFL quarterbacks) and ranked 12th in the league in passer rating in 2016, so the numbers are not completely out of whack. Of course, Miami would like to see Tannehill make the leap into the so-called “elite” category, as for example, Matt Ryan did last season. Backup Matt Moore ($2.2 million) is the NFL’s 39th-highest paid quarterback and Miami is fortunate to have him. Tight end — (9th in the NFL at $10.4 million, or 6.7 percent of the total cap). Analysis: Despite taking a pay cut to play for the Dolphins, Julius Thomas’ cap hit is still $5.6 million, which makes him the 6th-highest paid Dolphin as well as the 10th-highest paid tight end in the league. Miami is banking on Thomas’ production to far exceed that of former tight end Jordan Cameron, who retired due to injury. Backup Anthony Fasano, at $2.75 million, is paid like a low-end starter. Safety — (13th in the NFL at $12.6 million, or 8.1 percent of the total cap). Analysis: The Dolphins could get excellent production for what they’re paying their safeties in 2017. Reshad Jones’ cap hit is $3.7 million (it jumps to $11.6 in 2018). Starter Nate Allen is the NFL’s 16th-highest paid free safety. And special teams dynamo Michael Thomas and T.J. McDonald (suspended for eight games) seem likely to outperform their contracts. Offensive line — (22nd in the NFL at $24.9 million, or 16.1 percent of the total cap). Analysis: The highest-paid Miami offensive lineman, by far, is center Mike Pouncey. He is the third-highest paid Dolphin and third-highest paid center in the NFL and would be subject to release if he wasn’t so talented and such a heart-and-soul leader of the unit. In part because his cap hit is $8.9 million, Miami needs Pouncey to be healthy. Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James, at $2.8 million and $2.7 million this season, could be bargains. The Dolphins have chosen not to overextend for guards (22nd in the league).
Least salary cap allocation:
Wide receiver — (30th in the NFL at $12.5 million, or 8.1 percent of the total cap). Analysis: The Dolphins may have one of the NFL’s best receiving trios, but these youngsters aren’t yet highly-paid. Of course this may change if and when Jarvis Landry receives a mega-deal before the start of the season. But as of now, Landry will count only $1.1 million against the cap (29th on the Dolphins and the 97th-highest paid receiver in the league). Kenny Stills’ new deal averages $8 million a season, but his cap hit is only $3.8 million for this season (42nd-highest receiver in the league). DeVante Parker has two years left on his original deal (plus a club option), so Miami is well-positioned at this position. All three players will be 24 or 25 this season. Special teams — (29th in the NFL at $2.9 million, or 1.8 percent of the total cap). Analysis: Andrew Franks is the NFL’s 30th-highest paid kicker. Matt Darr is the NFL’s 26th-highest paid punter. John Denney is the NFL’s 19th-highest paid snapper. The Dolphins had the NFL’s 12-best overall special teams unit, as ranked by Football Outsiders. Miami was really strong in kick return and kick coverage. And many core special teamers return, such as Mike Hull, Michael Thomas, Lafayette Pitts, Walt Aikens, Neville Hewitt and Kenyan Drake have all returned. Linebacker — (26th in the NFL at $16.1 million, or 9.8 percent of the total cap). Analysis: The Dolphins increased their financial commitment to linebacker (as was needed) with the addition of free agent thumper Lawrence Timmons (2 years, $12 million as the NFL’s 13th-highest paid inside linebacker). Signing Kiko Alonso to a new 4-year, $28.9 million deal with $2.85 million in cap space this season was smart. Koa Misi took a pay cut but still counts $3.6 million against the cap this season. Running back — (26th in the NFL at $4.8 million, or 3.1 percent of the total cap). Analysis: Jay Ajayi should be one of the NFL’s great bargains in 2017. He is scheduled to count $670,203 against the cap. This would make Ajayi the 41st-highest paid Dolphin, 86th-highest paid running back in the NFL and 1,310th-highest paid player in the NFL. And Miami is considering giving Ajayi 350 carries. If Ajayi repeats his 2016 efforts, it would seem likely he is given an extension with one year left on his deal after 2017. Ajayi currently slated to make less than Damien Williams and Kenyan Drake and only $230,203 more than Storm Johnson and Senorise Perry. Cornerback — (23rd in the NFL at $12.7 million, or 8.2 percent of the total cap). Analysis: The Dolphins actually have depth at cornerback, which any franchise would covet. Veteran Byron Maxwell ($8.5 million hit) is scheduled to earn more than seven other Miami cornerbacks combined, which is why he’ll be subject to intense scrutiny. Which he’s used to. Xavien Howard (80th-highest paid corner in NFL) and Bobby McCain (138th) and Tony Lippett (139th) and rookie Cordrea Tankersley all have the ability to out-perform their early-career contracts.
Top 10 Miami Dolphins to watch at minicamp this week
Miami Dolphins: Why Adam Gase did pushups with offense at OTAs
How Ja’Wuan James feels about Miami Dolphins picking up 5th year option
Miami Dolphins WR Leonte Carroo has less weight, better approach
Dolphins committed to latest logo for now, but will wear throwbacks twice in 2017
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Get Dolphins stories right to your Facebook by liking this pageRussian name generator
This name generator will generate 10 random Russian names.
Russia is the biggest country in the world, spanning from eastern Europe all the way to eastern Asia. Despite it's enormous size, Russia ranks 9th in terms of population size, with a population of 144 million people.
In Russia, names aren't used in the same way most of us would use them, especially in formal ways.
In legal documents, the surname is usually written first, then the first name and then a patronymic name, which is a name based on the father's name. The patronymic name is important as it's polite to call somebody by their first and patronymic name.
Many names have a short version however, which is used as a nickname. Those names are in brackets in this generator. In real life there are various versions of nicknames, they're usually fairly similar to each other, but one version may only be used by friends, while another may only be used by lovers in private moments for example.
If you want a modern/traditional Russian name, stick to those with a nickname.
In this generator the order of the names are the same as you'd see them on many legal documents, so first the surname, then the first name with or without a nickname in brackets and then the patronymic name.
To start, simply click on the button to generate |
their conversion rate is way worse on mobile than on desktops," says Collison.
The big problem here is that most people (in the US, it's 60pc, while in Ireland it recently exceeded 50pc) now use their phones more than their PC to browse. Mostly, this is within apps such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
But trying to sell buy or sell something within this mobile ecosystem is "broken", according to Patrick Collison, Stripe CEO and older brother of John. "It's like you'd intentionally designed something to discourage purchases," he says.
"For one thing, links - the basic building block of the web - simply don't work well on phones. Making a purchase entails multiple links, page loads and context switches. On top of that, the purchase flow itself on mobile is terribly broken, with dozens of different form fields and validations to have to jump through in order to go from intent to completion.
"For consumers, it's just too hard."
Better systems like Apple Pay, with its thumb-tapping process of instantly entering and confirming billing and shipping details, are slowly entering this void, he says.
But there has to be some way of making the basic process of using a phone for commerce easier.
"Billions of people around the world connect to the internet for the first time on a mobile device," says Patrick Collison.
"Yet conversions on mobile are still less than half of what they are on desktops. Clearly, the purchase intent on mobile devices is there, but a seamless checkout experience for consumers or an easy way to sell at the moment of discovery for merchants are not."
A lot of companies agree. Over 1,000 of them are now using Stripe's solution, Relay. It's a US-only service at present, as international Twitter followers of Jared Leto will have discovered by now. But if Stripe's product history is any guide, it will soon expand into Europe and other places.
Getting beyond rich parts of the world is critical to all of this, says Patrick Collison.
"There's a huge amount of untapped possibility in basically every non-Western market," he says. "Not only because they're at an earlier phase of the adoption curve of the internet and their economies are in the early stages of their development trajectory, but also because they're yet to be fully integrated into the internet economy.
"It should be possible for someone to start a business and to accept payments from customers anywhere in the world - no matter where they're geographically based.
"When it comes to the movement of money and the ability to start and operate a business or needing to purchase from a business, the internet really hasn't delivered on its promise of transcending physical geography.
"You have this balkanised landscape of European internet companies and American internet companies and Chinese internet companies and so forth. Entrepreneurs in the US or western Europe can really easily start an online business - but somebody in Peru or Indonesia or India can not. That should not be acceptable to us."
By their own ambitions, Stripe is still a small company at the beginning of what it wants to set out to achieve. Does it have the chops to get what it wants done? There aren't too many doubters in Silicon Valley.
"They want to win so badly," said Ethan Kurzweil, a partner with Silicon Valley investment firm Bessemer Venture Partners, which has no financial interest in Stripe.
"They are going to do whatever is humanly necessary to make that a winner. I remember meeting Patrick early on and it was clear that he was going to do this."
Kurzweil has no particular reason to talk Stripe up. He has no financial relationship with the firm. But he does know a thing or two about backing winners. Start-ups he has invested in include Twitch ($970m sale to Amazon), Dropcam ($555m sale to Google) and Periscope ($100m sale to Twitter).
"With some companies, you go in and their office is amazing and they have bartenders and stuff. With Stripe, it's a grounded company. They have an elegant vision but they're frugal and very dynamic. You might say they've had an easy time with capital, but they've also been scrappy. They've kept that culture even as they've had money thrown at them."
So far, the company has raised $190m to tackle the issues it wants to address. It doesn't disclose financial information around revenue, run rates or profit. But senior investors are still lining up to get a piece of the action. In its last funding round, it added credit card behemoth Visa to its list of financial backers.
This has led to a lot of interest in the company as a 'unicorn' - a private start-up with a valuation of over $1bn. (Patrick Collison adorns the current cover of Forbes Magazine partly for this reason.) In an industry that has become as obsessed with net worth as products and services, there is now talk of Stripe entering 'decacorn' territory: a private start-up with a valuation of over $10bn. (This would not be formalised unless a further round of funding indicated as much.)
The Collisons seem genuinely uninterested in this as a going concern. They probably know that paper valuations can collapse as easily as they rise. And that there is a peculiar type of shallowness to an obsession - both in Silicon Valley and in the media - with celebrating a firm's valuation as much as a product, a service or an act.
"In general, I think that start-ups get way too caught up with valuations," John Collison said at Moneyconf, a sister event to the Web Summit. "And I think that the Valley has helped to cause this problem because it's often the only number people there talk about.
"But there's too much meaning put on it. It ends up getting used as a scoreboard, whereas it's really just a cost of capital. And even then, it's just one of many, many metrics that businesses should be looking at.
"If anything, it's actually far down that list of metrics - especially as so many start-ups today are not that capital-intensive.
"Internally, at Stripe, we emphasise that people should not be valuation-focused because we have so many other better metrics that we can track. Like how many customers we're serving or how happy those customers are, or revenue or profits."
That being the company's basic position, it follows that neither Collison gets too exercised over debates about whether there's currently a bubble in tech industry valuations.
"People have been talking about bubbles since 2010," says John Collison. "But history shows us that people are pretty bad at calling a bubble. We might see one at some stage.
"But what we definitely see now is that there are a lot of real companies here making real products and delivering real revenue.
"It's not the case where it's all based on hits to a website while the company incinerates cash. Pick five high-profile tech companies here - Uber, Airbnb, whoever - they're conducting real business."
But it's not bubbles or valuations or being part of a San Francisco zeitgeist that occupies the minds of the Collisons these days.
Instead, it's the big questions. Where do we, as a society, take the internet from here? How can we make it easier for anyone to build a business online? How do we connect digital dots that are scattered across financial, regulatory and proprietary swamps?
"Less than 5pc of all spending in the world takes place on the internet today," says Patrick Collison. "Stripe is a small fraction of that percentage. So if our goal is to enrich the internet ecosystem to empower and accelerate this technological progress, we still have a vastly long way to go.
"If we want to be the agent that turns that 5pc into 10pc or 20pc, we're barely off the starting blocks. The binding theme has decades left in it."
This could eventually mean connecting everything from virtual currencies such as Bitcoin (for which Stripe already has some support) to disparate payment systems, such as the runaway mobile hit M-Pesa in Kenya.
"That's something we see as part of the future," says John. "But down the road. There'd be lots of work to do on stuff like that. But we want to support the means for collecting money and paying out, wherever it is."
"Ultimately the biggest challenge is systemic," adds Patrick Collison. "Jeff Bezos has the compelling analogy of electricity generation when he talks about Amazon Web Services. In the early days of electricity, everyone had to have their own power station.
"It's clearly so much more efficient to the world if you can aggregate and centralise that expertise to provide electricity as a utility, a service. We want to provide the best commerce and payments infrastructure to any business - an Amazon-class payments infrastructure without customers incurring the cost and complexity of building it themselves."
It's the big questions that the Collisons and Stripe are out to fix. At this point, no one is betting against them.
John Collison will be speaking at next week's Web Summit in Dublin.
Sunday Indo BusinessFerrari president Luca di Montezemolo said that Ayrton Senna had wanted to go to Ferrari
“He wanted to come to Ferrari and I wanted him in the team. When he was in Italy for the San Marino Grand Prix, we met at my home in Bologna on Wednesday 27 April. He told me he really appreciated the stand we had taken against the excessive use of electronic aids for driving, which didn’t allow a driver’s skill to shine through.”
“We spoke for a long time and he made it clear to me that he wanted to end his career at Ferrari, having come close to joining us a few years earlier. We agreed to meet again soon, so as to look at how we could overcome his contractual obligations at the time. We were both in agreement that Ferrari would be the ideal place for him to further his career, which to date had been brilliant, even unique.
The comment of the President of Ferrari came a day before the 20th anniversary of Senna’s death. Di Montezemolo did not hide his admiration for the F1 legend.
“Unfortunately, fate robbed all of us of Ayrton and Roland Ratzenberger over one of the saddest weekends in Formula 1 history. Of Senna, I remember his kindness and his simple almost shy nature, which was in complete contrast to Senna the driver, a fighter always aiming for the best.”
“I always appreciated Ayrton’s style of racing. As with all great champions, he had an incredible will to win and never tired of seeking perfection, trying to improve all the time. He was extraordinary in qualifying, but also a great battler in the races, when he always fought tooth and nail”.Patch can be downloaded here. Download
Here are the general instructions on how to use the patch. Please note that right now, this patch will only support Valkyria Chronicles 3: Extra Edition because of memory limitations in the original version. The patch requires at least 4GB of open space on your computer, Java, and the windows.net service pack.
0. You will need to install custom firmware (CFW) onto your PSP. This will be basically opening up a file on the memory stick as a regular PSP firmware update and installing that. This is a simple guide that will help you install the CFW. http://wololo.net/cfw4dummies/
1. Get an ISO of the game, whether through ripping it yourself from the UMD, or converting your PSN copy.
If you have a UMD:
Use the CFW to convert the UMD into an ISO file onto your computer. Different CFWs may have different methods, but one method will be to change the USB Device from “Memory Stick” to “UMD Disc” on the CFW menu, which will allow your computer to access the ISO file. Additional instructions here: http://www.wikihow.com/Copy-a-PSP-UMD
If you have a PSN copy:
Must have umd_dump_simple.prx copied into your plugin folder ( ms0:/SEPLUGINS/) and add this line to GAME.TXT: ms0:/seplugins/umd_dump_simple.prx 1
Here is where you can get Neuron’s umd_dump_simple.prx plugin:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/irk3ik
Once the above step is done, simply run the game and then press the note key at the game’s title screen, while a USB cord is attached to your PC and the PSP. The plugin will automatically make the ISO that you can mount as a virtual drive in a Windows OS. Then just copy that ISO file to your computer then unmount the drive pressing the note key again.
2. Unzip the patch file.
3. Drag and drop your ISO into the patch.cmd file inside the zip folder. Do NOT close any windows that pop up during the patching progress. It may look like it’s not doing anything, but it is. This will convert the ISO into a patched ISO, and will back up the previous ISO with a new.bak extension.
4. Copy the patched ISO back onto your PSP and launch it.
That should be it!
AdvertisementsDear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations, we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news and analysis from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.
JERUSALEM – When Nedal Sader first heard the crackle of automatic weapon fire Friday morning, he couldn’t believe it was coming from the Temple Mount.
As a Muslim, he regarded the complex just outside his apartment as a sacred and peaceful place. He prayed there nearly every week.
ambucycle
But as a seasoned first responder, he knew what gunshots sounded like echoing off the stones of the Old City. He finished dressing, threw on his medic’s jacket and raced to the scene.Sader, a 37-year-old nurse and father of five, was the first medical professional to arrive at the Temple Mount following the attack in which two Israeli Druze police officers were shot dead. The three Arab-Israeli gunmen were then killed by police on the scene.Amid the carnage at the politically and religiously fraught complex, Sader said he simply tried to save whomever he could.“It doesn’t matter who the person is,” said Sader, a Muslim volunteer with the United Hatzalah ambulance service. “Whoever needs help most gets help first.”Sader joined the rescue service in 2012, soon after his father died of a heart attack while waiting for an ambulance. He said he hoped to improve emergency medical care in the Arab quarter of the Old City, which like other Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem has long suffered from lack of services. It is illegal for Jewish medics to enter Arab villages or neighborhoods without a police escort because of security concerns.“I had to do something,” he said. “I didn’t want the same thing to happen to anyone else in my neighborhood or in Israel.”United Hatzalah has about 300 Muslim, Druze and Christian volunteers EMTs, paramedics and doctors, who account for about 10 percent of the total, according to spokesman Raphael Poch. He said the organization began recruiting Muslims to serve their own neighborhoods about a decade ago.“We formed the organization to respond in every community in Israel,” Poch said. “Because we’re community based, that means engaging Muslim volunteers.”Sader said that in the past five years, he has responded to seven major Palestinian attacks in the Old City, often on anprovided by United Hatzalah. When responding to calls, Sader said, he leaves on his helmet and sometimes his sunglasses to avoid being identified as Arab. He also tries not to speak much.“I don’t want to deal with being seen. Some Arabs might get upset. Some Jews might get upset,” he said. “I focus on helping people. That’s what’s important.”After Friday’s attack, police officers on the Temple Mount saw Sader coming and urged him to treat their fallen comrades. But he had to wait for a moment until the attackers — later identified as a trio of cousins from northern Israel – were subdued.The first casualty Sader came upon was one of the slain officers, whom he quickly determined was beyond help. Moving southward, he passed the bodies of two of the attackers and saw the third prone on the ground, surrounded by police. The officers directed him to the second fallen officer and, finding no pulse, he began CPR.Soon thereafter, the subdued gunman leapt up and attacked the officers surrounding him with a knife — a moment that was caught on video. The resulting hail of police bullets, which killed the attacker, whizzed around Sader as he applied compressions with the help of another officer. Still, he continued for about 15 minutes, until an ambulance arrived. But the officer was never revived.When it comes to the tensions on the Temple Mount, Sader said both Arabs and Jews are to blame. The former site of the ancient Jewish temple is the holiest in Judaism. Meanwhile, two Arab prayer sites, the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque, make it among the most important places in Islam as well.Since Israel captured the Temple Mount from Jordan in the 1967 Six-Day War, the site has become a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some Jews, mostly from the Orthodox national religious community, never accepted Israel’s decision to keep the mount an exclusively Muslim prayer site after the war. Although Israel insists it has no plans to change the status quo, Palestinian suspicions to the contrary helped fuel the first and second intifadas, or uprisings, and the wave of stabbings and car-ramming attacks that started in October 2015.Sader, who like most Palestinian residents of eastern Jerusalem has opted not to pursue Israeli citizenship, said violence is unacceptable in such a religious place. But as is common in the Arab world, he denied historic or religious claims by Jews to the mount and said he opposed allowing Jewish prayer and new security measures introduced since the attack.He did seem to concede the Western Wall to the Jews.“I respect the Kotel and other holy places, and I think people should respect our holy place,” he said, using the Hebrew term for the Western Wall.On Friday night, Sader headed to his paid job. He worked a 24-hour shift in at the Terem medical clinic in the mostly haredi West Bank settlement of Beitar Illit. He said he respects religious Jews and their customs, and does not openly smoke or speak on his cellphone during his breaks on Shabbat, when Orthodox Jews eschew such activities.Typically, Sader said, he can get some sleep on the Shabbat shift. But this time he found himself pacing the halls all night, even when there were no patients to care for.“After a day like that, you can’t sleep,” he said. “But I’m OK now. We’re used to stuff like this. It wears off after a little while.”
Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>>It’s not actually that hard to automate browser testing! Let’s dive in. We won’t use any obscure or (relatively speaking) bleeding-edge technologies here; just the basics. We’re trying to strip out all the fancy names and get to a nice, minimal, testing setup.
The players
The first question to answer is this: what do we use to test with? You’ve probably heard of Capybara, QUnit, Jasmine, Mocha, Karma, Protractor, WebDriver, Selenium, etc., but which does what? Let’s sort it out.
Regular old JS, do-it-all testing.
Candidates: QUnit, Jasmine, Mocha
What they’re good for: Testing JavaScript
If you want to assert that 2+2 is 4 using your fancy new addition framework, these are the usual suspects. QUnit is very old but tried-and-true (jQuery uses it); Jasmine is newer; and Mocha is the newest. From what I’ve heard Mocha has better asynchronous support than Jasmine, so when in doubt, I just use that.
Make the browser work automatically
Candidates: Selenium
What they’re good for: Automating web browsing
Yes, Virginia, there is only one actual browser automator, and that’s Selenium! I spent years (well, hours) googling this before I realized what was going on.
All the smoke and mirrors about PhantomJS and Protractor and Karma aside, any testing framework that is doing automatic testing of an actual web page in a real browser uses Selenium. (PhantomJS is a pseudo-browser, Protractor uses Selenium, and Karma, I think, is just for testing raw, not-the-same-as-your-real-web-page JavaScript).
Talking to Selenium from JavaScript
Candidates: WebdriverJS (update: now WebdriverIO, thank goodness), WebDriverJS (I wish I was joking), Nightwatch.js
What they’re good for: Talking to Selenium from your JavaScript node app.
You can use Selenium from almost anything – a Java/C# program, C++ I think? – but here we’re going to stick with JavaScript. In order to access the browser and do things like browser.get(“http://google.com”) from 35 different browsers all at once, we need a library, and that’s where WebDriverJS comes in. Just use WebDriverJS with the capitalized D, it’s the official one.
*Update: WebdriverJS is now WebdriverIO (still lower-case D). Its main claim to fame is requiring slightly less typing. Should you use it?
It’s not by the Selenium people as far as I know, but it’s been around for a while so I’d feel safe using it.
Cooking it up
Now that we’ve got that sorted out, our path is pretty simple, and we’ll need all three. What we’ll do is:
Start Selenium in the background; it can automatically spin up Firefox, IE, and Chrome windows on its own like magic. Install WebDriverJS so we can talk to Selenium (https://code.google.com/p/selenium/wiki/WebDriverJs) Create tests in Mocha that use the WebDriverJS library to automate the browser.
Here we get the best of every world. Selenium, a well tested browser automator, handles making Firefox do spooky automatic clicking. We use the official WebDriverJS to talk to Selenium, and we put our tests, just like any other test, in a standard Mocha example – no need to have some separate, slightly-different-syntax not-invented-here framework just to do our E2E testing.
While I could write a tutorial that would rapidly go out of date, I think it would be better to just link to the latest up to date tutorials and make some notes.
The recipe
Prerequisites: node, npm, java
Start by installing Mocha and get the basic test running. Download the Selenium server. Install WebDriverJs (selenium-webdriver) so you can use Selenium in Node. Download and include the proper Selenium drivers for Firefox/IE/Chrome Run Selenium with Java, making sure to specify the drivers you downloaded in the previous step. Replace the basic test you wrote in Mocha with this one: https://code.google.com/p/selenium/wiki/WebDriverJs#Writing_Tests That’s it!
Some caveats I ran into:
First, while mocha understands being installed locally and globally (npm install vs npm install -g), selenium-webdriver only understands being installed locally.
Downloading the drivers for FF/IE/Chrome is a bit of a pain since the web links redirect to different places.
Other than that though, just use the standard instructions for Mocha/Selenium/WebDriverJs. No need to remember anything else from a random blog post (AKA, this one).
Conclusion
The only tricky part about autotesting your web browser is deciding what to use. Using Mocha + Selenium with WebDriverJS is a nice, commonly supported combination that’s minimal.
Adding things like Capybara, Nightwatch, and Protractor is nice, but frankly, you’ve got to install Selenium anyway, and you’re probably already using Mocha or something similar for your browser testing. All those new, fancy-name frameworks are doing is adding a bunch of syntactic sugar and extra dependencies. Alternatively, there are plenty of tutorials for setting this up, that require all sorts of caveats and weird tricks to remember. Who needs that?Honeybee losses keep piling up and scientists don't know why. In the meantime, though, hobbyist beekeepers can help keep the embattled insect going
Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post via Getty Images Honeybees are still under threat
As I wrote in my cover story last month, the news has not been good for honeybees, which are still dying off in large and unexplained numbers. New data from Canada underscores the fact that the problem isn’t just American—the major agricultural province of Manitoba lost 46% of its honeybee colonies over the past winter, and nationally, Canadian beekeepers lost 29% of their colonies, around the same rate seen in the U.S. “It’s very de-motivational when you’re just cleaning up all this death,” Allan Campbell, the head of the Manitoba Beekeepers Association, told Amber Hildebrant of CBC News. “For all the work you do, you’re no further ahead. You’re behind.” That sad pessimism from those on the frontline of the honeybee war sounds familiar too.
The one benefit from the now multi-year uptick on bee deaths is that the media and scientists alike are paying more attention to our favorite pollinators. Earlier this week honeybee health was a major focus of the 246th National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society, which bills itself as the world’s largest scientific society. Richard Fell, an emeritus professor of entomology at Virginia Tech, gave a broad presentation on colony collapse disorder (CCD) and honeybee decline. But the answers still aren’t clear. Pesticides (including neonicotinoids, which have been linked to sub-lethal impacts), parasites, lack of nutrition and diseases are all behind the collapse in honeybee populations. That’s something nearly everyone in the honeybee world could agree on, though Fell—like many scientists—doesn’t believe that pesticides alone are the cause of CCD, and he believes a ban of neonicotinoids, something that European Union has already moved on, would be premature in the U.S.
(MORE: The Plight of the Honeybee)
As Fell put it in a statement:
I think it is important to emphasize that we do not understand the causes of colony decline and CCD and that there are probably a number of factors involved. Also, the factors that trigger a decline may be different in different areas of the country and at different times of year
Of course, that still begs the question of what we should be doing about honeybee loss and CCD. Last month the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did introduce new labels that prohibit the use of some neonicotinoid pesticides where bees are present. That’s a positive step, but of course labels only work if farmers use them—and if regulators enforce the rules.
A pair of studies presented at the ACS meeting showed that corn planting season seemed to be particularly dangerous to honeybees. That may be due to the fact that corn seeds are now treated with neonicotinoid pesticides, and when they’re planted, dust can be created that contains very high concentrations of the pesticides, which then in turn contaminates surrounding fields. When pollinators like honeybees forage in those fields, they can be exposed to dangerously high levels of the pesticides. Such widespread contamination makes it that much more difficult for beekeepers to find clean foraging territory for their charge—a task that’s already tough enough due to the growth of monocultures of crops like corn and soybeans that offer little nutrition for bees, and the gradual dwindling of noncropped rural lands.
(MORE: The Trouble with Beekeeping in the Anthropocene)
Even if honeybee losses continue to mount, we’re unlikely to face a real food crisis. The backbone of our diet—corn, meat, wheat—is derived from wind-pollinated crops that don’t need honeybees. Still, honeybees pollinate nearly every other fruit and vegetables out there, along with valuable nuts like almonds, so persistently high honeybee losses would probably mean smaller harvests and higher prices. Farmers could try to turn to wild pollinators like the bumblebee or the alflafa leafcutter bee, except that those species are much more difficult to manage and are experiencing their own population declines. There’s a reason human beings have kept honeybees around for thousands of years.
So what can we do? Even as the number of professional beekeepers has been falling in recent years, the number of backyard or hobbyist beekeepers has been on the rise—anecdotally, at least. Beekeeping recently became legal within the confines of New York City, and the amateurs keepers have swarmed to the business. The latest trend for skyscrapers is a honeybee hive or two on the roof. That includes the famous Waldorf Astoria hotel on Park Avenue, where bees have been kept on the 20th floor roof for the last few years. The Waldorf Astoria makes its own honey, and even recently hosted a friendly battle of the bees, facing off against honey made at the Grand Wailea Resort, another Waldorf property on the Hawaiian island of Maui. (For the record, Wailea won the popular vote from partygoers at the rooftop reception last week—including my vote—while the Waldorf Astoria won the judges’ vote.) “Keeping our bees and making honey is great for our chef, and it’s the right thing to do for our horticulture,” says Jim Heid, the landscape manager at the Grand Wailea.
Backyard beekeepers won’t save the honeybee—that’s going to require a shift in how we farm, and just as importantly, what we expect out of our bees. But a little more honey can’t hurt.
(MORE: Beepocalypse Redux: Honeybees Are Still Dying — and We Still Don’t Know Why)Sometimes cycling is a real pain in the ass, literally. Especially for those of us who enjoy the path less travelled.
You’re probably thinking that you need a steel frame to smoothen out those uneven roads you want to travel, because steel frames are comfortable, right?
Frame materials and their design are actually relatively minor in the comfort equation. Road vibrations and hits are mostly absorbed through your tyres, seatpost and saddle. We’re talking millimetres to centimetres of shock dissipation for each of those components, far more than a frame alone can possibly offer your body.
Seatpost Choice Is Critical For Comfort
Seatposts are without doubt, the most overlooked component on a bicycle. I don’t know anybody who has ever picked a seatpost because of its riding qualities; instead people often look at how cheap, lightweight, reliable or how well it matches their bike. But if you’re selecting a component for its comfort, the humble seatpost should be the first place you look. A stiff seatpost tends to negate ALL benefits of a steel/titanium frame or slightly wider tyres!
Seatposts vary greatly with how well they handle both vibrations from the road, and bigger hits. Road cyclists have the most to gain from a well-designed seatpost given the reduced damping of their narrow tyres and harder saddles, but really, every cyclist can achieve a substantial comfort gain from a seatpost swap out.
Velo Magazine did some seatpost testing back in 2012, data which I will draw upon when making any conclusions in this piece. Click HERE if you’d like to read about their testing protocol.
The Different Types of Seatpost
Carbon, Aluminium, Titanium Seatposts
Seatposts can be manufactured with different materials. Most seatposts are made out of aluminium as they are cheap to manufacture, are lightweight and are reliable. Carbon seatposts are more expensive, but are the lightest in weight and offer an exceptional ride quality. Titanium seatposts are generally only used in conjunction with titanium frames for aesthetic purposes.
Suspension Seatposts
There are a handful of suspension seatpost manufacturers around the world, perhaps the most common is the Cane Creek Thudbuster. The advantage of a suspension seatpost is that it will take the jarring out of big hits, far more so than any rigid seatpost. The main disadvantage is the increase in weight.
Elastomer Seatposts
Specialized insert an elastomer into their two comfort seatposts to achieve their desired ride characteristics. Using elastomers and carbon is a lightweight and reliable way to make an effective seatpost.
Straight and Setback Seatposts
Seatposts are available in different offsets. A setback seatpost puts you further behind your crankset and a straight seatpost moves you closer. The amount of offset on your seatpost is best determined through a bicycle ‘fit’ at a specialist shop. They will measure the relationship between your knee and pedal axle to optimise your cycling efficiency. You can read more on bike geometry and fitting HERE.
Seatpost Damping
Damping is the speed at which seatposts flex. It’s the most important seatpost characteristic for cyclists riding on roads, which realistically is all of us. Seatposts with high-damping qualities insulate riders from the harshness of any road by reducing the vibrations coming up through the bike. A high-damping seatpost can be TWICE as good at absorbing vibrations than one that performs poorly!
Velo Magazine’s Damping Test Results
Straight seatposts of any material (carbon, titanium, aluminium) are the worst at damping shock. The best are often setback and made using carbon fibre. Almost all of the carbon seatposts in the Velo test outshone their aluminium and titanium counterparts, reaffirming the brilliant damping qualities of carbon as a construction material.
For those of us spending time exclusively on rough tracks and trails, damping bares little relevance. Enter seatpost flex…
Seatpost Flex
Flex is the total movement that a seatpost will move after a hit. Seatpost flex protects a rider from potentially damaging jolts like unexpected pot holes or corrugations. A vertical and horizontal measurement can be made, ranging between 3-6mm of movement in each direction. When comparing rigid seatposts, some offer over almost 50% more flex than others (eg. the Thomson Setback flexes half as much as a Ritchey Carbon Setback). On a rough road or trail, that will make a lot of difference!
The best seatpost for rough roads, which is in another league altogether, is the suspended Cane Creek Thudbuster. It offers 3-4x MORE flex than the best rigid seatpost. The Thudbuster has been tested to move around 14mm vertically and 20mm horizontally. You can read my review of it HERE.
Velo Magazine’s Deflection Test Results
In general, carbon seatposts deflect more than similar aluminium ones, which is good for the bigger hits. Setback seatposts tended to flex more than their straight counterparts too. That makes a setback carbon seatpost the best all-round option for off-road comfort.
Horses for Courses
There is no seatpost that is the best for every road. Instead, you will have to compromise in some way. Do you need lots of flex in your seatpost, or are you just after the vibration damping? According to the Velo testing, you’d be best off with an FSA K-Force Light seatpost if you need damping, and a Ritchey WCS Carbon seatpost if you need the flex. The Cannondale and Specialized seatposts are great for all-round use.
The closest seatpost to comfort perfection would have to be the Cane Creek Thudbuster. The built-in elastomer allows both exceptional vibration damping on smooth roads and incomparable flex for the bigger hits on dirt roads. I review mine HERE.
The Most Comfortable Seatposts
Cane Creek Thudbuster ST – The best seatpost for bigger hits and one of the top for vibration damping. US$149.
Cannondale SAVE – A great all-round seatpost for both vibration and big hits. US$180.
Canyon VCLS 2.0 – This post receives excellent reviews for it’s unique design. US$299.
Ergon CF3 – Using Canyon’s technology, Ergon have produced a reputable comfort seatpost. US$299.
FSA K-Force Light – The best-tested seatpost for minimising vibrations. US$220.
Ritchey WCS Carbon – Great all-round seatposts for both vibration and big hits. US$209.
Specialized CG-R or S-Works SL Pave – According to Specialized the CG-R has the most vertical compliance of any non-suspended seatpost. The Pave tested very well for vibration damping in Velo’s testing. US$149 to US$199.
Syntace P6 Carbon Hi-Flex – This highly-reputable seatpost is light and is said to flex up to 20mm. That would rank it highly for both vibration and bigger hits. US$199.Patreon commissioned piece to one of my dear patrons, for more commission info send me a note ^^also stay tunned to see next the Patreon survey winner... SAMUS <3 with the samus returns suit? or sexy christmas theme? remember that all the artwork files for November will be sended to all my Patrons at the beginning of the next month ( December 7 /2017)suport me on PatreonMy dear patrons will get
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Timothy Ka Vang, 25, was sentenced Monday in Ramsey County District Court to 27 years in prison after pleading guilty |
-- because that is characterized as a misdemeanor.
"We don't throw people in jail for petty offenses," Mink said. The possible fine and jail time become more severe as possession reaches six ounces; possession of 12 ounces is considered a felony in Colorado.
Married restaurateurs James and Durrah once ran a medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado called Simply Pure and sold foods with marijuana in them. Durrah has cooked for AIDS and cancer patients and others who prefer cannabis edibles over prescription painkillers. The couple, both military veterans, said they would apply for a license to sell legal marijuana were the initiative to pass.
"For us, it's important that we are accepted on the level of business owners, not drug dealers," Durrah said. "So when 64 passes, we hope Simply Pure will be the first legal retail center here in Colorado."
One day, James said, "We would love to be the first restaurant to be to offer cannabis-infused spaghetti and cannabis-infused mashed potatoes or cannabis-infused birthday cake."
Researcher Abigail Collins contributed to this story.Alexis Sanchez (centre) scored to give Arsenal the lead at Emirates Stadium
Danny Welbeck hits post on Arsenal debut
Frank Lampard plays 45 minutes on City debut
Arsenal fight back from 1-0 down to take lead
Demichelis ensures City avoid back-to-back defeats
Arsenal were denied victory by Martin Demichelis's late equaliser as they fought out an entertaining draw with Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.
England striker Danny Welbeck made his Arsenal debut after his £16m move from Manchester United - and should have celebrated with a goal only to strike a post when clean through early on.
Sergio Aguero made Arsenal pay for that miss by putting City ahead before half-time but goals from Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez saw the Gunners in sight of a memorable victory.
Their hopes were dashed when poor marking at a corner allowed Argentine defender Demichelis to beat Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny to earn a point seven minutes from time.
In a frantic finish, Aleksandar Kolarov hit the post for Manchester City and Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny cleared against his own post as the Premier League champions threatened to snatch the three points, which would have been very cruel on Arsene Wenger's side.
Wenger will be frustrated at Arsenal's failure to close out the win but he will have been delighted by the spirit and quality shown by his side.
Frank Lampard, who is on a six-month loan from New York City, made his Manchester City debut and played the first 45 minutes before being replaced by Samir Nasri at half-time.
Jack Wilshere was a driving force in midfield while Welbeck, despite missing his best opportunity, was energetic and mobile enough in attack to suggest he will offer Arsenal a focal point and something different as the season progresses.
Match facts Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 20 Premier League home matches Arsenal have now conceded a headed goal in all four of their Premier League matches this season Sergio Aguero has scored nine goals in his last 11 league away games City avoided back-to-back league defeats for the first time since October 2010
As for City and manager Manuel Pellegrini, there will be concern that the control they had after taking the lead was allowed to slip away in the face of Arsenal's excellence, although they ended the game as likely winners.
And in a season where every point is precious, Pellegrini will be unhappy at two more lost following the surprise home defeat to Stoke City.
Welbeck was utilised in his favoured central role with Mesut Ozil deployed to his left and Sanchez on the right - a fluidity Arsenal exploited in an impressive opening spell.
It was during this period of dominance that Welbeck had his chance after 11 minutes when David Silva's backpass only offered up a perfect through ball. The striker took his time and measured a chipped finish over Joe Hart, only to strike the post.
While some would regard this as an example of Welbeck's lack of ruthlessness in front of goal, Aguero demonstrated how it was done as City took a lead that was hardly deserved.
Jesus Navas chased a seemingly lost cause as Mathieu Flamini appealed for a throw-in, retrieving the ball with a surging run that ended with a cross that was expertly swept past Szczesny at the near post by Aguero.
On this occasion no-one could question Arsenal's spirit and they got the reward their endeavour, and indeed quality, deserved just after the hour.
City were convinced Aguero had been impeded when he lost possession but referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on and after some fierce Arsenal pressing Wilshere raced into the area to clip a perfect finish over Hart from the angle.
The momentum was now with Arsenal and they turned the game around to take the lead with 16 minutes left when Wilshere's header found Sanchez, who demonstrated perfect technique to sidefoot a volley high past Hart.
Just as Arsenal fans sensed victory, City were level with seven minutes left, manager Wenger turning away in anguish as desperate marking at a corner saw Demichelis best Szczesny with a header the keeper touched but could not keep out.
Then came that late flurry in which City almost won and Arsenal lost defender Mathieu Debuchy, taken off on a stretcher with an ankle injury, but a draw was a fair result.
Manchester City reaction can be found here.
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere:
"When we went 2-1 up, we felt we could have won it. When they came back into the game, they could have won it too. We will look at it and take the positives from the game.
"I want to score a few more goals this season and hopefully that is one of many.
"We showed great character to come back, we showed that against Everton and we don't seem to give up."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on Jack Wilshere:
"He is coming back, physically, to his level where he can be. Unfortunately it takes time to find that little fraction of a second where you feel you can make a difference in the modern game and get away from people and win the ball.
"It looks like today was the first time he found it on a consistent level through the 90 minutes."
Sergio Aguero started on his own up front for Manchester City
Danny Welbeck scored 29 goals in 142 Manchester United appearances before joining Arsenal
Lampard was taken off at half-time on his Manchester City debut
Check out the best photos from today's Premier League games on the BBC Sport Facebook page.It’s known that if you bring people together with a common interest – music, food, or sport – everything else between them (tensions, family feuds, etc) evaporates and is secondary to the shared passion. I was lucky one day this past August to see such passion and peacemaking: there could have been sirens at any moment but Arabs and Jews were together to surf.
Read and believe what you want in the mainstream news. On the ground, and in the water Jews and Arabs can be and are friends.
If you’ve ever surfed, or happen to hang out with surfers, you’ll notice something extra special among them. Surfers listen to waves, they listen to the cycles of nature. They wait for them. And they have an uncanny interest in listening to each other.
So what happens when you bring four young Arab surfers from Jasr al Zarka, an Arab Israeli coastal town with great surf to Tel Aviv for the day to learn how to teach surfing? Lots of fun, laughs and hope for the future.
This story starts with an Israeli surfer girl.
A couple of months ago I wrote a story about Nitzan Solan, an Israeli surfer girl (and an amazing entrepreneur building an off-grid hydroponics food box) who even in the worst of times surfs with young Arab guys up the Israeli coast at Jisr al Zarka. They are her eyes and ears on the waves. When the surf’s up they give her a call and she comes running, sometimes barefoot, with surfboard in arms.
Jisr al Zarka is the only Arab Israeli town on the coast. The somewhat bedraggled and forgotten town, with its locals of about 12,000 people, is aiming to make something more out of this community, accessible only through a small tunnel off the highway.
The story I wrote connected Solan to Arthur Rashkovan, who co-founded Surfers4Peace between Israelis and Gazan surfers and who owns Doctor Surf in Tel Aviv, to the founders of the Jisr al Zarka Guest House and the young Arab surfers from the town.
Everyone got together a day in August to start training these young men on how to teach others to surf. If the program works out their skills will help invigorate the local tourism efforts in Zarka.
See the photos of some of the lessons in action.
Below are the guys from Zarka who came to learn how to teach surfing, with Juha Guest House co-founder Neta Hanien (far right). Her mother took most of these photos while Neta’s young daughter tagged along.
Below is Arthur Rashkovan, who co-founded Surfers4Peace between Israelis and Gazan surfers. He is at his surf shop in Tel Aviv Dr. Surf where he gives a quick lesson on how to start teaching surf to people who have never surfed before.
The guys from Zarka get rid of Tel Aviv’s salty sea water below.
Everyone takes a group shot at Arthur’s surf shop.
Nitzan Solan (far left) below.
An hommage to Arther and his vision of surfing for peace.
There are no female surfers in Zarka, but this Israeli girl below might help change that!
During the day I met relatives Achmad Juha, 32, co-founder of the Juha Guest House with Mohammed, 32, Hamush, 23, Jamil, 19, and Barak Jorban, 18, who’d come to learn about teaching the art, craft and sport of surfing with Solan, and all other Israelis who are passionate about surf and connecting with the “other”.
It turns out that Zarka has pretty good surf in its own right, probably much better than Tel Aviv. But that’s a secret some surfer’s who go to Zarka will want to keep.
All images (except for #3) courtesy of Neta Hanien/ Juha Guest House
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comments• 1 standard deck of cards
• 1 pad of paper
• 6 pencils
• 1 six-sided die (or any method of making a random selection)
• 6 unique tokens (coins, meeples, cubes, etc)
• 1 printed game board (see below)
OBJECT
To deduce the team affiliation and roles of the other players, in order to eliminate them in the final shooting rounds. Eliminating opposing team players will result in one's team accumulating more victory points.
SET UP
A deck is compiled of:
• 1 Red King & 1 Black King (Godfathers)
• 1 Red Queen & 1 Black Queen (Assassins)
• 1 Red Jack & 1 Black Jack (Street Soldiers)
Distribute to six players, who look at their card and save them face down for the duration of the game. It is permissable to tell any or all players anything one wishes about team affiliation or role, but it is never permissible to physically show another one's card.
Select one player randomly. That player places his or her unique token on space 1 of the game board. The player sitting on the first player's left places his or her token on space two, continuing clockwise until all players have placed there token on spaces 1 - 6, in order. Players should track which token belongs to which player.
PLAYING THE GAME.
All players close their eyes. On the count of three, the two Godfathers open their eyes, acknowledge each other with a nod, and close their eyes. After a brief pause all players open their eyes.
SIT-DOWN ROUND
(1) Distribute to the players on one side of the board, red or black, one red card and one black card each, drawn from the remainder of the deck. Each player on this one side of the board selects the card corresponding to their affiliation, and slides it face down to the center of the table, keeping the other card concealed. A designated player takes the cards at the center, shuffles them, and passes them to another player who shuffles an reveals the cards for all. Once they are observed, these cards and the remaining cards are placed face down and shuffled back into the remainder of the deck.
(2) Choose one player randomly. That player trades the positions of any two tokens on the board. The player to that player's left trades positions of any two tokens, and play continues clockwise until all have had an opportunity to do so.
(3) Discussion / Horse-Trading. Form alliances, offer trades of information, leave the room for conference, make promises for the shooting rounds.
(4) When all players indicate they are ready, repeat the above three steps.
(5) When all players indicate they are ready, repeat the above three steps one more time.
ASSASSINS SHOOTING ROUND
Any Assassins occupying an opponents space get a chance to shoot one player. All players write down a number on a scrap of paper, and cover it with his or her hand, out where all players can see the reveal. Assassins in opposing territory write down the number from the space of the player that they wish to eliminate. All other players write "0". On the count of three, all players reveal their paper. Shot players are dead and out. Dead men tell no tales, so players out must remain silent for the remainder of the game. No one yet reveals his or heard identity card.
RESERVOIR DOGS' ROUND
All living players aim their guns at one other player. A designated player counts down evenly from 10 to 0. During this time any player may adjust their aim to any other player. At zero all players must maintain their aim. 1 minute of discussion passes. Convince those that you think are opposing Street Soldiers that they are aiming at the wrong person. When the minute has elapsed, on the count of three all players shoot with a "blam".
• Street Soldiers may choose at this instant to shift their aim and shoot a different player. The action must be taken decisively and without hesitation.
• Godfathers and Street Soldiers whose tokens are not occupying their own team space are not able to load their guns and must declare "click".
• Out of respect, Godfathers may not shoot each other.
• Assassins may take this final shot regardless of where their token is.
• Any player may choose his or her bullet into the harmlessly into ceiling.
• The shots must be taken simultaneously. decisively and without hesitation.
Players who were able to shoot another player keep their guns aimed while shots are tallied. Roles are scored as follows:
• Godfather 3 pts.
• Assassins 2 pts.
• Street Soldiers 1 pt.
In the event of a tie, death of a Godfather is a loss. If both or neither Godfathers are eliminated and the score is a tie, the team with the most living players wins. All other ties are a draw.
8 or 10 Player Variant
Add soldiers to the deck, keep the Godfathers and Assassins at one each per team.
7 or 9 Player Variant
Add an Ace of either suit. The player that draws this card is the Barman, a civilian who is unaffiliated with either team. The Barman's victory condition is both:
• to end the final round on the neutral space (the bar), and
• to avoid being shot.
Any player occupying the neutral space does not get a shot and must keep his or her hands on the table, with the exception of the Assassin.
If the Assassin ends the final round on the neutral space, adjust his actions as follows:
• Assassin does not get a first shot in the Assassins' Round, and must write "0" on his or her paper.
• However, during the 1-minute timed discussion in the Reservoir Dogs Round, the Assassin begins with his or her hands on the table. At 30 seconds the Assassin may lift his gun and aim it at any player, and then shoot along with everyone at the 1-minute mark.
5 Player Variant
Remove the Street Soldiers, and add the Barman. All rules remain the same.Eight hours getting ready for a night out? Powerful self-portrait series reveals male photographer's elaborate party looks
The transformative power of make-up has been revealed in a colorful new self-portrait series.
New York-based photographer Ryan Burke often spends three to eight hours creating elaborate looks for himself before hitting the underground party scene, using everything from face paint to false eyelashes and feathers.
To keep a record of his favorite guises he started uploading'selfies' to his Facebook and Tumblr accounts last year and now he has a fervent fan base.
Feeling fruity: The transformative power of make-up is revealed in a colorful new self-portrait series by New York-based photographer Ryan Burke
'You always make me gasp in awe when I see your photos,' one commentator said.
Another added: 'You never cease to amaze me with the otherworldly beauty of your images.'
The amount of attraction the images received prompted Mr Burke to present them as a collection at a recent art exhibit in New York's Lower East Side.
Ready for a night out: Mr Burke often spends three to eight hours creating elaborate looks for himself before hitting the underground party scene
Novel idea: To keep a record of his favorite guises he started uploading'selfies' to his Facebook and Tumblr accounts last year and now he has a fervent fan base
Along with spending hours in front of the mirror doing his make-up, Mr Burke also takes time crafting outfits, props and accessories.
One photo shows him wearing an Audrey Hepburn-style little black dress with long-sleeve gloves and a head dress made from dozens of pearl beads.
His long eyelashes are complemented by theatrical black eyebrows and a slick of bright red lipstick.
Elaborate: Along with spending hours in front of the mirror doing his make-up,Mr Burke also takes time crafting outfits, props and accessories
Spring has sprung: Here Mr Burke rocks some nature-inspired headgear
Spontaneous: He says that he never plans a 'look' and lets it evolve organically
Another frame sees him posing up as a Pierrot clown, modeling a sequin headdress and a black silk robe with his face whitewashed and black dots penciled on his cheeks.
In a series of nature-inspired shots he appears rocking even more elaborate headpieces, designed to look like miniature landscapes from woodland scenes to butterfly filled shrubbery.
Mr Burke grew up in Virginia and has spent time living in both Los Angeles and New York.
Flurry of color: Feathers create an instant sense of theater
Through the looking glass: Many of the images have a surreal edge to them
Observant: He says that he draws inspiration from 'objects or color combinations' which he then turns into characters or design ideas
His work has been influenced and shaped by his experiences with artists, drag queens and other colorful people during his travels.
He told the Huffington Post of his photo project, titled 'Self': 'My self-portraits are a documentation of my life.
'When you spend three to eight hours putting together your face and outfit, an iPhone picture just doesn't seem like enough.
Chameleon: His work has been influenced and shaped by his experiences with artists, drag queens and other colorful people during his travels Image-conscious: His style icons include Dovima, the 1950s American supermodel, and his friends who work in the fashion industry Feminine edge: 'My aesthetic is derived from geometry, androgyny and sophistication,' Mr Burke said
'My aesthetic is derived from abstraction, geometry, androgyny and sophistication.'
He says that he draws inspiration from 'objects or color combinations' which he then turns into characters or design ideas.
His style icons include Dovima, the 1950s American supermodel, and his friends who work in the fashion industry.
'My roommate, Domonique Echeverria, is a designer and often helps me brainstorm particular aesthetics for my outfits while I create all the headpieces and makeup I wear,' Mr Burke added.
Clowning around: Here Mr Burke embodies a Pierrot
Sense of adventure: He is originally from Virginia but currently lives in New York
Props galore! Along with make-up, all of the shots feature eccentric accessories
He rarely plans the characters he creates and lets things happen ‘organically’ to maintain a sense of creativity.
Asked if there is any kind of 'queer component' to his work, Mr Burke replied: 'While I do belong to the queer community, my aesthetics are universal and not limited to just the gay audience.
'I have no particular guide or agenda to my work and while I may derive elements from queer culture, such as drag queens, I do not see myself being a gay artist as a distinction.'As the president of Rochester Institute of Technology, one of the nation's largest technical universities, I became interested in electric vehicles a few years ago because one of our major research centers was working on advanced battery and fuel cell research projects for major automotive companies. I was at first quite skeptical of electric vehicles because electricity must be generated from another source of energy, and that seemed to insert another inefficient step in the energy conversion process that would make such vehicles inherently less efficient than the current generation of gasoline-powered cars and trucks.
And I was not alone. In fact, first-generation electric vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf have failed to gain significant market share in their first two years of availability, and many have concluded that they are not the future of personal transportation, either in the U.S. or elsewhere. Nevertheless, despite this widespread skepticism, other carmakers are rolling out new electric vehicles on a regular basis, including Ford, Tesla, Mitsubishi, Volvo, and BMW, among others.
Why? Because a careful analysis reveals that there are fundamental reasons that will drive manufacturers and consumers inevitably to electric vehicles in the years ahead, reasons that the public in general is unaware of. So here are a few of the reasons that I have learned that lead me to believe that within 50 years a majority of our cars will be equipped with electric drivetrains.
1. Electric vehicles are inherently more efficient at turning energy into miles driven. Most people do not realize this, but electric drivetrains are much more efficient than internal combustion engine (ICE) drivetrains (about 75% vs 25%, in fact). In fact, there is little hope that ICE drivetrains could ever compete with electric drivetrains in terms of efficiency. Why are ICE drivetrains so inefficient? There are many reasons, including heat losses and inertial losses of various kinds, but ICE's are also thermodynamic systems with efficiencies limited by the heat cycle they operate under. Engineers have done amazing work in improving the efficiency of gas-powered cars, but they are up against fundamental limits. In contrast, a Nissan Leaf or a Chevy Volt can go about 40 miles on 11 Kilowatt-hours (KWH) of electricity, the energy equivalent of a third of a gallon of gasoline. And since the national average cost per KWH for electricity is only $0.11, this performance translates cost-wise into the equivalent of more than 120 miles per gallon.
2. Electric vehicles are greener than gasoline-powered cars. There are those who have tried to argue otherwise, but the most credible research has shown that most of a vehicle's carbon production comes during operation rather than production, and electric vehicles that consume only a third as much energy in operation are inherently greener no matter what fuel is used to generate the electricity they use. And electric vehicles powered by electricity from hydro, solar, wind, or nuclear sources produce no carbon in operation.
3. Electric vehicles can be powered by electricity produced from multiple energy sources. Electricity can come from wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, biofuel, and fossil fuel sources including natural gas, oil, and coal. All but one of those sources is produced almost entirely within the U.S. from local natural resources. So electric vehicles have the potential to support the U.S. economy and reduce our dependence on imported oil.
4. An efficient distribution network for electricity already exists in the U.S. This seems obvious, but compare this situation to that of other next-generation vehicle fuels such as natural gas and hydrogen.
5. Range is less of an issue than most think. Most Americans drive 40 miles per day or less on the average, well within the range of almost all available electric cars, and future models will have 10 times this range or more. And for advanced designs like the Chevy Volt, driving distances are unlimited as long as one keeps filling the gas tank, because an onboard gasoline powered generator can provide electricity when the battery is depleted. In fact, statistics monitored daily at Voltstats.net on over 1700 Volts in operation indicate that the median Volt owner drives 80% of their miles using the stored energy in the battery, and consumes only one gallon of gas per 177 miles driven. So these drivers get benefit of the greater efficiency of an electric vehicle and the unlimited range of a gasoline powered car.
6. Next generation technologies, such as fuel cell vehicles, will require electric drivetrains to propel the vehicles. Fuel cells can be efficient, portable sources of electricity running on a variety of fuels, but all cars and trucks using these energy sources will use electric drivetrains. In fact, there are new fuel cell technologies that use natural gas as a fuel to produce electricity, but in a chemical reaction rather than a combustion reaction. These advanced fuel cells produce sequesterable Carbon that can be simply buried rather than being emitted into the atmosphere.Paradox grand strategy games are secretly fantastic multiplayer romps, turning ordinary, good people into Machiavellian, conquest-hungry sociopaths. This week, with the launch of Stellaris imminent, I spent two days witnessing the continuation of this tradition with 20 other would-be space emperors and empresses.
How does it fair in marks out of ten? Find out in our Stellaris review.
We were given a huge galaxy of over a thousand stars, each with multiple planets and accompanying satellites, and unleashed upon it. Two days later, it was a galaxy drenched in blood and full of the stink of betrayal. So yes, Stellaris brings out the worst in people, and that’s fine with me.
Day one: We’re all friends here
I’d like to tell you about the greatest, most evolved species in the galaxy: the mighty space turkey.
They are collectivist materialists working under a despotic regime known as the Tantric Turkey Tetrarchy. Born on the world of Gobble-Gobble in the Gobble-Gobble-Gobble star system, they have one simple dream: enslaving the entire galaxy. It should be easy. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a slave of hyper-intelligent space fowl?
It turns out, most people, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
The first order of business is to send out science vessels to explore the galaxy, charting the stars, surveying planets and studying anomalies. While that’s all going on, little workhorse construction ships follow behind. Building mining and research stations around worlds and moons that are rich in resources that boost the economy, they help speed up tech research along the three paths of social, physics and engineering, which are all studied simultaneously.
As the world of Gobble-Gobble grows, I send out my first colony ship, ferrying brave members of the Tetrarchy across the stars toward a new, tropical home, where I quickly slap them in irons because my civilisation runs on slaves. What a guy! Everything is going so well that I send out another, which is when I make contact with another alien empire, known as 403_Forbidden_Empire (not even remotely the strangest empire name), ruled over by Quill18. From there, I also discover the hideous Blorg, who you might recall from the Paradox streams, and a slew of other empires getting in the way of my glorious expansion.
To keep things civil on the first day, everyone agrees to an unofficial non-aggression pact, though AI races remain fair game. Peace briefly reigns as everyone spreads their tentacles – or whatever their appendages are – but it’s clear that despite the honourable agreement between players, tensions are still on the rise. To my left, the empire of programmers and the grotesque bug people of the Loreswarm are already fast becoming enemies over an expansion dispute. It’s none of my business, though, as I’ve noticed a vulnerable AI species just asking to be gobbled up by my ravenous feathered minions.
Calling my first scuffle a ‘war’ is perhaps overselling it. The conflict is quick and decisive, and it’s not long before my enemies send me a pleading message of surrender as my slaves and soldiers tear through their planets. Like Paradox’s other grand strategy games, Stellaris makes you set specific war goals like getting foes to cede planets or liberating ones they’ve previously conquered. I now have my first vassal. That’s not the end goal, however. I actually want to swallow the territory whole, but by vassalising and integrating it later, I skip over some of the drama of dealing with a mass of unhappy aliens who want to rebel against a conqueror.
My victory over the AI has proved my mettle, so it’s no surprise that T.J. Hafer and his alien bugs want to jump into bed with the glorious Turkey Tetrarchy. We’ve now got chums! And it’s lovely. But as more and more species start picking sides, it starts to feel like war will be inevitable. Despite having a new pal, I’m finding myself in a rather troubling situation. I’m completely surrounded by an alliance of aggressive, expansive, mean bastards. And aside from a fight with my now vassal, I’ve mostly been focusing on building up my infrastructure and embarking on quest chains, hunting down alien animals for my zoo and searching for ancient alien races.
As the first day draws to a close, I’ve expanded my borders substantially, integrated my vassal, and I’m even close to finishing the research on my third military ship type, the cruiser. Quill lays down some smack talk about his superior forces, so I know war is looming, but I’ve got countless vessels just on the cusp of being finished. I’m ready for war.
Intermission: Plans are made and lies are told
The game doesn’t stop when the PCs are turned off. Indeed, it doesn’t truly begin until we huddle around tables, nursing drinks and planning the next day’s fireworks. Deals are made, alliances are forged, betrayals are planned. TJ and I decide to join the charmingly named Tentacle Porn Federation. Stellaris’ federations are like super alliances that give their temporary leaders access all the tech from each member.
We’d hoped to take on Quill by ourselves, but the birth of another federation between his empire and several others that all surrounded me like hungry, turkey-loving predators made it clear that we’d have to bring in more people, while also helping them with their own dreams of conquest.
So we’re in a federation now. A motley group of bizarre aliens, from Stefan’s empire of Monica and Rachel’s Apartment, which includes systems like Rachel’s Hair and Joey’s Fake Foreskin, to Adam Smith‘s happy-go-lucky Cthulhu analogues, who lead the federation. As we collude, we spare the occasional glance in the direction of the opposing federation. There are more of them, now, and they look increasingly shifty.
Preparing for a galactic war in Stellaris – especially one exclusively involving a multitude of human players – is appropriately tricky. It’s not just fleet and ship configurations that you have to worry about – does the enemy use close range autocannons and fast engines, long range missiles and point defense, lasers and more lasers? – but the method the ships use to traverse the galaxy. Each species begins with one of three travel methods, each dramatically different from the others.
Travelling by warp is the simplest with an obvious advantage: you have complete freedom, able to strike from any direction and any system. It’s slow, though. Using hyperlanes, which link up systems in a great big web, is much faster, but doesn’t offer the freedom of warp travel and empires using this method can find themselves stuck in a bottleneck. Finally, there are wormholes that allow for instantaneous travel between star systems, but they have to be generated by a wormhole station. That can potentially leave an empire vulnerable, as enemies can completely cripple it by targeting the wormhole network.
Things are getting increasingly convoluted as we plot in the bar. Adam decides to go all double agent, telling the New Space Party, Quill & chums’ federation, that he’s willing to betray TJ and I, which they seem to buy. I start to wonder if he’s really a triple agent. Can I really trust him? I go to bed and dream of turkeys.
Day two: Why won’t everyone leave me alone?
There’s a problem. A big one. Both Monica and Rachel’s Apartment and the Tentacular Triumph have been decimated. See, peppering the galaxy are these ancient, fallen empires who mostly dislike the younger races, especially when they colonise near them. Unfortunately Stefan and Adam’s respective empires did exactly that, and the fallen empire gave them a choice: give up all that territory or die. They chose the former, and now they’re a bit screwed. The whole federation is, frankly.
Despite this, my own empire is actually looking rather good. I’ve got a huge surplus of resources and all those ships I had queued up the day before are now free to sail across the galaxy (setting it on fire). I’m still worried though, because I have three hostile empires right next to me, and my only nearby ally, TJ and his Loreswarm, will have to get through Quill’s empire if they’re going to help me.
It’s gotten to the point where I can’t expand without conquering, so it’s time to kick this war off. I leave 403_Forbidden_Empire to TJ, leaving only a token force to protect my border from Quill’s nearby vassals and tiny friends, while I focus on his ally, the Manticores. The intel section of the diplomacy screen says we’ve got equivalent fleet power, but doesn’t go into specifics. I split my largest fleet up into two so I can hunt down his ships faster. It’s a huge mistake.
A Manticore fleet jumps into the system I’m attacking, with four times the military strength of my own fleet. I get the hell out of there, of course, but unfortunately it looks like he uses hyperlanes, and that means he catches up to me immediately. My second fleet arrives too late to do any good, and indeed ends up demolished as well. It’s only the start of the war, and I’m already out of it, at least for the time being.
I watch in dismay as TJ suffers an even worse fate. Quill’s torn the Loreswarm Empire apart, and with his space ports gone, TJ can’t do anything but watch it all burn. Elsewhere, the war is actually going surprisingly well. Adam and Stefan have been taking chunks out of their enemies, including the Blorg, and there’s no sign of them stopping. That is, until the Manticore fleet moves in to assist their nasty allies.
Our federation surrenders just as my glorious Turkey Tetrarchy was clawing its way back from oblivion. I even conquered a Manticore world. At least the terms of our surrender are easy to stomach. Well, they are for everyone but TJ, who is now a vassal of the Blorg.
Let’s jump to the future. Things have changed, as they are wont to do. I’m a lone turkey now, after being betrayed by my federation (they kicked me out for calling them cowardly in the stream, an assessment I stand by) and finding no others who truly deserve friendship with the galaxy’s greatest birds. Since the war, peace has reigned. Both sides had teetered on the brink of destruction, and we all needed a rest from the bloodshed. And those who hadn’t been involved, well they no doubt counted their lucky stars that they’d stayed away from the chaos.
But peace can’t last forever, because we’re all dicks. The Blorg want to unite the galaxy against a fallen empire, and is actually having some success in talking everyone into this suicide mission. Turkeys aren’t stupid, though. We know it’s a war that can’t be won, and we’ve also got a much more reasonable target right next to us: cat people. Cats are terrible. They shed, they scratch, and they ruined the internet. The only thing going for them is that space turkeys like eating them.
As I declare war on the cats, the streets of Gobble-Gobble are filled with joyful singing and cheering (and squawking). I’ve no idea, at that moment, that this is the beginning of the end – a long and painful end, mind – for the Tantric Turkey Tetrarchy.
While the rest of the galaxy gets its arse handed to it by an antediluvian, hyper-advanced fallen empire above their ring worlds – and man, what a sight that is – I move my fleet into kitty territory, smugly self-assured. I smash their fleet and carry on my merry way, blowing up their star ports, temporarily setting back their ship production. That should have been that. A few planetary bombardments and invasions later and I should have had a kitty vassal to call my own. But no. My old foes couldn’t let that happen.
Three (THREE!) separate wars are waged against me while I attempt to subjugate the cats. Quill starts the first one, which means he isn’t there to help the Blorg and friends with the fallen empire, undoubtedly hastening their failure. After a long discussion, he agrees to back off as long as I just take a single planet in what was once my territory anyway. I, of course, lie about my ambitions. He liberates one of my old vassal’s worlds and the war ends.
My cat war is reaching its climax when the second separate war is declared, which sees me facing not just Quill and his 403_Forbidden_Empire again, but also those bloody Manticores. I try to ignore them as I focus on the cats, but their armada is vast and tears through my core worlds. It’s not a war I can win so I begrudgingly agree to their demands, which leads to the loss of several worlds. Unfortunately, all that time wasting has allowed the cats to rebuild their fleet, while mine |
ending with their second. Both Corey and 9th Wonder boast forward-thinking production rooted in a corner of hip-hop’s past. Both pairs of emcees weave social commentary into their stories of blue-collar struggle and triumphs. Groggs’ swipes at label executives making Sambos out of Black performers on “Eeny Meeny Miney Moe” could’ve easily wound up on The Minstrel Show.
But even more than their influences and their sound, IR’s push for inclusion and understanding is refreshing. They challenge white fans eager to quote the n-word by changing the “nigga” to “neighbor” in the chorus of “S On Ya Chest.” In a world where Travis Scott is encouraging his white fans to shout n-bombs, that’s a feat in itself.
The Vic Mensa-assisted “Keep On Slippin” is another meaningful drop in the bucket for mental health awareness in hip-hop that manages to find some somber humor in “Jamaican me crazy.”
Injury Reserve subscribes to the notion that good music is just good music. “Look Mama I Did It” is the poignant victory lap that their grassroots internet following has led them to; hearing Ritchie talk about wearing his high school graduation outfit to his father’s funeral because he missed it is heartbreaking, and Groggs brings it all home by thanking fans for buying shirts with his face on it.
Injury Reserve is a kaleidoscope of the hip-hop experience, a group worthy of touring the world and growing their base, so put some floss in your ears and help them out.
***
By CineMasai. Follow him on Twitter.
Photo Credit: InstagramLike most people, I had hoped for the customary settling down after the tumultuous and nasty election. We have been denied that, not by the candidates, who have been dignified, but by the outgoing administration. I have written here and elsewhere before that this has been the most incompetent administration since James Buchanan brought on the Civil War, but I had not realized how the immunity to severe criticism afforded President Obama, because of his pigmentation, had been allowed to disguise how inept this administration has been, how authoritarian and sleazy, and how the presidents demiurgic vanity has gone almost unnoticed as the toadies and bootlickers like Tom Friedman and David Remnick went into overdrive.
Only now, when, instead of simply expressing solidarity with his partys narrowly or even questionably defeated nominee, as Dwight Eisenhower did with Richard Nixon in 1960 and Lyndon Johnson did with Hubert Humphrey in 1968 (and even Bill Clinton slightly managed with Al Gore in 2000), President Obama has disparaged Hillary Clinton. He said the election was about my legacy, and that he would have won had he been allowed constitutionally to seek a third term, and for good measure he has incited the inference that the election was determined by unspecified illegal computer-hacking by the Russian government.
The president is correct that the largest issue in the election was the Obama legacy: the 125% increase in federal debt while the national work force shrank by 10%, the shameful Iran nuclear and sanctions giveaway, the shambles of the red line and other flip-flops and miscues all over foreign policy, the haughty disparagement of large sections of the electorate (in which he was almost outdone by Mrs. Clinton), the immigration policy of proudly admitting to the U.S. whomever might be seized by the ambition to enter, and the slavish adherence to the most alarmist versions of the faddish climate apocalypse, whatever the cost in American jobs and the current-account deficit, and without waiting for evidence adequate to justify radical measures.
The president has had a whim of iron, informed by bygone reflexively socialistic pieties, and while he has not been popular and the majority has thought throughout his administration that the fundamental direction of the country was mistaken, about half the people either like him as a public personality or are afraid, because he is not white, to admit that they dont.
He may be, as he often seems, a charming man, but when he has gone and the issue of race is not much involved in assessing his performance, he will be seen to have failed as president, as did, though for somewhat different reasons, and not without some successes, his predecessor, George W. Bush. That is their shared legacy: failure, for four terms. There has never been such a sequence in the countrys history.
Which is why, for the first time in the countrys history, a person who has never held a public office or senior military command took over one of the main parties by winning the primaries and went on to win the election: an unprecedented solution to an unprecedentedly prolonged period of presidential failure.
Viewed in this light, President Obamas shameful attack on Israel last week in effectively passing a United Nations Security Council resolution laying the entire blame for the impasse in the Middle East on Israeli settlements in the West Bank (which it did not occupy prior to the 1967 War, which the Arabs unleashed and lost) is quite consistent. The Obama regime betrayed the forces of democracy in Iran over the rigged 2009 election in that country, preparatory to the surrender to Iran of scores of billions of impounded dollars and a free pass into the nuclear-military club in ten years (if it chooses to wait that long).
Mr. Obama betrayed Iraq by his petulant departure from that country, which was only tepidly and tardily reversed when ISIS arose out of the ashes of the Obama Iraq policy an ineffectual about-face that the president, with his customary modesty, informed the country was in the highest foreign-policy traditions of the United States.
Lend-Lease, the Marshall Plan, Atoms for Peace, Open Skies, the response to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the opening to China, the sponsorship of the Camp David Agreement, the treaty removing intermediate ballistic missiles from Europe, the Gulf War coalition to evict Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, the Partnership for Peace in Europe, and the U.S.-India strategic partnership could all be so described, and have been. But Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Mr. Carter, Reagan, Mr. Clinton, and both Messrs. Bush left it to others to say so. Mr. Obama betrayed the Syrian moderates who rose against Mr. Assad, and the civilians whom Mr. Assad gassed (having assumed, correctly, that the Obama red line was an empty threat).
The administration lied about the murder of the American ambassador to Libya in Benghazi in 2012, and sent Secretary Clinton out to make her groveling speech of apology to the Muslims of the world. It waffled about Libya, appeased the corrupt Communist regimes of Venezuela and Cuba, and finally crowned the entire farrago of incompetence and betrayal by agreeing that the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem is a settlement in illegally occupied territory, and holding Israel solely responsible for the ArabIsraeli dispute, as if the general Muslim refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state (as it was created by the United Nations) had nothing to do with it.
It is also of a piece with the entire foreign-policy career of Secretary of State Kerry. He entered public life whitewashing the odious and murderous regime of North Vietnam, even as he made false claims to being a war hero, and he exits with his 78-minute pastiche of lies and defamations of Israel at the State Department last week. Israel cannot be both Jewish and democratic, he said; he must be mad.
How anyone can contemplate the horrifying fact that George W. Bush, inept as he largely was (though not in fighting terrorism), almost lost to Al Gore and then to John Kerry, and can reflect on the practical and moral disaster of the Obama Gong Show, and can still be seriously nervous about a Trump presidency escapes my comprehension. In less than three weeks the United States will take off and disarm the self-destructive devices it has been swaddled in for many years. Only a person burdened by a pessimism not of this world could think the State of the Union is about to deteriorate from where President Obama leaves it.
[email protected]. From the National Review.Drawing the Past: Columba’s Cross: Graphic Novel:
Part 1
The first artwork above is an extract from the first page (above) of a graphic novel, Columba’s Cross. It shows a man sitting in a cell circa 1973. He has been interned in the cell without a trial. He is in the Maze prison and is under threat of torture. Although this graphic novel is not my first politically motivated art, the creation of Columba’s Cross and the drawing out of this scenario was a cathartic process for me.
I am now in my late fifties and like many of my generation, I experienced over thirty five years of a war zone through the Northern Irish “Troubles”. And, although I was never interned or imprisoned, as a Northern Irish Catholic during the conflict, the thought that I could have been, at any stage, was always there.
Sometimes when you see those deeply affected by the troubles on TV especially those who have been grieving for years you can’t but help but feel so sorry for them. I just felt based on my own experience that writing down what they feel, whether that’s in the form of a poem or a short story or a graphic novel, may help in some small way, simply putting down their thoughts so that they no longer exist solely in their heads.
For me it was the every act of committing those experiences to paper had a definite positive effect. I’ve had contacts from readers who have expressed how reading of my experiences helped them. I think it was Aristotle who said “the idea of losing our own troubles by immersing them in those of someone else” I feel that this may provide a little solace to others and (in some way) contribute to dealing with our troubled past here in the North.
There is some current thinking that reflects that this would be beneficial. Dr Matthew Lieberman, a neuroscientist at the University of California, outlined his findings at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in a lecture called Putting Feelings in to Words. In a recent interview with The Telegraph he said:
“Expressing yourself in print was “a sort of unintentional emotion regulation.
It seems to regulate our distress, I don’t think that people sit down in order to regulate their emotions but there is a benefit. I think it could play a role in why many people write diaries or write bad lyrics to songs – the kind that should never be played on the radio.”
“Dr Lieberman proved the therapeutic power of writing by scanning the brains of 30 individuals while they described distressing pictures. He found that the act tended to reduce activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain connected with emotion and fear and increased activity in the pre-frontal cortex, the mind’s regulator. This suggests that the mere action of writing about an emotion was a way of calming down the brain and re-establishing mental balance. Often the author is unaware of the therapeutic effect of the task, it was claimed.”
The drawing of: old detention centres; policemen; prison officers; British Army soldiers; the old Bogside (an area of Derry) and Provisional IRA volunteers definitely brought long buried experiences to the fore, those drawings have also been a form of exorcism for me, the artist.
Giving long gone, ghosts flesh in the form of digital drawings, has also given me a sense that perhaps, these negative violent events could also be used, (not just by myself, the artist) but by others, as a way of telling difficult stories,providing a way of “getting them out” and presenting those stories in an accessible universal way – in the form of graphic stories, or as art works in their own right.
They say, “if you’re going to write, write about what you know” with that in mind, I set the novel in early 1970s when the conflict was at its worst.
There are many graphic novels set in war zones, World War 1; World war 2: Vietnam, etc… I don’t know if I could have completed the necessary research to set my story in any of those particular conflicts. But when I began this story I quickly discovered, that I really knew the fine detail intrinsically. I remembered the uniforms, the guns, the vehicles,from that period. All that knowledge just sitting there…
The British army, for example, changed their battle dress many times over thirty years. The standard uniform of the 1970s bears little resemblance to the contemporary one. I had all this useless knowledge. I was familiar with the fact that the army used SLRs (Self Loading Rifles). That was the one they had back then. It made sense, therefore, to set the story within a very familiar context.
As boys and teenagers we would have been familiar with stories of older brothers, uncles, fathers being dragged out of their beds at night by The British Army or the RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary), and taken away to holding detention centres and then disappearing into high security prisons. So, I was also familiar as to the form of those places. The security, the barbed wire enclosures, armed guards, brutal prison regimes and allegations of torture,and the rumours that they were staffed by religious bigots only there to get at Roman Catholics. All this would have been common parlance in the Derry of the early 1970s.
Equally, on the other side of the coin we were also familiar with the other protagonists in the conflict, the IRA (Provisional Irish Republican Army). Although, they were a guerilla army with no formal structure they did favour certain types of weapon. The central character, Colm O Neill, brutalised by his experiences in the Maze Prison joins the IRA…TO BE CONTINUED…
54.996612 -7.308575January 18, 2016
The Easy Guide On How To Access The Dark Web Using Tor: The Dark Web refers to a specific list of websites which are available to the common users but hides the details of servers(like IP address). These websites can be accessed by any web user but it is very difficult to track the servers, where they are being hosted. Now you might be wondering what is Deep Web? And what is the difference between Deep Web and Dark Web? Media and many other web writers use Dark Web and Deep Web interchangeably. But they are totally different terms as Deep Web refers to all those web pages that search engines can’t find. Those pages are simply not indexable. Deep Web pages are of two types, one that web designers can choose and the others are interface pages that are designed to be accessible only to the authorized user(for example, my interface page on which I’m writing this post or a bank account user page).
The Deep Web caught limelight a few days back when 10 GB data was stolen from Ashley Madison, a website designed for users who are bored with their relationships want a get into a new relationship.
According to an estimation by security experts, the internet we see is only a very small part of an actual behind the seen web content, that is Deep Web(Invisible Internet). And not many users know about this whole data, hidden from their sight. Few users might get shocked if you get know the details about this whole big network of web pages and interconnected systems, that are not indexed. This hidden network is almost hundreds of times bigger than the World Wide Web, that we see, around 500 times bigger.
Now the question is, how to access this hidden portion of internet i.e. Dark Web? Today I’m going to show you a simple tutorial to access Dark Web using Tor on Mac, Microsoft Windows, and Linux computer.
Before tutorial I want to give you a very first warning, Dark Web is a section where you will get access to the websites that might be selling guns or drugs or have a lot of confidential information. Now just follow this simple step by step guide to get access to the large hidden portion of information.
Getting started – The Easy Guide On How To Access The Dark Web Using Tor
To access Dark Web you need to download and install Tor browser. The Tor browser is compatible with both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X, but I will suggest you not to install it on your default operating system. The only behind my this suggestion is security and privacy. Also, use the latest version of Mozilla Firefox as it uses the least computer resources hence makes you less vulnerable.
Download The Official Application
To download Tor for your browser go to Tor’s official website www.torproject.org and download the Tor bundle. You shouldn’t download Tor browser from any other content download website. For further precaution, after downloading you can scan Tor browser for its legitimacy with Tor Project’s GPG signature by following the below method.
How to verify the legitimacy of downloaded Tor browser package?
As we are trying to get access to the hidden part of the internet that our government and many other security agencies, don’t want us to see. So we need to be very careful at every and each step of this process. Here are the steps you need to follow to check the legitimacy of the software at your hand.
Save the GPG signatures in the same directory where you have browsed the Tor download. This procedure is equally applicable to both Mac OS and Linux platform. Make sure that you have GPG Tools for Mac installed or GnuPG for Linux system installed. After confirming, follow next steps but keep one thing in mind that, here you will see ‘DownloadLocation’ at various locations in the guide, just replace the phrase with the actual location of the downloaded browser file. location of your download to avoid unnecessary obstacles standing in your way). Import the public key of the Tor project (type in the same manner): gpg –keyserver x-hkp://pool.sks-keyservers.net –recv-keys 0x4E2C6E8793298290 Verify on Linux using the following command: gpg –verify ~/DownloadLocation/tor-browser-linux*.tar.xz{.asc*,} Verify on Mac using the following command: gpg –verify ~/DownloadLocation/TorBrowser-VERSION-osx*_en-US.dmg{.asc*,}
After execution, the results should look something like the image below:
If you are using Windows, it will be a little trickier to be sure so just follow the exact step-by-step procedure without skipping any step:
First of all download GPG for Windows. The files can be obtained from here. Launch windows command prompt, or cmd (opening as Administrator is recommended) Import the Tor Project signature by executing: “C:\Program Files\Gnu\GnuPg\gpg.exe” –keyserver x-hkp://pool.sks-keyservers.net –recv-keys 0x4E2C6E8793298290 To verify the signature using GPG for Windows execute: “C:\Program Files\Gnu\GnuPg\gpg.exe” –verify C:\DownloadLocation\torbrowser-install-VERSION_en-US.exe.asc
C:\DownloadLocation\torbrowser-install-VERSION_en-US.exe
5. One thing to keep in mind is that all this process has to be carried out through command prompt, or cmd.
How to access a locked smartphone- a Frozen Android Phones Give Up All Your Data Secrets
How to successfully install Tor on various operating systems
After downloading and confirming authenticity, the next thing is installation, here is how you can successfully install the Tor browser on various platforms. Let us begin:
Linux (Debian based systems)
There are two options to install the Tor browser, whether the Official Tor Repository or downloading it directly. Direct download, will save your time and verification will be done automatically.
For installing, execute following:-
Debian: nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Insert: deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org jessie main deb-src http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org jessie main
Next, do the following:
Ctrl+O
apt-get update
apt-get install tor
Mac
Download and install Macports from here Next, open a terminal and type the following command: sudo port install tor Installation will complete automatically.
Ubuntu
nano /etc/apt/sources.list
Insert: deb http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org trusty main deb-src http://deb.torproject.org/torproject.org trusty main
Ctrl+O
apt-get update
apt-get install tor
Windows
On Windows, Installing the Tor Browser to access the Dark Web is the simplest process possible. Just install the Tor program like you would install any other application.
How to use the Dark Web
Now as you have a running Tor browser, so get ready to access the always hidden part of the internet. This experience is not going to be like searching through Google search engine, rather will be a little difficult to navigate through Dark Web. This is why there is an online tool to help you around on Dark Web, which is called Hidden Wiki. There are two versions of Hidden Wiki, the first one is the uncensored version, which gives you access to the most explicit content on the internet that any righteous person would condemn. Whereas the censored version will display the information as you can see in the image below. Keep one thing in mind that for accessing Hidden Wiki you need to have Tor Browser already installed on your system.
List of.onion Deep Web links
Keep in mind, in order to access following links, you must install the Tor Browser.
WIKI – DEEP WEB LINKS TO SMALL MAP OF UNDERGROUND
http://zqktlwi4fecvo6ri.onion/wiki/index.php/Main_Page – Hidden wiki
http://uhwikih256ynt57t.onion/wiki/index.php/Main_Page – Uncensored Hidden Wiki
http://j3capgi3drf52m3i.onion/ – Tor, Duck Duck Go, and The Hidden Wiki
DEEP WEB SEARCH ENGINES – DEEP WEB LINKS
http://kbhpodhnfxl3clb4.onion/ – Tor search engine
http://torlinkbgs6aabns.onion/ – Deep web links directory
http://xmh57jrzrnw6insl.onion/ – TORCH another search engine
http://ndj6p3asftxboa7j.onion/ –.onion search
http://kpvz7ki2v5agwt35.onion – The Hidden Wiki
http://idnxcnkne4qt76tg.onion/ – Tor Project: Anonymity Online
http://torlinkbgs6aabns.onion/ – TorLinks
http://jh32yv5zgayyyts3.onion/ – Hidden Wiki.Onion Urls
http://wikitjerrta4qgz4.onion/ – Hidden Wiki – Tor Wiki
FINANCIAL SERVICES – DEEP WEB LINKS
http://nzfbqcuyutvg6hd3.onion/ – Hacked PayPal accounts
http://ow24et3tetp6tvmk.onion/ – Anonymous BitCoin wallet
http://lmyv5msldzlcp224.onion/counterfeits/ – EURO & USD Counterfeits
http://easycoinsayj7p5l.onion/ – BitCoin Wallet
COMMERCIAL – DEEP WEB LINKS
http://mobil7rab6nuf7vx.onion/ – Unlocked Smartphones
http://2ogmrlfzdthnwkez.onion/ – Hire a Hacker
http://abbujjh5vqtq77wg.onion/ – Passports and ID Cards for Bitcoins
http://fakeidscpc4zz6c4.onion/ – Fake documents
HOSTING RELATED – DEEP WEB LINKS
http://torwebpa6vb7icfm.onion/ – Hosting Company
http://hosting6iar5zo7c.onion/ – Web Hosting
http://3fnhfsfc2bpzdste.onion/uploads/650485347.recov.006 – Account Password recovery
http://torvps7kzis5ujfz.onion/ – VPSSHell
FORUMS – DEEP WEB LINKS
http://zqktlwi4fecvo6ri.onion/wiki/Torbook – Facebook for deep web
http://vm3rhgs2uhwas5rt.onion/forum/index.php – Tor Forum
http://pyl7a4ccwgqxm6rd.onion/w/index.php/Special:AWCforum/ – Hacktivism Network
http://76qugh5bey5gum7l.onion/status.xsl – Deep Web Radio
ANONYMOUS EMAIL SENDER – DEEP WEB LINKS
http://sigaintevyh2rzvw.onion/ – Popular anonymous email sender SIGAINT
http://iir4yomndw2dec7x.onion/ – Onion Mail
https://anonmail.biz/ – Anon Mail similar to lavabit
http://zqktlwi4fecvo6ri.onion/wiki/TorBox – Tor Box
WHISTLEBLOWING – DEEP WEB LINKS
http://zbnnr7qzaxlk5tms.onion/ – Wikileaks Deep Web Links
http://6r3pg2kyrn5e7jjd.onion/ – Illuminati
https://qtt2yl5jocgrk7nu.onion/ – Indymedia
http://4iahqcjrtmxwofr6.onion/ – Strategic intelligence network
Don’t Miss: This Is The Time To Use Your Mobile Device Encryption
WARNING:
BEFORE YOU ACCESS THESE LINKS YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT CONTENT PROVIDED ON THESE DEEP WEB WEBSITES MIGHT BE EXPLICIT OR DISTURBING OR FRAUDULENT. VISIT THEM AT YOUR OWN RISK or SETUP A STRONG VPN.
This would be all about “The Easy Guide On How To Access The Dark Web Using Tor”. If you have suggestions regarding this article, please let us know in comment section.We seem to be unable to punish bankers for their scandalous behaviour. That's because our moral instincts can’t cope, says a professor of biological sciences and anthropology
(Image: Andrzej Krauze)
ROB a bank and you risk a long stretch in jail. Run a bank whose dubious behaviour leads to global economic collapse and you risk nothing of the sort, more likely a handsome pay-off.
Illegal and dangerous mistakes associated with the financial industry have caused serious harm to US and world economies. That is beyond doubt. And the scandals keep coming – rate rigging, money laundering, mis-selling and sanctions busting. The wider backlash against the industry shows no sign of easing.
So given the scale of damage and public anger, fuelled by the industry’s bonus culture, it is curious that those responsible have largely avoided punishment in the traditional judicial sense, despite the clamour for it.
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That we so want those involved to get their just deserts has its roots in ancient human forms of social control, which led to our modern sense of morality.
In their rudimentary, hunter-gatherer forms, crime and punishment surely go back for tens of millennia. The case has been made that by 45,000 years ago, or possibly earlier, people were practising moralistic social control much as we do.
Without exception, foraging groups that still exist today and best reflect this ancient way of life exert aggressive surveillance over their peers for the good of the group. Economic miscreants are mainly bullies who use threats or force to benefit themselves, along with thieves and cheats.
All are free-riders who take without giving, and all are punished by the group. This can range from mere criticism or ostracism to active shaming, ejection or even capital punishment. This moral behaviour was reinforced over the millennia that such egalitarian bands dominated human life.
Then around 12,000 years ago, larger, still-egalitarian sedentary tribes arrived with greater needs for centralised control. Eventually clusters of tribes formed authoritative chiefdoms. Next came early civilisations, with centrally prescribed and powerfully enforced moral orders. One thing tied these and modern, state-based moral systems to what came before and that was the human capacity for moral indignation. It remains strong today.
So there is an inevitable outcry when bankers seem to “get away with it”, offending this instinctive moral corrective sense.
And ultimately, such public opinion should strongly influence how we police fiscal deviants – but there are complicating factors that suggest this instinct is being undermined when it comes to taming the most harmful behaviour in the banking world.
Firstly, if popular morality has from ancient times been about protecting individual interests from damage through social predation, we must ask some questions. What happens when lawbreaking becomes embedded in large, hard-to-understand economic systems, and when the immediate damaging consequences seem to be diffuse and institutional, rather than direct and personal?
There is an obvious disconnect between what takes place in a small band, in which moral outrage leads to hurtful punishments that fit with hurtful crimes, and a very large system of international finance in which the negative consequences are so much less direct and the power to deter gets lost in the process.
To this we must add the fact that the US democratic system of popular representation, and to a degree that of other nations, is compromised by lobbying that too often amounts to institutionalised bribery. Reform is unlikely because the heavily lobbied politicians we elect are in charge of both our electoral system and, to an extent, our system of justice.
The democratic system is compromised by lobbying that too often amounts to institutionalised bribery
The result is that lobbies often trump what we fondly refer to as the people’s will, as long as really serious, electorally significant moral indignation in the populace can be avoided. Banking institutions loom large on the lobbying stage. A 2009 report from the International Monetary Fund concluded that lenders who lobbied most were those engaged in riskier practices.
Add in our long-standing tradition of coddling white-collar offenders whose acts seem to impact only on corporations, and the sheer complexity of judging the economic consequences of errant behaviour, and maybe we can better understand why moral outrage doesn’t translate into action.
Ultimately we are still left with what to do about this, how to regulate a free-market economy to deter behaviour that causes major fiscal problems. Morality aside, economists learned from the Soviet Union that excessive regulation leads to gross economic inefficiency, and most people in capitalist economies believe in having sensibly but minimally regulated economies that largely organise themselves.
Modern democracies are quite similar to egalitarian hunting bands in that moralistic public opinion helps to protect populaces against social predation, and dictates much of social policy. In a sense, the Founding Fathers were brilliant in creating a larger-scale system, one that basically guarantees personal autonomy yet permits enough centralised control to run a much bigger ship.
However, the sheer scale of society, combined with the internationalisation of business, has produced cognitive challenges that must, in an age of increasing manipulation by lobbyists, be met by ordinary voters. Fortunately, voters don’t always follow the political advertising money.
Simplistic solutions, such as criminalising any financial rule-breaking that leads to serious social harm, would provoke much debate. What is beyond debate is that in the case of major corporate crimes an ancient approach to making justice serve the greater good is creaking and groaning, and that new answers must be sought.SEATTLE — A proposal to remodel KeyArena now has an ambitious timeline that could have it ready to house a professional franchise within three years.
The timeline was laid out in a proposed memorandum of understanding between Seattle and Oak View Group. The MOU will be presented to the Seattle City Council on Tuesday but the final version of the agreement won't be voted on until the first week of December at the earliest.
Still, the draft agreement is a significant step in the process of redeveloping the city-owned building through a privately financed project that officials believe will finally lure the NHL or NBA — or both — to Seattle. KeyArena housed the NBA's SuperSonics until they relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Thunder. Oak View Group believes it can have the building ready by October 2020 if environmental approvals are obtained and demolition can start in October 2018.
"I think the most important part of this MOU is the fact it states very clearly to the leagues that this project is going to happen, we do have a deal with the city, they can make a deal. They are very focused ultimately not only on building a new arena here and giving us the partnership and certainty in order to do that," said OVG CEO Tim Leiweke, the former president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment in Toronto.
"But more importantly it sends a very strong message now to the NBA and to the NHL that everyone worried about, 'Yeah will it ever get done with the city? Will they ever be able to get to the finish line? Will you ever possibly get this deal done within the politics of Seattle and the Seattle process as everyone likes to call it?'" Leiweke said. "Guess what? Game, set and match. We clearly send a message to everyone that this will get done, this will get built and we are ready now to go get one and hopefully soon, two teams."
The timeframe is sure to attract attention, including from the NHL. OVG has not hidden its intentions to be aggressive in an attempt to obtain an NHL expansion franchise soon after the arena agreement is finalized. Likewise, the NHL has not hidden its interest in Seattle, the No. 14 media market in the country and the only market in the top 25 that does not have an NBA or NHL team.
OVG has lined up billionaire David Bonderman and filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer as the lead owners for a potential NHL franchise.
"From our standpoint, this timeline is geared toward what we believe is the optimal timeline in order to begin to get a team or two for Seattle," Leiweke said.
The project is expected to total about $600 million and Oak View is also on the hook for another $40 million to help improve transportation in the area around Seattle Center. They are also responsible for regular facility upgrades for the life of the 39-year lease agreement. Should those upgrade requirements be met, there are two eight-year lease extensions that will be activated, and carry the entire life of the lease agreement to 55 years.
In all, OVG is liable for about $168 million in capital investment upgrades on the facility during the life of the lease. The project will be financed through a mix of revenue streams. OVG also has financial backing from Madison Square Garden Entertainment.
Among the other details of the MOU:
— OVG will be required to pay yearly rent equal to what the city is making off KeyArena now, estimated to be $2.6 million at the start.
— OVG will pay for the displacement and relocation of existing tenants on the Seattle Center campus during the construction.
— OVG will assume the city's current obligation to the Seattle Storm or arrange a new deal with the WNBA team.
"One of the principals that we had was the city would never go backward as far as its ability to maintain the revenues that were received through the operations of KeyArena going forward," said Brian Surratt, the director of the Office of Economic Development for the city. "We would be partners in any deal moving forward."
The negotiations between the city and OVG have come as a similar agreement between the city and investor Chris Hansen is in its final stages. Hansen and the city agreed to an arena plan in 2012 that was contingent on Hansen acquiring an NBA team and included some public investment in a project to be constructed near Safeco Field.
Hansen has since offered a completely privately financed project, but has continued to run into road blocks in getting final approvals to make his arena "shovel-ready" should an NBA team become available. Hansen's agreement with the city expires Dec. 3, meaning OVG's agreement with the city could be approved as early as the week of Dec. 4.Here is a list of free trading eBooks and free trading courses to aid you in your trading. These free trading eBooks and free trading courses will be updated regularly and more will be added as they come available. The resources below are believed to be freely available (although not necessarily easy to find). If you are the copyright owner and wish to have a trading eBook or trading course removed from this page please contact us and we will remove it.
The views expressed in these books are not necessarily those of this Site and no warranty is provided.
Right-click on a link below and hit “save link as…” to save the free trading eBooks to your computer.
Reminiscences of a Stock Operator – A true classic. A must read for every trader, and one of my favorite books of all time.
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Trend Determination-a Quick, Accurate and Effective Methodology using RSI – A great guide for using the RSI in ways not commonly taught.
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Core Point and Figure Chart Patterns – An introduction to Point and Figure charting and patterns.
How I Made $2,000,000 in the Stock Market by Nicholas Darvas – Darvas Box is a fairly well known indicator now, but here is the book by the man who started it, and made millions from the method.
How George Soros Knows What He Knows – Towards a General Theory of Reflexivity by Flavia Cymbalista, Ph.D. – An academic paper which looks at George Soros, his ideas and his success.
Calming The Mind So The Body Can Perform by Robert M. Nideffer, Ph.D. – A 9 page eBook on getting into “the zone” for peak mental and physical performance. The article used athletes in the examples, but it is also applicable to traders.
Day Traders Bible – My Secrets of Day Trading by Richard D. Wyckoff – Written in 1919 this is one of my favorite stock trading books next to Reminiscences of a Stock Operator. While the book is old it is loaded with usable and applicable information for today’s trader.
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Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay – A classic, and extensive, book on bubbles and the irrationality of crowds first published in 1841. This was the precursor to more recent books such as Irrational Exuberance.
Elliott Wave Principle eBook – The classic guide |
character and capacity. It is what they did with their errors that made the difference. Their errors were not good for them because they were not divinely intended. Instead, their errors were used for a divine purpose and became useful as a result. In this way, you do not need to justify your experiences but only use them. It is how you use them that will determine whether they will have any value. And if they cannot be used in a useful or positive way, then they will simply remain as a mark against you in your own estimation.
Foundation building gives you a new life, but it uses everything that you have built before as material for building this foundation. It makes everything useful and beneficial if it can be brought into meaningful contribution here. This is part of the beautiful Plan of the Creator. Nothing is destroyed. Everything is re-employed. Whatever you have made without Knowledge is now brought to serve Knowledge. Whatever you have done to hurt yourself or others is now brought to develop wisdom, compassion and discernment.
This is what forgiveness means, in reality. Without this, forgiveness is either the decision to be dishonest about your experience, to hide your experience or to try to forget your experience. Real forgiveness is a process of transforming something old into something new, something that was useless into something that is useful, something that is meaningless into something that is meaningful. Here your mistakes, instead of being a source of pain and inner discomfort for you, become a means of reaching other people, for everyone has made mistakes, and many people have made the same ones that you have. This becomes a way to reach people. “I made this mistake. This is what I learned. And this is what I am doing with it now.” What a beautiful teaching this is. How gracious this is and how important it is for the listener and for the communicator as well.
Building this foundation gives you a new life, a new beginning and a new way to use your past rather than simply being hounded or hindered or governed by it. It is using your past to serve the present and the future. Without this foundation building, the past simply overshadows the present and makes the future indecipherable. People who live in the past cannot experience the present and cannot understand the future. And every new experience they have is simply used to fit into the past, to add to their collection of ideas, beliefs and assumptions, and to fortify them as well. Their lives become relics as a result, museum pieces of their own personal history or the past history of the world. There is nothing alive, nothing fresh and nothing vital there. Instead, people only amass their recollections. Their pain is entrenched, and their decisions have become hard like concrete.
The thinking mind must constantly be stirred by new experience and by adaptation to new experience and new understanding in order to be fresh and vital and capable of learning. It is like stirring concrete. If you do not keep stirring it and adding water and new things to it, it hardens. And once it hardens, it can only be broken.
The man or woman who is learning and living The Way of Knowledge is constantly being renewed and refreshed because they are close to life, and they are close to Knowledge. Their thoughts then change and grow and evolve. Their ideas change and grow and evolve. Their conclusions change, grow and evolve. They can do this because there is something greater. There is Knowledge, the dynamic force of life within them, within the world and within the Greater Community as well.
Knowledge brings you to the edge of life where you have to learn and adapt, communicate and contribute. This keeps you young, alive and close to the heart of life. Your mind then becomes constantly relevant to the present and is able to prepare for the future.
To conclude the first stage of your life, you must be engaged in the second and final stage of your life. The first stage of your life is the development of the person. The second stage in life is the development of a greater purpose and the expression of that purpose.
To finally make peace with your past, you must be building a new life. To finally be able to understand your past and to use it positively and constructively, you must be building a new foundation. To find freedom from the fears and anxieties that haunt you, you must have a new engagement in life.
It is to serve this redemption, this freedom and this great opportunity that we now present to you Living The Way of Knowledge. Let us begin now to explore each of the Four Pillars, to see what living and learning The Way of Knowledge is really like in the reality of the world and in the truth of Knowledge.Sharks don't have ears but they're drawn to the low frequency pulsing sounds prevalent in heavy metal
Sharks enjoy listening to heavy metal bands, according to a new book which looks at the science behind animals’ relationship with music.
Great white sharks are particularly receptive to AC/DC anthems like ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ and ‘If You Want Blood (You Got It)’, reports Team Rock after reading the book, which is titled The Mice Who Sing For Sex: And Other Weird Tales From The World Of Science.
Sharks don’t actually have ears, but the book’s co-authors, Radio X presenter Lliana Bird and neuroscientist Dr Jack Lewis, say they are drawn to the low frequency pulsing sounds prevalent in heavy metal songs.
Matt Waller, a chartered boat operator in Southern Australia, first noticed in 2011 that sharks behaved in a much calmer manner when played heavy metal music.
He told Australian news outlet ABC News at the time: “I was talking to a guy who had been diving in Guadeloupe and there were some divers there who just been playing music in the water. We got talking and they said there were some certain songs that saw an actual change in the behaviour of the sharks.”
He continued: “I started going through my albums and AC/DC was something that really hit the mark. Their behaviour was more investigative, more inquisitive and a lot less aggressive. They actually came past on a couple of occasions when we had the speaker in the water and rubbed their face along the speaker which was really bizarre.”Zhang Yufen of the Alliance Against Mistresses, shown in 2008, carries out private detective work on behalf of wives to gather evidence of their husbands' infidelity, in order to win better divorce settlements. (Axelle de Russe)
When Zhang Yufen’s husband finally admitted to having an affair and left her to live with his mistress, clearing out his possessions and emptying their joint bank account, she felt as though the sky had fallen on her head.
But after a week in which she barely ate or slept, her pain and anger were channeled into a new determination: to find out who his mistress was, where they were living and why he had turned his back on 16 years of marriage — and to force him to provide proper financial support for her and their young son.
There was only one way to do that, she decided — good old-fashioned detective work — and only one person to do it, and that was her.
In the search for her husband and his mistress, and in her long court battle with them, Zhang embarked on a journey that led her to establish what could be China’s only women’s detective agency, working on behalf of wronged wives.
The corruption and decadence entwined with Communist Party rule here have fueled the phenomenon of the ernai, or second wife, and xiao san, literally the “little third,” or mistress. Party officials commonly have a mistress or multiple mistresses, showering them with luxury gifts and renting them plush apartments, all financed by the spoils of corruption. Research by scholars at Renmin University of China in 2012 found that 95 percent of officials under investigation for corruption were cheating on their wives.
Zhang Yufen, who works alone from her apartment just outside Beijing, says her work often brings her into conflict with corrupt Communist Party officials. (Simon Denyer/The Washington Post)
Their wives are often pushed aside, neglected and forgotten. Divorce carries stigma for a woman, although not for a man, and divorce law and the courts are often stacked in the husband’s favor. Zhang’s detective agency was an attempt to redress the balance.
“There is no protection for wronged wives,” she said. “In most cases they are left with no money, no house and no guarantees.”
Inspired by her own experience, Zhang in 1997 gradually started taking other people’s cases. Word of her work soon spread: She remembers being approached early on for help by an elderly woman whose daughter had drunk pesticide because her husband was cheating on her. “I asked her why they didn’t take the husband to court, and she said they didn’t have the evidence.”
To gather the evidence, Zhang established the Fire Phoenix agency in 2003 with nine friends, but she says she charged only for basic expenses, and a lack of finance eventually forced it to close.
These days, Zhang, 57, works alone from her small apartment outside Beijing, running the Alliance Against Mistresses, an organization that combines detective work with advice and advocacy for wronged wives. She still only charges for expenses.
Some have nicknamed this lively, talkative woman the ernai shashou, or “mistress killer.”
Over the years, she says, thousands of women have come to her for the evidence they need to prove their husbands were cheating — and to force them to pay compensation. But not all want to go to court.
Cheated women take pictures of themselves in 2008. At center is Zhang Yufen, who investigates husbands suspected of cheating on their wives. (Axelle de Russe)
“I understand why a lot of women don’t want a divorce,” she said. “In smaller places, people gossip. They often laugh at the wife, but they don’t necessarily judge the husband. She often feels shame and loss of face.”
Her methods are low-tech, labor-intensive and painstaking: While speaking, she showed off two hand-held tape recorders, two pairs of binoculars, a cheap camera and a notebook. She talks of hiding behind trees and electricity poles, of long stakeouts and of following her quarry in taxis and on foot.
In the course of investigating officials throughout China’s civil service, Zhang says she has been threatened with violence and arrest; her evidence has been thrown out of court by judges who are sympathetic to the husbands or in collusion with them.
But she has had successes.
In 2009, she was approached by the wife of a senior railway official, she says, and discovered that he was having an affair with a local television anchor.
“I told the wife to go there, and she caught them in bed together,” she said. “She grabbed her husband’s phones and found pictures of many women, and their phone numbers.”
Zhang said she found that he had 17 mistresses in the different cities where he worked. He was promoting his relatives inside the railway system and raking in huge kickbacks from construction contracts. His wife got the divorce, Zhang said, but the evidence of corruption was never admitted in court or acted on by his superiors.
In another case, Zhang helped a woman from Xi’an whose husband had divorced her. Despite his cheating, the judge had awarded him the family land.
Subsequently, and with Zhang’s help, the woman — who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she feared her remarks would be taken as criticism of the Communist Party — said she followed her husband for two years before finally tracking down where he lived, breaking in and gathering evidence of infidelity and corruption.
“It was really difficult because he had a car, and we had to move on foot and by taxi,” she said. “But Zhang and the other wronged wives stood up for me. Come heavy snow or scorching sun, they followed him, they never gave up.”
But Zhang says her efforts to expose official corruption often run into brick walls. One court mysteriously “lost” the evidence she had presented, while another, she alleges, warned the husband, who had time to empty a bank account of savings well beyond his earnings. Sometimes she presents evidence of corruption to an official’s boss, and the boss won’t want to listen, probably because he is corrupt himself, she says.
The profession of private detective was officially banned in 1993, although the business flourished, largely underground. Zhu Ruifeng, a “citizen reporter” who runs a Web site aimed at exposing corruption, said many people hire private detectives — mostly men — in marital cases.
“Often it’s the officials’ wives who want to protect their interests in case of a divorce; or to hold the evidence of infidelity as a card to secure the marriage; or sometimes mistresses have private detectives get evidence just in case,” he said.
In recent years, the work has become more dangerous. Even while President Xi Jinping wages a campaign against official corruption, the government has cracked down hard on freelance private eyes.
“It shows Xi’s anti-corruption campaign is highly selective, and aimed at clearing out those not on his side,” Zhu said.
In her simply furnished living room, Zhang reminisced about Communist China’s founder, Mao Zedong, and his era.
“Back in Mao’s time, we never used to lock our doors, and civil servants would serve the people,” she said. “Not like now — you would consider yourself lucky if they don’t gang up on you and fleece you. Everything is about money, and corruption is everywhere.”
But the woman from Xi’an said Xi’s anti-corruption campaign has given her hope that things might improve. Officials who used to spend their evenings at lavish banquets and in marathon drinking sessions at karaoke bars — with business associates and prostitutes — now worry about being exposed.
“People say Xi has saved many families, because officials now have to come home directly after work,” she said.
Zhang’s husband worked in the district taxation bureau in the city of Xi’an. She says she spent five years following him and his mistress, who turned out to be her best friend.
She tried unsuccessfully to sue him for bigamy. She finally won a divorce and received a payout in 2007. Later, she confronted her former husband and asked him why he had broken their marriage.
“He said: ‘Everyone in the taxation bureau had a mistress. I would have lost face if I didn’t have one.’ ”
Xu Yangjingjing contributed to this report.NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY
A proposed university-mandated leave of absence policy is currently being considered for students who, due to mental illness, display significant impairments in their academic performance or aggressive behaviour toward themselves or others.
This process, currently described in a draft policy, would only occur if supportive resources and other accommodations were not available to the student or were unsuccessful.
The university has been considering the policy “for a few years” according to a Governing Council memo. Its importance initially emerged in the Ombudsperson’s 2014–2015 report. If the Executive Committee endorses the policy on December 5, then it will go before Governing Council on December 14 for approval. The administration expects the policy to be implemented starting in January 2018. The policy will apply to all domestic and international students.
Discussions with registrar’s offices, academic administrators, deans of students, health, wellness and counselling staff, faculty, and student groups are ongoing; revisions of the current draft will be based on the feedback received.
According to the draft policy, if a student’s behaviour requires intervention, the academic division heads will notify the Vice-Provost Students, who decides whether to apply the policy. “I really expect that, if it’s used, it would be used only a very small number of times, in a given year,” said Vice-Provost Students Sandy Welsh.
The student will be encouraged to seek a voluntary leave of absence. “The hope is that the student will be in a position to be well enough and be working with us to consider a voluntary leave,” said Welsh. She added that if the student does not agree to go on a voluntary leave and the university still has concerns regarding their mental health, the mandated leave will be applied.
Welsh emphasized that the mandated leave is not punitive or disciplinary; rather, it is a policy of last resort. However, the mandated leave policy allows the student in question to appeal the Vice-Provost Student’s decisions to the University Tribunal’s Discipline Appeals Board.
The policy also cannot be applied to students who already have a treatment plan and are able to attend and participate in their classes.
Both mandatory and voluntary leaves of absence have terms and conditions that may include any limitations to the student’s access to campus premises or activities, the addition or removal of any notation of the student’s academic transcript, financial implications, alternative housing arrangement if the student lives in a university residence, consideration of the student’s access to a campus Health and Wellness Centre, and a verification that it is safe for the student to return.
The applicability of terms and conditions of the voluntary leave would be recommended by the student support team, usually comprised of representatives from the student’s program, registrar’s office, and other on-campus support and resources. They are then agreed to by the Vice-Provost Students.
The student will also be assigned a case manager involved in the recommendation of the terms and conditions, responsible for supporting the student, providing them with resources, and facilitating between them and the university.
The policy allows the university to implement the leave more efficiently and grants the student more access to the help they need. In the past, U of T used the Code of Student Conduct to enforce the leave; Welsh believes that its use is a disciplinary policy and is not appropriate if students have serious mental health issue.
“We’re very impressed with the policy,” wrote Mathias Memmel, President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union. “We’ve discussed it at length with the Vice-Provost, Students, and the university has implemented many of our suggestions.”
Although Memmel stated that the policy is “clearly a very positive development,” he believes that the decision to mandate the leave should only be made in consultation with a medical professional. He also suggested that the university produce two guides to the policy: one specifically for medical professionals and one for students.
Tags: Governing Council, Mental health00:00:00 [applause]
John Donvan:
We all know that politics so often becomes a dirty game, but there is the corrupting influence of money, there is the going negative, there are the broken promises, the selling out, the betrayal, the hypocrisy. And yet, at the same time, we have to recognize that politics also usually involves ideals. That people choose what side they’re on in the faith that they are standing with the side that stands for the good, the more virtuous. The side driven by ideals whose outcomes will prove most beneficial to society. That is why you and I and all of us choose the side we’re on. We think that we are standing with the righteous.
Well, we have decided tonight to test one side of that equation because we think it has the makings of a great debate. Let’s go for it. Yes or no to this statement: “Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground,” a debate from Intelligence Squared U.S. I’m John Donvan, and I stand between two teams of two, experts on the topic, passionate from their positions, who will argue for and against the motion, Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground.
00:01:06 As always, our debate goes in three rounds, and then our live audience here in New York votes to choose the winner, and only one side wins.
Let’s get to the first round of voting. Yes, no, or undecided. Undecided is a perfectly reasonable position to be in. Now, what happens is we have you vote again after the debate. After you’ve heard all the arguments, we have you vote a second time, and then it’s the team whose numbers that moved up the most in percentage points whom we declare the winner of the evening.
And then, you will be prompted with this new experiment we’re making called “five words,” working with the start of five words. We want you to tell us the five words that you associate with the word “liberals.” What word comes to mind with the word “liberals?”
And later on in the evening, we will share with you the -- what words we came up with then to see what patterns might emerge. Our motion is, “Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground.” Let’s meet the team arguing first for the motion, starting with, ladies and gentlemen, Howard Dean.
00:02:04 [applause]
Howard, welcome. You are the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. You are six-term governor of Vermont. Howard, this is your second time debating with us, so welcome back. It’s great to have you. We want to put a question to you. We’re going to actually put it to all of the panelists tonight, just in two or three sentences, for you, tell us what is America’s defining virtue.
Howard Dean:
There are three. The first is hope, the second is equality, and the third is the rule of law.
John Donvan:
Thank you, Howard Dean. We got a little bit of insight to you.
[applause]
And can you tell us, please, who your partner is?
Howard Dean:
My wonderful partner is Melissa Harris-Perry.
John Donvan:
Ladies and gentlemen.
[applause]
Melissa Harris-Perry, welcome to the first time for Intelligence Squared U.S. You are the Maya Angelou presidential chair in Wake Forest University, founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Center.
00:03:01 And the same question to you, what would you say is America’s defining virtue?
Melissa Harris-Perry:
America’s defining virtue is that despite entrenched racial and gender inequality, this place has been home to generations of women of color whose very lives embody the greatest aspirations the country has set out for itself.
John Donvan:
Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, the team arguing for the motion.
[applause]
And now the team arguing against the motion. Please welcome David Brooks.
[applause]
David Brooks, you’re an op-ed columnist for the New York Times. You have been since 2003. Like Howard Dean you have debated with us before so welcome back yet again. This is your third Intelligence Squared U.S. debate with us. So it’s great to have you. And the question to you: what do you consider America’s defining virtue?
David Brooks:
Well, in 2015 I wrote a book saying humility was the most important and defining virtue.
[laughter]
00:04:00 And then the 2016 election happened and I figured, “Well, that worked.” That was good.
John Donvan:
Thanks, David Brooks. And please tell us who your partner is.
David Brooks:
The greatest political philosopher in the history of the world, Robby George.
John Donvan:
Ladies and gentlemen, Robert George.
[applause]
Robert, welcome to Intelligence Squared U.S..
Robert George:
Thank you. It’s a pleasure.
John Donvan:
You are the McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison program at Princeton. That’s a university in New Jersey.
[laughter]
And Robert --
Robert George:
Halfway down.
John Donvan:
-- what would you say is America’s defining virtue?
Robert George:
“E Pluribus Unum. From many, one.” We do not share a common religion. We do not share a common ethnicity. We’re many religions. We’re many races. We’re many ethnicities. But from that we have become one people. Despite our many differences we’re one people. We’ve been able to maintain civic friendship and sustain and experiment in ordered liberty that was unknown prior to the American founding.
John Donvan:
Thank you, Robby George.
[applause]
And the team arguing against the motion. All four debaters giving us a sense of their core values.
00:05:01 Now we move on to round one. Round one are composed of opening statements from each debater in turn. Up first arguing for the motion, Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground, Melissa Harris-Perry. She is Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University making her way to the part of the floor we are calling the “Intelligence Square.”
[laughter]
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Melissa Harris-Perry.
[applause]
Melissa Harris-Perry:
Good evening. I want to start by saying that, obviously, it’s a bit of a difficult day to make the case that liberals hold the moral high ground.
[laughter]
It is a -- it is a week when obviously Congressman Conyers had to resign, when Senator Franken today resigned. My partner and I maybe asked if we could -- well, my partner didn’t. I maybe asked could we just change the motion to “men occupy the lower moral ground” --
[laughter]
00:06:03 -- but listen, despite those news realities we are prepared to argue that in fact liberals occupy the moral high ground.
And here’s how we plan to go about making this argument. In part, by acknowledging that in the current news cycle it is important that in this case, in all cases of this kind, individuals cannot be held as the standard for any particular ideological, policy, or partisan worldview. We will not be making a claim, therefore, that any individual conservative or liberal can be used as a bludgeon against the entire worldview. Any conservative or liberal.
00:07:04 So, showing that there is an immoral conservative, no matter what house they occupy, or that there is an immoral liberal is not in and of itself a sufficient condition. It has been true historically, and will continue to be true, that the character affiliated with liberal persons or conservative persons may be inadequate. That is not our argument. In fact, instead what we will argue is that the guiding frameworks, choices, beliefs, public policies, and historical trajectories and outcomes of liberalism with a capital L, versus conservatism with a capital C, lead us as a nation to more moral outcomes when the folks who are in charge, occupying elected office or movement leadership or positions of power, are people who understand themselves to be liberals.
00:08:12 Now, this evening, our goal is going to be to offer evidence of that. Now, obviously, this gets me to the hardest part. What do I mean when I say “moral?” Now, we will undoubtedly in the course of our conversation occasionally make use of religious parables or phrases or that sort of thing, but that is not what we are here to make an argument about.
What I want to make a claim of in my limited time remaining is that we actually share, as a nation, a civic religion that is laid out by our Framers as an aspirational morality, that is instantiated in America’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence.
00:09:01 Now I want to be clear: this document is aspirational, but it is also audacious. The author and signatories of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 tell us that, in writing and signing this document, they are telling the world what American morality is. They’re telling us that in this moment in 1776, as they separate from old King George, that it is their responsibility to tell the world why.
And here’s what they say. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all persons are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights, governments are instituted among persons, deriving their just powers from consent of the governed.” Can you imagine anything less self-evident on the Monticello mountain in 1776? It is an aspirational document, but a moral one for certain.
00:10:08 So, we take this as the standard of American civic morality by which both liberalism and conservatism must be judged. Human freedom, meaningful equality, the cultivation of human flourishing, and substantive popular governance. I’ll give them to you one more time: human freedom, meaningful equality, the cultivation of human flourishing, and substantive popular governance. If you claim to be moral, then, over time and on the whole, your ideological approach must demonstrate empirically that it provides for greater human freedom, meaningful equality, cultivation of human flourishing, and substantive popular governance.
00:11:02 Dr. Dean and I have no doubt that we will be able to demonstrate over the course of this evening empirically that those persons who understand themselves as Liberal, with a capital L, consistently occupy the moral high ground. Because, as Rosa Parks says, “I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free, so others would also be free.” The expansion through popular governance of the moral high ground through the American founding documents. Thank you.
[applause]
John Donvan:
Thank you, Melissa Harris-Perry. And the motion again, Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground. Our next debater will be speaking against the motion. He’s David Brooks, op-ed columnist for the New York Times. Ladies and gentlemen, David Brooks.
[applause]
David Brooks:
First, I want to thank St. Howard and St. Melissa for coming down from their moral high ground --
[laughter]
-- to the ground the rest of us occupy. I was always wondering how do they get down from something so lofty? Is there like a fireman’s pull or an escalator? It turns out, it’s amazing how they arrived. They were actually escorted down by cherubs. They just sort of floated down, people throwing Noam Chomsky essays on the floor.
00:12:17 [laughter]
Now, so I guess I thought this was a strange resolution. So, it has to do with moral behavior. Somebody has a higher moral ground than other. So, are liberals -- do they behave better than conservatives? Well, half my friends are liberals, and half are conservatives. I don’t think the liberals are that much better. If you look at the data, conservative households give about 30 percent more to charity; they donate blood more; they volunteer more. Red states give about twice as much charity as blue states. So, it’s not obvious to me that liberals are better.
Then you can look -- well, maybe it’s about moral thinking; they just think in better moral terms. We have a guy here, right here, Jonathan Haidt who studies this for a living. And as I understand Jonathan’s work -- always a dangerous thing to do to summarize in front of him -- he says liberals and conservatives think morally differently. Liberals think about more harm and care. Conservatives use that moral axis for these, a bunch of other moral axises. So, they’re different ways of thinking. But one I don’t think that Jonathan’s work is better than the other.
00:13:15 The third thing that’s odd about this resolution is thinking that our moral stature is based on what we hashtag or what we vote. Now, I confess, I happen to think politics is generally a competition between partial truths. Most great issues are competing goods; security versus freedom, equality versus achievement, diversity versus cohesion. And sometimes liberals seem to me a little better. On civil rights, on feminism, liberals are a little better. I think the conservatives, we had a pretty good 1980s. I think defeating communism was a great moral good, threatening capitalism to Asia was a moral good. I think we -- we, on some issues, we’re probably a little better.
But the core truth is we need each other to balance each other out. I need you to correct for my excesses, you need me to correct from yours. And we have to do that from equal standing, not from you on high down to us down low.
00:14:02 And so, then the fourth thing -- biggest thing I found out about this resolution is that you could tell somebody is based on a label. Now, let’s read the resolution carefully. This is not a resolution, “Liberalism holds the moral high ground.” This is not about a philosophy. The resolution is “Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground,” liberals as people. The claim of this resolution is that liberals, as people, are morally superior to Robby and me. And the rest of those who go by the label “conservatism.”
In my case, that could be. I’m a pretty flawed person. But how would you know based on a label? And I fundamentally think that’s a -- probably a bit of a pernicious way to think. If you think you’re superior to me and you come from a moral high ground, it’s pretty hard for us to have a conversation. If you think you come from a moral high ground superior to me, I can’t compromise with you because to do that would be to surrender my honor.
00:15:02 If you think you’re morally superior to conservatives, well, then conservatives will act with angry resentment. And a lot of people voted for Donald Trump because they thought a bunch of tenured radicals along the coast thought they were morally superior to them. And so, if you want the kind of politics we have today, think you’re morally superior to the other side.
And so, what I’m saying, is the whole idea of this concept that somebody has a moral high ground, higher than the people who disagree with them, is probably a pernicious concept. It seems to me also a sign that if you think you’re morally superior to a group of other people, it’s a sign you’re probably not.
[laughter]
When I think of the people I really admire -- I was with some ladies in Frederick, Maryland, and they teach immigrants English and then how to read. And they just radiated goodness and good cheer. And they were humble. They made you feel good. The thought of them saying, “Hey, I’m morally superior, I am on a higher moral ground than you,” it never would have happened because humility and grace and gratitude was at the core of their being.
00:16:03 And so, the whole idea that one side morally pernicious, it just wouldn’t have occurred to them. And so, I say if you vote for this resolution, you’re voting for the idea that one side thinks they’re better than the other. You’re voting for a politics of value signaling and not of politics of discussion.
And then, the final thing I’d say is that we’re not in 1994 anymore. Politics is no longer really about big government versus small government. That was the debate we had for a long time. We’re at a different moment in political history. And what we’re facing around the world is the threat of neither liberalism or conservatism, but of sort of global populism. And I’ve spent time with Steve Bannon. What strikes me about Bannon is that he has a coherent story to tell. He has a 50-year plan. He has a -- a set of convictions that he totally believes in. It’s like being with Trotsky in 1905.
00:17:02 [laughter]
And it’s kind of impressive. I don’t agree with it. But what strikes me is that he’s the Bolsheviks, and we’re the Mensheviks. Those of us on right and left who probably disagree with Steve Bannon, we’re back on our heels, we’re surprised by events. We don’t have a coherent story to tell. It is -- we have gone so long in defending the Democratic liberal order that conservatives and liberals both share we’ve forgotten how to defend it against its enemies.
And, frankly, I’m going to spend a lot of the next years trying to work with anybody I can to –find, what is the story we jointly tell against the populists? That’s the challenge of the moment. How can we realign both our sides so despite our disagreements, we actually do agree on a lot of foundation within which we have civilized debate. And if you think you’re on the moral high ground, morally superior to us, we can’t do that. And Steve Bannon has a divided enemy, and Steve Bannon will win. Thank you.
[applause]
John Donvan:
Thank you, David Brooks.
00:18:02 [applause]
And a reminder of what’s going on. We are halfway through the opening round of this Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. I’m John Donvan. We have four debaters, two teams of two, debating this motion: Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground. You have heard from the first two debaters, and now onto the third. Here making his way to the “Intelligence Square,” Howard Dean. He is former chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Ladies and gentlemen, Howard Dean.
[applause]
Howard Dean:
Well, David is a sophisticated writer and a sophisticated arguer, and he posed a question that is not up for debate tonight.
[laughter]
He is quite correct, if liberals take the position that we are morally superior, then we will alienate those people who we seek to elevate. We are taking the position tonight about who has the high ground. And that really is a question about to what do we aspire as Americans, what kind of nation do we want to build? It would be destructive if this were a debate that conservatives are somehow subhuman, they’re inferior. They’re not. They’re people just like us.
00:19:11 This is not a debate about who is infallible. Liberals often spend too much money. Sometimes liberals do have -- want a government that’s too big. We have solutions that often don’t rely on individuals or ignore the possibility that individuals may contribute to the good of things, not relying on government solutions.
And it is also true, particularly on the coasts, that many of us who are blessed with a great education and opportunity that others may not have find ourselves being condescending to those we oppose. And those are all things we shouldn’t do.
But what we cannot do in order to make peace is to cede an ounce of ground on the notion that all people are created equal, that equal opportunity is fundamental for every single American, including people of color and women in this country, and that we have principles that cannot be abrogated.
00:20:14 I’m going to argue tonight that those principles are the high ground. Now --
[applause]
-- it does not matter what we say. What we say is clever, it’s sophisticated, it’s funny, it’s amusing. It matters what we do. And I agree with my partner Melissa that we’re not talking about individuals. Roy Moore’s behavior is not a demonstration that conservatives have the low ground. But the fact that half the people in Alabama are willing to vote for him after demonstrating this behavior is of deep concerns, given that those people identify them as -- selves as conservatives.
00:21:01 And given that they are now weighing whether it is appropriate to vote for a candidate who is alleged to have molested a 14-year-old and a whole series of 16 and 17-year-olds in order to preserve some other value that they believe is important. So, they’re willing to throw under the bus, 15, 16, however many women have come forward, who, I believe -- and I think people in this country should believe him. I think to impeach women in a position like this is an outrage. They |
bowl full of white powder. He sat it down in front of us and announced, 'This is the world's purest, best cocaine. You have never had anything like this before.' Then, as suddenly as he'd offered it, Truman snatched it up and marched away with it, saying, 'No, it's too good for the likes of you.' "
Another time, she added, "Madonna did me the ultimate favor. From Budapest, she gave my column the exclusive on her pregnancy. I was sputtering in shock when Madonna's rep, Liz Rosenberg, called. 'But, she's just starting Evita,' I said. 'How can this be true?' Madonna herself picked up the phone. 'Liz, I'm pregnant,' she barked. I started writing."
New York columnist Liz Smith, left, and actress Florence Henderson in 2001. (STEPHEN CHERNIN/AP)
Ms. Smith, 94, died Nov. 12 in New York. Her literary agent, Joni Evans, confirmed the death to the Associated Press but did not disclose a cause.
Ms. Smith was the natural heir to Hollywood gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, whose viperish tidbits sowed fear and loathing among movie stars and studio heads. But Ms. Smith was different in one key aspect: She played nice.
A typical column mixed opinion with accounts of celebrity sightings, such as this one from April 2012: "The most dramatic entrance at this event came from the great opera star Jessye Norman, who arrived swathed in an enormous cloud of wild black hair, a glittering something or other and massive dangling earrings. No doubt about it, she's a star! 'What are you up to now?' asked one fan. 'What am I NOT up to, darling!' said Jessye, and then she was swept into the arms of another opera diva, the popular and serene Renée Fleming."
To maintain and expand her access to the gilded, Ms. Smith kept up an exhaustive, multiple-nights-a-week round of cocktail parties, book readings, dinners and lunches well into her 80s.
In 2000, she told the Houston Chronicle that she couldn't recall the last time she had cooked a meal and joked that "she should convert her kitchen into a closet because it is never used."
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Always on the hunt for a fresh scoop, she once described herself as "an information magpie, a writer-collector" who can't let go "of a scrap of information, an interesting observation, or just a lone little fact in search of publication."
Mary Elizabeth Smith was born in Fort Worth on Feb. 2, 1923. Her father was a cotton broker and a gambler; her mother was a homemaker.
Growing up among rich kids, she said she never pretended to have more than she did because she thought she would gain respect by admitting to her reduced circumstances.
"I was always a horrible little social climber in my way," she told the New York Times in 1998.
When she was about 6 or 7, her babysitter started taking her to movies — ones inappropriate for her age — which sparked a lifelong enchantment with film stars.
After graduating in 1949 with a journalism degree from the University of Texas, she promptly bought a one-way train ticket to New York, landing at Modern Screen, a movie fanzine, and later took a job as a ghostwriter for Igor Cassini's "Cholly Knickerbocker" gossip column.
She then held various positions in journalism and entertainment: as assistant to "Candid Camera" creator Allen Funt and future "60 Minutes" journalist Mike Wallace; and as entertainment editor for Sports Illustrated and Cosmopolitan.
The New York Daily News offered Ms. Smith a column in 1976 after its arts critic, Rex Reed, pressed for her to be hired.
Two years later, during a newspaper strike, she was ordered to appear on the NBC affiliate's 5 p.m. newscast and dole out pieces of her column. Ms. Smith's folksy drawl and down-home style were a hit. She stayed at NBC for 11 years — while still writing her column — before moving to New York's Fox affiliate, where she stayed for seven years.
Perhaps the biggest scoop of Ms. Smith's career came in 1990, when she broke the story in the Daily News of Donald and Ivana Trump's divorce. She had been on trips with the couple — who intrigued her, she said, because they hadn't descended from old money or Social Register families — and it was Ivana who asked her to come to the Plaza Hotel, which Donald Trump then owned.
"When I got there, she threw herself in my arms and told me that Donald didn't want her anymore. I said, 'Get yourself a PR person who's respectable and defend yourself against him,' " she told NPR in a 2009 interview. Trump was so enraged, she said, that he threatened to buy the Daily News just to fire her. The story made tabloid front pages for 12 days straight.
Years later, she reflected, "That was the biggest story I ever covered that didn't amount to a hill of beans. It was just two rich people arguing about money."
Her popularity enabled Ms. Smith to take her column to New York Newsday for a six-figure salary, making her one of the highest-paid columnists in the nation. Not everyone loved her, though: Publicist Bobby Zarem said in a Times article in 2017, "I know people who wouldn't care if Liz Smith killed somebody, as long as she mentioned their names in her column."
In 1995, when New York Newsday announced that it was closing, the New York Post came courting. She worked out a deal with New York Newsday's parent publication, Long Island-based Newsday, to continue writing her column for Newsday — and also write for the Post, as well as the Staten Island Advance — making her the only columnist to appear simultaneously in three separate venues in a single metropolitan area.
In 2009, a few days after Ms. Smith turned 86, the Post declined to renew the contract for her column, citing the newspaper's financial difficulties. Ms. Smith announced she would concentrate on the Internet. She wrote for the website wowOwow.com, which she helped start, and later for newyorksocialdiary.com.
She also became a contributing editor at Parade magazine and gained a round of publicity with her memoir, in which she revealed she was bisexual. She wrote that she had her first affair with a woman while in college — a brief relationship that caused a long rupture with her strict Baptist family.
Her marriages to George Edward Beeman and Fred Lister were short-lived and ended in divorce. She had no children. A list of survivors could not be immediately confirmed.
One of Ms. Smith's last syndicated columns, in 2013, was typical of her trade, sprinkled with references to Taylor, long deceased, and a newly restored version of her 1963 film "Cleopatra."
She quoted "Elizabeth's super-devoted assistant of many years, Tim Mendelson," who emailed from Cannes that " 'people in the audience were screaming and applauding all the way through. It was wild.' He added: 'She took so much of that movie with her for the rest of her mortal life.'''
But by 2017 — the year that Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president and ushered in an administration of unprecedented public backstabbing and palace intrigue — Ms. Smith sounded rueful as she assessed her position in the media landscape.
"I don't think my name could sell anything now," she told the Times. "Most people have forgotten about so-called powerful people like me; we served our time."HOOVER, Ala. -- LSU football coach Les Miles, like many of us, is trying to comprehend another week of horrific violence that tore at the very fiber of America.
We are numb and heartbroken and depressed. We hope there's ways we can rise above atrocities that feel never-ending while embracing our differences. We know division over race has lasted forever and won't go away anytime soon, and yet, we yearn for a better way forward.
How do you talk with each other to avoid the gruesome killings of two black men by police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Falcon Heights, Minnesota, and then a coward killing five white police officers in Dallas? How do we get to the core of our differences, emphasize with others that they walk in different shoes, and clearly see that life trumps any kind of discriminatory outrage?
I don't pretend to have the answers. Neither does Miles. But he knows we need to try.
So as protests continue in Baton Rouge over the death of Alton Sterling, Miles has called five meetings with his football team, whose racial composition is about 70 percent black and 30 percent white.
"And I didn't do a damn good job, either," Miles said, shaking his head. "I had a tough time reconciling the difference in our team room and what I was seeing outside, and I mean outside from California to Tennessee, including Florida and The Pulse [nightclub in Orlando]. You get overwhelmed."
By that, Miles means that sports in 2016 usually divides not by race or religion but by merit and effort and contributions to the team. The locker room is where relationships from different backgrounds are built because you're teammates, and teammates have each other's back. Someday, one of those teammates may be the best man in your wedding.
"What I wished is that the culture would represent my team room," Miles said wistfully in a candid interview.
Maybe sports can provide a path toward a better future for an imperfect country. That's not meant to overlook how far race relations has come, nor should it be viewed as naive given how far we still must go.
But as AL.com's Joseph Goodman wrote in a thought-provoking column that's worth a read: "Where else in this country do black lives matter more to white people than a football field in the South?" If you're in the "stick to sports" crowd about race, it's far too late for that approach in America.
"I tell [people who say'stick to sports'] I can't do that," said Missouri defensive end Charles Harris, who took part in his football team's protest over race on campus last fall. "I can't just be an athlete; I have to be a person."
Leonard Fournette: 'I have a voice'
Increasingly, pro and college athletes are embracing their platform to talk about race and violence. Star LSU running back Leonard Fournette tweeted a picture of himself wearing a T-shirt of Sterling, the black man whose point-blank shooting by white police set off a new round of national protest against police aggression against black people.
"I have a voice. Why not use that platform?" said Fournette, the potential No. 1 pick in next year's NFL Draft. "My main message to everybody is just keep praying for change, and that's not just in Baton Rouge, that's all over the world. It got to some of us. Somehow, there needs a change because another thing we have in our generational problem is people growing up without their fathers, and one of the main reasons is they have no discipline and they're not there with their fathers."
Fournette said the events of the past week brought back memories of Hurricane Katrina, when as a child in New Orleans he lived on a bridge for five nights and saw countless dead bodies. The recent shootings are another reminder to Fournette that the world needs to change.
"Just preparing myself for the future," he said. "My child has to grow up in this type of environment."
Missouri linebacker Michael Scherer said the last week shows there are "evil people" in the world who do bad things every day.
"Either everyone can come together and beat these evil people, or people can separate and that's what these evil people want and it's going to get worse from there," Scherer said. "If you look at sports programs like ours, or every program that walks through this building this week, there are kids from different races, different backgrounds, different ethnicity, different religious, different economic backgrounds, and all these kids come together as a team."
Why can sports seemingly bring races together more than other parts of society?
"I think there's a different bond you get when you count on somebody, especially a sport like football," Scherer said. "It's physical. You count on somebody almost to protect you. Not necessarily your life, but sometimes your health. When you can trust someone on that level, I think you build a bond that cannot be broken."
Imagine if real dialogue between communities and police could eventually build that sort of trust.
Harris, the Missouri defensive end, said he has been racially profiled as a black man by police but declined to elaborate. "We all have our different experiences that kind of shape us who we are," he said. "But it's about being able to put that to the side and take the perspective of someone else."
Former Clemson defensive lineman D.J. Reader spoke to me last season at the College Football Playoff about the stereotypes he encountered growing up as a young black man in Greensboro, North Carolina.
"You'd walk past car doors and people would lock their doors," Reader said. "Even in the classroom, you have some people who don't expect you to do well in school because of what you look like. That's just the way things go. You go to smaller towns, it's hard. As soon as you break their stereotype, they look at you different. You really have to overcompensate to break those stereotypes."
Reader said he can't always forget those stereotypes that created hard feelings, but he learned to forgive.
"We've been working on race for so long that it's getting ridiculous to the point of why can't everybody just love each other?" Reader said. "But there's always going to be those 1 percenters and the 1 percenters always make everybody else look bad."
Miles, the longtime LSU coach, said some of the isolated shootings are racially based and questioned what the police officer in the Minnesota shooting death of Philando Castille was thinking. Miles qualified his remarks as hypothetical assuming Castille's fiancé was accurate that Castille told the officer on a traffic stop that he had a gun and was reaching for his wallet.
Miles said hearing that someone has a gun becomes an emotional trigger similar to when he tells a football player he's out of football until he improves his academic grades. When a player hears that news, Miles said he must repeat three times that his career isn't necessarily over. Miles' point: The player or officer only hears the emotional words without truly listening.
"[The officer's] brain didn't process right," Miles said. "He could not have done that. I mean, he got tight and he froze and he didn't know, and he said did they say wallet? Did they say gun? There's an emotional process."
In an attempt to add context, Miles appeared to draw a comparison between police receiving the benefit of the doubt when firing their guns to how women should get the same benefit when alleging sexual assault.
"This is where the pendulum swings," Miles said. "If a woman says you raped her and you thought it was consensual sex -- legitimately thought it was consensual sex -- you really did not think that there was anything unusual with it in any way, OK? The law is set up to protect her because she's small and not capable to protect herself. So the law is skewed irrespective of what you say towards her. She has the advantage.
"So now in the bedroom when she says, 'No,' no is really no and scares the [expletive] out of you.... It's a natural skew to the legal system, OK?. I mean, you never hear about a male say, 'Then she pushed me down and choked on me.' Know what I'm saying? So the law is law to people. I think the policemen have gotten such a concern for their own life that they've become shooters quickly, and I think there needs to be some more compassion for life. That's all. The policeman's life and the people who deal with those policemen."
Why is race so hard to talk about in America?
In the days after the shootings over the past week, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey rewrote his annual media address. He felt something needed to be said because so much attention is paid to what the SEC does.
Sankey shared with the media a quote from Nelson Mandela in 2000 about how sports unite people and has the power to change the world:
"Peace is the greatest weapon mankind has to resolve even the most intractable difficulties. But to be an effective agent for peace, you have to seek not only to change the community and the world. What is more difficult is to change yourself before you seek to change others. Only those who have the courage to change themselves and to know that in all communities without exception there are good men and women who want to serve their communities."
Talking about peace, love and change may feel meaningless compared to the horrific reactions of violence. But what other choice do we have? Even if it takes athletes and coaches talking about race, that's better than not having the conversation at all.
This isn't to say college football is immune from disparities, problems and tension over race. It's not.
Last season, blacks made up 9 percent of the Football Bowl Subdivision head football coaches and 57 percent of the players. The commissioners, athletic directors and coaches are largely white; the players (i.e. the workforce) are largely black.
Based on 2014-15 federal graduation rates, black male athletes at the 65 Power Five schools graduated at a rate of 53.6 percent, lower than all athletes (68.5 percent), black undergraduate men (58.4 percent) and undergraduates overall (75.4 percent). A study by University of Pennsylvania professor Shaun Harper found that in 2014-15 black men made up 2.5 percent of undergraduate students at the Power Five schools, but comprised 56.3 percent of football teams and 60.8 percent of men's basketball teams.
Missouri's football protest was met with some backlash, especially when it helped result in the resignation of the university system president. Students on campus were protesting what they believed was systemic racism at the university. When the football players decided to stop practicing and playing until a graduate student ended his hunger strike, the entire team was not united. One player anonymously told ESPN that "half the team and coaches -- black and white -- are pissed."
Scherer, a white linebacker at Missouri, said the aftermath of the protest was tough. "Everybody that knows me that I came across in St. Louis, they approached me the same way," he said. "But in the back of my head I'm thinking, 'Do I come out and tell these people who I am?' Do I say, 'Hey, I'm Michael Scherer and I play Missouri football,' or do I keep that a secret? It was all in my head, but you definitely don't want to have that feeling of deciding what you should do."
Why is race so hard to talk about? I posed that question to some football coaches and players.
Harris, the Missouri defensive end: "I think because of the feedback that we'll get, the awkwardness you have when you look at somebody else that's not your race. But when you say white or you say black, there shouldn't be no weirdness about it. It's just a color, right? It's something that socially we conform. Scientifically, there's no reason for a race, right? However, we've come to distinguish ourselves and categorize ourselves as much as we possibly can and through that categorization we've made it to where we can't even relate to one another. In reality, we're all the same."
Barry Odom, Missouri's new coach: "I don't know but it is. Fortunately, the way I was brought up, it's not difficult for me to talk about that. But overall, as soon as that word or that topic is brought up, guys go quiet and backpedal a little bit, and that's not in 2016 the way this place should be."
Miles, LSU's coach: "Everybody's experiences are so different. You haven't had the same experiences. You don't see it the same way. I think exploring those conversations and keeping the dialogue open is important. Because I want you to know something: Our world is so much more fun with everybody. Let's just talk the way it is. You want to enjoy your life and the variety and the differences of people surrounding you. You will be called to do things that you thought you could never do."
So it was that Miles found himself doing something this past week he never imagined: Talking to LSU players about race as protests simmered in Baton Rouge. LSU defensive back Tre'Davious White said Tigers' players feel they need to take a stand unite their community.
"Sports bring people together and I feel like we winning, that will bring the whole community out and that will bring people together just for a great cause," White said.
There's no playbook for how a football coach should deal with racial strife. Miles is still kicking himself over how he handled the team meetings.
"To presume that what I was going to say was so impactful that it would override other people's experiences, I didn't believe that," Miles said. "I needed to listen. So I don't know if I did a good job, to be honest with you."
But Fournette praised Miles' talks with the team. "I felt he did a wonderful job asking us about the current situation going on, and that's why I respect him as a coach," Fournette said.
An interesting thing happens when you listen to someone who comes from a different background. You each become more human. If it takes sports to help highlight how that basic function of humanity works, so be it.
If we could all listen -- really listen -- we have a chance to find our way forward through this long, hard dialogue in America."The most striking factor about India and sex was the popularity of adult breastfeeding," Stephens-Davidowitz tells HuffPost India. A staggering number of Google searches that begin with'my husband wants...' end with'me to breastfeed him', he says. To check the veracity of this claim, when we typed'my husband wants me' on Google, the first suggestion that surfaced is, indeed, 'to breastfeed' him.
According to data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, Google's search engine is where people of this digital age come to take their masks off. Stephens-Davidowitz studied a staggering amount of Google data for his book Everybody Lies and found mind-boggling patterns in racism, sexual preferences and porn consumption in America. During his research, he stumbled upon what he calls a "surprising" India-related finding.
If the more conservative among us find this search trend perplexing, the ones that follow -- as shown in the screenshot above -- are nothing short of disturbing.
Stephens-Davidowitz told Voxthat search for porn featuring adult breastfeeding was the highest in India. And wait for this one: the number of searches on how to feed a baby were almost equal to the number of searches on how to breastfeed an adult man.
Yes, go on, have a hearty laugh and remember to hold your stomach while you're at it.
However, India is not alone in this adult-men-demanding-to-be-breastfed conundrum. In 2014, Time magazine reported that'my husband wants me to breastfeed him' is more frequently searched the world over than'my husband wants to separate' and'my husband wants a baby' combined. The magazine spoke to several medical professionals and relationship experts who confirmed that women have indeed told them that their husbands and adult male partners have often demanded to be breastfed.
"Every breastfeeding mother I ever knew said their husband asked to drink it," Dr Wendy Walsh, a relationship expert told Time. The mother of three -- who had breastfed all her children till they were three years old -- also told the magazine that her own partner had sometimes expressed the desire to be nursed by her.
Writing for the New York Times in 2014, Stephens-Davidowitz said that this desire to be breastfed was rare among American men -- at least Google search seemed to indicate so. Even if they were interested, Americans weren't Googling about the same as people in India were.
However, adult lactation has been a popular kink in Japan and China as well. In China, police busted a prostitution ring in 2014, where adult men paid hefty amounts of money to be nursed by young mothers. And not only that, Daily Mail reported in 2013 that adults drinking breast milk was a raging business in China with hundreds of women and agencies providing these'services'. Several people claimed that they wanted breast milk for the nutritional value.
'Adult (clients) can drink it directly through breastfeeding, or they can always drink it from a breast pump if they feel embarrassed," AFP quoted Lin Jun, owner of a company called Xinxinyu that offers the service.
In Japan, too, athletes pay through their noses to drink 'fresh breast milk' served at bars set up exclusively for the purpose.
Last year, while crunching India-specific viewership and search data, Pornhub found that Indians don't forget their roots even in the virtual aisles of pornography. Indians not only prefer to watch porn that looks Indian; 'bhabhis' and 'wives' are the most searched-for protagonists across cities. Go figure.
Earlier this year, it was reported that thanks to a drop in data prices, porn viewing on smartphones has shot up by at least 75 percent.
A heteronormative reading of the variations of the search terms mentioned by Stephens-Davidowitz's confirmed that Indian women are indeed perplexed about husbands demanding breast milk and breastfeeding. Speaking to Time magazine, a Mumbai-based nutritional consultant said, "This is completely new to me, I don't see that as a common phenomenon in India. But we're from a very conservative culture and women perhaps would not approach professionals to discuss about this. That could be why they're maybe looking for it on the internet."An Omaha police officer was gunned down Wednesday by a fugitive trying to escape capture. The killing took place just one day before Kerrie Orozco, 29, was scheduled to go on maternity leave.
"I can’t even imagine this is happening. She was a top-notch officer,” Omaha Police Chief Schmaderer said in a news release. “The city of Omaha owes her a debt of gratitude, and her family.”
Kerrie Orozco and her family (Omaha Police Department)
The Associated Press reports Orozco was part of a fugitive task force looking for 26-year-old Marcus Wheeler, who was wanted on a felony arrest warrant related to a previous shooting. Wheeler started shooting at the officers when they approached him near the back of a house on Martin Avenue in Omaha, according to the news release. Officers returned fire, and Wheeler was fatally wounded.
Orozco gave birth to a premature baby girl named Olivia on Feb. 17, the release said. Olivia was scheduled to go home from the hospital on Thursday.
Orozco was a seven-year veteran of the force who worked in the department's gang unit.
She leaves behind her husband, Hector Orozco, and two stepchildren, Natalie and Santiago, as well as her mother, three brothers and a sister.[Excerpted from The Economics and Ethics of Private Property.]
I will first state this general theory of property as a set of rulings applicable to all goods, with the goal of helping to avoid all possible conflicts by means of uniform principles, and I will then demonstrate how this general theory is implied in the nonaggression principle. According to the nonaggression principle, a person can do with his body whatever he wants as long as he does not thereby aggress against another person's body. Thus, that person could also make use of other scarce means, just as one makes use of one's own body, provided these other things have not already been appropriated by someone else but are still in a natural unowned state.
As soon as scarce resources are visibly appropriated — as soon as somebody "mixes his labor" with them, as John Locke phrased it, and there are objective traces of this — then property (the right of exclusive control), can only be acquired by a contractual transfer of property titles from a previous to a later owner, and any attempt to unilaterally delimit this exclusive control of previous owners or any unsolicited transformation of the physical characteristics of the scarce means in question is, in strict analogy with aggressions against other people's bodies, an unjustifiable action.
The compatibility of this principle with that of nonaggression can be demonstrated by means of an argumentum a contrario. First, it should be noted that if no one had the right to acquire and control anything except his own body (a rule that would pass the formal universalization test), then we would all cease to exist, and the problem of the justification of normative statements simply would not exist. The existence of this problem is only possible because we are alive, and our existence is due to the fact that we do not, indeed cannot, accept a norm outlawing property in other scarce goods next to and in addition to that of one's physical body. Hence, the right to acquire such goods must be assumed to exist.
Now, if this is so, and if one does not have the right to acquire such rights of exclusive control over unused, nature-given things through one's own work (by doing something with things with which no one else has ever done anything before), and if other people have the right to disregard one's ownership claim to things which they did not work on or put to some particular use before, then this is only possible if one can acquire property titles not through labor (i.e., by establishing some objective, intersubjectively controllable link between a particular person and a particular scarce resource), but simply by verbal declaration, by decree.
However, the position of property titles being acquired through declaration is incompatible with the above-justified nonaggression principle regarding bodies. For one thing, if one could indeed appropriate property by decree, this would imply that it would also be possible for one to simply declare another person's body to be one's own. Clearly enough, this would conflict with the ruling of the nonaggression principle, which makes a sharp distinction between one's own body and the body of another person.
Furthermore, this distinction can only be made in such a clear-cut and unambiguous way because for bodies, as for anything else, the separation between "mine and yours" is not based on verbal declarations, but on action. The observation is based on some particular scarce resource that had in fact — for everyone to see and verify because objective indicators for this existed — been made an expression or materialization of one's own will or, as the case may be, of somebody else's will.
More importantly, to say that property could be acquired not through action but through a declaration would involve an obvious practical contradiction, because nobody could say and declare so unless his right of exclusive control over his body as his own instrument of saying anything was in fact already presupposed, in spite of what was actually said.
As I intimated earlier, this defense of private property is essentially also Murray Rothbard's. In spite of his formal allegiance to the natural-rights tradition, Rothbard, in what I consider his most crucial argument in defense of a private-property ethic, not only chooses essentially the same starting point — argumentation — but also gives a justification by means of a priori reasoning almost identical to the one just developed. To prove the point I can do no better than simply quote:
Now, any person participating in any sort of discussion, including one on values, is, by virtue of so participating, alive and affirming life. For if he were really opposed to life, he would have no business continuing to be alive. Hence, the supposed opponent of life is really affirming it in the very process of discussion, and hence the preservation and furtherance of one's life takes on the stature of an incontestable axiom.
So far it has been demonstrated that the right of original appropriation through actions is compatible with and implied by the nonaggression principle as the logically necessary presupposition of argumentation. Indirectly, of course, it has also been demonstrated that any rule specifying different rights cannot be justified. Before entering a more detailed analysis, though, of why it is that any alternative ethic is indefensible, a discussion which should throw some additional light on the importance of some of the stipulations of the libertarian theory of property — a few remarks about what is and what is not implied by classifying these latter norms as justified is in order.
In making this argument, one would not have to claim to have derived an "ought" from an "is." In fact, one can readily subscribe to the almost generally accepted view that the gulf between "ought" and "is" is logically unbridgeable. Rather, classifying the rulings of the libertarian theory of property in this way is a purely cognitive matter. It no more follows from the classification of the libertarian ethic as "fair" or "just" that one ought to act according to it, than it follows from the concept of validity or truth that one should always strive for it.
To say that it is just also does not preclude the possibility of people proposing or even enforcing rules that are incompatible with this principle. As a matter of fact, the situation with respect to norms is very similar to that in other disciplines of scientific inquiry. The fact, for instance, that certain empirical statements are justified or justifiable and others are not does not imply that everybody only defends objective, valid statements.
On the contrary, people can be wrong, even intentionally. But the distinction between objective and subjective, between true and false, does not lose any of its significance because of this. Instead, people who would do so would have to be classified as either uninformed or intentionally lying.
The case is similar with respect to norms. Of course there are people, lots of them, who do not propagate or enforce norms that can be classified as valid according to the meaning of justification I have given above. However, the distinction between justifiable and nonjustifiable norms does not dissolve because of this, just as that between objective and subjective statement does not crumble because of the existence of uninformed or lying people. "Property rights to values must be assumed to be legitimate when redistributive socialism allows me, for instance, to demand compensation from people whose chances or opportunities negatively affect mine."
Rather, and accordingly, those people who would propagate and enforce such different, invalid norms would again have to be classified as uninformed or dishonest, insofar as one had made it clear to them that their alternative norm proposals or enforcements cannot and never will be justifiable in argumentation.
There would be even more justification for doing so in the moral case than in the empirical one, since the validity of the nonaggression principle and that of the principle of original appropriation through action as its logically necessary corollary must be considered to be even more basic than any kind of valid or true statements. For what is valid or true has to be defined as that upon which everyone — acting according to this principle — can possibly agree. As I have just shown, at least the implicit acceptance of these rules is the necessary prerequisite to being able to be alive and argue at all.
Why is it then that other nonlibertarian property theories fail to be justifiable? First, it should be noted, as will become clear shortly, that all of the practiced alternatives to libertarianism and most of the theoretically proposed nonlibertarian ethics would not even pass the first formal universalization test and would fail for this fact alone!
All these versions contain norms within their framework of legal rules that have the form, "some people do, and some people do not." However, such rules that specify different rights or obligations for different classes of people have no chance of being accepted as fair by every potential participant in an argument for simply formal reasons.
Unless the distinction made between different classes of people happens to be such that it is acceptable to both sides as grounded in the nature of things, such rules would not be acceptable because they would imply that one group is awarded legal privileges at the expense of complementary discriminations against another group. Some people, either those who are allowed to do something or those who are not, would not be able to agree that these were fair rules.
Since most alternative ethical proposals, as practiced or preached, have to rely on the enforcement of rules such as "some people have the obligation to pay taxes, and others have the right to consume them," or "some people know what is good for you and are allowed to help you get these alleged blessings even if you do not want them, but you are not allowed to know what is good for them and help them accordingly," or "some people have the right to determine who has too much of something and who too little, and others have the obligation to accept that," or even more plainly, "the computer industry must pay to subsidize the farmers, the employed for the unemployed, the ones without kids for those with kids," or vice versa. They all can be discarded as serious contenders to the claim of being a valid theory of norms qua property norm, because they all indicate by their very formulation that they are not universalizable.
What is wrong with a nonlibertarian ethic if this is resolved and there is indeed a theory formulated that contains exclusively universalizable norms of the type "nobody is allowed to" or "everybody can"? Even then the validity of such proposals could never hope to be proven — not because of formal reasons but because of their material specifications. Indeed, while the alternatives that can be refuted easily as regards their claim to moral validity on simple formal grounds can at least be practiced, the application of those more sophisticated versions that would pass the universalization test would prove for material reasons to be fatal: even if one tried to, they simply could never be implemented.
There are two related specifications in the libertarian property theory with at least one of which any alternative theory comes into conflict. According to the libertarian ethic, the first such specification is that aggression is defined as an invasion of the physical integrity of other people's property. There are popular attempts to define it as an invasion of the value or psychic integrity of other people's property. Conservatism, for instance, aims at preserving a given distribution of wealth and values and attempts to bring those forces that could change the status quo under control by means of price controls, regulations, and behavioral controls. Clearly, in order to do so, property rights to the value of things must be assumed to be justifiable, and an invasion of values, mutatis mutandis, would have to be classified as unjustifiable aggression.
Not only does conservatism use this idea of property and aggression; redistributive socialism does too. Property rights to values must be assumed to be legitimate when redistributive socialism allows me, for instance, to demand compensation from people whose chances or opportunities negatively affect mine. The same |
to private sector projects.
The report argues that if the UNFCCC process results in a rulebook being developed in line with what the world’s biggest polluters want, then the Paris agreement is doomed to failure.
“If those rules are written in a way to give weight to the provisions that industry is in favour of, and ignores those things that the industry is against, then you’re almost renegotiating the Paris agreement,” Bragg said. “What you’re doing is cherry-picking out of the Paris agreement the things that they want, and leaving behind the things that the global south [developing] countries need.
“It’s where you lose any nod to incorporate non-market mechanisms into article 6. It’s where ‘climate smart agriculture’ becomes the only focus of agricultural negotiations, and so big ag is dominating negotiations there and petrochemicals are the solution. And the fossil fuel industry dominates the conversation around technology so we’re just hoping for a successful large-scale carbon capture and storage to get us out of this mess. It’s those things that are at risk in the rulebook negotiations.”
Momentum has been building over the past couple of years to have an official conflict-of-interest policy agreed on at the UNFCCC.
In Marrakech in 2016 moves instigated by a group representing the majority of the world’s population – the Like Minded Group of Developing Countries – were thwarted by the US, EU and Australia.
Australia’s delegation has argued that “there is no clear understanding of what a conflict of interest is and it means different things to different people” and that fossil fuel companies were “the providers of the biggest and best solutions”.
But in May this year in Bonn, the group succeeded in getting the UNFCCC to agree to improve “transparency”, and discussions will continue in May 2018.
The World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control successfully implemented a conflict of interest policy that has widely been acknowledged as a key ingredient in its success.
Corporate Accountability says a similar policy is needed for the UNFCCC.The Wisconsin primary could very well undo Trump's lock on the Republican nomination. Senator Ted Cruz defeated Trump in the Badger State, which will make it nearly impossible for the New York billionaire to enter the GOP convention in Cleveland with the 1,237 delegates he needs for the nomination — or even get within 100 delegates to the magic number.
But here's the catch: That doesn't mean Cruz will be the nominee.
In fact, the closer Cruz comes to catching up with Trump without actually overtaking him in the delegate count, the more likely Cruz will be denied the nomination, too, in a truly brokered convention.
Here's why:
First, a truly brokered — or open — convention is not really what's happening when you have one candidate very close to the needed delegate count with several others very much behind. That's simply a situation where a few deals need to be made to bring about an inevitable coronation. The best example of a convention like that was the 1976 Republican confab, where President Ford was able to use an appeal for party unity to win Ronald Reagan's support and secure the nomination. It helped that Ford had a clear lead and there was never enough rancor between the two candidates to make joining forces impossible.70 percent of Turks have never participated in any arts or culture event: Report
ISTANBUL
Around 70 percent of Turkish citizens have never participated in any culture or arts event in their lives, according to a new report from the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV) based on data from research firms GfK and Ipsos.According to the Ipsos 2016 “Understanding Turkey Guide,” 49 percent of Turkish people have never been to the cinema, 66 percent have never been to a concert, theater or opera events, and 39 percent have never read a book.The study showed that some 85 percent of respondents said their favorite culture/arts activity is “watching TV,” while 47 percent of people said they do not read any magazines, while almost 90 percent said they have never been to a hobby or interest course in their lives.According to another study by GfK prepared between June and September 2016, respondents in the 18-24 age range have the highest participation rate for arts and culture activities in Turkey. However, overall 70 percent of respondents said they had never participated in any such event.GfK also found that it is the most highly educated portion of Turkish society that mostly participates in culture/arts events, while some 82 percent of the population said they are not interested in any arts or culture field.Of all respondents, playing and learning how to play a musical instrument topped the list of interests in such activities with 7 percent, followed by painting and sculpture activities with 4 percent, and drama activities with 3 percent.The İKSV study also touched on the use of YouTube in Turkey, finding that half of all active Internet users up to the age of 45 visit the website every day. Such regular usage of the website declines for people older than 55, with only a quarter of people in that category visiting YouTube on a daily basis.The figures were published in the İKSV report titled “Public Engagement in Arts,” which also underscored the commonly made distinction between paid arts and culture activities and free activities.The studies referenced in the report concluded that in Turkish society there is a widespread belief that free culture and arts activities would “lack quality.”On January 15, four A-29 attack planes touched down at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan. For a project beset by seemingly never-ending delays and military-industrial rivalries, the event was a major milestone.
The A-29 is a variant of the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano—a light, flexible turboprop that serves as a trainer and supports troops on the ground. The Pentagon plans to buy a total of twenty A-29s as part of military aid package for Afghanistan’s air arm.
“The turboprop light attack aircraft will restore a fixed-wing attack capability that the Afghan Air Force hasn’t had since the last century,” U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Pietrucha, who has served as an irregular warfare operations officer, wrote in an email.
In a December article for War Is Boring, Pietrucha argued that light-attack planes like the A-29 are ideal low intensity and counter-insurgent warfare. “The A-29 is relatively easy to maintain, rugged, massively fuel efficient compared to jets, and has pretty decent endurance.”
The single-engine Super Tucano has a maximum speed of nearly 370 miles per hour and a range of nearly 700 miles while carrying more than 3,000 pounds of weaponry. The single-seat turboprops have a.50-caliber machine gun in each wing and can a variety of bombs, rockets and gun pods. To help spot targets, the aircraft have powerful cameras that work in poor weather or at night.
Embraer has sold versions of the EMB-314 to more than a dozen militaries as either a trainer or light attacker. The Brazilian firm paired up with American aviation company Sierra Nevada Corporation to provide the planes for the Afghans.
The A-29 is a very good plane—and couldn’t come sooner. As the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan draws down, the aerial support it provides to Kabul’s forces will eventually leave as well. Western jets still provide vital air cover during operations against the Taliban and other groups.
“This is a fighting aircraft which will destroy the centers of enemies in the country,” an Afghan air force public affairs officer, referred to only as Col. Bahadur, told U.S. Air Force reporters. “This fighting aircraft will provide security and combat support from the ground units in ground operation.”
With the new A-29s, the Afghan air force hopes to take an important step toward plugging this dangerous gap. But Kabul still has a number of hurdles to overcome before the aircraft has any real effect on the battlefield.
The recent history of Kabul’s nascent air arm is a lesson in building one from scratch.
For some fifteen years, its air force has been without a fighter or attack aircraft of any kind. While the Soviet Union sold various MiGs and Sukhois to the country during the Cold War, few, if any were still flyable by the time the coalition rolled into the country in 2001.
Instead, Afghan pilots have relied on a fleet of aging Mi-24 Hind gunships and hastily armed Mi-17 transport helicopters. In April 2015, small MD-530F helicopter gunships arrived to help. There are several four engine C-130 and smaller single engine C-208 transports. An earlier Pentagon plan to put 16 twin-engine G.222 cargo haulers into action fell apart due to mechanical problems, a lack of spare parts and other issues. American officials eventually sold the planes as scrap for six cents on the dollar.
Afghan officials have not been particularly pleased with these sorts of results. In September 2015, Afghan air force chief of staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Dawran complained to the New York Times about the C-208’s shortcomings in Afghanistan’s high altitudes and hot weather. Col. Qalandar Shah Qalandari, Afghanistan’s most decorated pilot, had similar feelings about the MD-530Fs. “This plane is a total mess,” Qalandari told the Times. “To be honest, I don’t know why we have this plane here.”
A former Hind pilot, Qalandari was not impressed by the MD-530F’s armament. Compared to the 23-millimeter cannons and rockets on the Mi-17s and Mi-24s, the new helicopters only have two.50-caliber machine guns. With this in mind, the Pentagon is working on adding rocket pods for extra firepower.
Of course, even these Russian choppers—with top speeds of 200 miles per hour or less and ranges of around 300 miles—can’t always handle Afghanistan’s imposing terrain. “If you look at a topographical map you’ll see just how limiting that actually is in Afghanistan,” Pietrucha explained.
The A-29 was supposed to offer a higher-performance weapon for Kabul’s air crews two years ago. That is, if it weren’t for Embraer and Sierra Nevada’s competitor Hawker-Beechcraft squabbling over the contracts to build them.
The Wichita, Kansas-based plane maker offered an armed version of its T-6 Texan II trainer, already in service with the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Army. When it kicked off the project in April 2010, the U.S. Air Force expected to deliver the first two planes to Afghanistan three years later.
On April 1, 2011, Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo and other Kansas notables sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley supporting the T-6. Seven months later, the flying branch kicked the Kansas firm out of the running. Air Force officials claimed the company had not fixed some outstanding issues with its paperwork.
As the only group still in the competition, the Super Tucano team ultimately won the $355 million contract. Pompeo continued to lobby hard for the Hawker-Beechcraft entry, even slamming Embraer’s apparent associations with America’s enemies.
“Embraer has a long and documented history of working with rogue regimes, including Iran,” Pompeo wrote in a November 2011 joint letter with Kansas senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran. “Embraer is the subject of an ongoing Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation by the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Hawker-Beechcraft and its supporters complained that the Air Force unfairly excluded it from the competition. In part, the Kansas firm argued that the flying branch sent their packet back for review to the wrong address. When the materials finally made their way to the right office, the company didn’t have time to make the revisions.
The flying branch responded by canceling the contract entirely. After months of wrangling, the Air Force started all over again in May 2012. Under the revised plan, Afghan pilots would get their first planes two years down the road.
With Hawker-Beechcraft back in the running but now in the throes of bankruptcy, the Air Force again picked the Super Tucano team. Sierra Nevada would have two A-29s ready by the summer of 2014 and then supply the remaining 18 aircraft over a period of nine months.
“This announcement is not only disappointing to workers in our state, but it raises significant concerns for the entire U.S. defense industrial base,” Pompeo, Roberts and Moran said in a statement after Sierra Nevada won the contract for the second time. “The full consequences of this award to our national security, the American industrial base and workers and the American taxpayer are staggering.”
The newly reorganized Beechcraft company, still located in Kansas, again challenged the decision. In June 2013, a month after Air Force had originally hoped the first A-29s would start flying over Afghanistan, the Government Accountability Office rejected the protest. Sierra Nevada and its Brazilian partners could finally get to work.
Now the A-29’s biggest remaining problem is the Afghan air force. While Kabul’s air arm has some 6,700 people, the service only had around 160 trained pilots by December 2015.
“In my somewhat outdated opinion, the biggest challenge to the... will be finding and training individuals with sufficient education to build a modern air force, pretty much from the ground up,” Pietrucha said. “Government corruption is the second challenge, as it usually is.”
According to regular Pentagon reports, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense routinely poached the best crews for its more prestigious and separate Special Mission Wing.
Kabul’s top-scoring C-208 pilots went to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia to train on their new mounts. But by all accounts, the training was slow going. On Dec. 15, 2015, the first eight Afghan pilots graduated from the American-run course. Over the next three years, the 81st Fighter Squadron at Moody expects to train up a total of 30 A-29 pilots.
Even with enough pilots, Kabul could have trouble keeping the planes in the air. The Pentagon continually warns about the inability of Afghan mechanics to keep various types of equipment running due to a lack of spare parts, poor training and other complications.
“It will take several more years for training pipelines to produce the number of aircrews and maintenance personnel required,” Pentagon evaluators noted in one December 2015 report. “Water outages, electrical system issues and lighting failures are... hindering maintenance personnel’s ability to maintain aircraft.”Vulnerable deep-sea corals off Virginia and along the Mid-Atlantic just got final approval for federal environmental protection by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The move will protect a 38,000-square-mile swath of sea bottom from New York to the North Carolina border, or an area roughly the size of the state of Virginia. The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council initiated the action for the deep-sea coral zone in 2015.
Many of these corals grow in underwater canyons, including Norfolk Canyon — a steep gouge in the side of the Continental Slope about 70 miles off Virginia Beach.
Vulnerable deep-sea corals off Virginia and along the mid-Atlantic just got final approval for federal environmental protection by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.The move will protect a 38,000-square-mile swath of sea bottom from New York to the North Carolina border, or an area roughly the size of the state of Virginia. (Tamara Dietrich) (NOAA) (NOAA)
NOAA Fisheries has designated the region the Frank R. Lautenberg Deep Sea Coral Protection Area, after the late New Jersey senator who spearheaded ocean conservation legislation. It's the largest protection area in U.S. Atlantic waters.
John Bullard, administrator for NOAA's Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, said the action represents the efforts of a wide variety of stakeholders.
"This is a great story of regional collaboration among the fishing industry, the Mid-Atlantic Council, the research community and environmental organizations to protect what we all agree is a valuable ecological resource," Bullard said in a statement.
The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional bodies empowered by Congress in the 1970s to manage fisheries off the U.S. coast. It moved in June 2015 to adopt the Deep Sea Corals Amendment.
Bob Vanasse, executive director of Saving Seafood, a D.C.-based group that represents the commercial fishing industry, also praised the final designation Thursday as an example "of the right way to protect these resources."
Okeanos Explorer: Our Deepwater Backyard: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014 Expedition (Courtesy NOAA) Okeanos Explorer: Our Deepwater Backyard: Exploring Atlantic Canyons and Seamounts 2014 Expedition (Courtesy NOAA) SEE MORE VIDEOS
"This is a situation where the industry came together with the council, with NOAA and with environmentalists and came up with a plan that created a compromise that everyone could live with," Vanasse said in a phone interview. "It's a bright, shining example of how to do it right."
Colorful cold-water corals grow slowly in the black depths of the Atlantic — mere fractions of an inch a year over hundreds or thousands of years — rendering them especially vulnerable to disturbances.
Marine advocacy groups are concerned that commercial fishing could cause irreparable damage. But commercial fishing interests, particularly commercial lobster, scallop and red crab fisheries, countered in the past that there's no evidence of such damage.
The new protections will prohibit most types of bottom-tending commercial fishing gear in the coral zone, but won't apply to commercial fishing gear that doesn't contact the sea floor, or to the American lobster trap fishery. It also allows exemptions for the deep-sea red crab commercial trap fishery. Recreational fishing is permitted.
The protected region includes 15 "discrete" areas, or individually named coral canyons, and the larger "broad" zones encompassing them.
Gib Brogan at the D.C.-based advocacy group Oceana praised the new federal designation.
"In addition to helping conserve these fragile organisms," Brogan said in a statement, "this rule will help build and maintain the health of many recreationally and commercially valuable fish populations that make corals their home."
The corals were a surprising discovery during a series of NOAA-led deep-sea expeditions from 2011 to 2014 to determine if there were any vulnerable coral habitats that needed protecting from proposed energy exploration.
Norfolk Canyon was explored in 2012 and 2013. It stretches down about 12 miles, with steep walls fanning out from a sharp head. It's unique for a particular stony coral found there and in nearby Baltimore Canyon, and for a massive cold seep at its base that bubbles up methane and sulfides that provide nutrients to creatures living there.
Last month, the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach announced it will nominate the canyon for additional protection as a National Marine Sanctuary. Baltimore and Hudson canyons are also being nominated by other groups.
CAPTION This Day in History: Challenger Disaster January 28, 1986 Seventy-three seconds after its 11:38 a.m. launch, NASA's space shuttle exploded, killing all seven crew members. This Day in History: Challenger Disaster January 28, 1986 Seventy-three seconds after its 11:38 a.m. launch, NASA's space shuttle exploded, killing all seven crew members. CAPTION This Day in History: Challenger Disaster January 28, 1986 Seventy-three seconds after its 11:38 a.m. launch, NASA's space shuttle exploded, killing all seven crew members. This Day in History: Challenger Disaster January 28, 1986 Seventy-three seconds after its 11:38 a.m. launch, NASA's space shuttle exploded, killing all seven crew members. CAPTION Total lunar eclipse will take place Sunday night, January 20th, 2019. Total lunar eclipse will take place Sunday night, January 20th, 2019. CAPTION Jefferson Lab physicist Latifa Elouadrhiri is pictured in Hall B with the Large Acceptance Spectrometer Thursday January 17, 2019. Elouadrhiri will be part of the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics this weekend supporting undergraduate women in physics sponsored by William & Mary and Jefferson Lab. Jefferson Lab physicist Latifa Elouadrhiri is pictured in Hall B with the Large Acceptance Spectrometer Thursday January 17, 2019. Elouadrhiri will be part of the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics this weekend supporting undergraduate women in physics sponsored by William & Mary and Jefferson Lab. CAPTION William & Mary Professor Myriam Cotten is studying the medical possibilities of a biomolecule found in the stripped bass using magnetic resonance device (background) that is similar to a medical MRI machine. The equipment called a nuclear magnetic resonance machine uses magnets to help scientist determine the shape and composition of the molecule. William & Mary Professor Myriam Cotten is studying the medical possibilities of a biomolecule found in the stripped bass using magnetic resonance device (background) that is similar to a medical MRI machine. The equipment called a nuclear magnetic resonance machine uses magnets to help scientist determine the shape and composition of the molecule. CAPTION William & Mary computer science associate professors Adwait Nadkarni and Denys Poshyvanyk and their students have identified security vulnerabilities in smart home devices. Weakness' in the security of a web enabled light bulb could give hackers access to web enabled cameras and security devices allowing them to be disabled. William & Mary computer science associate professors Adwait Nadkarni and Denys Poshyvanyk and their students have identified security vulnerabilities in smart home devices. Weakness' in the security of a web enabled light bulb could give hackers access to web enabled cameras and security devices allowing them to be disabled.
Those attempts, however, are being opposed by seafood groups and by seven congressmen from Mid-Atlantic states, including Virginia Republican Rob Wittman.
The congressmen sent a Dec. 7 letter to NOAA arguing the canyons are already protected from bottom trawling by the Mid-Atlantic Council, and that the National Marine Sanctuaries Act fails to provide legal protections to fishermen who have been fishing the waters surrounding sanctuaries for years.
Dietrich can be reached by phone at 757-247-7892.Moss inquiry: Leaked testimonies cast doubt on claims Save the Children staff encouraged asylum seekers on Nauru to self-harm
Updated
The ABC has obtained leaked testimonies from the Moss inquiry that cast doubt on the evidence used to remove nine Save the Children staff from their jobs working with asylum seekers on Nauru.
In October last year, then minister for immigration Scott Morrison announced an inquiry to be chaired by former integrity commissioner Philip Moss.
The inquiry was to look into, among other things, claims of sexual and physical abuse at the Regional Processing Centre on Nauru and allegations Save the Children staff employed at the centre encouraged asylum seekers to self-harm.
While announcing the inquiry, Mr Morrison said: "If people want to be political activists, that's their choice but they don't get to do it on the taxpayers' dollar and working in a sensitive place like Nauru."
The allegations relating to Save the Children staff came from an intelligence report compiled from information gathered by Lee Mitchell, a senior intelligence analyst employed by Wilson Security on Nauru.
Do you know more about this story? Email investigations@abc.net.au.
The Moss report is yet to be released by the Government, but in his testimony to the inquiry obtained by the ABC, Mr Mitchell admitted the information he compiled on Save the Children would not stack up in court.
"We're not looking to provide evidence. We're just looking at information of where there's likely to be an issue," he said.
When pressed by Mr Moss over allegations Save the Children staff encouraged asylum seekers to self-harm, Mr Mitchell provided no specific evidence, instead citing a previous report from former Nauru operations manager Greg Lake.
"I'm feeding back to Lake's comments in July," Mr Mitchell said.
"He says he knows this goes on. Coaching absolutely does go on."
Mr Moss said more clarification was needed.
"To my mind there's a world of difference between a general state of implying self-harm can be coached, and self-harm is being coached in the context of a particular series of demonstrations," he said.
"I know... 75 per cent. It's three-quarters of the way there to confidence, to full confidence," Mr Mitchell responded.
Confusion over journalist's tweet
In one instance, Wilson Security's senior intelligence analyst cited a tweet from journalist Daniel Pye, as evidence Save the Children staff were leaking information to the media.
In his testimony to the Moss inquiry, Mr Mitchell said: "This is a guy who works for the Phnom Penh Times, so he's in direct contact with someone on Nauru."
"He's talking about academics working with refugees confirmed seven suicide attempts yesterday to me. Well, the only academics that work inside the centre are employed by Save the Children."
But Mr Mitchell misinterpreted Mr Pye's tweet. It contained a link to an article he wrote for Al Jazeera.
Mr Pye was not quoting Save the Children staff but Professor Suvendrini Perera.
Professor Perera had spoken directly with asylum seekers on Nauru and was quoted on the record for Mr Pye's article. She works for Curtin University, not Save the Children.
Mr Mitchell's testimony before the Moss inquiry also revealed he was approached to gather information on Save the Children in the lead-up to the Government's announcement of an inquiry.
"I think it was either the 28th or the 29th of September," he told Mr Moss.
"I was approached by someone from the department... [who] just said that 'we're interested in anything you've got on Save the Children'."
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton was unavailable for interview.
"We're not going to comment before the report is released," a spokesman for the minister said.
There is speculation the Moss report will be released this week. Lateline understands it will detail allegations of sexual abuse as well as the trade in sexual favours between guards and detainees.
The transcripts of evidence seen by the ABC contain harrowing testimonies of sexual abuse.
Topics: community-and-society, immigration, refugees, government-and-politics, federal-government, nauru, australia
First postedPokémon GO has been a big point of discussion for the mobile gaming world that also happens to love all things Pokémon since its announcement last year. Today, we can shed some more light on exactly how this augmented reality mobile game will play.
We received a press release this morning, which you can read in full by hitting the button at the base of this post, that announced new gameplay features for Pokémon GO. The release explains that players will explore their real-world surroundings in order to “find and catch wild Pokémon hiding in our midst.” Water Pokémon, for instance, might only be near lakes or oceans. The players’ phone will vibrate when a Pokémon is close by, and then they can use their device to toss a Poké Ball out and catch the creature.
Even further, developer Niantic Inc. is looking to hide special items at what they’re calling PokéStops. Those will be “located at interesting places such as public art installations, historical markers and monuments.” Talking about getting people out in order to explore their neighborhoods. These PokéStops will also offer unique Pokémon Eggs that will only hatch after players walk a certain distance.
Players are trainers, of course, and trainers actually have their own leveling system in Pokémon GO. That level will let players find and catch “more-powerful Pokémon and gain access to more items.”
Players will join one of three teams and enter Gym battles against others. Once you’re on a team, you’ll be able to assign one of you Pokémon to an empty Gym. These Gyms will be in real world locations, and they’ll represent a team’s effort to control a given area.
Pokémon GO sounds bonkers, friends. We don’t have a release date yet, but a test phase is planned for Japan during active development. We’ll certainly have more information about the game once that happens.
[press_start]
NEW POKÉMON GO FEATURES ANNOUNCED
Gameplay Details Unveiled for Highly Anticipated Mobile Title
BELLEVUE, Wash.—March 24, 2016—The Pokémon Company and Niantic Inc. today revealed new features for their upcoming mobile release, Pokémon GO. The much-anticipated mobile game launching later this year on the App Store and Google Play will encourage fans to search far and wide in the real world to discover Pokémon. An early user test limited to Japan only is planned for Pokémon GO while the game is still in active development. Features, available languages, design, and overall appearance are not finalized.
In Pokémon GO, players around the globe will explore their surroundings to find and catch wild Pokémon hiding in our midst. Some wild Pokémon appear only in their native environments; for example, Water-type Pokémon may only appear near lakes and oceans. As players explore the world around them, their phones will vibrate to let them know a Pokémon is nearby. Once they have encountered a Pokémon, it can be caught by using the phone’s touch screen to throw a Poké Ball. Poké Balls and other special items can be found at PokéStops located at interesting places such as public art installations, historical markers and monuments.
As players progress through Pokémon GO, their Trainer level will increase, enabling them to capture more-powerful Pokémon and gain access to more items. Some Pokémon can be evolved if the same species is caught on multiple occasions. Pokémon Eggs, which can be found at PokéStops, will hatch after players walk a certain distance. Players will be able to impress their friends by unlocking achievement medals that are earned by completing a variety of challenges.
During gameplay, Pokémon GO players will be encouraged to join one of three teams and engage in Gym battles with other teams. Once they have joined a team, players will have the ability to assign their Pokémon to empty Gyms. Like PokéStops, Gyms can be found at real locations in the world, and because only one Pokémon per player can be placed at a given Gym, team members will need to work together to build a strong defense. A Gym claimed by one team can be challenged by the other two teams.
With real-life surroundings providing a backdrop for encounters with wild Pokémon, this unique Pokémon game represents the next generation of Niantic’s “Real World” gaming platform, which combines mobile location technology and Augmented Reality to create a gaming experience that motivates players to go outside and explore the world around them. For more information, visit www.pokemon.com/go.
About Pokémon
The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.com.
About Niantic, Inc.
Niantic, Inc. builds real-world experiences that foster fun, exploration, discovery and social interaction. Originally incubated within Google, Niantic was founded by John Hanke, who previously helmed the Google Geo team (including Google Maps and Google Earth) after his start-up Keyhole was acquired by Google. The company’s real-world adventure game Ingress has been downloaded more than 14 million times and is played in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. For more information on Niantic, please visit www.nianticlabs.com.
[press_end]Evarts Ambrose Graham, M.D., F.A.C.S. (1883–1957) was an American academic, physician, and surgeon.
Early years and military service [ edit ]
Born in Chicago, Illinois to a surgeon, Dr. David Wilson Graham, and Ida Ansbach Barned Graham,[2] Evarts attended college at Princeton University (A.B., 1904) and received his M.D. degree from Rush Medical College in 1907.[3] Graham then trained as a surgery resident at Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago, and subsequently as a graduate student in chemistry at the University of Chicago. There, he met his wife, Helen Tredway, Ph.D. (1890-1971), a biochemist and pharmacologist.[4] Evarts served as a Major (O4) in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1917 to 1919, and was initially posted to Camp Lee (now Fort Lee, Virginia). He completed revolutionary new work on surgical technique for the treatment of empyema, which had become important following the influenza pandemic of 1918.[5] Afterwards, Dr. Graham served in France as commander of U.S. Army Evacuation Hospital 34.[6]
Career at Washington University [ edit ]
Following his discharge from military service, he was recruited to Washington University in St. Louis, MO as the Bixby Professor of Surgery. An expert thoracic surgeon, he was best known for collaborating with Drs. Jacob J. Singer, Kenneth Bell, and William Adams on the first successful removal of a lung for the treatment of bronchogenic carcinoma in 1933.[7] The patient was another physician (an obstetrician-gynecologist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), Dr. James Lee Gilmore.[8][9] In 1924, together with fellow surgeon Warren Henry Cole, Graham developed the technique of cholecystography, the first procedure for imaging the gallbladder and detecting the presence of cholelithiasis. Dr. Graham was instrumental in founding the American Board of Surgery in 1937 and he was active as a medical editor and author.[10] Graham was Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook of Surgery & the Journal of Thoracic Surgery, and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Annals of Surgery.[11]
Graham served as the chairman of the department of surgery at Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) from 1919 to 1951, and the chief of surgery at Barnes Hospital, the teaching medical center of WUSM now known as Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Graham and Dr. Ernst Wynder conducted the first systematic research on the carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoking that was done on a large scale, and they published their results in a 1950 paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).[12]
Illness and death [ edit ]
Graham himself had been a long-time cigarette smoker until his own research, known as the 1950 Wynder and Graham Study, supported a link between smoking and disease, and he ironically died from lung cancer in 1957.[13] Dr. Graham was survived by his wife and two sons—Evarts A. Graham Jr. (1921-1996)-- an editor,[14] and Dr. David Tredway Graham (1918-1999) – an internist. Dr. Evarts Graham's seminal lung cancer surgery patient in 1933, Dr. Gilmore, also outlived him by six years, dying in 1963 at the age of 78.[15]
Honors and awards [ edit ]
Dr. Graham was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1941, and was awarded the Lister Medal in 1942 for his contributions to surgical science.[16] The corresponding Lister Oration, given at the Royal College of Surgeons of England, was not delivered until 1947, and was titled 'Some Aspects of Bronchogenic Carcinoma'.[17] His other awards included the gold medal of the Radiological Society of North America; the Leonard Research Prize of the American Roentgen Ray Society; the gold medal of the St. Louis Medical Society; the gold medal of the Southern Medical Society; and presidency of the International Congress of Surgeons in 1953-1954.[18] Dr. Graham received honorary doctorates from the University of Cincinnati, Princeton University, Western Reserve University, the University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Chicago. Named lectureships included the Harvey, Mutter, McArthur, Shattuck, Alvarez, Joyce, Arthur Dean Bevan, Caldwell, Balfour, and Judd Lectures.[19]Out at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday, September 10, the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals will be meeting up in Week 1 NFL action.
The Ravens pulled a clean sweep in the preseason, going 4-0 with victories over the Redskins, Dolphins, Bills and Saints. In the Week 4 victory, Baltimore beat New Orleans 14-13. QB Chase Daniel had a nice game for the Saints, going 11-for-19 for 103 yards, a TD and a pick.
In 2016, Baltimore posted an 8-8 record and finished second in the AFC North, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Ravens added a few new names in the offseason for the 2017 run, including SS Tony Jefferson, CB Brandon Carr and RB Danny Woodhead.
Over on the Bengals’ side, they’re coming off a 1-3 preseason, securing a win over the Bucs in the opener and then falling to the Chiefs, Redskins and Colts. In that Week 4 preseason game, the Bengals fell 7-6 but AJ McCarron put up a nice 20-for-30 line for 216 yards.
Last season, the Bengals finished 6-9-1 and third in the AFC North, quite a regression from their 12-4 mark in 2015. Cincinnati reloaded with a few notable names in the offseason including LB Kevin Minter and OT Andre Smith.
The Ravens are 8-1 ATS in their last nine versus the AFC North and 5-2 ATS in their last seven versus the AFC. Baltimore is also 8-17-1 ATS in their last 26 games on field turf and 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games.
Meanwhile, the Bengals are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four games in Week 1, and 4-1 ATS in their last five games overall. Cincinnati is also 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 games in September and the under is 4-0 in the Bengals’ last four games overall.
The going will be tough for both the Ravens and the Bengals this year, as the Steelers are the class of the division and will likely represent the AFC North in the playoffs. Still, there’s some talent on both sides, and specifically the addition of Woodhead for the Ravens should help add an extra dimension for Baltimore. I like the Ravens to control the game here and come out firing after a nice preseason. I’ll take Baltimore.(UPDATED on 7/13/15 with corrected pay for Brad Pickett, whose eligible WEC bouts weren’t initially factored into his total.)
UFC 189 marked the debut of the UFC’s new Reebok fighter kits, and we now have our first sponsorship payout totals.
The UFC-Reebok program, which replaces the fighter’s traditional outside sponsorships, awards payouts based on a fighter’s seniority, but with champions and title challengers in their own tier.
At UFC 189, which aired on |
) who supported the Scottish Nationalism movement — made their escape, the two pieces of the Stone in tow. They returned it, broken, to Glasgow.
Back in Scotland, a stonemason repaired the damage. The stone’s caretakers hid it from British officials who ordered a search and recapture of it. Believing that obtaining a prolonged hiding place would be difficult, its possessors left the stone at Arbroath Abbey, entrusted with the Church of Scotland to keep it from the Crown. But on April 11, 1951, the Church gave it up. British authorities took possession of the stone and returned it to Westminster.
But the students’ efforts were not a total loss. In 1996, Parliament decided to return the stone to Scotland, with one condition — it is to return to Westminster for coronations. Today, the stone is on display at Edinburgh Castle alongside the Scottish Crown Jewels.
Bonus fact : One of the students involved in the Christmas Day stone heist was Ian Hamilton, who three years later, would go on to become a lawyer. In 1953, he sat for admission to the bar, but when asked to swear his allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II, refused. Hamilton’s objection was that Queen Elizabeth I reigned in the late 1500s (and briefly into the early 1600s), before Scotland was part of the (present-day) United Kingdom — and therefore, he could only swear allegiance to “Queen Elizabeth,” without the regnal numbers after her name. He ended up bringing suit to defend that “right” and, as one would expect, lost. The Scottish court ruled that the monarch has the prerogative to choose his or her own name.
From the Archives: Representation Without Taxation: How a weird curiosity of law gives Scotland a bit of power over England. Also, Wine and Cheese with the Queen: The story of a guy who broke into Buckingham Palace to grab a snack with Queen Elizabeth II — twice.
Related: Stone of Destiny, a movie about the Stone. 27 reviews, 4.5 stars.The siren call of the rapidly growing mobile game business is attracting some of the game industry’s best talents. Nothing illustrates this better than the announcement today that a revived Big Huge Games led by veteran designer Brian Reynold is working on DomiNations, a mobile strategy game from the designer of such acclaimed titles as Civilization II, Rise of Nations and Rise of Legends. Reynolds worked for a time as chief game designer at Zynga, where he created social game mechanics for titles like FrontierVille and CityVille 2.
DomiNations is, in Big Huge’s words, “an epic strategic combat game of advancement, exploration and conquest” that’s being developed for phones and tablets under both iOS and Android. The game is free-to-play, and in the beloved style of classic PC strategy games, follows the rise of civilizations through time from Stone Age technology to the Space Age. Players can explore, advance and grow their civilizations while conquering the world through single-player campaign and cooperative gameplay modes. The game will be published by Nexon’s mobile gaming group, Nexon M.
“Brian and the team at Big Huge Games have built a truly epic new game with DomiNations. Strategy game fans and mobile gamers are going to love the innovation, depth, and player choice DomiNations gives each user,” said John Robinson, general manager, Nexon M.
The [a]listdaily spoke with Big Huge Games CEO, co-founder and game designer Brian Reynolds about the game and his foray into mobile games.
Brian Reynolds
[a]listdaily: You have created games on many platforms before this with great success. Why go mobile now for your latest game?
Brian Reynolds: I’ve worked on a lot of different platforms — PC games all the way back through DOS and Windows, console, Facebook, and now mobile. I’m platform agnostic. I see a platform as a new opportunity to make a strategy game that will have familiar elements but will also have new opportunities based on the new kind of platform. Combined with that, mobile seems to be the biggest new growth area, and I’ve always tried to go where the biggest opportunity to have the most number of players is, and that’s how I arrived at doing a mobile strategy game.
[a]listdaily: What’s been the most challenging part of developing strategy games for mobile?
Brian Reynolds: Almost always when I move from platform to platform, the main challenges that get right in your face come down to user interface issues. With mobile, unsurprisingly, that is definitely the most challenging part. If you look back at the games we did in the past, when you had a big old screen and a mouse and keyboard, that’s a very different control scheme for a game than playing on a mobile platform. You’re both looking at a much smaller display area than console and PC games of the past, and part of strategy games are about having lots of little pieces that are moving around. You’ve got to be able to visually distinguish them from each other, and you’ve also got to be able to select them accurately. That creates differences — in some cases it creates challenges and sometimes it creates opportunities.
You almost have to make your interface a lot better and a lot simpler to work well, and sometimes that leads to a surprising level of elegance or innovation that you might not have arrived at if you had a more traditional set of gaming controls. A lot of our thinking has had to relate to how do you get a really cool, fun, beautiful, deep strategy game experience that works really well on both a tablet and a phone. I’m happy with what we’ve come up with.
[a]listdaily: Are you looking for fans of PC strategy games to play DomiNations, or fans of games like Clash of Clans… or both?
Brian Reynolds: Both and all of the above and more as well, of course! The fact we’ve chosen to go back to the Big Huge Games name, we know that some of our fans from the old days will be reminded of the old games they liked. There’s no question that DomiNations is fully a free-to-play mobile strategy game, so we’re very much in that genre with Clash of Clans and Game of War. I think we’re the first to really have a go at a sweep-of-history game in that genre. I think we’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of that in the game we’ve come up with.
We’ve got the wonders of the world, you move through the ages of history. You start in the Stone age, you move through the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, the Gunpowder Age…we’ve tried to recapture that magical feeling of moving from age to age. Your buildings look different, your opportunities are different, your economy can work in a different way. We’ve tried to capture as many of those things as possible. There’s a mix of the familiar elements, for those who’ve played earlier games I’ve worked on, and there will certainly be familiar touchstones, but we’re not trying to recreate some game we did in the 90’s now. It’s a fully modern aesthetic of free-to-play mobile game design.
[a]listdaily: How does DomiNations monetize? Is the game time-gated?
Brian Reynolds: The main opportunity to spend money is for more time. You can also spend money for bandwidth, to be able to build a few more things at a time. You can unlock everything without paying any money. That makes it an even more challenging strategy game.
[a]listdaily: How did Nexon M become your publisher, and why did you select them?
Brian Reynolds: At the time I was leaving Zynga. I was looking for a way I could combine some of my knowledge from the past of building these historical strategy games with how Zynga had opened my eyes to how many more people played games. Nexon had a lot of free-to-play experience. I knew from being at Zynga you want a publisher that understands data collection and analytics. They had experience in that, and they were looking to make a move into North America and partner with some North American developers. They let us be creative in ways we want to be creative, and at the same time they have this deep wealth of F2P knowledge.
[a]listdaily: Is Big Huge Games handling the marketing for DomiNations, or is that handled by Nexon M?
Brian Reynolds: On all the strategic kinds of things that would normally be called marketing, Nexon is taking the lead and obviously we provide them with art and materials. Where you’re marketing stuff literally inside the game, that’s a Big Huge Games lead. That’s almost part of the game these days. But in terms of user acquisition, that’s on the Nexon side.The House of Commons was tense. “We have, on numerous occasions, called for a judicial inquiry into the scandal,” the Opposition leader said. “In order to reassure us that there will be no interference in the investigation into the prime minister’s own party, is he prepared to agree to a judicial inquiry, yes or no?”
The prime minister was having none of it. “Mr. Speaker, the honourable member has just said that the RCMP is doing its job well and is doing its duty as far as these matters are concerned.” Be patient and let the investigation proceed, he said.
The Opposition leader jumped back up. “Mr. Speaker, I gather from that answer the Prime Minister still refuses to hold an independent judicial inquiry into this ongoing scandal.”
The prime minister was a stone wall. “The RCMP is doing very independent work and the auditor general, who is a very independent officer of this House, and both of them are doing their jobs as they have to. I have nothing else to add.”
Of course the comment about the auditor general gives the game away. This isn’t a recent exchange over the voter suppression scandal. It’s the back-and-forth in the House of Commons on September 15, 2003. The prime minister is Jean Chrétien. The Opposition leader demanding a judicial inquiry is Stephen Harper.
And yet the fit with current events is eerily close. I did have to snip the words “Liberal” and “sponsorship.” And it’s Elections Canada investigating now, not the auditor general. But otherwise, this nine-year-old exchange could have come from the most recent Hansard.
But that detail about the auditor general makes all the difference.
When Sheila Fraser delivered her report on the sponsorship scandal in February, 2004, it was damning. But it was also limited. The auditor general didn’t have the authority to do all the muckraking that needed to be done. Having been condemned by the most respected officer in Ottawa, with worse allegations and suspicions outstanding, the Liberal government had no choice but to call a judicial inquiry. And watch it chisel the final date on its tombstone.
Today, the New Democrats and Liberals want an inquiry. The Conservative government refuses. Let Elections Canada investigate, the Tories say. (To be precise, the investigation is being carried out by the Commissioner of Canada Elections, appointed by the Chief Electoral Officer of Elections Canada. Ultimately, Elections Canada will produce a report.)
Most pundits agree, citing the sponsorship scandal as a precedent. Wait for the Elections Canada report as we waited for the auditor general’s report, they say. Then we’ll see.
But the parallel is inexact. And the conclusion wrong.
The trust Canadians have in the office of the auditor general is extraordinary. That was particularly true when Sheila Fraser was the AG. Her word was gold, her integrity unquestioned.
It’s safe to say that most Canadians haven’t the same trust in Elections Canada simply because they know little about it. (What’s the name of the Chief Electoral Officer? The Commissioner of Canada Elections? For the record, they are Marc Mayrand and William Corbett.) As a consequence, politicians are not compelled to show Elections Canada the deference they do the auditor general. And they don’t.State launches incentive for electric vehicles
PLAINVILLE >> The state is launching a pilot incentive program designed to increase the sale of electric vehicles in Connecticut.
The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Rebate Program will offer cash rebates of up to $3,000 to state residents, businesses and municipalities to purchase or lease up to two electric vehicles. The program will last as long as the $800,000 fund created for the rebates holds out, said Paul Farrell, assistant director of air planning with Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Depending upon which of the three levels of rebates consumers qualify, the state has set aside enough money to fund cash back for the buyers of between 250 and 450 vehicles, Farrell said. Vehicles eligible for the rebates include fuel cell powered vehicles, plug-in hybrids and battery powered electric vehicles.
Money to fund the rebates is coming from a $1 million settlement that the state reached with Northeast Utilities not to oppose the utility’s merger with NStar in March 2012, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said during a press conference at Crowley Ford in Plainville. Money being applied to the rebate program also includes $200,000 to provide incentives to salespeople at the dealerships that sell electric vehicles.
“This is an exciting day for us,” Malloy said. “What we’re trying to do is clean up our air in Connecticut. We’ve been pretty aggressive on the transportation front.”
Malloy said the rebates will “introduce these vehicles to a much broader audience of folks.”
The rebates will be available in three tiers on a sliding scale that is based upon the battery capacity of the vehicle, Farrell said.
The $3,000 maximum will be available to those consumers who purchase electric vehicles with 18 kilowatt hours of battery capacity or greater. Rebates of $1,500 and $750 will be available to electric vehicles that travel shorter distances on battery power.
Don Strait, president of the New Haven-based Connecticut Fund for the Environment, said the rebates will drive increased demand for electric vehicles, which in turn will drive down the sticker price for them.
Jim Fleming, president of the Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association, said of the 188,000 new cars that were sold in Connecticut last year, electric vehicles “accounted for a very small percentage.”
Ken Crowley, the owner of the New Britain Avenue dealership, said that on a typical month, his salespeople sell an average of three or four electric vehicles a month.
“I think the biggest concern that people have is range,” Crowley said. “An internal combustion vehicle with good mileage can get more than 400 miles (on a tank of gas) and electric vehicles get about 100 miles on a full charge.”
One new care retailer looking to add to the number of electric vehicles sold in Connecticut is Tesla Motors. The retailer has a repair shop in Milford, but can’t use its direct sales model in Connecticut which only allows new car sales to consumers through franchised dealers.
But Tesla reached an agreement several weeks ago with Connecticut Automotive Retailers Association, which had previously opposed allowing direct sales to consumers, said Diarmuid O’Connell, Tesla’s vice president of business development.
“Now, we’re hoping that legislation that will allow direct sales will be approved by Connecticut’s legislature,” O’Connell said. “I’m not in the habit of predicting what legislatures will do, but New Jersey, Georgia and Maryland, which all had laws similar to Connecticut have recently approved direct sales. We think that once people see our cars, they’ll see why electric vehicles are superior to those with internal combustion engines.”
Fleming declined to comment on whether Connecticut’s General Assembly would approve the legislation necessary for Tesla to begin selling cars in the state.
Call Luther Turmelle at 203-680-9388.After a shaky start, the Calgary-Foothills byelection became a Wildrose romp. That wasn’t too surprising. The shocker was the NDP finishing not far ahead of the undead Progressive Conservatives for second place.
This is a serious loss for Premier Rachel Notley and her government. The apologists will say, well, Calgary-Foothills has always been a conservative riding. But so were most of the 14 Calgary constituencies that her party won on May 5. It seems unlikely that the NDP could win many of them now.
The NDP had a fine candidate, Bob Hawkesworth, with a lifetime of political experience as a city councillor and NDP MLA. Notley and her ministers laid everything on the line to get him elected, appearing with him time after time, hoping some of that old springtime magic was still in the air.
It wasn’t. The winner for Wildrose is Prasad Panda, a largely unknown striver who has twice before run in obscurity for Wildrose.
In that sense he’s is a lot like many New Democrats who were elected in May. He won for the same reason — many voters don’t like the government, the only difference being that this is the new government.
Wildrose will be tremendously energized by this victory. The party’s MLA count jumps to 22. Brian Jean’s crew logs a solid win in a big-city riding, an important prize that eluded them in May. Their claim to be Alberta’s conservative voice becomes more credible.
Wildrose had 38 per cent of the vote. The NDP scored about 26 per cent, the PCs 22. This is the closest thing to a humiliation for a new government; scratching out second place over a party that, only four months ago, was the most reviled political entity in Canada.
Together, the two conservatives parties — Wildrose and PC — won 60 per cent of the vote, more than doubling the NDP. That will cement the conviction among many conservatives that if only they could put the egg back together, they will crush the New Democrats in the next election.
But that won’t be easy. From their new bottom-up viewpoint, the PCs will be as encouraged as Wildrose.
It’s no small feat to win nearly a quarter of the voters after that appalling spring campaign, in the very riding where the premier quit cold.
A strong result was essential to the party’s very survival. The PCs are in deep financial trouble, to the point where one loyalist personally guaranteed a $1-million line of credit established during the general election campaign.
That money was spent. So was quite a lot more. It was all predicated on victory and a continued flood of donations. Those stopped when the PCs lost. It’s no exaggeration to say that the party was on the verge of insolvency in the weeks after the election.
After negotiations with creditors, the old ship has righted itself somewhat. But Thursday’s byelection was crucial.
If the PCs had appeared dead to the voters, the party might have packed it in. Now the result could be just solid enough to convince donors (who no longer include corporations) to pull the party out of its financial fix.
And what does Notley do with this loss? Not ignore it, that’s for sure. Not try to write it off as mere discontent with low oil prices.
The malaise runs much deeper than that. The vote points to a failure of the confidence and hope that Notley inspired only short months ago.
Many Calgarians are deeply worried about the economic jam the city is in, and increasingly doubtful that the NDP is the right party to deal with it.
The result is a Wildrose boom underscored by a touch of the previously unthinkable, nostalgia for the Progressive Conservatives.
And Alberta rolls on, as reliably unpredictable as ever.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald
dbraid@calgaryherald.comIf you’re like most writers, there will a lot of times when you’re stuck on an idea and have a lot of difficulty properly iterating in writing what you are thinking in your head.
It’s an incredibly frustrating feeling when a writer struggles to find the right words, or articulate one’s thoughts in a seamless flow.
When this happens, I remind myself to follow one of my Renegade of Written Word rules, which I call JGIOP and that stands for “Just Get it on Paper.”
When you’re struggling with your writing, forget style, sentence flow and even grammar — just put your thoughts on paper. Rifle off notes and bullet points. Let your mind wander in whatever direction it desires. Follow suit by letting your fingers transcribe your thought processes through your keyboard or from pen to paper. Put any related side-notes in parentheses, but just keep the flow going.
The JGIOP approach helps free your mind and allows yourself to be highly creative.
Writing styles sometimes lead one to develop confining habits, which prohibit the full development of new and original ideas, because the writer is dedicated to maintaining a preferred form and style. As the Renegade of Written Word prefers, JGIOP breaks those confining rules and allows the writer to fully and creatively explore new ideas. Before you know it, you’ll have paragraphs and pages full of your ideas. From that point, you can start to cut and paste things together, finding the flow, and perform the necessary editing to apply your unique writing style to your ideas.
Why don’t you try to utilize JGIOP as a form of a liberating writing exercize? Take an idea you’ve been pondering. Spend the next 20-30 minutes freely writing whatever comes to you. Forget style, form, structure… just let it flow, and Just Get it on Paper!
As always, comments much appreciated :)MUMBAI: A sessions court on Friday discharged suspended IPS officer Sunil Paraskar, who was accused of raping a model. While the 58-year-old suspended DIG will move to be reinstated in the force, the complainant told TOI she would appeal in the Bombay high court. Judge V A Raut pronounced the order on the application moved by Paraskar’s defence advocate Rizwan Merchant on June 30.Paraskar, who was present in court with his wife Sangeeta, brother and sister-in-law, broke down after hearing the verdict. He also clarified there was no admission of consensual sex on his part. “If I would have gone to jail even for a day I would have killed myself and they (family) would have followed. One can’t destroy families like this,” he said. He further said the family was in the worst form of trauma for the last one-and-a-half years. “Meeting the same constables who worked with me was the worst kind of embarrassment. At my brother’s daughter’s wedding in May, all eyes were on us and we know what everyone was thinking. The looks spoke louder than words. A number of officers have committed suicide in such situations. There was a time when I contemplated suicide too,” he added. He stated he was implicated as the complainant wanted to create enough hype and controversy and gain publicity to enter a reality show. Paraskar’s wife of 30 years said she did not believe the allegations even for a second. “We are always there for each other. I knew her (complainant) very well having met her and chatted with her often. I absolutely knew all of the allegations were rubbish,” Sangeeta Paraskar said.The complainant expressed sadness at the verdict. “I am shocked that I was not heard by the judge before giving an order for discharge. This should have been a matter of trial. Without hearing the witness if an accused is discharged then it leads to many doubts in my mind. I am upset, have lost faith and I am going to challenge the order in the high court,” she said.Reflecting on the possible grounds for the discharge, Merchant said, “The complainant’s emails and Whatsapp messages post the alleged incidents (of rape and molestation) expressing her love for the officer may have gone against her.” Merchant also said a transcript of the conversation captured on CD, in which she had allegedly strategized to implicate him, was produced before the court. Merchant also lamented on the nature of investigations conducted in the case and said there were several lapses at every stage.Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat too said he will challenge the order. Legal experts say in such a scenario, Paraskar will have to fight another battle in the high court and it will be difficult for the state to reinstate him. Paraskar is due to retire in 2017.In July 2014, the woman approached then Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria, alleging Paraskar molested and sexually assaulted her on two occasions in December 1 and 7, 2013. She claimed she first met Paraskar in 2012, when he was an additional commissioner of police (north region), regarding a case. On her complaint, an FIR was reigstered against Paraskar at Malwani police station under sections 376(2) (rape by a police officer) and 376 C (intercourse by superintendent of Jail, remand home, etc).Recently, an article by Rich Felker called Broken by design: systemd has been making the rounds. While I am sympathetic with complaints about systemd, the problem is that this article is both more or less deliberately misleading and factually wrong in various of its sections. Normally I would pass over this (per the lesson of the famous xkcd strip), but not today for various reasons. I'll be quoting from the article to comment on specific issues I have with it.
(To hopefully avoid possible misunderstandings, I've written up my overall views of systemd and put them in a sidebar at the bottom of this entry.)
Felker more or less opens with:
My view is that this idea is wrong: systemd is broken by design, and despite offering highly enticing improvements over legacy init systems, it also brings major regressions in terms of many of the areas Linux is expected to excel: security, stability, and not having to reboot to upgrade your system.
To start with, when Felker talks about 'broken by design' and'major regressions' he means both in a theoretical or philosophical sense; in other words he objects to how systemd is designed and feels that it is a bad idea. He does not point out anything that systemd fails at, can't do, or does wrong today in actual use. In practice systems running systemd have not been less secure or less stable and do not have to reboot to upgrade any more (or less) than non-systemd Linux systems do.
(Desktop Linux systems have increasingly been wanting to reboot after upgrades but this is driven by factors independent from systemd.)
On a hardened system without systemd, you have at most one root-privileged process with any exposed surface: sshd. Everything else is either running as unprivileged users or does not have any channel for providing it input except local input from root. Using systemd then more than doubles the attack surface.
Unfortunately this is false on a modern Linux system unless part of Felker's hardening involves disabling DBus and then fixing everything that stops working as a result of that. Any Linux system using DBus has a DBus daemon running as root, whether it is part of systemd or not, and that is a significant and user-accessible exposed surface (although only to local users). It may also expose DBus APIs for other root processes such as udev stuff.
(My understanding is that DBus has become essentially mandatory because udev wants to talk to it to broadcast hotplug events. Udev itself is deeply entwined in the modern Linux boot process to the point where removing it is less 'hardening your system' and more 'creating a new Linux distribution'.)
Update: I'm less and less confident of my understanding of how udev and DBus are linked to each other and how DBus runs. I may be wrong here about how necessary DBus is for udev and the security implications of DBus; this would mean that I'm wrong here and systemd offering DBus services is a real new exposure.
This increased and unreasonable risk is not inherent to systemd's goal of fixing legacy init. However it is inherent to the systemd design philosophy of putting everything into the init process.
I disagree with this view because I feel that a great deal of the increased attack surface systemd exposes is inherent in a number of core design decisions. Systemd is an active supervising init, so you must be able to somehow tell it to manipulate services (and load information about new ones). It holds service state in memory instead of trying to write status files on disk and keep them in sync; this implies you need a way of querying that service state. Systemd has further decided that unprivileged users can query that state, which means that unprivileged users can talk to it in general.
While systemd uses DBus for most or all of this I think that there is a serious argument that it is better to use a general core facility that a lot of people are paying a lot of attention to rather than reinvent the wheel on your own. A lot of people are worrying about the security and integrity of DBus and DBus libraries, many more than would be worrying about a systemd-specific protocol and set of message encoding and decoding code.
Unfortunately, by moving large amounts of functionality that's likely to need to be upgraded into PID 1, systemd makes it impossible to upgrade without rebooting. [...]
As Felker later admits, this is somewhere between 'factually incorrect' and 'aggressively misleading'. Systemd can and does serialize its state and re-exec itself during upgrades, and in practice this works reliably. My machines have upgraded systemd repeatedly without any kernel reboots involved (and this includes upgrades as drastic as Fedora version upgrades, eg from Fedora 19 to Fedora 20; yes I rebooted afterwards, but systemd was upgraded before then).
Yes, there are theoretical failure modes of this (as Felker agonizes about). I have a number of views on this but the simple version is that this problem exists in any other init system (most of which have been re-execing themselves on upgrades for years) and for any number of important system daemons as well as init. For example, if sshd fails to restart during an upgrade many servers are just as screwed as if init dies.
Felker also raises the issue of compatibility problems with the serialized state between an old and a new version. If it happened, this would be a distribution bug; when a distribution ships any upgrade it's that distribution's responsibility to make sure that the upgrade is compatible and won't make an upgraded system explode. Distributions have failed at this without systemd, but this is not a failure of what they are packaging, it is a failure of the distribution and their processes.
Many of the selling-point features of systemd are server-oriented. State-of-the-art transaction-style handling of daemon starting and stopping is not a feature that's useful on desktop systems. The intended audience for that sort of thing is clearly servers.
If you read the systemd design documents, this is clearly incorrect. One of systemd's explicit goals is to not start daemons on desktop systems until they're needed, especially heavyweight daemons like CUPS. If anything this is a drawback on servers, where people like me want to know right away on reboot if something is not going to work a day from now when someone tries to use it for the first time.
(Systemd's fast boot time due to starting services in parallel and various other tricks is also primarily a desktop advantage in my opinion, with perhaps a sideline in cloud virtual instances. Physical servers reboot infrequently and their boot is often drastically slowed down by the firmware's burning need to lovingly fondle ever bit of hardware in sight. Not that I'm grumpy about it or anything.)
The desktop is quickly becoming irrelevant. The future platform is going to be mobile and is going to be dealing with the reality of running untrusted applications. While the desktop made the unix distinction of local user accounts largely irrelevant, the coming of mobile app ecosystems full of potentially-malicious apps makes "local security" more important than ever.
The systemd developers disagree about the future irrelevance of the desktop, as do I. Beyond that, systemd has a significant amount of support for running services and other things in confined environments via use of Linux cgroups, something that is highly useful on both servers (for running daemons in lesser-privileged environments or with strong resource limits) and on desktops and other user machines for exactly this sort of untrusted applications.
None of the things systemd "does right" are at all revolutionary. They've been done many times before. DJB's daemontools, runit, and Supervisor, among others, have solved the "legacy init is broken" problem over and over again (though each with some of their own flaws). Their failure to displace legacy sysvinit in major distributions had nothing to do with whether they solved the problem, and everything to do with marketing. [...]
I disagree with this at sufficient length that I wrote an entire entry on why systemd is winning the init wars and other things aren't. The short version is that only Upstart has even been trying to do so.
If none of [of the alternate init systems] are ready for prime time, then the folks eager to replace legacy init in their favorite distributions need to step up and either polish one of the existing solutions or write a better implementation based on the same principles. Either of these options would be a lot less work than fixing what's wrong with systemd.
The final sentence is demonstrably false. Systemd works today on a great number of machines and the alternate init systems do not. Making the alternative init systems work would be a significant amount of effort, especially if you do as Felker advocates and completely replace the current init code to shove most of what init historically has done off to new programs. What might take 'a lot less work' for alternate init systems than systemd is changing them to fit Felker's vision of how init should work, a vision that is not how things work today even in System V init.
Felker does not make it clear if he thinks that legacy init even needs to be replaced (and there is certainly a contingent of people who feel that it doesn't need to be). I feel that System V init has a number of significant issues, issues that really do make a difference when managing systems. Other people seem to share this view given that major Linux distributions have moved to adopt other init systems (first with Upstart in Ubuntu, Fedora, and RHEL, and now with a move to systemd). And going outside of Linux, Solaris's SMF is the granddaddy of drastic modern init overhauls. Clearly this is an idea that has resonated with a lot of technical people over time.
(And as Felker forthrightly says, systemd offers 'highly enticing improvements over legacy init systems'.)
Sidebar: Smaller issues in Felker's article
Among the reasons systemd wants/needs to run as PID 1 is getting parenthood of badly-behaved daemons that orphan themselves, preventing their immediate parent from knowing their PID to signal or wait on them.
This is not the case. Systemd runs parts of itself as PID 1 because that is what an init system does. Systemd actually handles badly behaved daemon processes not through noticing when they are reparented to PID 1 but through Linux cgroups, which provide accurate tracking of what service a process belongs to.
In general inheriting the parentage of badly behaved daemon processes is useless for an init system because in standard Unix the init system has no way of figuring out what (abstract) service a random process it has just inherited is associated with or otherwise where it came from. In short, inits inherit random daemon processes only because they inherit all random processes.
(Why does PID 1 inherit orphan processes as opposed to something else happening to them? The ultimate answer is 'because that's how Unix works'.)
[...] While legacy init systems basically deal with no inputs except SIGCHLD from orphaned processes exiting and manual runlevel changes performed by the administrator, [...]
This is the case much of the time on modern servers but is not historically the case. One of init's major roles over time has been handling getty processes for the console and for serial connections, a role which involves a fair amount of complexity (for instance, most inits have had rate-limiting so that a broken getty or line wouldn't eat the system). And runlevel changes are actually a subset of the more general init-managed facilities exposed in /etc/inittab in System V init.
With that said, it's completely true that systemd deals with a lot more input sources than traditional System V init. Some of this is intrinsic in being an active supervision-based init system instead of a passive one like System V init, as an active init system must have some way of telling to manipulate services.
Sidebar: My overall views of systemd
I want to summarize my view of systemd to avoid misunderstandings. First, I feel that systemd is currently the best Linux init system from a sysadmin's perspective for reasons that I mostly covered in an earlier entry on things that systemd gets right. Second, I don't think that systemd is the ultimate init system (especially the ultimate Unixy init system). Instead I see it as part of Unix's necessary experimentation and growth. System V init is not flawless and systemd is one of a number of attempts to move the state of the art in init systems forward. We'll collectively learn from this over time and either improve systemd or come up with better solutions and replace it.Echo Lake Productions and North by Northwest Entertainment have released the the first trailer and poster for the upcoming horror film The Ward, the first John Carpenter (Halloween, The Fog, The Thing, The Mouth of Madness) -directed film to hit movie theaters since 2001’s Ghosts Of Mars!
Synopsis: John Carpenter’s The Ward, a psychological thriller about a young woman locked in a mysterious mental institution in the 1960s, marks iconic horror master John Carpenter’s first feature film in over seven years.
Kristen (Amber Heard), a beautiful but troubled young woman, finds herself bruised, cut, drugged, and held against her will in a remote ward of a psychiatric hospital. She is completely disoriented, with no idea why she was brought to this place and no memory of her life before being admitted. All she knows is that she isn’t safe.
The other patients in the ward—four equally disturbed young women—offer no answers, and Kristen quickly realizes things are not as they seem. The air is heavy with secrets, and at night, when the hospital is dark and foreboding, she hears strange and frightening sounds. It appears they are not alone.
One-by-one, the other girls begin to disappear and Kristen must find a way out of this hellish place before she, too, becomes a victim. As she struggles to escape, she will uncover a truth far more dangerous and horrifying than anyone could have imagined.
The movie also stars Lyndsy Fonseca, Danielle Panabaker, Jared Harris, Mika Boorem and Mamie Gummer.
The Ward will hit theaters in the UK on Jan. 21st and no US release is set yet.
The Ward Trailer
The Ward Poster
The Ward PosterThere’s a mouse in the White House.
Maintenance workers were requested to take care of mice in the Situation Room and the White House Navy mess food service area over the past two years, according to work orders obtained by WRC-TV.
There were also reports of ants in the White House chief of staff’s office and cockroach infestations on the grounds, WRC reported.
Other work orders include requests for furniture, a new toilet seat in the Oval Office, pictures to be hung and heating system repairs, among others. An influx of work orders were made shortly after President Trump’s inauguration.
So far, the work orders submitted in 2017 are similar to those that |
has backed US-led efforts to prevent Iran developing a nuclear weapons capability through sanctions, but has also refused to rule out military force.
In 1981 Israel bombed an Iraqi nuclear reactor and reportedly also attacked a suspected Syrian nuclear facility in 2007.
Iran insists that its nuclear programme is aimed solely at power generation and medical research and says that the international community should focus its attention on Israel, which, unlike Iran, is not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty."I could care less" vs. "I couldn't care less"
The Question Ends Here
When one usually states "I could care less", they usually mean "I could not care less". [e.g. "I could care less about linguistics."]
In order for one to "care less" about a subject, they must first care about it somewhat. Saying "I could care less about... " does indeed imply, nay dictate, that there is some degree of care.
I've put together a handy chart to help visualize...
It can easily be seen that, in absolute terms, there is no caring at the zero marker. It is impossible to care less than that amount.
Let us use a different example...
I could have less food. I couldn't have less food.
Which statement above means "I have at least some food", and which means "I don't have any food"?
A Recent Email Thread
Aug 16, 2006
mikerubin2@aol.com
Isn't the key to whether one could or could not care less whether one wants to be literal or sarcastic? :)
No. If one wants to be sarcastic, they would say "That's the most interesting thing ever!" or something else that would put their caring near the top of the continuum. Merely pulling their "level of caring" off of the absolute bottom doesn't give a sarcastic effect.
Consider this statement: "I need $130,000 to pay off the IRS."
Which of these is sarcastic?
1) "I don't have $130,000 either."
2) "Let me quick write you out a check from my enormous bank account."
3) "I'm not completely broke."
Using the principles from the sarcastic line, make up a sarcastic quote about your level of caring!
Thank you.
Aha! Now that is good sarcasm! It is plausible... and I'm not quite certain about its intent! The statement is clear cut, and may be taken in either way.
Well done!*
*(This statement's sarcasm level depends on the intent of your "Thank you." statement.)
This is fun! (This statement is not at all sarcastic. It is actually fun.)**
**Yes, I know both the 'fun' statement and the explanation could be construed as sarcastic... it is a mire; but it honestly is fun.
Actually, I was being sincere!
All reasonable (and inherently erroneous) retorts will be published on this page. Send them in.Continue Reading Below Advertisement
This weekend at the MTV Movie Awards, dozens of awards were given out to people whose names I didn't recognize. I've never been a big MTV Movie Awards aficionado or anything, but seriously, I have no idea who these people are anymore. They're all in singing vampire movies, right? Singing vampire movies about abstinence, right? And people watch that? Kids these days are idiots. Gimme Kevin Bacon anger-dancing through an old factory any day. There were a couple people older than 20 at the awards however, and they did interact with each other in a testactular fashion. Bruno, a fashionista with comedic mannerisms (i.e. super-gay) played by Sacha Baron Cohen, entered the theater swooping through the air on a harness. Notably, he was wearing wings and something which I'm going to go ahead and describe as a bedazzled jock strap. Mid-flight he hit some technical difficulties, and descended head first into the lap of Eminem, famous for his talky-songs about berating women. This arrangement of bodies had the remarkable effect of positioning Bruno's cock, balls and ass right in the face of the rapper, who appeared to be dissatisfied with the arrangement.
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As a comedy writer I have text files littered all over my computer, half written bits and ideas from my years working the dick-joke-beat. And like most normal and healthy young men, I also have a fascination with putting my balls on popular rap artists. So upon hearing this news I realized that years ago I had written up a list of different ways one could put their testicles on Eminem, something I had originally intended to put up on my Geocities page, under my pen name at the time "~Dongwriter32" After cleaning it up a bit and removing the ones that could get me on various no-fly lists, I proudly present to you a list of methods for how to get your balls on Eminem. Hopefully you find it enjoyable, and maybe even useful, perhaps if you're a really big Eminem fan or someone with a particularly complicated bucket list. Ladies, I know this article is biased towards male readers, but hope you enjoy it just the same. If you wish to participate, I've sourced the following supply of artificial balls you can make use of.
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Or, tune in next week for my unisex article "How to Cover Rachel Ray with Ants." __Wait for a powerful wind storm in Eminem's neighborhood. When a tree branch takes out the power lines, sneak into Eminem's house and place your balls where he normally keeps his flashlight. __ Invite Eminem to a boy-girl party. During a game of spin the bottle, wait for Eminem to win seven minutes in heaven with a girl. When they enter the closet and turn out the lights, they are shocked to find you concealed in a poncho now hiked up to your waist, hastily placing your balls on Eminem. __ You're a successful dentist, who wants to give up the daily grind and place your balls on Eminem. Wait for the multi-platinum selling artist to avail himself of your services, ask him to sit in the dentist's chair, and tilt it all the way back. Place your balls on Eminem. __ With the help of a colleague, who is a deceitful tour guide, you have lured Eminem into a Turkish bath. Before he realizes that this is not in fact an Olive Garden, you appear in a cloud of steam to place your balls on Eminem, before disappearing just as quickly into the haze. __ Seeking the natural rush of adrenaline, Eminem signs up for sky-diving instruction at the school where you teach. During his first jump, Eminem will be strapped to your chest in the tandem jump position. At the designated height, ask Eminem to pull the ripcord attached to the harness. This ripcord will release your specially designed pants, freeing your balls, which can now be placed on Eminem. When he begins to panic, calm him down and pull the real ripcord, deploying the parachute. If he complains after you land safely, soothe him by explaining that he made a common beginners mistake. __ While visiting your firehall during the filming of a music video, Eminem asks to use the firepole. Descending in a reasonable manner, he gets mired at the bottom in the crash pad, which is suspiciously softer than normal. As he works to free his feet, he is unconcerned about the possibility of a pantsless fireman descending upon him balls first, which, sadly, is happening with great speed. __ NASA has aircraft which, when flown in parabolic arcs, simulate low-gravity environments. For a price, these planes can be made available to VIPs or Eminem. When Eminem eventually signs up for such an experience, during the first few simulations he will have a hard time adjusting to the environment, and will rely heavily on the crew's actions to keep him safe. If the crew wishes to place their balls on Eminem, little can be done to stop this. __
__ A malfunction at the theme park has left a roller coaster stuck on the tracks. It's in an nonthreatening position however, stuck on the initial incline, so the maintenance staff are in no great rush to free it. But what's this? Someone has freed themselves from the safety latch on their seat and is standing up! Tear away pants flutter to the ground below as the crowd gapes in shock.the local headlines will scream tonight. __ While at the park enjoying a picnic or drug deal, Eminem pauses to seek shelter from the sun under a leafy oak tree. You, disguised as an owl, lower your hindquarters from the branches above. Ever so gingerly you put your balls on Eminem, gently cooing "Hooooooooo. Hoooooooo," to maintain your disguise. __ Eminem is attending his community's annual autumn festival. Begged to take part in the apple bob by his children, Eminem reluctantly agrees. What he doesn't know is that you have taken an apple, hollowed it out, and used it to conceal your penis, which is now angled towards the water surface from underneath where you lie concealed with a snorkel. Your balls thwack once, twice, three times on Eminem's chin before he realizes something untoward has happened. Before he can escape, you latch on to his torso with your legs, pinning your balls to his face for another five seconds before he can struggle free. A major victory. __ Your cousin has landed a position of great responsibility at the water park, where he is responsible for ensuring children are adequately spaced out when descending the water slide. Eminem, enjoying a day of sunshine, approaches the top of the water slide and after a short wait is permitted to go down. You, concealed nearby and covered in butter, sprint after him and down the slide. You easily catch him, and stradle his head for the next 25 slippery seconds while you sing songs from the Little Mermaid. __ Maybe just ask him nicely? Like make it into a little rap:
Check it - got much respect guy Wootcha wootcha wootcha let me drop my nuts on yo thigh? __ Eminem pops into your sporting goods store intent on getting an new, extremely boss looking ball cap. You agree to help him on his quest, and also promise with the utmost sincerity that you will not place your balls on him. The promise sets him on edge initially, but he soon forgets it. After a long search, he finally finds the perfect hat. He purchases it and thanks you profusely.
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Eminem raves to all that will listen about your incredible hat and buys many more over the next few months. Your business develops a roaring trade with other celebrities. Meanwhile, a slow acting poison secreted within the hatband of the hat eventually sends Eminem into a deep coma. As a close friend of the singer you visit him regularly in the hospital, placing your balls on him at your leisure, sometimes with tiny costumes. __The city says it could be forced to leave millions of dollars in federal infrastructure funding unspent unless Ottawa agrees to extend the deadlines for using the money. Last year the Liberal government gave Toronto’s transportation plans a huge boost by allocating the city $856 million from the first phase of its $3.4-billion Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.
The city is asking Ottawa to extend the deadline for spending money allocated under a federal infrastructure fund, arguing that the government's timeline's are too tight. ( MARCUS OLENIUK / TORONTO STAR FILE PHOTO )
However, the funding came with strings attached — it can only be spent on projects scheduled to be complete by March 31, 2019, and a maximum of 40 per cent of the money can be spent in the final year of the program. Read more: TTC gets $500M boost from Ottawa
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TTC predicting $44.5-million surplus in 2017 Ontario could get half of Ottawa’s $3.4B transit infrastructure money this year Council has identified 87 projects to spend the money on, the majority of which are for the TTC. They include subway track maintenance, upgrades to TTC stations, design and construction of rail yards, and the purchase of nearly 800 new buses. The money must be matched by municipal spending. A report going to Mayor John Tory’s executive committee on Tuesday says not all of the projects will be able to meet the federal government’s requirements. City staff have identified about $121.5 million in federal money that is “currently at risk” for not being spent within the fund’s guidelines. The report, which was authored by the city manager and the acting chief financial officer, also warns that 37 per cent of the funding is projected to be spent in the program’s final year, leaving just a 3 per cent cushion to avoid breaching Ottawa’s 40-per-cent limit.
“As a result, there is limited contingency for slippage in project delivery,” the report says. Staff are recommending council ask Ottawa to extend the deadline for the fund by one year, to March 31, 2020, and to increase the portion of the program that can be spent in the final year to 70 per cent.
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If the federal government doesn’t agree to “additional program flexibility,” the city might have to remove some projects from the list, which would leave Toronto taxpayers on the hook for the entire cost of the work. A spokesperson for Mayor John Tory said while the city is spending the infrastructure money “in an efficient and responsible way,” ever since the program was announced “staff have warned that it would be difficult to roll out millions of dollars in projects in such a short timeframe.” “Staff have advised that the city should be asking the federal government for more flexibility with the timeline so we can make sure we deliver these projects. We don’t want to leave any money on the table and we’re confident the federal government doesn’t want to either,” said Don Peat. In an email, Brook Simpson, the press secretary to Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi, didn’t slam the door on the possibility of loosening the guidelines. Simpson said the minister has the power to grant extensions on individual projects “where there is a demonstrated need,” and noted other municipalities have also signalled they want a “program-wide extension.” “We will continue to work with our partners to respond to their needs and timelines under our existing programs,” Simpson said. As a backup plan, the report says, the TTC is negotiating with vendors to speed up the purchase of new buses. That could cut the amount of funding that risks going unspent to $84.8 million.Image copyright AFP Image caption Samsung and Apple are locked in multiple court battles over their handset technologies
Google and Samsung have signed a global patent cross-licensing agreement aimed at reducing "the potential for litigation" and enhancing innovation.
The deal will cover "a broad range of technologies and business areas" and apply to both existing patents and any filed over the next decade.
Both companies already work together closely, with Samsung using Google's Android mobile operating system.
Few other details were provided in a statement posted online.
Samsung called the deal "highly significant for the technology industry" and said it reduces the likelihood of Google and Samsung facing each other in court over intellectual property disputes.
The move is also expected to strengthen their position against rivals such as Apple, which has filed multiple lawsuits worth billions of dollars for alleged patent infringements.
"Samsung and Google are showing the rest of the industry that there is more to gain from co-operating than engaging in unnecessary patent disputes," Seungho Ahn, head of Samsung's Intellectual Property Center said in the statement.
Samsung, which is the world's largest smartphone maker, faces lawsuits from Apple in the US and South Korea over mobile technology patents.
Apple has claimed that Samsung and its best-selling line of Galaxy smartphones copied its designs for the iPhone.
Their global patent dispute has dragged on for the past few years and both Apple and Samsung's chief executives are scheduled to meet for mediation in mid-February.
Patent wars
The number of patent lawsuits filed has increased as the market for smartphones and tablets has expanded globally.
The more patents you have the more protected you are from litigation. Andrew Milroy, Analyst, Frost & Sullivan
Another high-profile case involves the Rockstar consortium - which includes Apple, Microsoft and Sony. It sued Google and six other smartphone makers that use the Android operating system.
Eight lawsuits were filed in the US over patents relating to Google's mobile technologies and user-interface design.
Google is also engaged in a dispute with Apple through its Motorola Mobility unit, which owns a large patent collection.
To counter this, technology giants have looked to increase their number of patents, as well as sign deals similar to the one announced by Google and Samsung.
Last year, for example, Samsung and Nokia extended a patent licensing agreement for an additional five years, while Apple and HTC also announced a 10-year licensing deal in 2012.
Analysts say such moves create strength by numbers.
"The more patents you have the more protected you are from litigation," Andrew Milroy, an analyst at consultancy Frost & Sullivan said.
"I'm not sure if the agreement means Samsung can use Google patents and vice-versa. But if they are collaborating it protects them from litigation, since the pair of them together is a stronger unit."Hunters rescue bald eagle from claw trap (VIDEO)
When Canadian brothers Michael and Neil Fletcher set off for a day of sage grouse hunting in Ontario recently, they ended up crossing paths with a much bigger bird. While scoping out the woods, the pair discovered a bald eagle stuck in a claw trap, and quickly came to its rescue.
Of course, the best thing to do should you find yourself in a similar situation is to call local wildlife control, but given the circumstances, we're happy to report that neither the eagle nor its human helpers were hurt during the process. The bird appeared in good condition when released.
Although just one of the eagle's two-inch (5cm) talons was caught in the trap, it was enough of a snare to keep the frightened bird from flying free. "It was struggling, and trying to fly upwards but it couldn't," the brothers told the BBC. "We were a bit nervous at first, but after a minute [the eagle] calmed down and so did we."
The hunters placed a sweatshirt over the animal's eyes to reduce stress while they worked to open the trap's clamping mechanism. "We just kind of held on to it, and it calmed right down. I was surprised by the size, and that it’s such a beautiful bird. When you see the eyes up close, they’re really amazing,” added Michael.
Just how long the eagle was trapped remains a mystery, but the Fletchers didn't see any obvious signs of bleeding or injury. After posing for a quick selfie (and that's a definite no-no), they hoisted the large bird into the sky, at which point it flew to a nearby tree.
The pair reportedly contacted the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, who will be investigating the incident further.
__
Top header image: Doug Brown, FlickrWelcome back to the Sunday giveaway, where we giveaway a new Android phone or tablet each and every Sunday!
This week we are giving away a brand new Honor 6X!
Honor has been making quite a stir ever since CES with their commitment to unlocked devices as well as serving up flagship specs at prices that don’t break the bank. The Honor 6X has been making waves for being an impressive mid-ranger that can last for two full days on one charge.
Honor isn’t quite a household name just yet, but the Huawei-backed brand is certainly making a push for the US market in 2017. If you want to know more about this line, check out our previous coverage:
With the Honor 6X, you’re getting some surprisingly high-end specs packed into a sleek design and a gorgeous, narrow-bezel display. If you’re ready to get your hands on one, see all the ways you can enter below!
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The giveaway is an international giveaway (Except when we can not ship to your Country.)
If we can not ship to your country, you will be compensated with an online gift card of equal MSRP value to the prize.
We are not responsible for lost shipments.
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You must be age of majority in your Country of residence.
We are not responsible for any duties or import fees that you may incur.
Only 1 entry per person, do not enter multiple email addresses. We will verify all winners and if we detect multiple email addresses by the same person you will not be eligible to win.
We reserve all rights to make any changes to this giveaway.
This giveaway is operated by AndroidAuthority.
The prize will ship when it is available to purchase.
Good luck. everyone!Earlier this year, the BBC sparked an international discussion about pay equity following the release of an embarrassing report on the salaries of its staff. Men at the organization were being paid 9.3 percent more than women on average. What’s more, only a third of the BBC’s highest-paid on-air stars were women, and some 500 female employees earned less than men who had similar roles.
Stories like this are becoming familiar, as more evidence piles up that women are less likely to be promoted than men and earn less on average. We see it not just in journalism but in tech and countless other fields — including medicine, a profession that relies mostly on women. Studies have shown that female doctors earn up to 27 percent less than male doctors in the same specialty.
But it can be difficult to suss out just how much of these gaps can be explained by bias alone versus differences in rank or productivity.
Now a working paper out of Harvard University offers new insight on that question. And it’s a damning indictment of gender bias in the workplace.
For the paper, economics PhD candidate Heather Sarsons came up with an ingenious study design to tease out exactly how much more women were punished at work compared to men when you held other factors like their positions or performance stable. Sarsons got Medicare data on referrals by doctors to surgeons, and then looked at what happened to doctors’ referral rates after one of their patients died during a surgery. Would the doctor continue sending patients to that surgeon?
It turns out the surgeon’s gender — more than his or her performance — massively swayed that decision. The referring doctors judged female surgeons who had bad patient outcomes much more harshly than male surgeons, and that judgment determined whether they’d send their patients to the surgeon later.
“[Doctors] increase their referrals more to a male surgeon than to a female surgeon after a good patient outcome,” Sarsons wrote, “but lower their referrals more to a female surgeon than a male surgeon after a bad outcome.”
Referrals dropped by 54 percent after a patient died at the hands of a female surgeon, but when it was a male surgeon whose patient died, there was only a small stagnation in the referrals the surgeon received from the doctor.
What’s more, a good patient outcome (i.e., an unanticipated survival) led doctors to become more optimistic about a male surgeon’s ability, again using referral volumes after a surgery as the proxy for the doctors’ views of the surgeons’ talent. The same wasn’t true for female doctors.
“I was surprised at how persistent [the effect] was,” Sarsons told Vox. She looked at data for up to a year and a half after a bad event, and found female surgeons were consistently receiving fewer referrals. “Women were being punished more for a bad event,” she added.
Perhaps most disturbingly, she also uncovered that the poor performance of one female surgeon later shaped how all female surgeons in the same specialty were viewed by referring physicians afterward. Sarsons found this happening in the context of new referrals for doctors, when they didn’t have long relationships with the surgeons. Again, there were no similar “spillovers” to male surgeons after a negative experience with one new surgeon.
“[Doctors] become less likely to form new referral connections with women after a bad experience with one female surgeon,” Sarsons wrote. “A bad experience with one male surgeon does not affect [doctors’] behavior toward other men.”
Harvard Medical School professor Anupam Bapu Jena, who has studied the gender wage gaps but was not involved in this paper, said he thought the study was “extraordinarily clever.” Given how difficult it can be to sort out where bias may arise in the work context, Sarsons helped pinpoint it: Gender-biased reactions were the strongest when a doctor was beginning to refer his or her patients and had little other information on which to judge the surgeon. In those cases, a person’s gender became a shorthand for their competence.
It’s not a shocker that we can be less forgiving of women and harder on them when they falter. And the study shows we respond more to positive information about a man in the workplace, and more to negative information about a woman. The result is that for the exact same errors as men, women’s careers and earnings might take a much harder hit. (In this case, they didn’t get as many referrals as male doctors — which suggests they undertook fewer cases and earned less.)
The bias Sarsons uncovered might just explain “these gaps,” she said, “and why we see these differences: women being promoted less frequently than men, women [not having] as many raises, women being under-rewarded for their successes.”We are Terrorized: Why U.S. Counterterrorism Policy Is Failing, and Why It Can’t Be Easily Fixed
According to a recent poll, Americans are more pessimistic about terrorism than at any time since 9/11. The CNN/ORC survey (full results in.pdf format) asked, “Who do you think is currently winning the war on terrorism — the U.S. and its allies, neither side, or the terrorists?” Forty percent of respondents said that the terrorists were winning, while a mere 18 percent believed that the United States and its allies were winning. After the killing of Osama Bin Laden in May 2011, just 9 percent believed the terrorists had the upper hand.
This recent poll, conducted in mid-December after the San Bernardino attacks, is hardly a fluke. Others have found U.S. fears of terrorism to be at or near all-time highs. “Although other issues — particularly economic ones — often crowded out terrorism as a topic of daily concern,” explain my Cato colleague John Mueller and co-author Mark Stewart, “terrorism has won an apparently permanent space in the American mind.”
The fact that Americans remain fearful of terrorism is surprising in several respects. Judged in purely probabilistic terms, terrorism poses a far less significant threat to human life than a host of hazards, from lightning strikes, to collisions with animals, to falling household furniture. “An American’s chance of being killed by a terrorist,” note Mueller and Stewart, “has been, and remains, one in four million per year with 9/11 included in the calculation, or one in 110 million for the period since 2001.” More Americans have been killed by weather incidents in the last two weeks than have been killed by attacks by Islamist extremists on U.S. soil in the last 14 years.
There are several plausible explanations for why public sentiment doesn’t track with an objective assessment of the risks of terrorism relative to other hazards.
NPR’s Steve Inskeep recently asked President Barack Obama why his strategy to reassure the public about the fight against the Islamic State had failed. Obama explained that he lacked the credibility of some of his predecessors, including Dwight Eisenhower, who, despite his exalted stature, also failed to calm Americans’ fears during the Cold War.
But when Obama tried to provide some useful context, it was clear that he didn’t want to appear to be downplaying the terrorist threat too much. The net effect was a bit of a muddle.
“ISIL is … not the Soviet Union,” he began. “And I think that it is very important for us to understand this is a serious challenge.” He called the Islamic State “a virulent, nasty organization” that deserved to be taken seriously.
Then the president said:
But it is also important for us to keep things in perspective, and this is not an organization that can destroy the United States. … But they can hurt us, and they can hurt our people and our families. And so I understand why people are worried. The most damage they can do, though, is if they start changing how we live and what our values are, and part of my message … is to … make sure that our resilience, our values, [and] our unity are maintained.
Obama seems to appreciate that the best approach to combating terrorism is to not terrorize ourselves. But following this advice isn’t easy.
Politicians worry that they will be punished for appearing to tamp down public fears — although there is little evidence that they ever are. In his book, Why Courage Matters, John McCain wrote: “Get on the damn elevator! Fly on the damn plane! Calculate the odds of being harmed by a terrorist! It’s still about as likely as being swept out to sea by a tidal wave.” Such talk didn’t prevent him from winning the GOP presidential nomination in 2008. Michael Bloomberg won reelection as mayor of New York after telling city residents to “Get a life.” “There are lots of threats to you in the world,” he said. “There’s the threat of a heart attack for genetic reasons. You can’t sit there and worry about everything.”
Still, the incentives all seem to run in the direction of threat inflation. For every Bloomberg, there are many more Kings and Grahams. And, rhetoric aside, politicians are held accountable when things go badly. When the stock market crashes, the president is blamed. So, too, when a plane crashes. The optimal number of crashes, from a purely political perspective, is zero.
On the other hand, achieving a zero-risk society defies political solutions. The only way to eliminate all deaths from plane crashes is to prohibit commercial air travel. The public thankfully would never tolerate such draconian limitations on their freedom to move about in the most rapid and economical (and safest) fashion. We therefore accept some measure of risk in our lives, and routinely scrutinize public policies aimed at reducing the likelihood of injury or premature death. If the burden seems too high relative to the gains, we demand that the restrictions be relaxed or removed. Seatbelts and airbags in cars? Ok. Riding around in bubblewrap? No thanks.
But we generally refuse to assess the costs and benefits of different counterterrorism measures. Our reactions to terrorist events that claim tens or hundreds of lives differ from other horrific events, from hurricanes to wars, which kill thousands or millions. Extreme anxiety about terrorism leads to far greater tolerance for public policies that impinge on individual liberty, even though they may or may not actually reduce our likelihood of being killed or injured by a terrorist attack.
Responsible counterterrorism policy, therefore, must not merely disrupt terror cells, impede their planning, and thwart their ability to attract new recruits; it must also tackle the fear that terrorists seek to induce.
Several years ago, Benjamin Friedman, Jim Harper, and I convened a series of discussions with leading experts on terrorism, and with current and former public officials responsible for combating it. The message that emerged from these meetings, and that informed the introduction to a collection of essays on the subject, was that “overreaction does most of the work of terrorism,” and therefore public policies should be aimed at thwarting counterproductive responses:
Instead of exalting and fearing remotely possible — or impossible — threats, the nation should address real threats steadfastly and confidently. … The alternative is more of the same: spending huge sums on dubious security measures, shedding liberties, and sacrificing American lives to attack overhyped threats.
We titled the book, Terrorizing Ourselves, with the hopeful subtitle “Why American Counterterrorism Policy Is Failing and How to Fix It.”
Today, nearly six years after that book’s publication, I can say that, to the extent that public officials have attempted to put terrorism into proper context, and calm public fears of it, they have not fixed our counterterrorism policy. They might prefer to be assessed on plots disrupted, leads followed up on, and potential terrorists killed or captured. Such numbers are meaningless, however, if the public isn’t reassured by them.
That doesn’t mean that U.S. officials should stop trying. Terrorism achieves its ultimate objective by inducing a targeted population to change its behavior. If we cower in fear, stop traveling, or avoid public places, then the terrorists really will have won.
Christopher Preble is vice president for defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute.
Photo credit: Jagz MarioThe real estate mogul’s success in New Hampshire happened despite a comparatively weak campaign organization and a penchant for controversy
Donald Trump, once an object of mockery and scorn by many in the political establishment, has won the New Hampshire Republican primary.
According to projections from the Associated Press, this is the first electoral victory for the real estate mogul in a 2016 election campaign he has so far dominated.
Trump gave an unusually emotional speech to supporters in a hotel ballroom next to a Best Western hotel by the Manchester airport, starting by thanking his siblings and deceased parents.
Donald Trump tore up the rulebook of American politics – and is winning | Jonathan Freedland Read more
He also took a moment to mention Bernie Sanders, the winner of the Democratic primary. “Congratulations to Bernie,” he said. “We have to congratulate him, we may not like it. He wants to give away our country, folks. We’re not going to let it happen.”
Trump then touched on familiar themes from his stump speech, including bugbears Mexico and China, concluding by promising attendees that once he is elected “we are going to start winning again. We are going to win so much, you are going to be so happy, we are going to make America so great again, maybe greater than before.”
With two exceptions, every Republican nominee in the past 50 years has won the Granite State’s first-in-the-nation primary.
Trump’s campaign, fueled by a blend of insurgent populism and unprecedented media attention, has turned every rule of politics on its head. Trump’s success in New Hampshire happened despite comparatively weak campaign organization in the state and a penchant for controversial remarks that would have sunk the campaigns of almost any other candidate.
Trump has constantly courted controversy throughout his presidential bid. Among other incendiary statements, he has said that John McCain, a decorated Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war, was “not a hero”, implied that Fox News host Megyn Kelly’s tough questioning during a debate was because she was menstruating and, most recently, effectively called Ted Cruz “a pussy” at an eve-of-primary rally in Manchester on Monday.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest A Trump supporter holds aloft a scarf bearing the Republican frontrunner’s slogan. Photograph: David Goldman/AP
Yet none of the controversies have affected Trump’s standing with his base of disaffected blue-collar white voters, who remain drawn to his pledge to “make America great again”. Many of Trump’s themes were familiar to a New Hampshire primary electorate that strongly supported Pat Buchanan in 1992 and 1996; but Trump added an aura of celebrity and drew in many who were entirely new to the political process.
One typical Trump voter, Paul Porier from Manchester, told the Guardian on Monday night that he had never voted before. The middle-aged veteran, wearing a hat emblazoned with the name of the ship he had served on in the navy, said simply and insistently: “I’m voting for Donald Trump because he’s going to make America great again.”
Porier said the end of America’s greatness coincided with Barack Obama taking office and that “once we get rid of Obama, things are going to change”. He was finally voting because while he thought all politicians are “in it for the money”, Trump wasn’t. “He doesn’t need the money,” said Poirier.
Stephen Stepanek, a Republican state representative who boasted of being the first elected official in the country to endorse Donald Trump, said he felt “vindicated”.
The loyal Trump supporter, who insisted that he never doubted Trump’s campaign after his second-place finish in Iowa, said: “This will be our Republican nominee who will ultimately be the president of the United States. He is going to make America great again.”
He was planning on traveling to South Carolina eventually to campaign for Trump, but first wanted to enjoy the result on Tuesday night. “I’ve been through the highs, I’ve been through the lows and this is the best high right now,” he said.
What remained less clear as the polls closed was how the pile-up of candidates vying to finish in the top tier behind Trump would perform.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ohio governor John Kasich, who came in second place. Photograph: Katherine Taylor/EPA
Early exit numbers showed a tight race between Ohio governor John Kasich, Texas senator Ted Cruz, Florida senator Marco Rubio and former Florida governor Jeb Bush.
But with more than 80% of precincts reporting in the state’s Republican primary, Kasich – who as a relative moderate is in some ways Trump’s opposite – was declared second by the Associated Press with 16.2% to Trump’s 34.5%.
“Maybe – just maybe – we are turning the page on a dark part of American politics, because tonight the light overcame the darkness,” Kasich told supporters in Concord.
The fight over third place was too close to call as the evening wore on, but Chris Christie, the New Jersey governor whose last act ahead of the primary was to savage Rubio on the debate stage, seemed all but certain to suspend his campaign in the coming days.
A stronger-than-expected showing for Kasich and Bush was crucial for a pair of candidates whose campaigns had failed to take off in earnest. Both governors dedicated a disproportionate amount of time and resources in New Hampshire, seeking to claim the so-called “establishment” mantle as party moderates.
But the question looming over them now is whether they have the infrastructure to remain competitive in a drawn-out primary season. Kasich is largely viewed as lacking the organization to compete in the pending southern states where his brand is far less palatable to Republican primary voters.
A positive result will be a far greater vindication for Bush, whose campaign was declared dead in the water amid a series of stumbles last fall. The son and brother of US presidents still faces an uphill climb, but third place might give him the necessary validation in the eyes of donors to continue with his beleaguered campaign.
“The pundits had it all figured out, last Monday night, when the Iowa caucuses were complete,” Bush told a gathering of supporters in Manchester. “They said that the race was now a three-person race between two freshman senators and a reality TV star. And, while the reality TV star is still doing well, it looks like you all have reset the race, and for that I am really grateful.”
He added: “This campaign is not dead. We’re going to South Carolina.”
Bush holds a formidable ground game in both South Carolina and Nevada and will be joined there this week by brother George W Bush. The former president remains immensely popular in the state, even if once thought to be a liability for his younger brother’s campaign.
The night seems to have been tougher for Rubio, who arrived in the state last week riding high on the momentum he gained from |
get sick of Single player or finish the game, you also have access to a Multiplayer area where you can raid other people's bases and steal their troops/weapons and supplies.
Very fulfilling game, over 160 hours played and still loving it. Was this helpful? Yes No 0 / 0 users found this helpful b3tty 9 Reviews Sadly the end for MGS The game you get is a really enjoyable game. Starts off with a bang and the story is still as weird it can get from Kojima. Sadly the end feel unfinished. Game can get a little repetative with all the sidemissions, but aside from that it's a definite but for MGS fans! Was this helpful? Yes No 0 / 0 users found this helpful adrian-msxp9 2 Reviews Excelent game Very Nice Game, I enjoyed the story, countless hours spent roaming around the absolutely amazing scenery and detailed terrain. A great Kojima game and a great variety of weapons to unlock
Recommended Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful tom-42pd8 1 Reviews Awesome! What a great game, countless hours spent roaming around the absolutely amazing scenery and awesomely detailed terrain. The characters are well developed, as we know from the previous metal gears and all the twists and amazing plot pieces that all come together in the end and tell a fantastic story, the kind of story that you'd expect from Kojima.
What a great game, totally a must buy!
Also, rocket fist... Just, rocket fist. Was this helpful? Yes No 0 / 0 users found this helpful saidshahd 3 Reviews good and fun game but... The game is one of the funnest and exciting game in the series but keep in mind that it is also one of the weakest in storytelling and in story overall. Good game as a whole but a little bit weak as a metal gear solid game. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful hidnx 1 Reviews Review Title Very Nice Game, I enjoyed the story, has a lot of action and drama. and Snake, the legendary Hero. Also the atmosphere is really intense. the graphic is really awsome and very sharp. the feature of making it matching the day / night is really cool Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful johannes-x6sgl 1 Reviews Metal Gear Solid V Everything when smooth as butter and I got my key well within the time line. It was a NVIDIA code and it worked flawlessly and im just very happy I could get the game for such fair price. I cant recommend this more since everything was just perfect. First I was alittle sceptical but now I can say that this is top noch! Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful luca-7hm36 Verified Buyer 11 Reviews OTTIMOO hey delivered the key within the time they said it could take, even if just in time. They said it could take up to 2 hours and I got my key after 1 hour and 49 minutes. I did get a NVIDIA key, but that doesn't matter too much. I'm glad I can play this beautifull game for such a great price. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful phenomenalande 1 Reviews Hooooly Shit SnakeBoss Well holy shit did i enjoy this ride!!! Grafiks are awesome as is the storytelling. i didnt like that lady quite too much for over using her feminine part's but Oh Well it happens almost in every title these days. It's fun how every obstacle can be done in so many differen ways and styles that you can never get bored. today you are an sniper in the bushes and tomorrow morning a rambo :D Have fun everybody. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful purifier 1 Reviews wow, what a game! I must admit, i have not played any of the previous MGS games for a long time, let alone complete 1. When i first heard about MGS - Phantom Pain was going openworld i they got my attention fully. I love open worlds. I also love RPG's and Shooters (3rd or 1st person). MGS V: PP has all 3 of them. Combine that with building up and managing a base, personal, recources and research, you can say this game is an; Open world, RPG, 3PS, strategy game. What i find so good about this game is that it combines them very very good. While on your base you have near control of everything (apart from where to build the different sections). Manage your personal (who works in which department, fire anyone you dont find fitting to the team), manage your recources, sell stocks you dont need and even get earn money by doing target practice combined with free-running. Ofcourse there is also the hardcore MGS core, which recides in the open world where you can drop in from your "personal" helicopter. What, where and how you you go about your business is up to you (with some hardcoded restrictions, like needing higher Heroism to lure/attract higher qualified personal). If you need recources, go scavenging. Do you need some more personal with a specific skill, just "highjack" them from the sovjet army. Need some new fixed machineguns, or vehicles? Extract them with the "Fulton" device, then use them or sell them. Sidemissions and ofcourse the main missions "complete" the to do list (i might have missed a couple but owell.) As for technical details, well i can't complain there either, very nice graphics, good spoken audio, and some nice solid music (composed for the game and existing music). I havent found any gamebraking bugs nor glitches so a plus for that aswell.
I can probably go on and on about the game, but i must create an end somewhere :)
If you like Open worlds, shooting, stealthing, RPGing, base building, managing..... and ofcourse the story (if you dont know the MGS story, read some on the internet so understand some characters and/or other lore), get this game. Seriously, get it heheh
Regards, Purifier Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful thebigshady Verified Buyer 1 Reviews Amazing When I was young I remember Metal Gear Solid on PlayStation 1
all after noon spent with my friends tried to pass the level with the minesweeper with his armored carapce
Or guided missile.
This game is a mixture of several games, but at the same time it is unique. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful james-vrltm 24 Reviews "Do it!" All new cardboard box tricks, a kick-ass 80's sound track, a wolf with an eye patch, and the ability to make your horse poop on command, if you're not sold on those points alone you're probably never going to buy the game, though I should probably mention the excellent graphics, and top quality open sandbox stealth action that currently no other game offers. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful ddrum75 1 Reviews Beautifull game, delivered in time They delivered the key within the time they said it could take, even if just in time. They said it could take up to 2 hours and I got my key after 1 hour and 49 minutes. I did get a NVIDIA key, but that doesn't matter too much. I'm glad I can play this beautifull game for such a great price. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful artursv26 1 Reviews Mission complete, Boss The cd key delivery was instant, altough they could of mentioned that these were Nvidia keys but whatever, the key works the same on Steam. I've played now for 48 hours, completed most of story missions (Act I), half sideops and some online FOB event with some PvP matches and i'm at about 50% of game completion. There is so much more to do, i'll try playing with new aproaches like a different buddy or no buddy at all, without lethal weapons or complete stealth. Have to get S rank on all missions, buy many of the still locked cool weapons. The freedom of my aproach to every mission is limitless. This is one of those rare games like Hitman 3 where you can play over and over again with different gameplays and aproaches. And this all is without the cool looking Metal Gear Online 3 which will come on Steam on January for free to those who bought this game. "War...I'ts Fantastic!" Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful sh1ku 2 Reviews MGSV:TPP Fast delivery. This game is amazing, so far! And it was pretty cheap :P. Dunno about the keys now, but the preorder was a bit odd, they were NVIDIA Keys, not Steam, but they behaved the same way, so everything was OK. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful r00rbak Verified Buyer 1 Reviews Best stealth game out there Metal Gear Solid V: TPP might not have the best metal gear story but its got awesome options and theres so much to do. The game is great! just believe me and all the other reviews.
However I did not even get an email; it's just that i looked on my Gaming dragon account as there i could get the key which worked fine. But no email...i find that strange when they say they'll send you an email with the code...but ok.. Was this helpful? Yes No 2 / 3 users found this helpful mrayyhann 1 Reviews Good and reliable, but needs to be honest with delivery time Good and reliable. Also very easy to be contacted via email. After purchasing, I sent an email to ask about the status of my purchase. The reply was almost instant.
However, the delivery is not really instant. They should have been honest and mention that the delivery time might vary based on circumstances. It is totally understandable to wait for a few hours, but please be honest.
All in all, very recommended. But please be patient with them Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful luca-7hm36 Verified Buyer 11 Reviews OTTIMOO Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is already on my favorite games list. The amount of content and things to do is incredible. The developers took some serious time to plan out everything. Overll, they put thought into every little detail to make this game what it is. If you got the time and patience to take on a lot of soldiers on your own, investigate, interrogate, and annihilate. Then this is the game for you. If I left anything out, please leave a comment below!. Was this helpful? Yes No 2 / 3 users found this helpful dsxero Verified Buyer 1 Reviews Pretty good transaction but it needs some work. Bought this the day before it launched
- The code was sent to in a timely manner.
- The code worked fine first try.
Cons:
- There need to be an email to be sent when your order status has been updated. There is no way for me to know that it had been delivered unless i checked that the "My Games" Tab.
Note: this is my first time purchasing on this site. I do not know if they send you and email if you bought the game that is not a "preorder"
Overall: It need an email notification that your key is sent. Was this helpful? Yes No 2 / 3 users found this helpful mikko-40mob Verified Buyer 1 Reviews No email. my first try this shop and they fuck up with keys.. or konami.. but first impression makes lot..
Got the key directly to my Gamingdragons Account
but meaby i try again some day.. ;)
T:Dimi-sandels Was this helpful? Yes No 2 / 2 users found this helpful kizul Verified Buyer 2 Reviews Metal Gear Solid V: THE PHANTOM PAIN Game Pros
• Open world
• Not a GPU/CPU heavy game. Easily runnable. Smooth as butter.
• Beautiful cut scenes/visuals
• Clean menu
• In-depth story
• Night/Day Cycle
• Weather effects how you take on missions
• You can easily get immersed in the game and play it for hours without even knowing it
• Tons of mission and side objectives
• Everything you do in-game affects the current and future missions
• Those who can stragically plan better will have an easier time progressing through missions with a higher score
• Various weapons/tools/items/gear to research
• Custmomizable "Mother Base" with soldiers and objects/items from the open world
• You can infiltrate other players bases and steal soldiers/resources
• Dog Companion that grows with you throughout the game (Must find puppy on battlefield and extract it to acquire one)
• Intelligent AI (If they want to hunt you down and kill you. They will)
• If you punch one of your soldiers in the face, They'll thank you for it.
Controversial Features
• Mission checkpoints can have a large gap. Punishing your stupidity and impatience
Game Cons
• Other than the prologue which contained a ton of cut scenes. There isn't much after that. (Not that big of a deal)
• AI and player pathing has a few bugs when encountering ladders or something of the sort in small places (Doesn't happen a lot. But had to throw it in)
Relateable Games
• Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zero
Conclusion
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is already on my favorite games list. The amount of content and things to do is incredible. The developers took some serious time to plan out everything. Overll, they put thought into every little detail to make this game what it is. If you got the time and patience to take on a lot of soldiers on your own, investigate, interrogate, and annihilate. Then this is the game for you. If I left anything out, please leave a comment below! Was this helpful? Yes No 2 / 2 users found this helpful mrminidek Verified Buyer 1 Reviews PROBLEM WITH PREORDER BONUS I'm downloading the game but I dont get Ground Zeroes and I dont know if I will get the rest of bonus. I want to know if someone has the same problem because I remember that the preorder includes Ground Zeroes too. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful manuel-swmv7 1 Reviews A failure of anything, but all right Very good service, good price, just a little problem with the key, but quickly solved.
At the moment I have a catch with them.
I just wish they would respond in Spanish, but more so of all perfect Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful bhoonkz Verified Buyer 1 Reviews MGSV: The Phantom Pain 4/5 stars only because support told me that if I waited for the retail key instead of getting the Nvidia code, they promised the pre-order bonus but they lied. I only got the game itself. But overall key worked and downloading at this moment.
GMD Support:
The game has all preorder bonuses mentioned on our website, Ground Zeroes is a Steam exclusive therefore was not available with our keys, sorry about that. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful kakashi2k4 1 Reviews Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Got the key directly to my Gamingdragons Account with the instructions. Everything worked out, and i am downloading as we speak. I have found their support to be fast and friendly.
Cheers gladly again! Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful kittin-kjplr 1 Reviews Get a little problem but still fine at last at first I got a pre-order but code in first time I got was already used by somebody. so I have to contact with gaming dragon supporter after take some time to give details finally next code is arrive today and It's working without problem. thank again, this is making my day :D Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful chan-lh16u 1 Reviews no email good fast keys! but no email notifying that i got the key. got me panicking for a moment. please send a notification through email i guess? other then that, key was fast! and halfway cheaper then steam. why? i dont know. Was this helpful? Yes No 0 / 0 users found this helpful theoivio 1 Reviews METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN Take some time but got working key. Use them again if prize is cheapest what was this time. Redeemed key and don't have any difficulties. Now just waiting till monday 15.00 and get palying this masterpiece, thank you. Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful hadoudou 1 Reviews Good price I waited for about 2 hours and kept cheking my email and I was a little upset. turned out the redeem code is sent directly to my gamingdragons account under my profile.
Follow the instruction, I redeemed this code on the promotion site and bind my Steam account and the game automatically appeared in my steam library.
Can't say much about the game yet since it s a preorder. But the reviews show its a mega solid game!! Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful paura 3 Reviews Great Cheap price, fast to delivery, easy to active trough nvidia geforce site ( all explained in the instruction with the key) and a game from the best saga i've played untill today ( and don't forget this is a pre order with bonus stuff)....the only bad thing here is my english. Reccomended ;). Was this helpful? Yes No 1 / 1 users found this helpful Hey, you might also like these! Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance This item can NOT be redeemed in following regions: Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri...
Publisher: KONAMI
Languages: Multi-Language
Multiplayer Platform: PCPublisher: KONAMILanguages: Multi-Language -42% $19.99
$11.07 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Buy Now Sniper Elite: Berlin 1945 The Second World War is coming to an end. The Russians and the Germans clash in a city devastated by the war. You incarnate the best sniper of the OSS (the old CIA), inserted among the Germans to see to the success of vital missions against the NKVD....
Publisher: Rebellion
Languages: Multi-Language
Multiplayer Platform: Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8) and Mac OS X (10.6.8 or newer)Publisher: RebellionLanguages: Multi-Language -88% $9.99
$1.11 Sniper Elite: Berlin 1945 Buy Now Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes World-renowned Kojima Productions showcases another masterpiece in the Metal Gear Solid franchise with Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is the first segment of the ‘Metal Gear Solid V Experience’ and...
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Languages: English*, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese*, Portuguese, Russian
No Multiplayer Platform: PCPublisher: Konami Digital EntertainmentLanguages: English*, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese*, Portuguese, Russian -54% $19.99
$8.74 Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes Buy Now Metal gear Survive About This Game METAL GEAR SURVIVE builds upon METAL GEAR SOLID V’S enduring stealth action gameplay while introducing the new elements of exploration and survival to create a bold new experience. METAL GEAR SURVIVE is a spin off from the main...
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment
Multiplayer Platform: PCPublisher: Konami Digital Entertainment -16% $46.94
$37.27 Metal gear Survive Buy Now Tom Clancys Splinter Cell Chaos Theory The year is 2008. Citywide blackouts... stock exchange sabotage... electronic hijacking of national defense systems... this is information warfare. To prevent these attacks, operatives must infiltrate deep into hostile territory and aggressively...
Publisher: Ubisoft
Languages: Multi-Language
Multiplayer Platform: PCPublisher: UbisoftLanguages: Multi-Language -93% $9.99
$0.68 Tom Clancys Splinter Cell Chaos Theory Buy NowIn 2002 Andreas Manz of Imperial College London and his collaborators demonstrated a novel way to solve mazes. First, they etched a maze pattern onto a microfluidic chip using laser lithography. Then they filled the device with low-pressure helium. To find the shortest path to the center of the maze, they attached electrodes to the entrance and center of the maze. Turning up the voltage to 20–30 kV triggered the abrupt formation of a glowing plasma discharge that picked out and lit up the shortest path. Now Alexander Dubinov of the Russian Federal Nuclear Center in Sarov and his collaborators have devised a way to make the maze-solving technique cheaper and potentially more practical. Manz's original approach entailed etching a new chip for each maze pattern, which is time-consuming and expensive. The use of helium and high voltages also push up the cost. Dubinov's mazes consist of polyamide walls sandwiched between plexiglass. They are filled with low-pressure air and operate at voltages of a few kilovolts. Thanks to the ease with which the walls can be reconfigured, Dubinov and his collaborators could readily investigate how the plasma solves the mazes. They discovered, for example, that when the shortest path includes sections that require electrons to move away from the anode, the voltage needed to solve the maze drops. With further development, the technique could enable robots to navigate mazes and solve other topological problems. (A. E. Dubinov et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 093503, 2014.)Up to: Energy FAQ
Up to: Sustainability FAQ
Facts from Cohen and others
How long will nuclear energy last?
Nuclear energy, assuming breeder reactors, will last for several billion years, i.e. as long as the sun is in a state to support life on earth.
Here are the basic facts.
In 1983, uranium cost $40 per pound. The known uranium reserves at that price would suffice for light water reactors for a few tens of years. Since then more rich uranium deposits have been discovered including a very big one in Canada. At $40 per pound, uranium contributes about 0.2 cents per kwh to the cost of electricity. (Electricity retails between 5 cents and 10 cents per kwh in the U.S.) Breeder reactors use uranium more than 100 times as efficiently as the current light water reactors. Hence much more expensive uranium can be used. At $1,000 per pound, uranium would contribute only 0.03 cents per kwh, i.e. less than one percent of the cost of electricity. At that price, the fuel cost would correspond to gasoline priced at half a cent per gallon. How much uranium is available at $1,000 per pound? There is plenty in the Conway granites of New England and in shales in Tennessee, but Cohen decided to concentrate on uranium extracted from seawater - presumably in order to keep the calculations simple and certain. Cohen (see the references in his article) considers it certain that uranium can be extracted from seawater at less than $1000 per pound and considers $200-400 per pound the best estimate. In terms of fuel cost per million BTU, he gives (uranium at $400 per pound 1.1 cents, coal $1.25, OPEC oil $5.70, natural gas $3-4.) How much uranium is there in seawater? Seawater contains 3.3x10^(-9) (3.3 parts per billion) of uranium, so the 1.4x10^18 tonne of seawater contains 4.6x10^9 tonne of uranium. All the world's electricity usage, 650GWe could therefore be supplied by the uranium in seawater for 7 million years. However, rivers bring more uranium into the sea all the time, in fact 3.2x10^4 tonne per year. Cohen calculates that we could take 16,000 tonne per year of uranium from seawater, which would supply 25 times the world's present electricity usage and twice the world's present total energy consumption. He argues that given the geological cycles of erosion, subduction and uplift, the supply would last for 5 billion years with a withdrawal rate of 6,500 tonne per year. The crust contains 6.5x10^13 tonne of uranium. He comments that lasting 5 billion years, i.e. longer than the sun will support life on earth, should cause uranium to be considered a renewable resource. Here's a Japanese site discussing extracting uranium from seawater.
Comments:
Cohen neglects decay of the uranium. Since uranium has a half-life of 4.46 billion years, about half will have decayed by his postulated 5 billion years.
He didn't mention thorium, also usable in breeders. There is 4 times as much in the earth's crust as there is uranium. There's less thorium in seawater than there is uranium.
He did mention fusion, but remarks that it hasn't been developed yet. He has certainly provided us plenty of time to develop it.
Cohen's web site contains links to many of his articles. He's a particular expert on radiation hazards. His 1990 book The Nuclear Energy Option is on the web page. Its chapter on solar energy is especially interesting in its description of the 1990 hopes for solar energy.
Bernard Cohen is Professor Emeritus of Physics at Pittsburgh University. He is former president of the Health Physics Society, the main scientific society concerned with radiation safety. He has written several books on nuclear energy.
Several of Cohen's papers are reproduced on Russ Paielli's nuclear page
Send comments to mccarthy@stanford.edu. I sometimes make changes suggested in them. - John McCarthyWhere is arcade mode?
I was inspired by our own Darren Nakamura yesterday when he spoke to Battleborn's flaws and how Gearbox was doing nothing to fix them.
Over the past year I've really enjoyed playing a similarly flawed game, Street Fighter V. It's a fantastic fighter that's held back by some puzzling decisions from Capcom, including the choice to constantly introduce costume DLC instead of actually fixing the game.
At this point after knowing what we know about the project's lower-than-anticipated sales, it can only be described as disappointing.
It could be argued that Capcom rushed the game out of the door with hardly any features to have it ready in time for its invitational tournament and EVO 2016. With a complete lack of a story (at the time) and arcade mode, I was fine just practicing and playing with friends as someone who has been playing fighters their entire life. But these days it's just not enough for the general audience -- they need a strong single player component to keep their interest going. What seemed like a good decision in catering to their hardcore audience went disastrously wrong.
Because really, that's where Capcom failed the community as a whole. EVO 2016 went off without a hitch for them, showcasing one of the biggest pro turnouts in fighting game history. But Capcom put too much of their stock in the pros, and continued to release content themed around their needs. Shortly after EVO, and as late as a week ago, the publisher released pricey DLC that caters to the pro scene and puts money back into tournaments.
I mean, just look at the absurdity of this "2017 Capcom Pro Tour Pass" that's currently being sold for $24.99. That's the price of an expensive indie game, but it's merely a costume and title pack. It's important to note that it does fund the Capcom Pro Tour, and as someone who watches pro games, that's a worthy cause to me personally. But it's not doing anything to increase middling sales numbers or fuel future generations of Street Fighter players. Many folks will continue to play money matches locally or create private lobbies rather than play online in matchmaking.
I think part of Street Fighter V's problem is that it was in many ways doomed out of the gate. Not only were some modes cut to get it out for EVO, but the exclusivity deal with Sony, which may have paid off initially, ended up biting them. The lack of an Xbox One version limited their audience, and thus their chance to peddle more DLC for long-term support. The hubris was strong, and they thought the brand would be enough.
I don't know what Capcom is thinking right now. At the moment it seems as if they're partially abandoning Street Fighter V and putting their full weight behind Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, which could easily repeat some of the same mistakes. Their original "one SKU" plan for Street Fighter V is looking less likely, which is a shame given that it's basically their flagship franchise. At this point profusely apologizing and releasing a discounted "Super" version after Season 2 is over with better online play and an arcade mode -- on Xbox One (if they can get around the deal) -- with all the DLC and costumes is probably the way to go. Or it can slowly fizzle while other fighters overtake it.
Given how good it is mechanically I hope that doesn't happen, but I fully understand why people would be hesitant to play Street Fighter V. Or even a Street Fighter VI.
You are logged out. Login | Sign upKurt Heilman has lived in San Francisco for more than 20 years.
He doesn’t reside in an iconic Victorian style house, one of the fresh new condominiums in Mission Bay or even in one of the single-room occupancy units that pepper the Tenderloin and South of Market neighborhoods.
Rather, Heilman is one of the hundreds of residents living out of a vehicle that is parked on The City’s streets.
The 54-year-old became homeless in February 2015 when his building was sold, causing him to lose his rent-controlled apartment. Today, one of his biggest challenges is finding a place to park his mobile home.
That’s a common theme among those who live in their vehicles in San Francisco. In fact, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency directors at a recent board meeting expressed frustration with passing parking restrictions that ban people living in their vehicles from various sections of city streets.
The challenge is further complicated by neighbors who are upset that people living in their cars occupy limited parking spaces, while also potentially posing hygiene, health and safety issues from living in a vehicle.
The bulk of the burden to address the issue appears to fall on San Francisco transit officials, who are left chasing homeless residents living in their vehicles from neighborhood to neighborhood as they implement The City’s latest parking restrictions. Yet a permanent solution remains elusive.
The issue may be compounded in the coming months after San Francisco voters passed Proposition Q on Nov. 8 that bans tent encampments on sidewalks and authorizes city officials to remove them 24 hours after offering some form of shelter.
Having a vehicle can be the last major distinguishing possession some homeless residents have from being destitute on the city streets. But without a place to park, where will they go?
A Potential Solution
One solution some homeless advocates support is a safe parking program, where people living in their vehicles can park overnight in a monitored environment. Other amenities could potentially be provided like bathrooms, showers and food.
The idea of a safe parking program is gaining traction in West Coast cities like Santa Rosa, Santa Barbara and Seattle.
Jennielynn Holmes is director of the Housing and Shelter Program in Santa Rosa, which is run by Catholic Charities. The nonprofit has been contracted by the city of Santa Rosa to operate its safe parking and safe camping program.
Holmes said the safe parking and camping program helps connect Santa Rosa homeless residents into more permanent housing because outreach workers were able to better track the movements of the homeless from night to night. Over time, they developed a portfolio of long-term services that help these families and individuals transition into permanent housing.
“In a three-month period, we moved 27 households straight into housing,” Holmes said. “Twenty-seven households were no longer homeless because we used this [safe parking program] as an engagement tool.”
It’s not likely that the program will come to San Francisco anytime soon, however. Sam Dodge, deputy director of San Francisco’s newly formed Department of Homeless and Supportive Services, said there has been some discussion on a safe parking program for The City but pointed out what he considered a flaw in the concept.
“These programs have not been successful for transitioning out of homelessness,” Dodge said.
Dodge further cited challenges in finding suitable locations with proper amenities and design. He also noted there are substantial differences between homeless living in their vehicles with a dry place to sleep and possible other amenities like a stove and bathroom from homeless living outright on the streets.
Dodge also pointed out that a focus group conducted of homeless people living in their vehicles in San Francisco indicated no interest in a safe parking program.
However, Kelley Cutler, a human rights organizer for the Coalition of Homelessness, who was a part of some of those discussions, said that was an erroneous conclusion. She said there was a definite desire for a safe parking program but in a different form than was offered.
“The issue was not about declining a safe parking program, but … the [safe parking] option offered was so limited,” Cutler said. “People are definitely saying there is a need for some type of program.”
More importantly, however, Dodge said that the Department of Homelessness just started operating in July. He also identified higher priority programs like the Navigation Centers, two of which have already opened in the Mission and Civic Center neighborhoods.
“We got a lot of work in front of us,” Dodge said. “Just bringing the programs administered by other departments is great, but it’s been a lot of work.”
Nevertheless, some of the SFMTA directors said they would abstain from hearing any more requests for parking restrictions for oversize vehicles until further guidance was provided by other departments with more skill in handling homelessness issues.
“This is something bigger than the [SF]MTA. It is not their expertise,” said Andy Thornley, senior analyst of parking and sustainable streets. “It should be a partner … with the Department of Housing or something.”
Homelessness in The City
San Francisco’s homeless population has reportedly remained stable for the past decade, with 6,686 people in 2015 compared to 6,248 in 2005, according to the 2015 point-in-time Survey.
Of that number, 4 percent — approximately 268 people — are estimated to be living in their vehicles, be it a car, camper, recreational vehicle or bus.
Rachael Kagan, spokesperson for the Department of Health, noted that many people living in vehicles discard less human waste on the street than for those who are homeless living on the open street.
Some of San Francisco’s homeless who are living in their vehicles maintain jobs in The City.
Heilman, who lives in his mobile home, works as an in-home support worker and said his income is adequate but only because he is not paying rent. Otherwise, he would not be able to live in The City and believes he would not be able to find work if he moved.
He did not think a program for vehicles staying overnight would work because of the difficulty of finding a parking space in the daytime in The City.
“That will not work for any [long] vehicle because you can’t get parking during the daytime for such a long vehicle very easily,” Heilman said. “That [mobile home] is like living in an apartment.”
Heilman acknowledged such a program might work for people living in smaller cars and tents.
“I would say that if you had a choice between a tent and a shelter bed, you would probably prefer the tent,” Heilman said. “You can keep your possessions, you can have a partner with you, you can have a companion animal [and] you have some kind of privacy.”
Safe Parking, Safe Camping
Santa Rosa and Sonoma County have had the “Safe Parking, Safe Camping” pilot program in place for at least two years. They joined other cities like Santa Barbara and Seattle dealing with the homeless who live in their vehicles, but went one step further to include safe camping sites too.
In August, the Santa Rosa City Council declared a “homeless emergency” and formally sanctioned the safe parking and safe camping program. While the City Council’s guidelines still need to be formalized, the City Council’s declaration expedited implementation of the program.
Santa Rosa’s Community Housing Assistance Program authorizes a safe parking and camping site if the property owners assume responsibility for keeping the parking area safe and healthy for participants and surrounding neighborhood.
Eligible property types include those that meet the city’s definition for a meeting facility because such properties usually have amenities to serve the general public like bathrooms, temporary shelter and ability to store personal belongs.
Typically, overnight vehicles need to leave each morning around daybreak.
There is some discussion about making the program available on a longer-term basis in these communities.
Holmes, the program director, said that having safe parking and camping available is an effective engagement tool as outreach workers can stay connected with the person or family. Even if people will leave in the morning, they know it’s likely those same people will return in the evening.
She also mentioned that safety is less of an issue than expected. Their experience is that people who use the safe parking and camping program self-enforce informal safety rules to protect their temporary home.
An Engagement Tool
Advocates say there are advantages for San Francisco in supporting a safe parking and camping program besides just providing a safe place for people to rest and sleep. Santa Rosa’s safe parking, safe camping program makes it easier to offer other supportive social services including more permanent housing.
Safe parking and camping programs might make sense, advocates say, from a safety, health and environmental viewpoint, too, as homeless can have access to adequate facilities for bathing, grooming and bathroom needs. Meal programs can be provided and untreated waste and trash is disposed of properly.
“I am in favor in helping, but there is a lot of thought and planning that goes into the situation,” said Timothy Dews, pastor of San Francisco’s Calvary Hill Community Church in the Bayview neighborhood. “Something has to be done, otherwise we are going to move them from place to place.”
The 2015 point-in-time Survey did say that San Francisco has made substantial progress on homelessness. Since January 2004, various city-sponsored homeless programs have placed over 25,000 in permanent housing arrangements.
“Two thirds [of homeless] are permanent residents in |
. You know, back the first time around, I gave you a fire ruby that I'd planned to eat for my birthday?” He smiled, thinking back over untold numbers of loops. “You wore it a lot after that. It made me hopeful.”
“That's a nice story.” Rarity held the gem out. “Here. You may as well take it, then.”
“Rarity-”
“Really. I insist.” She smiled, wanly. “Call it... a birthday present.”
Spike took it, admiring how it refracted the sunlight. “Thanks. And thanks for taking this so well.”
“Not at all.” Rarity managed a giggle this time. “If I have to lose, at least I can lose to myself.”
A grin broke out on Spike's face. Then he tentatively raised a claw. “Actually... I was wondering. Would I be able to treat you to dinner at some point?”
He gave an apologetic shrug. “I know it's not much... but if you do enjoy spending time with me, then I've got time to spend. And since you know...”
“Thank you. I believe I will take you up on that offer.”
“Why... isn't this... working,” Trixie panted, horn still crackling.
Tirek chuckled. “You really should pay attention, 'Princess'. I took the magic of the Captain of the Guard, and so I can shield myself from those explosive devices of yours. And as for the magical ones... well, I drain magic. You use magic. Simple, isn't it?”
Trixie ground her teeth. “Chryssy?”
The changeling stepped up next to her. “Yes?”
“Mind recharging me, love?”
“Not at all.” Chrysalis leaned in and touched horns with Trixie. A faint blue-green shimmer built around the point of contact, and slowly brightened.
“That's as much as I've got left,” Chrysalis said, after nearly two full minutes. “Don't waste it.”
“Never,” Trixie replied, then turned back to Tirek. Her Device, Loki, burst into being on her foreleg. “Okay, let's try this again.”
“I look forward to it,” Tirek invited, smiling the smile of the certain.
“You know he's basically invulnerable to your usual thing, right?” Chrysalis whispered.
“Yep.” Trixie's grin was not a nice one. “So I'm not doing the usual thing.”
Her wings flared, and she shot upwards.
“Moment of Prescience. Foresight. Choose Destiny. Know Vulnerabilities. Assay Spell Resistance.”
High over Ponyville, Trixie cast spells as fast as they could flow through her horn.
When explosions failed, Trixie could – reluctantly – face that a change of approach was needed. Specifically, rather than learn everything by doing and guesswork with a side order of risk, she was... doing the research.
“Right, that's good to know...” she murmured, as a growing web of divination spells analyzed Tirek's defences. “Lots of antimagic, but I knew that already. Hm, active defences? Ah, a shield – looks like one of Shining's, so he was telling the truth...”
Unfortunately, there was only so much that divinations could tell her. What it came down to was, she was essentially armed with an extremely well-made spear, and her opponent was armoured like a battleship.
“Okay,” Trixie sighed, coming down to land. “I'm out of ideas. Whatever else I pull off is just going to make this take longer. Go ahead, take all I've got left.”
The others gasped.
“Trixie-”
“Shut up!” she shouted, tears starting in her eyes. “I don't know what to do, okay!? I... can't think of anything. And I...”
She slumped. “I'm tired.”
“Well, this does simplify things.” Tirek reached out, and gripped her wingtip.
Trixie almost instantly tinged slightly gray, and her cutie mark faded.
Tirek blinked. “Not as much as I'd have expected, from an alicorn princess...”
“Oh, yeah.” Trixie looked up. “That'd be because I specified all I had left.” A shrug. “That'd be, about enough to light a candle and make sparkly lights.”
She gestured back over her shoulder. “Now, him, on the other hand-”
Scorpan hit his brother like a meteorite.
“Fun thing,” Trixie said, smiling brightly. “It's not just you who can absorb magic.”
She turned, and something fell out of her hat.
“What's that?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, that?” Trixie picked it up in a hoof. “Scorpan insisted on paying for all the magic I gave him. It's a medallion – he seemed to think it was important, and, well...”
“That's great!” Twilight smiled. “You've got the last key.”
The current Element bearers exchanged glances.
“Key?” Spike asked, for all of them.
“Oh, right.” Twilight ducked, as some debris flew over her head from the centaur fight. “The first time I faced Tirek, it turned out that we'd each earned a key relating to our element. They're objects which glitter like rainbows when we get them, and they're used to-”
She broke off, staring into the distance. The others followed her gaze, and saw that Tirek was now using an entire tree as a club to beat Scorpan over the head with.
“Oh, oak and ash, not again...”
Berry squinted. “Isn't that...”
“Yes.” Twilight's eye twitched. “Every time...”
“Wait, when you said keys,” Spike asked slowly, reaching into his Pocket. “You mean like this?”
A small clear diamond emerged.
Twilight ignored her (now on fire) house with an act of will, and focused on the diamond.
“Yes, that feels like one. Where'd you get it from?”
“Rarity, actually – this Rarity, I mean.” Spike rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “It was all a bit embarrassing...”
“What about this?” Gilda held out a shimmering gold pin. “Lightning Dust gave it to me after I helped her out.”
Twilight nodded. “Honesty, right enough.”
The other three brought out their tokens, one by one. A mirror-bright cloak clasp for Chrysalis; three rings on a cord for Zecora; and a small pearl for Berry.
“Okay, now – you know that box? The one from the Tree of Harmony?”
An embarrassed silence spread.
“...you never picked up the box, did you. Right, hold on a sec.” Twilight flashed out of existence.
“So these shine like rainbows?” Berry asked, holding her pearl up to the light. “Seems to be doing that all the time.”
“Same with mine,” Trixie volunteered, tilting it. “It's kind of like a CD – you know, the diffraction gratings formed by the pits...”
Twilight materialized again. “Okay, found it. Now, hold them out to the box, and they'll turn into keys, and-”
She stopped, and giggled. “Well, I don't want to spoil the surprise...”
“Because that's not ominous,” Trixie commented. “Okay, guys. One, two, three!”
Some time later, Twilight walked into the crystalline mountain that had replaced much of a field outside Ponyville.
“I have to say, I like the aesthetic,” she commented. “Kind of a mix of underground base and lair. Hi, Zecora!”
The zebra just gave her a look, the complicated spiral swirls all over her body only adding to the effect. “I look and feel like modern art. Could you not have warned of this part?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” Twilight defended. “Besides, it's something new. Something baseline, and new, and great fun. How rare is that?”
“Right. Quite.”
Twilight trotted briskly on, passing Berry Punch (who had something of a vine theme) and Gilda with every feather and hair half as long again as normal. (It actually looked rather rakish.)
Then she reached the main room.
“I look... ridiculous,” Chrysalis was saying, looking herself up and down. “I mean, come on.”
“I like it,” Trixie replied, inspecting her own starry fetlocks and wild hair. “Especially the bigger wings, they look good on you.”
“You're only saying that because you think everything looks good on me,” Chrysalis retorted. “You're right, though.”
Spike waved as Twilight came into view. “Hi, Twi. That was... different.”
“Imagine how I felt.” The unicorn tilted her head. “Are your claws...”
“Yeah, still smouldering.” Spike shrugged, his wings shifting and releasing a crackle of purple smoke. “At least I'm not actually on fire, though.”
“There is that.” Twilight turned in place, gazing around at the mountain. “You know, I wonder to what extent the Element users involved can change what the end product looks like...”
95.3
“Right, let's see...”
Twilight looked down at where the book had been. Then blinked.
“Okay, where'd that go?”
Muffled giggling came from a nearby tree.
Twilight sighed. “Pinkie.”
The pink party pony poked her head out of the tree, showing a beak had been taped to her face. Then she spread black-painted wings. “I'm a mag-pie!”
Twilight stifled a grin. “Oh, that's terrible. Are you a pegasus this time?”
“Yuperoonie!” Pinkie beamed. “Dashie's an earth pony this time. She's not awake, though, so boo.”
95.4
To whom it may concern,
Activities in this loop are considered to be restricted. This loop is a safe zone. While it is permissible to enact pranks, and we all know the feeling of having accidentally escalated past the bounds of our plans, we ask that all care be taken to limit harm caused by pranks to property damage and that which is easily and completely fixed. Mental intrusion is not considered to be okay; nor is physical damage; nor is anything which would have a permanent affect in general.
Yours,
Ivory Scroll (Mayor Mare).
P.S. Prank Limit Enforced By Alicorn.
“Well, this place is better organized than some worlds,” Ryuko commented, as she finished the letter and folded it back into the paper-crane shape it had arrived as. “You holding up okay, Senketsu?”
Mostly, her uniform replied. A dress, I can handle easily.
“It helps that they don't wear clothing much at all, here,” Ryuko admitted. “I feel less... exposed. Hey, isn't this where Cheerilee is from?”
“Probably,” her sister agreed. Her own kamui pulsed, then reshaped itself.
“...okay, I didn't even know you could make pony clothing do that,” Ryuko said. “Seriously. That looks... well, good on you. But we might be arrested.”
“I thought it through.”
With that, Satsuki's outfit went quiescent again.
“He never says much,” Satsuki said briskly. “Right, what now?”
“...hell if I know.” Ryuko pointed, flaring her wings. “Look, a clothes shop. Might be where that... Rarity? Works?”
“Worth a try.”
95.5
“I see you've taken another step up the ladder,” Twilight called up.
“Don't you mean the stairs?” Pinkie replied, grinning over the ship's rail. “We're ponies, you silly filly!”
“I blame too much time around humans. Request permission to come aboard?”
A fruit bounced down next to her. “Persimmon granted!”
“Okay, so... what is it?” Twilight asked.
“It's a baffleship!” Pinkie hit a switch, and the whole enormous construct turned transparent. “Bringing stealth parties to one and all, that's the PTAS Enjoyable way!”
Twilight nodded, rapping the deck with a hoof. “Steel?”
“Armoured steel, yup! I don't want the magazines to catch fire, 'cause I haven't read them all yet.”
“And a cloaking device... okay, I've put it off long enough. What kind of party projection capacity does this have?”
Pinkie hit the same button, and the ship returned to opacity. “Well, there's two triple turrets at the front – they've got ribbons on, because it's the bow, hee hee. And there's another triple turret at the back – I drew a snarly face on it, because-”
“Because stern, yes.” Twilight nodded. “I see. And what do the guns fire?”
“Same kind of large party munition as I normally use.” Pinkie shrugged. “If it ain't broke, don't fix it. No, the real cool thing is this! Watch!”
Pinkie went below. When Twilight turned to follow, the door slammed shut.
“...okay...”
The engines thrummed from standby to full power. Twilight peered over the edge, watching the water churned by the four huge screws.
Then began to realize just what Pinkie had done.
As she watched, the rushing, churning sound of the prop wash died away, replaced by a smooth whine as the screws bit into air.
And, heeling slightly with the wind, PTAS Enjoyable rose majestically into the sky.
“Like it?” Pinkie asked, now wearing a jaunty hat. “Where you had to go to the old parties, the new parties will come to you!”
She looked down. “Plus, I built it in a lake again, so this helps. Now, set course for Cloudsdale! It's Dashie's birthday, and I want to make sure there's cake!”
95.6 (Masterofgames)
Twilight had been busy lately. Her studies into the power of the arcane magic of the multiverse had at long last reached the point that she could call them 'good enough, for now anyway'. And what was she doing to celebrate? Resuming her studies of the spiritual magic of the multiverse, naturally!
Last night, she had been amazed to discover the similarities between zebra and buffalo mystics, and had joyfully gone on a study binge as she constructed her own sets of totems and ritualistic equipment from both cultures to compare them, using some handy beginner's level 'do it yourself' books. (Written by the famed author team of Globe Trotter and Artsy Crafts.)
Twilight had slept with a smile. She always felt great when she had a project to look foreward to when she woke up.
So it understandably took her a moment to notice the pony above her bed.
"Ah, friend Twilight! Thou art awake! We are most elated!" an unawake Luna beamed down at her, despite her struggling. "Some foul prankster hast snuck into thy dwelling and placed ancient traps most annoying inside. If thou would help us down, we would be most thankful for ending our embarrassment!"
Twilight could only blink owlishly for a moment, before having to fight back a case of the giggles. "Of-(snerk!) Of course, P-princess Luna. One moment." She grinned as she slid out of bed.
Luna nodded in appreciation and royal dignity, which in all honesty only made her sprawling limbs trapped in the assorted homemade dreamcatchers in Twilight's bedroom look all the more ridiculous to the highly amused unicorn. "Much thanks. We have needed to scratch our nose for hours!"
95.7 (elmagnifico)
The Equestrian Loopers that had been found thus far floated inside the wrecked submarine the Apples had been using as a base before Awakening. None of them had been able to get out-loop abilities or objects to work either, although the forms they'd looped into opened... Possibilities. Applejack was larger than her brother for once, having looped into a Great White to Macintosh's hammerhead. Applebloom was trying to manipulate a wrench, alternating between her snaggled Mako teeth and inflexible fins. Not much success to be had.
“Aww, come on! First time ah get a chance to tinker with a gen-u-wine U-boat, aged perfectly at the bottom of an ocean, an' ah wind up with no good limbs an' a mouth fulla toothpicks.”
The older Apples were being more social, helping Twilight plan Operation: Recover Nyx. There were some kinks to work out, they didn't have access to nearly enough fruitcake, and more importantly none of them knew where to find the filly-turned-guppy. Macintosh had a green scuba mask draped over one side of his “hammer”, and it swung back and forth as he spoke.
“Ain't nothin' sayin' this mask here belongs to yer fillynapper, but if'n there's P. Shermans from Sydney droppin' divin' equipment in this neck of th' ocean...”
Applejack nodded.
“Yep, makes sense Australia'd be th' place to start lookin'.”
Discussion continued, mostly about how to arrive at Australia from their current location, until Applejack had a thought and decided to share.
“Ah must admit, ah'm relieved tha Loops went an' squandered th' opportunity to make me ah seapony.”
Never one to miss a good setup, Murphy chose that particular moment to have Pinkie bump her snout on a pipe. Only a sliver of blood escaped, but like a fateful waft of smoke, the crimson whisp found its way up Applejack's olfactory pores, causing her pupils to grow until they seemed to occupy the entire eye.
"Ooh, ah'll be honest, that smells gooooooooooooooooooooood."
Macintosh and Applebloom looked at each other. They apparently knew what that meant, crying out in unison.
"Intahvention!"
Macintosh rammed Applejack, tumbling her to the side while Applebloom hustled Twilight and Pinkie through a hatchway, closing it with a flick of her tail just as Applejack broke away from her brother.
Safe on the other side of the rusting, but still solid barrier, the elements of Magic and Laughter winced in time to the metalllic thuds, while Applebloom explained the situation between impacts.
“Sorry Twai,”
*bang *
“loop memories.”
*bang *
“Th' blood has,”
*bang *
“berserker effect!”
*bang *
“Y'all better move along.”
*bang *
“We'll catch up to ya,”
*bang *
“when she snaps out of it!”
95.8 (Masterofgames)
"Twilight, in this Equestria, everypony has a finite number of bucks they can give about things during their lifetimes."
"That's AWFUL! We need to do something!"
(Ding!)
"AAAAH! Where did this counter come from and why did it just go down?!"
(Novusordomundi)
"What in Equestria is that noise?" Twilight asked to no-one in particular, turning her attentions to what was causing the noise...
"I'M A PONY! SQUEE!"
"I'M A HUMAN! SQUEE!"
As a human Lyra riding a pony Sunset Shimmer galloped by her, she could hear the *ding* of her "Bucks To Give" counter going down...Splatoon 2’s local co-op mode, Salmon Run, is a heck of a lot of fun.
In Salmon Run, up to four players withstand hordes of enemies and bosses, with the goal of gathering a quota of salmon eggs. We took it for a spin with three players—on three Nintendo Switches, since you won’t find any split-screen co-op here.
Watch us splat our foes in the gameplay video above. Salmon Run’s sprawling levels and nefarious bosses require a lot of communication to beat, and we found it’s best to diversify your weapons. The Splatling Gun is a must-have. Also, make sure at least one of you is good at throwing paint bombs.
You can also read the full review of Splatoon 2, including reviewer Chelsea Stark’s impressions of Salmon Run.
There’s more Splatoon 2 gameplay on our YouTube channel. Check out the new Splat Dualie guns below, in Turf War mode:
And here’s the Aerospray MG used in Turf War on the beloved Moray Towers:
Splatoon 2 will come out on July 21 for the Nintendo Switch.About
This product is for everyone, especially for those with problems of over sized hands (thumbs) or have arthritis or some form of hand restriction. its great for cell phones,ipads,iphones,even touch screens (keep screens clean). Since Thumb Dancer are used on the Thumb, the thumb dancer is also great for avid gammers. For comfort of constant depression of the gaming controller buttons. for those who are aware of our constant contact with germs, This product can help to lower the contact with germs from public facilities such as public ATM machine, store teller machine and some public telephones, basically any public push button utility. The ThumbDancer will come in 4 different colors and after every six months for three years i will introduce a new model and color ( upgrade)and craft wearable holsters ( jewelry) that will be worn and will be very fashionable with the Thumb Dancers. This Product can and will help many people of all walks of life and situations in this push button world.A Donald Trump supporter rails against "Hillary b*tches" during a Delta Airlines flight (Screen cap).
Last week, video emerged of a Trump supporter standing up in the middle of a Delta Airlines flight and yelling at women whom he believed voted for Hillary Clinton in this year’s presidential election.
The video, which quickly went viral, showed the man standing up in the aisle and chastising “Hillary b*tches” for not supporting his preferred candidate. And now it seems this passenger is about to get his just deserts — in the form of a lifetime ban from the airline.
CNBC’s Steve Kopack has posted an internal memo sent out by Delta CEO Ed Bastian that praises the airline crew’s response to the incident and rips the passenger for his rude behavior.
“This individual displayed behavior that was loud, rude, and disrespectful to his fellow customers,” Bastian wrote to employees. “He will never again be allowed on a Delta plane.”
Bastian said that Trump’s rise has generated “heightened tension” in our society, while also stressing that “now more than ever we must require civility on our planes.” He also said he would offer customers on the flight a full refund to compensate them for the obnoxiousness they had to endure at the hands of a Trump fan.
Check out the full memo below, as well as the original video.1/7/2019 10:05 AM 1645 Tim Eyman Legislature must comply with the Public Records Act 1/7/2019 10:20 AM 1646 Tim Eyman Let The Voters Decide On Tax Increases2 1/7/2019 10:28 AM 1647 Tim Eyman We Don't Want An Income Tax Initiative4 1/7/2019 10:17 AM 1648 Tim Eyman Let The Voters Decide On Tax Increases1 1/7/2019 10:26 AM 1649 Tim Eyman We Don't Want An Income Tax Initiative3 1/7/2019 10:24 AM 1650 Tim Eyman We Don't Want An Income Tax Initiative2 1/7/2019 10:14 AM 1651 Tim Eyman Term Limits for Politicians 1/7/2019 11:23 AM 1652 Tim Eyman Transparency in Lawmaking Act 1/7/2019 10:23 AM 1653 Tim Eyman We Don't Want An Income Tax Initiative1 1/7/2019 9:53 AM 1654 Tim Eyman Taxpayer Protection Act1 1/7/2019 9:50 AM 1655 Tim Eyman Taxpayer Protection Act2 1/7/2019 9:19 AM 1656 Richard Pope FAIR AND EQUAL SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING 1/7/2019 9:22 AM 1657 Bryan Axelson Defense of Fair Labor Practices and Standards Against Retaliatory Measures 1/15/2019 5:23 PM 1658 Kyle Stokle Excise Tax Repeal 1/7/2019 2:12 PM 1659 Regis Costello Cannabis Not Next Door 2/5/2019 10: 1660 Charles Eakins Remove Interstate 405 Express Lane Tolling Authorization 2/8/2019 1:34 PM 1661 Georgia Davenport Creating the Whole Washington Health Trust 2/14/2019 9:18 AM Not Yet Assigned Kenneth Morrow Ending Fish and Wildlife as it is now made up. 2/14/2019 9:19 AM Not Yet Assigned Kenneth Morrow The Fly Fishing Only Regulation 2/14/2019 9:19 AM Not Yet Assigned Kenneth Morrow Having Fish and Wildlife Commissioners chosen by popular vote 2/14/2019 9:19 AM Not Yet Assigned Kenneth Morrow Every fish which enters into a state hatchery is to remain in that watershed. 2/19/2019 8:03 AM Not Yet Assigned Pearl Franklin Border Bio-security Plan 2/22/2019 10:11 AM Not Yet Assigned Edward Danzer Civil Treason, the betrayal of a Washington sovereign individual’s legal rights.Most people like to put all their work away and relax for a week or two when they take a vacation. Joss Whedon isn’t most people. During his vacation from post-production work on The Avengers, Whedon decided to bring a few of his closest friends and collaborators to his Santa Monica, California home for twelve days to film a handheld, digital, black and white version of Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing. Starring Amy Acker, Alexis Denisof, Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg, and many other Whedon regulars, the film is a faithful adaptation that blurs the line between stage play and movie. It’s gorgeously shot, wonderfully light and breezy, and full of the Whedon touches his fans love. With Much Ado About Nothing arriving on Blu-ray and DVD this week, Parade sat down with star Amy Acker to discuss her role in the film, becoming a series regular on Person of Interest, and what it might take to get her suited up as an Avenger.
You got your degree in theater and really came up as a stage actor before moving to TV and film. Was doing Much Ado About Nothing like getting back on the bicycle after all these years?
It was. Alexis [Denisof] and I were both talking about that. This is the closest thing that we’ve gotten to do to a play in a long time. We didn’t have any time at all to shoot it, so we had to rehearse it all and Joss [Whedon] wanted us to know the whole thing in case something happened where we had to switch a scene around. We worked on it like a play and blocked it in his house. It definitely was the closest thing to theater that I’ve done in a long time and it made me wish I could do a play again.
Having been so well versed in theater, do you have a favorite Shakespeare play?
Beatrice was one of my dream roles, so I’ve got to find a new favorite I guess. But I really like all the comedies.
This movie was shot really run-and-gun, handheld in digital black and white at Joss’ house. What kind of atmosphere did that create for you guys?
It was surprisingly casual because we had read the plays in his house before. We’d go over on a Sunday afternoon and drink wine and read a Shakespeare play. I think when we went to actually start the movie, no one knew quite what we were doing. Joss had always said it would be fun to film one of these readings, so in one sense there was an ease to it because we’d done it for years in his backyard, but on the other side we only had twelve days to do a whole shoot.
Totally different from what you’ve done over the past few years as well.
It is different but so much of Joss’ work, in particular, is influenced by his love of Shakespeare. Switching between drama and comedy. A lot of that is familiar in his work, but with fewer demons and vampires. [Laughs]
I know you love all these guys—Alexis Denisof, Clark Gregg, Fran Kranz, and Nathan Fillion—but who is the most fun to be around and work with?
Oh geez. They’re all fun in different ways. I think Nathan is definitely the silliest so he’s always fun to have around on set. Alexis is the one I’ve known the longest. Fran just makes me laugh too. I think getting to work with all of them would be a dream job.
You’re a Joss Whedon regular and he’s a friend of yours. When are we going to see you get suited up as a superhero?
[Laughs] I think we all have to bug him about that.
There are a lot of fans online that want to see you play Ms. Marvel.
Well, good! Let’s just make sure we flood Joss’ Twitter account with that information. [Laughs]
Is there a female superhero that you’d love to play?
I don’t know. That’s the thing about doing stuff with Joss. He’s cast me in parts that I don’t necessarily think I would be right for, so if I read the part I wouldn’t be like, “Oh, that’s the one I want to play.” He really likes to challenge people, so I think the fun part about getting to be an Avenger would be the fact that probably whichever one I thought I would be best for, he would go a totally different direction.
Did you know you’d be sticking around on Person of Interest after you debuted at the end of the first season?
When I first got asked to do the part, they had already introduced the character by showing the back of her head, some of her hand, stuff like that. The idea of the character was exciting to them, so they said, “We’d like you to do this episode and then a couple next season.” I didn’t know, though, what would happen after that, so it was a nice surprise that they wanted to keep me around.
Your character on the show has a bit of a villainous side. Do you prefer to play the villain or hero?
I think the fun thing is getting to play both sides. In Angel, especially, when I switched back and forth between Fred and Illyria, I just loved getting to have such different characters even within the same show. I think that Root kind of has the same thing. It’s not clear whether she’s the villain or she’s the one that actually knows what’s happening and is just ahead of the game and looking out for the best interest of the machine.
You and Michael Emerson (Lost) both come from shows with super rabid fan bases. Did you get to trade crazed-fan-war-stories with him?
[Laughs] Michael is recognized all the time. Any time I’m with him, people are always talking about Lost. It’s fun to watch him get into conversations about it. Someone, the other day, told him, “I didn’t like the ending of Lost,” and he started talking about it and by the end of the conversation they were like, “Oh, you’re right! It was a good ending!” [Laughs]
How is working on a show like Person of Interest different from working on previous shows you’ve done with Joss?
It’s not that different in the sense that this show has a real ensemble feeling. Especially with my character, I’m mostly involved in the mythology of the story so I have a real long-term arc of what’s happening with my character. I think the biggest difference is shooting in New York City because it’s really like another character on the show. It’s so different from being in LA or being on a stage in LA.
Are you planning to stick with working on TV for a while or are you going to do some film work as well?
I would obviously love to do some films. I’m not in every episode of Person of Interest so we’ll see. Hopefully something great will come up in the movie side too.
Much Ado About Nothing is available on Blu-ray & DVD now. Person of Interest airs on Tuesdays at 10 PM on CBS.Many people have attempted to explain Donald Trump’s ascension from business man and television personality to presumptive GOP presidential nominee.
The latest such enlistee was too smart to even try.
Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist, cosmologist and University of Cambridge professor, was asked in an interview Tuesday by the United Kingdom’s ITV News if his knowledge of the universe could help explain the “phenomenon” of Donald Trump.
“I can’t,” Hawking said. “He is a demagogue who seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator.”
But Hawking doesn’t consider Trump to be the gravest threat to the planet, either.
When asked what was, Hawking pointed to one more unlikely prospect — an asteroid collision — as well as a “more immediate danger”: climate change.
”A rise in ocean temperature would melt the ice caps, and cause the release of large amounts of carbon dioxide from the ocean floor,” Hawking said.
Read more: 5 questions with Stephen Hawking: ‘technology is driving ever-increasing inequality’LONDON — Life feels pretty good to Eric Abidal and to Kei Kamara right now.
Abidal is a man whose career could have been behind him. He’s 33, has played in a World Cup final with France and won medals galore with Barcelona. But the best news anyone at Barça has had in the past week was when doctors told Abidal that he could work as hard as he wanted to in challenging for his place in the defense, a year after undergoing liver transplant surgery.
Speak to the greats around the Camp Nou, and they say that nothing lifts them more than the spirit Abidal is showing in his comeback.
Kamara, too, has a life story — if not yet a comparable soccer career — worth telling.
On Saturday, Kamara came off the bench to outjump one of the best headers of a ball in the English Premier League. He scored, then set up another goal, and Norwich City won its first league game since December.
Kamara surprised even himself. He ran like a boy toward the crowd. He danced a loose-limbed jig with teammate Sébastien Bassong. And when someone told him that thousands of his countrymen were watching in theaters throughout Sierra Leone, Kamara’s response came out in a deep American drawl.Hey there tech-fiends, it's that time of the week again. While the year is winding to a close, I've got one more early stream for Tech-Death Tuesday in 2016 today. After this, the remaining focus for the year will be a massive year in review feature that I'm excited to share with you all. Before we dive into today's focus, here's the usual reminder that all prior editions of this series can be perused here.
For those that are new to Breeding Filth, the band contains members from both Dawn of Dementia and Kossuth, and play a particularly twisted type of technical brutal death metal. Given the pedigree of the members involved in Breeding Filth, it's no surprise that the music is damn good. Similar to this year's Wormhole record, Perverse Devolution mixes-and-matches brutal death metal akin to the likes of Severed Savior with snippets of slam and a shitload of frenetic technical death metal. Perverse Devolution is a fun album, and there's a lot more depth to it than the majority of the band's peers who also play technical brutal death metal. Even Deeds Of Flesh (and Destroying The Devoid) guitarist Craig Peters gets in on the action, busting out a sick solo towards the beginning of track 5, the title track itself.
So give Perverse Devolution a spin below and get your head crushed in. If you dig what you're hearing, the album will be available for pre-order shortly through Sevared Records ahead of its official digital release this Friday, December 16th. Physical copies will be made available later once they come in. Be sure to follow Breeding Filth over at their Facebook page too.
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Two men stepped off a flight from Birmingham Airport amid baseless claims from fellow passengers who reportedly thought they looked like terrorists.
Airline Monarch confirmed two passengers had their journeys delayed for 24 hours after police were called to a plane heading for Rome on Sunday afternoon.
Two others, reportedly a British couple who were believed to have raised the alarm, also did not travel after "voluntarily offloading themselves" from the flight.
Sunday’s service, due to depart at 5.30pm, was delayed for 90 minutes following an extra security check.
Website The Local quoted stand-up comedian Marsha De Salvatore, an American living in Rome, who witnessed what she called the “sad reality of racism”.
Watch: Plane makes dramatic landing at Birmingham from Bucharest
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She said: “It was crazy.
“Not only was the plane delayed but I witnessed the sad reality of racism as these men were escorted off a boarded plane because others suspected them to be terrorists.
“The pilot told us: ‘What happened today was an act of total racism’.”
De Salvatore told The Local that a British couple, who were standing in front of her in the queue to board the flight, became agitated.
She said: “The husband was anxious and kept saying to his wife: ‘I’m not getting on the plane’.
“I thought perhaps he had a fear of flying.
“But just as they were about to hand over their boarding pass, they stepped out of the queue.”
De Salvatore said police were called.
She said the pilot – who believed the claims were “totally wrong” – told passengers the two men and their luggage were taken |
land was taken from Friedkin just a year after that 30-year pledge was made.
Childress wrote in his letter that the Tanzanian government’s decision “would cause grave damage to our mutual interest in deepening U.S. investment in Tanzania.”
Milanzi said the natural resources and tourism minister did not have the right to suspend a hunting company. But the country’s Wildlife Conservation Act says that “the minister shall cancel the allocation of the hunting block if he is sure there is sufficient evidence that the person has committed any offense.”
Milanzi acknowledged that offense had been committed.
“You see the video, and it’s clear that what they did was wrong,” he said.
In 2014, the Tanzanian government had called Green Mile's hunting practices a “gross violation” of the country’s laws. Removing the company was considered a major victory for conservationists in the region,
So why bring Green Mile back — especially if it endangers the country’s relationship with the United States, which is scheduled to give Tanzania $575 million in 2017?
“I don’t doubt there’s a substantial amount of money for the ministers involved,” said David Hayes, the former deputy secretary of the interior from 2009 to 2013 and now the chair of the U.S. Wildlife Trafficking Alliance.
"I am worried there are all signs of corruption,” said Zitto Kabwe, head of the Alliance for Change and Transparency, an opposition party.
[The death of Cecil the lion and the big business of big game trophy hunting]
As wealth mounted in the UAE, some of the country’s businessmen began purchasing hunting concessions in East Africa that would cater to UAE tourists. Tanzania was one of their first stops. In 1992, the Ortelo Business Co. began flying clients to the Loliondo area near Serengeti National Park, where people hunted freely on over 50,000 acres. They returned with planes full of the animals they killed.
It’s not just UAE companies and hunters who are known for violating wildlife laws. Last year, an American dentist working with a Zimbabwean guide caused an uproar when he shot and killed a lion known as Cecil. Two men working with the guide were accused of using bait to lure the lion out of a national park. That incident stoked outrage at the existence of big game hunting in Africa, and revenue from sanctioned hunting is down across much of the continent.
Now, Green Mile's reinstatement has raised further questions about how big game hunting is managed in parts of Africa.
“It is appalling that the Tanzanian government has reinstated the hunting license and concession of a trophy-hunting company known for committing egregious acts of animal cruelty," said Wayne Pacelle, the chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States.
Tanzania has attempted to improve conservation efforts and to promote tourism in the Serengeti region for non-hunters, who come to see the massive migration of animals across East Africa. It has worked to combat wildlife poachers.
Now, some Tanzanians worry what Green Mile’s return means for that conservation agenda.
“How can the government stand in the world and show that it fights for conservation while the same government issue permits to hunt to a company like Green Mile?” Kabwe asked.
Read more
A yellow fever epidemic in Angola could turn into a global crisis
‘Ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants’
South Africa’s gold industry, like its economy, is crumbling
Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the worldDavid Swanson, since serving as press secretary in Dennis Kucinich's 2004 presidential campaign, has emerged as one of the leading anti-war activists in the United States. Swanson is not satisfied with just stopping current U.S. wars. In his previous book War is a Lie, Swanson made the case for the abolition of war as an instrument of national policy, and his new book, When the World Outlawed War, provides an historical example of just how powerful war abolitionism can be.
Although polls today show that a large majority of U.S. citizens oppose recent and current U.S. wars and want to cut military spending to reduce the federal deficit, few Americans are engaged in anti-war activism. This political passivity is due, in part, to Americans' sense of impotence at having any impact on the U.S. government, especially when it comes to the military-industrial complex. Many of us feel powerless to stop the ever-increasing bombings, invasions, and occupations of nations which pose no threat to us.
Anti-war Americans have not always felt so defeatist. When the World Outlawed War tells the story of how the highly energized peace movement in the 1920s, supported by an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens from every level of society, was able to push politicians into something quite remarkable -- the Kellogg-Briand Pact and the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy. The 1920s "War Outlawry" movement was so popular that most politicians could not afford to oppose it.
The history of the 1920s that most Americans are taught is restricted to excesses of the Roaring Twenties and the failure of Prohibition. Few Americans are taught that in that decade there was also a peace movement that mobilized millions of people to get the U.S. government and the world's major powers to formally renounce war. This strong anti-war movement was supported across the political spectrum, from international isolationists to peace activists. Many Americans came to resent the governmental manipulations that had convinced them World War I was a noble cause when it was unnecessary and catastrophic in terms of casualties.
For "War Outlawrists," the institution of war was an immorality like dueling and slavery, both of which had once been considered legal and practiced but had been abolished. And so by outlawing war, this would change an entire cultural perspective on another immoral institution. They hoped, at the very least, to open the world's eyes to war's status as an immoral institution and to stigmatize it.
The American Committee for the Outlawry of War was the creation of Salmon Oliver Levinson, prominent Chicago attorney and one of the prime movers for the Kellogg-Briand Pact. Levinson wrote: "The principle underlying the outlawry of war is this: The law should always be on the moral side of every question. But the law of nations has always been on the wrong side of the war question." In December 1919, Levinson met with Republican Sen. William Borah of Idaho, and Borah was excited by Levinson's plan for Outlawry of War.
Borah, in contemporary terms, was similar to Congressman Ron Paul of Texas in the area of foreign policy, though Borah had far more power. In 1917, Borah had supported World War I, but he later said that his vote for World War I was the one vote he regretted. At the time of Levinson's meeting with Borah in 1919, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations was Republican Sen. Henry Cabot Lodge. Lodge had promoted the Spanish American War as well as World War I, and supported a massive build-up of the Navy. However, Lodge died in 1924, at which point Borah became Chair of Foreign Relations. And Borah, who had become a major opponent of imperialism and militarism, now had significant power to influence national policy.
U.S. anti-war politicians such as Borah attained such power in the 1920s because anti-war was a popular position. When the World Outlawed War reminds us how very different American culture was in the 1920s. In contrast to today, in the 1920s, peace was patriotic. Swanson notes that in the 1920s, peace "did not require opposing the central agenda of the U.S. government. It did not require going up against today's powerful military industrial complex. In the 1920s, farmers had more pull than weapons makers."
The Kellogg-Briand Pact (named after Frank Kellogg, the U.S. Secretary of State and Aristide Briand, the French foreign minister) was signed on Aug. 27, 1928 by the United States and France, as well as world powers United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, Germany, and by several other nations. In 1929, the Kellogg-Briand Pact was ratified by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 85 to 1, and it is still on the books, as part of supreme law of the United States. The Kellogg-Briand Pact states:
The High Contracting Parties solemly [sic] declare in the names of their respective peoples that they condemn recourse to war for the solution of international controversies, and renounce it, as an instrument of national policy in their relations with one another. The High Contracting Parties agree that the settlement or solution of all disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them, shall never be sought except by pacific means.
What good did the Kellogg-Briand Pact do? Obviously, it failed to stop wars. A common criticism of it is that it had no teeth, as it contained no sanctions against nations that might breach its provisions. The Kellogg-Briand Pact did, however, establish the practice of not recognizing territorial claims gained through war.
Perhaps the most important legacy of the War Outlawry movement is that it was a time in American history when people were still confident that they could compel politicians to take popular actions. Swanson points out:
They took a popular demand to the government. They did not go to government officials of one party or the other and ask, "What should we tell our members to ask you to do?" That inversion of representative government has become the norm, leading to public disillusionment with activist groups, labor unions, and other organizations that purport to lobby public servants while actually treating us as the servants of the public servants. That mindset is also internalized by many U.S. residents who believe their duty is to a party or a politician, rather than the politicians' duty being to majority opinion.I have never truly been into zombies, but when I saw it was a choice to participate in this swap I said, "What the heck?"
SOOO glad I did!
I got 3 different packages from my giftee. They were sweet messaging me to get some info on things I liked and opinions in general of zombies.
First gift I received was the t-shirt. Have you seen my zombie?
I walked around my house waiting for someone to comment on my shirt. Moment they did FLASH I whipped it inside out. Undershirt is needed for public in general I suppose...
Next gift I was blown away. State of decay for Xbox One!! I mentioned I am a gamer and haven't played too many zombie games but as soon as I got that put it in and made a night of it!
Thinking that was all I got a third package today. Now I should preface the only dislike I had for this exchange was NO walking dead items. I rather dislike the show. I saw the label first and was puzzled. Pulled it out and HOLY **** it's Clem!! I LOVE the Walking Dead game series. Wasn't aware they had TWD game figures. She'll fit right at home with my other video game characters. Reliving all the feels right now!
Thank you immensely Zombie SS for furthering my love for all things undead!By Ralph Nader
This piece originally ran on Ralph Nader’s blog.
Before announcing for President in the Democratic Primaries, Bernie Sanders told the people he would not run as an Independent and be like Nader- invoking the politically-bigoted words “being a spoiler.” Well, the spoiled corporate Democrats in Congress and their consultants are mounting a “stop Bernie campaign.” They believe he’ll “spoil” their election prospects.
Sorry Bernie, because anybody who challenges the positions of the corporatist, militaristic, Wall Street-funded Democrats, led by Hillary Clinton, in the House and Senate—is by their twisted definition, a “spoiler.” It doesn’t matter how many of Bernie’s positions are representative of what a majority of the American people want for their country.
What comes around goes around. Despite running a clean campaign, funded by small donors averaging $27, with no scandals in his past and with consistency throughout his decades of standing up for the working and unemployed people of this country, Sanders is about to be Hillaried. Her Capitol Hill cronies have dispatched Congressional teams to Iowa.
The shunning of Bernie Sanders is underway. Did you see him standing alone during the crowded State of the Union gathering?
Many of the large unions, that Bernie has championed for decades, have endorsed Hillary, known for her job-destroying support for NAFTA and the World Trade Organization and her very late involvement in working toward a minimum wage increase.
National Nurses United, one of the few unions endorsing Bernie, is not fooled by Hillary’s sudden anti-Wall Street rhetoric in Iowa. They view Hillary Clinton, the Wall Street servant (and speechifier at $5000 a minute) with disgust.
Candidate Clinton’s latest preposterous pledge is to “crack down” on the “greed” of corporations and declare that Wall Street bosses are opposing her because they realize she will “come right after them.”
Because Sanders is not prone to self-congratulation, few people know that he receives the highest Senatorial approval rating and the lowest disapproval rating from his Vermonters than any Senator receives from his or her constituents. This peak support for a self-avowed “democratic socialist,” comes from a state once known for its rock-ribbed conservative Republican traditions.
Minority House Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi has unleashed her supine followers to start wounding and depreciating Sanders. Pelosi acolyte Adam Schiff (D. California) tells the media he doubts Sanders’s electability and he could have “very significant downstream consequences in House and Senate races.”
Mr. Schiff somehow ignores that the House and Senate Democratic leadership repeatedly could not defend the country from the worst Republican Party in history, whose dozens of anti-human, pro-big business votes should have toppled many GOP candidates. Instead, Nancy Pelosi has led the House Democrats to three straight calamitous losses (2010, 2012, 2014) to the Republicans, for whom public cruelties toward the powerless is a matter of principle.
Pelosi threw her own poisoned darts at Sanders, debunking his far more life-saving, efficient, and comprehensive, full Medicare-for-all plan with free choice of doctor and hospital with the knowingly misleading comment “We’re not running on any platform of raising taxes.” Presumably that includes continuing the Democratic Party’s practice of letting Wall Street, the global companies and the super-wealthy continue to get away with their profitable tax escapes.
Pelosi doesn’t expect the Democrats to make gains in the House of Representatives in 2016. But she has managed to hold on to her post long enough to help elect Hillary Clinton—no matter what Clinton’s record as a committed corporatist toady and a disastrous militarist (e.g., Iraq and the War on Libya) has been over the years.
For Pelosi it’s bring on the ‘old girls club,’ it’s our turn. The plutocracy and the oligarchy running this country into the ground have no worries. The genders of the actors are different, but the monied interests maintain their corporate state and hand out their campaign cash—business as usual.
Bernie Sanders, however, does present a moral risk for the corrupt Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee, which are already turning on one of their own leading candidates. His years in politics so cleanly contrasts with the sordid, scandalized, cashing-in behavior of the Clintons.
Pick up a copy of Peter Schweizer’s Clinton Cash, previewed early in 2015 by the New York Times. Again and again Schweizer documents the conflicted interest maneuvering of donors to the Clinton Foundation, shady deals involving global corporations and dictators, and huge speaking fees, with the Clinton Foundation and the State department as inventories to benefit the Clintons. The Clintons embody what is sleazy and harmful about corporate political intrigues.
If and when Bernie Sanders is brought down by the very party he is championing, the millions of Bernie supporters, especially young voters, will have to consider breaking off into a new political party that will make American history. That means dissolving the dictatorial two-party duopoly and its ruinous, unpatriotic, democracy-destroying corporate paymasters.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.The Android 4.3 update for your shiny new Galaxy S4 Google Play edition phone has a minor issue that is frustrating more than a few users. Most apps can no longer write anything to the SD card, and instead just give you an error when you try doing it.
It's one of those little things that can cause a lot of headache. The technical reasons are a group ID issue, and applications aren't given permission to access the external storage for writing because they aren't in the right group. It's a Unix thing, and if you don't understand it all you're not alone — just know that it's an easy fix in a number of different ways, and hopefully it gets fixed soon. If you do understand, we'll cover it a little more later in this post.
While we're waiting for a permanent fix, the good news is that you can copy files to the external SD card by hand, as long as you use ES File Explorer to do so. Either through magic, or crafty developing, ES File Explorer is a member of the correct group to both read and write to the SD card. There may be other apps that can do the same, but we'll recommend this one because we've tested it ourselves and know it works. Grab it at from the Google Play download link above. If you're the type who likes to dig into things and break fix them yourself, or just a little nerdy and curious, head past the break.
Discuss this in the Galaxy S4 Google Play edition forums
Thanks, Michael!For Deb Coffey, a member of the Highland Ward, Sandy Utah Granite South Stake, it has been “sweet and tender” to witness the contributions of individuals, families and groups to refugees. Sister Coffey, as executive director of the Utah Refugee Center, has seen an influx of donations of time, talents and goods, which has only gained momentum in the weeks following invitations by Church leadership to serve refugees.
Some of the most “touching” contributions have come from children, Sister Coffey noted. She has a video of two young girls “with the brightest, most cheery faces,” who recently came and volunteered at the center.
“I put together bags for refugees and I’m way super excited,” explains a girl who is perhaps 9 or 10.
“The power of children never ceases to amaze me with how loving and accepting they are,” Sister Coffey said.
That love was recently witnessed by Michelle Mullis, a member of the Lorin Farr 3rd Ward, Ogden Utah Lorin Farr Stake. Sister Mullis had been teaching her 11-year-old daughter, Anna, and other children in a book club about Corrie ten Boom and the role she played in helping Jewish refugees in Holland during World War II. During the General Women’s Session of the 186th Annual General Conference Sister Linda K. Burton, Relief Society general president, issued the invitation to “prayerfully determine what you can do — according to your own time and circumstance — to serve the refugees living in your neighborhoods and communities.”
Sister Mullis said that she “just cried” as she listened to Sister Burton’s address. “I thought, ‘That’s it! This is what we need to do,’ ” she said.
Sister Mullis searched online and found the local refugee center website which included a list of current needs. From the list, Sister Mullis let her daughter and the other children decide what they wanted to contribute and the group went about gathering items for hygiene kits — including shampoo, lotion, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste and combs — as well as fleece to make into blankets. On Friday, April 15, the group gathered to deliver their offering.
“[The kids] loved it!” Sister Mullis said. “They had all watched conference and heard the invitation and then got to go out the very next week and put it into action. They loved being able to serve and [follow] the direction they had received.”
Although delivering the items was satisfying for the children, an important part of the process, Sister Mullis explained, was learning about refugees — how they live, their challenges and their needs.
In addition to studying Corrie ten Boom, the group talked about refugees within their own country. They also researched refugee camps — what they looked like and what it’s like to live there.
“Photos helped the kids visualize and helped make it real for them,” Sister Mullis said.
Kristie Deeds, who serves as Primary president in the Hegessy Ward, Sandy Utah Granite Stake, recently organized a service project for her Primary during which they collected socks and underwear for children — from toddler to 16 years old — to donate to the refugee center. In preparation, they showed a short video clip from a local news station of a family receiving new bedding, food and supplies for their house.
The children were “glued to the video clip,” Sister Deeds said. “It spurred a lot of questions.”
Sister Coffey said that any newspaper article or story that shares someone’s struggles or challenges can be tailored or brought down to a level so that even a young child can understand.
Her own granddaughter, who just turned 3, recently asked her, “Grammy, can we buy this for the refugees?”
“She doesn’t completely understand what we’re doing, but — even at a such a young age — she understands that there is an endearing and tender nature to the service component and she can feel that,” Sister Coffey said.
Studying refugees can be a broad topic so Sister Coffey suggested picking one country to focus on. “Once you have found a community or a country that resonates with you, you can take that deeper dive and look at the cultural aspects of the country and the people from there,” Sister Coffey said.
Study their food, traditions and the way they celebrate holidays or their religious differences. “All of those things will open up and spur good and healthy conversations between family members,” Sister Coffey said.
Helping children become informed propels them forward in service, Sister Mullis said. After looking at photos of the refugee camps and seeing how some refugees live, “the kids were ready to do whatever they could to help.”
Sister Coffey said, “We sometimes place limitations on children. I have found that children actually do understand and are much more capable than we think. It’s up to us to instill in them those sweet and tender beliefs that every one of us is a child of God and that we all have immense contributions to make here on this earth.”
Since their visit to the refugee center, Sister Mullis said her daughter is excited about what they can do next. The center collects items for birthday bags that include a new toy and outfit. “So we’ve talked about doing a big birthday party and asking people to bring gifts for the refugee children.”
Looking outside of their normal social sphere helped them see more opportunities, Sister Coffey noted. “It teaches you to have eyes to see the needs around you.”
[email protected]History of Project Gutenberg
Overview
The first ebook was available on July 4, 1971, as eText #1 of Project Gutenberg, a visionary project launched by Michael Hart to create free electronic versions of literary works and disseminate them worldwide. In the 16th century, Gutenberg allowed anyone to have print books for a small cost. In the 21st century, Project Gutenberg would allow anyone to have a digital library at no cost. Project Gutenberg got its first boost with the invention of the web in 1990, and its second boost with the creation of Distributed Proofreaders in 2000, to share the proofreading of ebooks between hundreds of volunteers. In 2010, Project Gutenberg offered more than 33,000 high-quality ebooks being downloaded by the tens of thousands every day, and websites in the United States, in Australia, in Europe, and in Canada, with 40 mirror sites worldwide.
Beginning
As recalled by Michael Hart in January 2009 in an email interview: “On July 4, 1971, while still a freshman at the University of Illinois (UI), I decided to spend the night at the Xerox Sigma V mainframe at the UI Materials Research Lab, rather than walk miles home in the summer heat, only to come back hours later to start another day of school. I stopped on the way to do a little grocery shopping to get through the night, and day, and along with the groceries they put in the faux parchment copy of The U.S. Declaration of Independence that became quite literally the cornerstone of Project Gutenberg. That night, as it turned out, I received my first computer account – I had been hitchhiking on my brother’s best friend’s name, who ran the computer on the night shift. When I got a first look at the huge amount of computer money I was given, I decided I had to do something extremely worthwhile to do justice to what I had been given. This was such a serious, and intense thought process for a college freshman, my first thought was that I had better eat something to get up enough energy to think of something worthwhile enough to repay the cost of all that computer time. As I emptied out groceries, the faux parchment Declaration of Independence fell out, and the light literally went on over my head like in the cartoons and comics… I knew what the future of computing, and the internet, was going to be… ‘The Information Age.’ The rest, as they say, is history.”
Michael keyed in The United States Declaration of Independence to the mainframe he was using, in upper case, because there was no lower case yet. The file was 5 K. To send a 5 K file to the 100 users of the pre-internet of the time would have crashed the network, so Michael mentioned where the etext was stored – though without a hypertext link, because the web was still 20 years ahead. It was downloaded by six users. Project Gutenberg was born.
Michael decided to use the huge amount of computer time he had been given to search the literary works that were stored in libraries, and to digitize these works. A book would become a continuous text file instead of a set of pages. Project Gutenberg’s mission would be the following: to put at everyone’s disposal, in electronic versions, as many literary works as possible for free.
After keying in The United States Declaration of Independence (signed on July 4, 1776) in 1971, Michael typed in a longer text, The United States Bill of Rights, in 1972, i.e. the first ten amendments added in 1789 to the Constitution (dated 1787) and defining the individual rights of the citizens and the distinct powers of the federal government and the States. A volunteer typed in The United States Constitution in 1973.
From one year to the next, disk space was getting larger, by the standards of the time – there was no hard disk yet – making it possible to store larger files.
Volunteers began typing in The Bible, with one individual book at a time, and a file for each book.
Michael typed in the collected works of Shakespeare, with volunteers, one play at a time, and a file for each play. This edition of Shakespeare was never released, unfortunately, due to changes in copyright law. Shakespeare’s works belong to public domain, but comments and notes may be copyrighted, depending on the publication date. Other editions of Shakespeare from public domain were released a few years later.
10 to 1,000 ebooks
Its critics long considered Project Gutenberg as impossible on a large scale. But Michael went on keying book after book during many years, with the help of some volunteers.
In August 1989, Project Gutenberg completed its 10th ebook, The King James Bible (1769), both testaments, and 5M for all files.
In 1990, there were 250,000 internet users. The web was in its infancy. The standard was 360 K disks.
In January 1991, Michael typed in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), by Lewis Carroll. In July 1991, he typed in Peter Pan (1904), by James M. Barrie. These two classics of childhood literature each fit on one disk.
The first browser, Mosaic, was released in November 1993. It became easier to circulate etexts and recruit volunteers. From 1991 to 1996, the number of ebooks doubled every year, with one ebook per month in 1991, two ebooks per month in 1992, four ebooks per month in 1993, and eight ebooks per month in 1994.
In January 1994, Project Gutenberg released The Complete Works of William Shakespeare as eBook #100. Shakespeare wrote most of his works between 1590 and 1613.
The steady growth went on, with an average of 8 ebooks per month in 1994, 16 ebooks per month in 1995, and 32 ebooks per month in 1996.
In June 1997, Project Gutenberg released The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883), by Howard Pyle.
Project Gutenberg reached 1,000 ebooks in August 1997. EBook #1000 was La Divina Commedia (1321), by Dante Alighieri, in Italian, its original language.
With the number of ebooks on the rise, three main sections were set up: (a) “Light Literature”, such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, Peter Pan and Aesop’s Fables; (b) “Heavy Literature”, such as the Bible, Shakespeare’s works, Moby Dick and Paradise Lost; (c) “Reference Literature”, such as Roget’s Thesaurus, almanacs, and a set of encyclopedias and dictionaries. (A more detailed classification was created later on.)
“Light Literature” was the main section in number of ebooks. As explained on the website in 1998: “The Light Literature Collection is designed to get persons to the computer in the first place, whether the person may be a pre-schooler or a great-grandparent. We love it when we hear about kids or grandparents taking each other to an etext of Peter Pan when they come back from watching Hook at the movies, or when they read Alice in Wonderland after seeing it on TV. We have also been told that nearly every Star Trek movie has quoted current Project Gutenberg etext releases (from Moby Dick in The Wrath of Khan; a Peter Pan quote finishing up the most recent, etc.) not to mention a reference to Through the Looking-Glass in JFK. This was a primary concern when we chose the books for our libraries. We want people to be able to look up quotations they heard in conversation, movies, music, other books, easily with a library containing all these quotations in an easy-to-find etext format.”
Project Gutenberg’s goal is more about selecting books intended for the general public than providing authoritative editions. As explained on the website in 1998: “We do not write for the reader who cares whether a certain phrase in Shakespeare has a ‘:’ or a ‘;’ between its clauses. We put our sights on a goal to release etexts that are 99.9% accurate in the eyes of the general reader. Given the preferences our proofreaders have, and the general lack of reading ability the public is currently reported to have, we probably exceed those requirements by a significant amount. However, for the person who wants an ‘authoritative edition’ we will have to wait some time until this becomes more feasible. We do, however, intend to release many editions of Shakespeare and the other classics for comparative study on a scholarly level.”
The etexts, later called ebooks, were stored in the simplest way, using the low set of ASCII, called Plain Vanilla ASCII, for them to be read on any hardware and software. As a text file, a book could be easily copied, indexed, searched, analyzed, and compared with other books.
As explained by Michael Hart in August 1998 in an email interview: “We consider etext to be a new medium, with no real relationship to paper, other than presenting the same material, but I don’t see how paper can possibly compete once people each find their own comfortable way to etexts, especially in schools. (…) My own personal goal is to put 10,000 etexts on the net [this goal was reached in October 2003] and if I can get some major support, I would like to expand that to 1,000,000 and to also expand our potential audience for the average etext from 1.x% of the world population to over 10%, thus changing our goal from giving away 1,000,000,000,000 etexts to 1,000 times as many, a trillion and a quadrillion in U.S. terminology.”
1,000 to 10,000 ebooks
From 1998 to 2000, the “output” was an average of 36 ebooks per month.
Project Gutenberg reached 2,000 ebooks in May 1999. EBook #2000 was Don Quijote (1605), by Cervantes, in Spanish, its original language.
Project Gutenberg reached 3,000 ebooks in December 2000. EBook #3000 was À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs (In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower), vol. 3 (1919), by Marcel Proust, in French, its original language.
Project Gutenberg Australia was launched in August 2001.
Project Gutenberg reached 4,000 ebooks in October 2001. EBook #4000 was The French Immortals Series (1905), in English. This book is an anthology of short fictions by authors from the French Academy (Académie Française): Emile Souvestre, Pierre Loti, Hector Malot, Charles de Bernard, Alphonse Daudet, and others.
The output in 2001 was an average of 104 new ebooks per month.
Project Gutenberg reached 5,000 ebooks in April 2002. EBook #5000 was The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, an English version of Leonardo’s early 16th-century writings in Italian. Since its release, this ebook has constantly stayed in the Top 100 of downloaded ebooks.
In 1991, Michael Hart chose to type in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Peter Pan because they would each fit on one 360 K disk, the standard of the time. In 2002, the standard disk was 1.44 M and could be compressed as a zipped file.
A practical file size is about 3 million characters, more than long enough for the average book. The ASCII version of a 300-page novel is 1 M. A bulky book can fit in two ASCII files, that can be downloaded as is or zipped. An average of 50 hours is necessary to get an ebook selected, copyright-cleared, scanned, proofread, formatted, and assembled.
A few numbers are reserved for “special” books. For example, eBook #1984 is reserved for George Orwell’s classic, published in 1949, and still a long way from falling into public domain.
In spring 2002, Project Gutenberg’s ebooks represented 25% of all the public domain works freely available on the web and listed in the Internet Public Library (IPL). The output in 2002 was an average of 203 ebooks per month.
In November 2002, Project Gutenberg released the 75 files of the Human Genome Project, with files of dozens or hundreds of megabytes, shortly after its initial release in February 2001 as a work from public domain.
1,000 ebooks in August 1997, 2,000 ebooks in May 1999, 3,000 ebooks in December 2000, 4,000 ebooks in October 2001, 5,000 ebooks in April 2002, 10,000 ebooks in October 2003. EBook #10000 was The Magna Carta, signed in 1215 and known as the first English constitutional text.
From April 2002 to October 2003, in 18 months, the collections doubled, going from 5,000 ebooks to 10,000 ebooks, with a monthly average of 348 new ebooks in 2003.
The fast growth was the work of Distributed Proofreaders, a website launched in October 2000 by Charles Franks to share the proofreading of ebooks between many volunteers. Volunteers choose one of the digitized books available on the site and proofread a given page, or several pages, as they wish.
EBooks were also copied on CDs and DVDs. As blank CDs and DVDs cost next to nothing, Project Gutenberg began burning and sending a free CD or DVD to anyone asking for it. People were encouraged to make copies for a friend, a library or a school. Released in August 2003, the Best of Gutenberg CD contained 600 ebooks. The first Project Gutenberg DVD was released in December 2003 to celebrate the first 10,000 ebooks, with the burning of most titles (9,400 ebooks).
In September 2003, Project Gutenberg launched Project Gutenberg Audio eBooks, a collection of human-read ebooks, as well as the Sheet Music Subproject, a collection of digitized music sheet and music recordings. A collection of still and moving pictures was also available.
10,000 to 20,000 ebooks
In December 2003, there were 11,000 ebooks, which represented 110 G, in several formats (ASCII, HTML, PDF, and others, as is or zipped). In May 2004, there were 12,600 ebooks, which represented 135 G. With more than 300 new ebooks added per month (338 ebooks per month in 2004), the number of gigabytes was expected to double every year.
The Project Gutenberg Consortia Center (PGCC) was affiliated with Project Gutenberg in 2003, and became an official Project Gutenberg site. Since 1997, PGCC had been working on gathering collections of existing ebooks, as a complement to Project Gutenberg working on producing ebooks. As explained by Michael Hart in February 2009: “The Project Gutenberg Consortia Center has over 75,000 ebooks rendered as PDF files, and some are really quite stunning. The difference? These files were prepared by other eLibraries, not Project Gutenberg, and are using our worldwide distribution network to be seen.”
In Europe, Project Rastko, based in Belgrade, Serbia, launched Project Gutenberg Europe (PG Europe) and Distributed Proofreaders Europe (DP Europe) in January 2004. 100 ebooks were available in June 2005, in several languages, as a reflection of European linguistic diversity.
In January 2005, Project Gutenberg reached 15,000 ebooks. EBook #15000 was The Life of Reason (1906), by George Santayana.
What about languages? There were ebooks in 25 languages |
getting reset in the first episode. So, is it something like every 24 hours there’s a narrative cycle reboot? Are they waiting until the humans are asleep? Do they have a brief period where they don’t let anyone into the park? Or when there’s no one in a certain area, then they reboot it? I want to know what their narrative loop cycle is.
As a writer, I’m always going to draw to the narrative stuff. Also, they do a lot of damage to their hosts and I’d like to know how they get them up and running so quickly again. It seems if they’re built with all these organs that are analogous to human organs. Like, it seems like they just go in, pull out a bullet, wash ‘em up and stick ‘em back out. I’m curious about what the actual technology behind that is. But, really, the narrative loop is the big question. I don’t really understand how they’re resetting things in the park.
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Chris Avellone:
Mostly the production values. Cleaning and tending all those hosts would be pretty exhaustive, resource-wise. The selective gunfire on hosts vs. guests (and the fact you can technically get “shot” even as a guest) felt a little tricky. Also, the transition into the park I didn’t 100% buy, even though I found it interesting.
Sean Vanaman:
Man, I don’t give a shit. I’ve spent so many years being told by game designers “well, you gotta do X and you can never do Y and Z is impossible.” The notion that The Walking Dead didn’t have puzzles or real win conditions made some traditional game designers I know go absolutely bonkers and, in the end, I think that game was pretty good. My curiosity about the design of the park is squelched by the fact that my disbelief as a show-watcher is totally suspended. That rarely happens. So, if I was actually in the show and could ask the designers of the park questions they would (in this fantasy) all be about the steps they take to suspend disbelief.
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Eric Holmes:
My biggest unanswered question is how they can modulate violence between guests. So far, that seems like a very difficult thing to do when knives have to be able to cut and people can get liquored up; the question hangs in the air. I hope they have a satisfying answer for this tucked away somewhere inside the show. Accidental violence, even. Shooting someone point blank still generates an explosion out of the end of a gun, even if the projectile is somehow ineffective. But maybe I’m overthinking! As a designer, I love to explore user edge cases and figure out what appear to be rules. This is one I’m always trying to find the edges of.
Emergent self-awareness: bug or feature?
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Walt Williams:
I think it’s both. I think it’s something that has been designed into the hosts that is working like a bug. They mention at the beginning that Anthony Hopkins has programmed these new features that allows them to do these more personalized movements that tap into their memories. I think it’s also something that this Arnold character inserted that is accessing some kind of bugged code in their programming memories. In game design terms, it’s like something that got coded into the game and then decided, “We don’t want that in the game.” So instead of deleting it, they just blocked off the code. And then a weird string that got added in later is glitching something and activating that blocked-off code into the world or into the AI. It’d be a little like [GTA: San Andreas’ infamous] Hot Coffee content, if somehow half of Hot Coffee could accidentally be activated without a mod or by doing a weird kind of bug-glitch.
Chris Avellone:
I guess we’ll see, but I see it as a feature, and I’m guessing at least one other character does, too.
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Sean Vanaman:
I think that’s sorta what the plot of the show is getting at. Was the self-awareness put in by a person or the unstoppable byproduct of toeing the line of Turing-test-passing AI? I don’t really care which one it is, to be honest.
Eric Holmes:
Mr. Ford seems to be chasing something with this feature. That appears to be the central thread of this season. I’m going with feature with concealed purpose... I just hope that they don’t tell us what that is anytime soon, as chasing this question is what makes watching fun.
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Do you think the upswell in VR/AR products and implementation make the show’s premise easier to accept?
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Chris Avellone:
I think the premise was easy to accept back in the 1970s with the movie. Most people I talk to quote Red Dead Redemption as making the show easy to accept as it stands.
Eric Holmes:
You know, before the show came on, I rewatched some of the original movie. It still works wonderfully well! In both cases, I feel that entering the world of the park was what made me believe. They bring you into the world bit by bit and give you the perspectives of each of the characters in it. I think that the grounded nature of the drama, the earnest values of the characters is what makes us believe, rather than the technological component. Then your mind starts spinning as soon as the possibilities of what users can do with the sort of “content” is built into the park.
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I think that if anything, VR makes me ask questions about why it _isn’t_ a VR driven experience. Clearly, the show is set in a semi-distant future, a future that has more advances in many areas beyond that of our world. It feels like a VR experience is an easier sell than flesh-and-blood simulated lifeforms and trying to make the budget of that work! That could just be my own developer issues talking, though...
What kind of game would you make/recommend for the Man in Black?
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Chris Avellone:
The Stanley Parable, or I’d ask him to go find a mod that disables friendly fire or, better, write his own game instead.
Sean Vanaman:
I met wackos like this guy playing Day Z, so, I guess that [game]. He should meet the guy who robbed me, tied my hands together and fed me rotten fruit every time I tried to get away.
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Eric Holmes:
He seems like a man who likes to go deep into the subject matter. He also seems uninterested in ethics, almost bored by them. It almost seems like he’s trying to “mod” the game in some way. So, I think I’d try to give him tools to change the game and see where he’d take it. Something less like Metal Gear and more like Minecraft.
Walt Williams:
Oh, I’d just give him Red Dead Redemption. He’s looking for something in himself. Some kind of purpose to his life and what he’s done and what he’s experienced. Red Dead Redemption is good for that, because—not to get fanboy here—but it is one of the few games that I feel has something to say, not just about its world but its character. It isn’t just, “Hey, this character is you and you’re great!”; it’s kind of exploring what it means to be a bad person and can you change that? And even if you can change it in yourself, is the world necessarily going to recognize what you’ve changed in yourself?
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The Man in Black is looking for something in himself within [Westworld]. Anthony Hopkins calls it out when he says, “Far be it from me to get in the way of a journey of self-discovery.” That’s interesting because two episodes prior he says, “players don’t want self-discovery. Players don’t want to know who they are. They already know who they are.” But he changes his opinion on that when talking to the Man in Black.
I have to believe that’s not sloppy writing? That there’s a meaning to that shift. But at the same time, as a man who has written a lot of stuff, it’s very possible it could be sloppy writing and just slipped through the cracks. The Man in Black wants to find the inner logic, the things that have been hidden. He’s the guy playing GTA 5 trying to find that fucking spaceship and get a jetpack. He wants games like Undertale. He wants games like Frog Fractions. He wants something weird and surprising and new that he can like cut open and get into the guts and see what’s hidden in there. He’s clearly someone who comes to this place to express a side of himself that he doesn’t express in the real world. He’s a man of obvious duality.
If you could, what would you change if you worked on something like Westworld?
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Walt Williams:
I think the real characters are the hosts. I think the humans are the ones who are not really changing. The hosts are the people who are the audience’s entry into the story. They’re the ones who are going to have the journey in this story. And I would have maybe focused on that. And it very well could shift that way as the story progresses. That it’s going to be as much about them coming into their own sentience as it is about the people outside. I think there is a preconceived notion that this is going to follow the film in some way. That all the robots are simply going to turn and start killing people, which I think there will certainly be some. But I think if that happens, that ruins a lot of what they’re doing right now—which is spending time watching these hosts become sentient and begin to recognize their own strange humanity. And what that means for them.
Chris Avellone:
I’d prefer Romeworld or Medieval World (from the original movie). A while ago, I joked about Game of Thrones invading Westworld, but I think I was only half-joking. I’d love to see a mash-up of two genres.
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Sean Vanaman:
I would drastically change the premise in that Westworld is a gross male power fantasy. I don’t find power fantasies, especially patriarchal ones, very interesting to create (because we live in a real exhausting one). The idea that you could go to place and be totally convinced that you were there made me INSTANTLY want to visit a real Westworld and turn a blind eye to the premise of the park, but I think the moment the murder and the rape started I’d be pulling the rip-cord.
Eric Holmes:
The core of it is human interaction and I think we’re all working on something like that every day as people. The thrills of watching Westworld are somewhat similar to the thrills of Blade Runner/Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. “If they’re not people—but they seem just like them—are the rules that govern our interactions different? What makes a person a real human?”
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The value I get here is [thinking about] who users “really” are underneath and how do their personal values change when they are in a world where things don’t seem to matter. That is the most fascinating component of it all. It’s almost as if they’re Greek gods walking around the mortals of a lower plane, toying with them and many not caring.
What would I change? I think the setting is something unique to Westworld. But there was Roman World and Medieval World in the original [movie], wasn’t there? Settings as different seasons of the show are an interesting idea, but I’d love to find some way to dig into the moral part of the design.
There’s tons of potential to do something absolutely loopy with a world that you create and characters that you are literally surgically constructing. I’d like to do something impossible rather than just something historical. Let’s go for a cruise through Terry Gilliam’s imagination or Stephen King’s wildest dreams. I would love to use the tools and technology to create a completely different reality with its own rules. And in doing so, create something that incorporates the ethical component more deeply into the experience.
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Do you think there’s any IRL game that gets at the moral conundrums raised by the show?
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Walt Williams:
No. I don’t. I think we get close. Moral choice mechanics in games—players like when “good thing”/”bad thing” can happen to a character—aren’t about the world. They’re always very much about just the player. Westworld is a little similar in that, for the people in the park, everything is about them and their moral choices are about the people making them. But where Westworld separates itself from what we do in games, is that it’s treating the NPCs as actual things. Games haven’t come that far in thinking about the worlds that we’re creating as real worlds that exist outside of something to serve the player’s desires. Our moral choices are simply something that have been waiting there for the player to come across and decide whether they want to be a bad person or a good person.
The NPCs in Westworld have these real emotional stakes that are happening for them, and when certain things change in their storyline, the tumblers that have been built into them begin to fall into place and move into different AI paths. And we don’t have that yet. A moral choice that you make in one game isn’t necessarily going to set off these ripples throughout the entire story and change them. Because, for one, it’s extremely difficult to pull off. But also I think we’re interested in that from an ego standpoint of “look what we were able to accomplish.”
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At the end of the day, we try to make games that embrace the player. We believe that the player is the ultimate power and guiding force in these worlds. Which is interesting, because no other art does that. It’s clear that Anthony Hopkins believes he’s the person that matters. His vision matters in Westworld. And everyone else is just paying him to [be allowed to] walk around him. He’s letting them play. Whereas we very much design our games as... “This is about you, and we’re gamers, too. So we’re thinking about...” I don’t like that. It’s weird. To, like, write ourselves off as creators of our own worlds and then...I feel like that gets shown in our NPCs, that they also come across as just animatronics just standing around waiting for you to show up.
We feel like if we’re going to be big in concept and design, the world has to be big, too. We just don’t have the bandwidth, resources, or disc space to do that. Like, the project I’m working on right now? I’m having so many issues just getting five more minutes of cinematics. Cause we just don’t have the disc space.
It’s like, what kind of writer or bookmaker is like, “Sorry man, I don’t know what to tell you. There’s not enough room.” I think we could make something that has the depth of the AI of Westworld if we could convince ourselves that it’s okay to be systemically robust but have our scope be drastically decreased. If you took a game like GTA V or the things I imagine Rockstar are going to do with Red Dead Redemption 2 and scoped it down to a city of five square blocks and a finite amount of people, you could do an amazingly detailed simulation. Of these people’s lives, and what they’re doing, and really work with, “Well, if I did this to this character, that’s going to spread out.” But at the same time, you’re not going to sell that. You’re not going to sell a hundred million copies.
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Sean Vanaman:
Day-Z posed some of those conundrums for me. Watching player behavior in the Arma-3 mod “Altus Life.” I get some of the same “OH NO WHAT DO I DOOOO” out of playing Rimworld, too.
Which sidequest NPC, from a game you’ve worked on or enjoyed, would you be most excited/afraid of encountering with its own free will?
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Eric Holmes:
It’s always about the villains for me. Going to have to go with Pyramid Head. I picture him in the cat reading newspaper meme, going “I should buy a boat.”
Walt Williams:
Oh God... probably any character I’ve ever written. I have a feeling none of them would be very happy with me. I’ve kinda had a string of fucked-up stories. For me, Adams is the only noble character in Spec Ops and, if I could still unfuck him today, I would. He was the guy who deserved something at the end of all of it.
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Chris Avellone:
HK-47 from KOTOR1, Kreia from KOTOR2, Ulysses from Fallout New Vegas, and Andrew Ryan from BioShock. Of course, SHODAN and GLaDOS would trump all of them.
Sean Vanaman:
Oh my God, literally anyone from The Walking Dead season 1 or 400 Days. Holy moley—and the disturbing thing is that TWD, other than the zombies, is NOT a fantasy—the humans are ostensibly recreations of the type of people you meet and know in the real world who are reacting to this terrible thing.
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Actually, scratch that: Toad from Mario really gives me shpilkes. He’s all yacked-out and high energy. I don’t respond well to that. Man, there was this sidequest in Super Mario RPG, Toadofsky, that combined that [energy] with music patterns, which is basically my waking hell. So, yeah, Toadofsky.A team of scientists from France has discovered a new genus of giant virus in 30,000-year-old ice in the north-eastern Siberia, Russia, and managed to revive it in the lab.
Although the new virus, named Pithovirus sibericum, is harmless to humans and animals, it is still infectious.
The size and amphora shape of Pithovirus sibericum are reminiscent of the recently discovered Pandoraviruses, but the analysis of its genome and replication mechanism proves the new virus is very different.
According to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Pithovirus genome contains much fewer genes – about 500 – than the Pandoravirus genome (up to 2,500).
The researchers also analyzed the protein composition of Pithovirus (1.5 microns long and 0.5 microns wide) and found that out of the hundreds of proteins that make it up, only one or two are common to Pandoraviruses.
Another difference between the two viruses is how they replicate inside amoeba cells.
“While Pandoravirus requires the participation of many functions in the amoeba cell nucleus to replicate, the Pithovirus multiplication process mostly occurs in the cytoplasm – outside the nucleus – of the infected cell, in a similar fashion to the behavior of large DNA viruses, such as those of another giant virus family, Megaviridae,” said lead author Dr Matthieu Legendre of the CNRS’ Institut de Microbiologie de la Mediterranee and his colleagues.
“Paradoxically, in spite of having a smaller genome than Pandoravirus, Pithovirus seems to be less reliant on the amoeba’s cellular machinery to propagate. The degree of autonomy from the host cell of giant viruses does not therefore appear to correlate with the size of their genome – itself not related to the size of the particle that transports them.”
The scientists said Pithovirus sibericum is the first member of a new virus family. Its discovery brings the number of distinct families of giant viruses known to date to three.
The discovery suggests that amphora-shaped viruses are perhaps as diverse as icosahedral viruses, which are among the most widespread today.
“This shows how incomplete our understanding of microscopic biodiversity is when it comes to exploring new environments.”
“Finally, the study demonstrates that viruses can survive in permafrost almost over geological time periods – for more than 30,000 years, corresponding to the Late Pleistocene.”
The findings have important implications in terms of public health risks related to the exploitation of mining and energy resources in circumpolar regions, which may arise as a result of global warming.
“The re-emergence of viruses considered to be eradicated, such as smallpox, whose replication process is similar to Pithovirus, is no longer the domain of science fiction. The probability of this type of scenario needs to be estimated realistically.”
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Matthieu Legendre et al. Thirty-thousand-year-old distant relative of giant icosahedral DNA viruses with a pandoravirus morphology. PNAS, published online March 03, 2014; doi: 10.1073/pnas.1320670111SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - A bill authored by Assemblymember Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) that would create a model curriculum in Native American studies in schools has been signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.
Under Assembly Bill 738, schools for grades 9-12 would need to offer a course in Native American studies based on the model curriculum.
The model curriculum will be designed with input from different tribes to preserve Native American culture and history.
“AB 738 is about communities telling their own stories that can be passed on to future generations,” said Limón. “A school curriculum that draws upon and reflects the history of all students, especially underrepresented students, is critical in providing a positive, engaging and meaningful experience in the classroom.”
California has the largest Native American population in the US.
“This is a proud day for our tribe and Native Americans throughout the state of the California. The passage of this bill means that students will have an opportunity to learn about our history, our journey, our sovereignty and our culture through a curriculum that will be developed with vital input and oversight from Native American tribes. We would like to thank both state Assemblymember Monique Limon for her work on this bill and Governor Brown for making this dream a reality,” said Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Kenneth Kahn.
AB 738 will become law on January 1, 2018.The former UFC star talks about his depressing childhood, the changes he’s seen in the sport of MMA, what’s in his future and Steven Seagal
By Cameron Conaway
There have been many unique happenings in the UFC over the years. We’ve had a guy fight grapplers while wearing one fully-padded boxing glove, we’ve been able to see slow-motion footage of a tooth flying out of a fighter’s mouth and we’ve watched high-school teachers become world champions. Nate “The Rock” Quarry has a story up there with the best of them. Several stories, actually.
For starters, Quarry grew up in a secluded Jehovah’s Witness upbringing. He wasn’t training in combat arts day-in and day-out from the time he was seven. In fact, he did not even participate in organized sports until age 24 when he entered the world of MMA after watching a UFC.
“My friends and I would drink, and then get all excited and beat the hell out of each other and I wanted to get the upper hand on them,” said Quarry regarding the initial impact watching the sport had on him.
Quarry became a part of history by landing a spot as a competitor on the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV. It can’t be stressed enough how much that show spread mixed martial arts fever throughout the world and catapulted a once dying sport into the mainstream. Quarry was there and was a favorite to win as well as a favorite personality amongst the show’s audience.
At UFC 83, Quarry took on Kalib Starnes in what is, to date, still considered one of the most bizarre fights in UFC history. It spawned several YouTube videos that went viral, showing Quarry doing the “running-man,” his way of protesting the fact that Kalib wouldn’t engage with him.
Quarry’s most recent fight was a loss against Jorge Riviera back in March 2010. With injuries accumulating and a facial reconstruction soon to come, the rumor mill has been buzzing with questions about a potential retirement.
FCF: Nate, tell us what you’re up to these days. Where are you training and what’s going on in your life outside of MMA?
NQ: Right now I’m just having fun with my training. I’m working with a few fighters and even managing a great up and coming 185(pound)er. And I’ve got so many relationships with the gyms in the Portland area. I’m at the SportsLab, New Breed Jits, Next Level, Burke Camp and Portland Muay Thai. I just love being welcomed at so many different gyms and having friends and fighters there to train with.
FCF: The last we heard about retirement rumors was sometime in November of 2010. Tell us about your thought process regarding retirement and what’s your current mindset regarding your future as a fighter, coach and media personality?
NQ: Retirement is still something that’s on my mind. It’s been a long tough road. I look at these guys coming up and not only do they have youth on their side, but they’ve been training as long as I have!
When I first started training, (MMA) was then called NHB, I was training with the best guy in all of Oregon. He had gotten his blue belt in Jiu Jitsu two weeks before I joined. There was no mitt work. He hated mitts. He actually shot a training video where he threw the focus mitts in the trash.
His answer was to spar as if your life depended on it, every day. My first sparring session, my nose was broken and blood everywhere. Keep in mind, he was 6 foot 8 and had an amateur boxing background, so as long as he was able to beat the crap out of his students without taking any damage, he was happy. And that was the best place in Oregon to train!
Now I see these kids with legit black belts, with great striking coaches who care about their success. It’s so different now. I remember walking into a boxing gym and signing up. Pretty much the only white guy there. I can and had to beg to get someone to hold mitts for me. The third time I showed up, the old grizzled head coach comes over, ‘Hey you, you hit hard. You wanna box for us?’ My reply, ‘Uh sir, I do this new thing called No Holds Barred where you fight in a cage with wrestling and stuff, so I’m here to get better as an all around fighter.’ He then said, ‘Fine. Get the hell out.’ And that’s how it was.
And now, I’m 39 years old. I’ve had six surgeries (while) pursuing my dream. I’ve been able to get myself and my daughter out of the bad neighborhoods. I really need to look at what’s best for us in the long run. And after the last fight, when she first saw me all busted up, she cried herself to sleep. And that is the last thing I want her to do.
The other day I had a hard time getting off the couch because I was particularly sore and she says, ‘Dad, are you ok?’ I said, ‘Of course I am. Your dad’s always ok.’ She then said, ‘Dad, are you just saying that? Because I read in a magazine where you said you just tell me you’re ok no mad how bad you’re hurt so I don’t worry.’
I don’t want her to worry about me. I want her to know that our future is secure. I’ve always told her, I get punched in the head so you don’t have to. And now as other opportunities come my way, things that are going to be fun and exciting and have the longevity that fighting won’t, I have to consider those options.
Every ride has to end. You can either choose when to get off or you can get thrown off. I’d like to think I’m still in the process of making my choice and then being happy with it.
FCF: As you look back on your career, what sort of growth have you went through, say, since you were in your mid-to-late 20s. How has MMA made you a different person?
NQ: It’s funny you should ask. Great question actually. You want to see an angry kid? Look me up 15 years ago. I have always had a very deep hunger and rage in me.
The way that I was raised, I wasn’t allowed to live my life. I didn’t have a childhood. My youth was being in a cult. Being told I was worthless. Every mistake I made, I wasn’t just a kid making a mistake, I was an embarrassment. No friends. Menial labor jobs. Remember those cool parties you went to in high school? I don’t. I remember going to church three times a week, studying for church on the off days. Going to school. Having to get decent grades or there was hell to pay.
My junior and senior year I worked as a janitor at nights and weekends. Then summer between junior and senior year I worked my night and weekend job as well as a full time job as a house painter.
I had lived my entire life being told what to do. Who to be. What movies I could and couldn’t watch. What people I could and could not talk to. I wasn’t allowed to talk to my own sister because she left the church. No contact at all. Teachers in school hated me because of my religion. One teacher in particular had a child the same age as me in grade school and encouraged him to pick on me. I was spit on, called names.
So, at 24 I was at a party and I saw a UFC on TV. I remember thinking to myself, I am miserable. I hate my life. I’m going to live my life for the first time and do what I want to do. So, I started training and the cult excommunicated me.
My family quit speaking to me, but I was following MY dream for ME. For once in my life, I was going to do what I wanted to! Even the friends that would still talk to me thought it was ridiculous. I remember one conversation I had where a friend said, ‘All you do is train now. You never want to go out and party. What are you going to do with this fighting thing?’ And I said, ‘I have no idea where this road is going to lead me, but for the first time in my life I’m happy.’
And now I have people coming up to me saying, ‘Dude, if you can do what you’ve done with what you’ve come through, then maybe I can too.’ And all I can do is smile.
I left a cult at 24 and started training and no one thought I would make it. At 30, I quit a job with $3,000 in the bank, a two year old baby and a mortgage and no one thought I would make it. I had a spinal fusion back surgery! And no one thought I could make it. Every time everyone told me no, I listened to the one voice that believed in me, even if that one voice was my own because it’s my life.
Now, I’m not filled with rage. Oh, I can still get pissed off. Anyone who’s been around me long enough has seen me at my finest. But I have an amazing little girl and amazing friends who have walked through fire for me and with me. I get to wake up in the morning and do what I want to do. Every morning. I am The American Dream.
FCF: Lastly, what’s new for Nate Quarry? How can your fans best keep in touch with what you’re doing?
NQ: I have so much going on right now, it’s just crazy. I’ve started managing a very small (team) of fighters just because I was tired of seeing them get abused. I’ve got the TV show “American Cage Fighter” that I’m hosting and I’m now a spokesman for NuVasive, the company that pioneered my back surgery and gave me my life back.
It was the most terrifying time of my life, and now it’s become one of the best things in my life because I get to help people who were scared and in pain just like I was. I was able to help Tito Ortiz get the same surgery He had the XLIF, and he’s now fought 3 times since his surgery! Go to www.thebetterwayback.org if you’re suffering from back pain and see what your options are. NuVasive gave me my life back and I’m so happy to be able to help others now too.
My big passion project is Zombie Cage Fighter. I sat down and started writing my life story as a fighter – what I’ve gone through, and added in zombies for some flavor. But it’s not about zombies, it’s about what a man is willing to do to make sure his little girl doesn’t end up like him. I call it a biographical horror. I’ve got shirts there for sale, stickers, gi patches and of course the big petition for (a fight between) Randy Couture and Steven Seagal. Go to the website (www.zombiecagefighter.com) and sign the petition.
Seagal has been taking a lot of credit lately for the work of others. I think now is the time for him to step up and show us if he really is hard to kill.
FCF: What do you mean by taking credit for the work of others?
NQ: Go to YouTube and pull up any of the video interviews (he did) after (Anderson) Silva’s KO of (Vitor) Belfort or of Randy (Couture) losing to (Lyoto) Machida. He states that he was the one telling them to throw the kick and teaching them the front kick. He basically said he invented it, then backtracked it in later interviews saying it was his special touch that made it so deadly.Despite a sensational Daily Mail report that multi-millionaire rock star Eric Clapton lets his Canadian brother live in "sub-Dickensian squalor," Fast Eddie Fryer says he’s doing all right and bears no ill-will towards his famous sibling.
"This writer came in and did a character assassination on the place where I live," Fryer told Vancouver’s The Province, referring to the Downtown Eastside rooming house he calls home.
It may be Canada’s poorest neighbourhood, but Fryer — who has late-stage cirrhosis of the liver — says it’s a good place for him to be.
"Granted it is not the Hilton," Fryer said. "It is a shelter that has a medical team and they do a good job of looking after me."
Fryer, who learned in 1998 that he and Clapton have the same biological father, shares some striking similarities with his brother. Both are musicians and both have struggled with heroin addiction.
But while Clapton got clean and became world famous, Fryer’s career never took off, and he’s been on and off the wagon for years.
He says he and his brother write letters sometimes, and Clapton once praised a demo tape Fryer mailed him.
While he’d love to jam with Clapton one day, he told The Province he expects nothing from his half-brother.
"I have never asked him for money," he said. "A person is not entitled to another person’s achievements.
"It is important for me to be successful on my own. I got a chance to be on stage. It was not necessary for me to be a superstar."ABOUT Super Fun Time - Minecraft
Servers:
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The official steam group of the Super Fun Time gaming community.Featuring a friendly community and one of the best Minecraft survival servers, Super Fun Time has over 11000 active members.You're not into minecraft? No problem! We have a multitude of game servers, and our list is still growingSurvival: play.superfuntime.org Survival Hardcore: shc.superfuntime.org Creative: play.superfuntime.org (then type /creative)Pixelmon: Click Here for more information Minecraft PE: games.superfuntime.org:19132 Hardware: Xeon E3-1260v2, 64GB RAMConfig: SFTConomy/RPG/Custom PluginsSlots: 64The server is running on the BungeeCord platform, which connects multiple servers together as one (so you can seamlessly transition between servers with a command)We own a total of 4 servers, out of which 3 collocated at datacenters in Canada/France (hosted by OVH) and 1 in RomaniaTemplin
Der Brandenburger Streit über Gottesdienstschilder für „ Nudelmessen“ der sogenannten Kirche des Fliegenden Spaghettimonsters geht in die nächste Runde: Beim Landgericht Potsdam sei vor kurzem eine Klage des Vereins gegen das Land Brandenburg eingereicht worden, sagte eine Gerichtssprecherin dem Evangelischen Pressedienst (epd) am Dienstag. Damit soll eine offizielle Genehmigung der Schilder in der Stadt Templin durchgesetzt werden. Derzeit werde geprüft, welcher Gerichtsbezirk zuständig sei, hieß es. (Az.: 4 O 187/15)
Pastafaris wollen als Religion anerkannt werden
Die Kirche des Fliegenden Spaghettimonsters (FSM) versteht sich als Weltanschauungsgemeinschaft und will mit der Klage die Gleichbehandlung mit Religionsgemeinschaften erreichen. Der Templiner Schilderstreit hatte im vergangenen Winter für Aufsehen gesorgt. Die Schilder für die „ Nudelmessen“ wurden von ihren ursprünglichen Plätzen abgenommen und hängen nun an anderen Orten in der Stadt.
Der mit dem Fall befasste Richter habe den Klägervertreter, einen Rechtsanwalt aus Münster, mit Schreiben vom Dienstag darauf hingewiesen, dass nach seiner Auffassung das Landgericht Frankfurt an der Oder zuständig sei, sagte die Gerichtssprecherin. Hintergrund sei, dass der Landesbetrieb Straßenwesen als Vertreter des Landes in dem Verfahren seinen Sitz in Hoppegarten im Gerichtsbezirk Frankfurt an der Oder habe. Der Anwalt, der nach eigenen Angaben nicht Mitglied der Spaghettimonster-Kirche ist, habe nun eine Woche Zeit, dazu Stellung zu nehmen.
Nudelmonster wollen humanistische Werte vermitteln
Die Kirche des Fliegenden Spaghettimonsters verlangt in ihrer Klage, die Aufstellung von 75 mal 75 Zentimeter großen Gottesdiensthinweisschildern mit dem Zusatzschild „PAZ-Gedächtniskirche“ hinter den Ortseingangsschildern von Templin zu dulden. Ziel der satirischen Weltansch |
travelling to France and then returning via Germany to England between January and September 1726, he did not venture abroad again until 1729, when he was away for two years returning in 1731. During this time he visited Italy (he was to return to Italy between 1739 and 1741 when stayed in Florence and Rome and visited Leghorn and the excavations at Herculaneum). While in Italy he befriended the philosopher and theologian Antonio Niccolini (1701–1769). In 1733—between the visits to Italy—Dashwood accompanied George, Lord Forbes, envoy-extraordinary, to St Petersburg, stopping on the way at Copenhagen. In the opinion of Patrick Woodland, the author of his biography in the ODNB (2004), "His intelligent and discriminating diary of this expedition offers important first-hand descriptions of both capitals at this date".
Dilettanti Society and the Divan Club [ edit ]
In 1732 Dashwood formed a dining club called the Society of Dilettanti with around 40 charter members (some of whom may have been members of Wharton's original club) who had returned from the Grand Tour with a greater appreciation of classical art. William Hogarth drew Sir Francis Dashwood at his Devotions for Dilettante Viscount Boyne. "[I]f not the actual projector and founder of the Dilettanti Society, he was certainly its leading member in 1736".[6] He took a prominent part in the proceedings of the Dilettanti Society, and in 1742 George Knapton painted Dashwood's portrait for the Society. On 2 March 1746, when John, Earl of Sandwich was suspended from his office of archmaster for "his misbehaviour to and contempt of the Society", Dashwood was elected in his place. Dashwood presented to the King various petitions from the society when it was seeking to acquire a permanent home.[7]
In 1740, Dashwood was in Florence with Horace Walpole, Gray, and others, and shortly afterwards, got into trouble with Sir Horace Mann; there he had also made the acquaintance of Lady Mary Wortley-Montagu. By 1743 Horace Walpole was not impressed and described the Dilettanti Society as "a club for which the nominal qualification is having been to Italy, and the real one, being drunk; the two chiefs are Lord Middlesex and Sir Francis Dashwood, who were seldom sober the whole time they were in Italy".[8]
However, the society did increasingly have a serious side, and Dashwood's work in that field resulted in his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) in June 1746,[citation needed] and a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA) in June 1769[citation needed]. He also became a member of the Lincoln Club in the mid-1740s and of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce in 1754. He had connections with the Spalding Society and became vice-president of both the Foundling Hospital and the General Medical Asylum.
Dashwood in Divan Club attire.
In 1744 he and fellow Dilettante the Earl of Sandwich founded the short-lived Divan Club for those who had visited the Ottoman Empire to share their experiences, but this club was disbanded two years later.
Politics [ edit ]
On his return to England he obtained a minor post in the household of Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales, and this connection, coupled with the dismissal of his uncle the Earl of Westmorland from his colonelcy of the first troop of horse guards, made Dashwood a violent opponent of Walpole's administration.[10] He sponsored alleged spy-master Lord Melcombe’s membership of the Dilettanti.
During the general election of 1741 Dashwood fought vigorously against Walpole's supporters, and secured a seat for himself at New Romney on 5 May. In Parliament he followed Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys, and vehemently attacked Sir Robert Walpole, declaring that abroad he was looked upon with contempt. Walpole's fall made no difference to Dashwood's position, and as a courtier of Frederick Lewis he was in chronic opposition to all George II's governments.
In 1747 he introduced a poor-relief bill that recommended commissioning public works, such as the caves he later had excavated at West Wycombe Park, to combat unemployment, but it failed to pass.
Dashwood was re-elected for New Romney on 26 June 1747, and in January 1751 made a rather ostentatious disavowal of Jacobitism, of which Andrew Stone and others of George, Prince of Wales household were suspected. At Leicester House Dashwood abetted the influence of George Bubb Dodington (Lord Melcombe), and opposed the Regency Bill of 15 May 1751.[14] On 13 April 1749 he was created D.C.L. of Oxford University, and on 19 June 1746 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society[15]
The Hellfire Club [ edit ]
He was too young to have been a member of the very first Hellfire Club founded by Philip, Duke of Wharton in 1719 and disbanded in 1721, but he and John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich are alleged to have been members of a Hellfire Club that met at the George and Vulture Inn throughout the 1730s.
According to the 1779 book Nocturnal Revels, on the Grand Tour he had visited various religious seminaries, "founded, as it were, in direct contradiction to Nature and Reason; on his return to England, [he] thought that a burlesque Institution in the name of St Francis, would mark the absurdity of such Societies; and in lieu of the austerities and abstemiousness there practised, substitute convivial gaiety, unrestrained hilarity, and social felicity".[citation needed]
The first meeting of the group known facetiously as Brotherhood of St. Francis of Wycombe, Order of Knights of West Wycombe was held at Sir Francis' family home in West Wycombe on Walpurgis Night in 1752. The initial meeting was something of a failure and the club subsequently moved their meetings to Medmenham Abbey (about 6 miles from West Wycombe) where they called themselves the Monks of Medmenham.
About 1755 Dashwood founded the famous "Hell-fire Club", or "monks of Medmenham Abbey". Medmenham Abbey, formerly belonging to the Cistercian order, was beautifully situated on the banks of the Thames near Marlow, Buckinghamshire. It was rented, from Francis Duffield, by Dashwood, his half-brother Sir John Dashwood-King, his cousin Sir Thomas Stapleton, Paul Whitehead, John Wilkes, and others to the number of twelve, who frequently resorted thither during the summer.[22] They had it rebuilt by the architect Nicholas Revett in the style of the 18th century Gothic revival. It is thought that Hogarth may have executed murals for this building; none, however, survive.
Over the grand entrance was placed, in stained glass, the famous inscription on Rabelais' abbey of Theleme, "Fay ce que voudras", the "monks" were called Franciscans, from Dashwood's Christian name, and they amused themselves with obscene parodies of Franciscan rites, and with orgies of drunkenness and debauchery which even John Almon, himself no prude, shrank from describing.
Dashwood, the most profane of that blasphemous crew, acted as a sort of high priest, and used a communion cup to pour out libations to heathen deities. He had not even the excuse of comparative youth to palliate his conduct; he was approaching fifty, and thus ten years older than Thomas Potter whom Almon describes as the worst of the set and the corrupter of Wilkes; he was nearly twenty years older than Wilkes, and two years older than "the aged Paul" (Whitehead), who acted as secretary and steward of the order of ill-fame, and was branded by Charles Churchill as "a disgrace to manhood".[23] As a contrast to Medmenham Abbey, Dashwood erected a church on a neighbouring hill, which, as Churchill put it in "The Ghost", might "serve for show, if not for prayer", and Wilkes was equally caustic in his references to Dashwood's church "built on the top of a hill for the convenience and devotion of the town at the bottom of it".[24]
Later political career [ edit ]
On 15 April 1754 Dashwood was re-elected to parliament for New Romney, and when the Buckinghamshire militia was raised on the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1757, Dashwood became its first colonel with Wilkes as his lieutenant-colonel. In the same year he made a praiseworthy effort to save the life of Admiral John Byng.[25]
On 28 March 1761 he found a new seat in Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (UK Parliament constituency); he was re-elected on 9 June 1762 on his appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer, which he owed to his dependence upon Bute. "Of financial knowledge he did not possess the rudiments, and his ignorance was all the more conspicuous from the great financial ability of his predecessor Legge. His budget speech was so confused and incapable that it was received with shouts of laughter. An excise of four shillings in the hogshead, to be paid by the grower, which he imposed on cider and perry, raised a resistance through the cider counties hardly less furious than that which had been directed against the excise scheme of Walpole".[26] Dashwood accordingly retired with Bute from the ministry on 8 April 1763, receiving the sinecure Keepership of the Wardrobe.
On the 19 April he was summoned to Parliament as 11th Baron Le Despencer, the abeyance into which that barony had fallen on 26 August 1762, on the death of his uncle, John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland and 10th Baron Le Despencer, being thus terminated in Dashwood's favour.[i]
He was now premier baronet of England, and in the same year he was made Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, being succeeded in the colonelcy of the militia by John Wilkes. As Lord Le Despencer he now sank into comparative respectability and insignificance. He took a disgraceful part with John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, in raking up charges against their common friend Wilkes in connection with the Essay on Woman, and during Lord North's long administration from 1770 to 1781 he was joint Postmaster General. When, however, Chatham fell down in a swoon during his last speech in the House of Lords, Despencer was almost the only peer who came to his assistance. He died at West Wycombe after a long illness on 11 December 1781,[28] and was buried in the mausoleum he had built there. His wife had died on 19 January 1769, and was also buried at Wycombe.
Family [ edit ]
West Wycombe Park
On 29 May 1744 Horace Walpole wrote: "Dashwood (Lady Carteret's quondam lover) has stolen a great fortune, a Miss Bateman;[29] but this match was not effected, and on 19 December 1745 Dashwood married at St. George's, Hanover Square, Sarah, daughter of George Gould of Iver, Buckinghamshire, and widow of Sir Richard Ellis, third baronet of Wyham, Lincolnshire, who died on 14 January 1742.[30] Horace Walpole described her as "a poor forlorn Presbyterian prude";[31] His marriage had no effect upon Dashwood's profligacy; according to Wraxall he "far exceeded in licentiousness of conduct any model exhibited since Charles II".[32]
Dashwood left no legitimate issue, and the Barony of Le Despencer again fell into abeyance. One pretender to his title was his illegitimate daughter Rachel Fanny Antonina Dashwood,[33] another was his sister Rachel, widow of Sir Robert Austen, 4th Baronet of Bexley, Kent, illegally assumed the title Baroness Le Despencer, but on her death the abeyance was once more terminated in favour of her cousin, Thomas Stapleton, 12th Baron. His granddaughter, Mary Frances Elizabeth, succeeded in 1848 as 13th Baroness, and her son, Evelyn Edward Thomas Boscawen, 17th Viscount Falmouth, succeeded as 14th Baron Le Despencer on 25 November 1891 — see Baron le Despencer. Dashwood's baronetcy passed, on his death, to his half brother, Sir John Dashwood-King (1716-1793)
Portrayal in popular culture [ edit ]
Literature [ edit ]
Francis Dashwood has appeared in literary works by the following authors:
Music [ edit ]
Received a name check from Vivian Stanshall at the end of side two of the original recording of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, as found in the Mike Oldfield Boxed collection (Virgin Records – CDBOX1).
, as found in the collection (Virgin Records – CDBOX1). The Inkubus Sukkubus song 'Hell-Fire' from the album Vampyre Erotica mentions him, the motto Do What Thou Will, and Breast of Venus.
Film and TV [ edit ]
Appears in the anime Le Chevalier D'Eon as the leader of a powerful cult – the Revolutionary Order – based in Medmenham Abbey, Medmenham, England, that seeks to manipulate European powers using magical powers latent in the biblical Book of Psalms.
as the leader of a powerful cult – the Revolutionary Order – based in Medmenham Abbey, Medmenham, England, that seeks to manipulate European powers using magical powers latent in the biblical. The Prince Regent in Blackadder III refers to the Hellfire Club when he says "Honestly Blackadder, I don't know why I'm bothering to get dressed. As soon as I get to the Naughty Hellfire Club, I'll be debagged and radished for non-payment of debts!"
See also [ edit ]
Notes [ edit ]
Citations
References [ edit ]
Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Debrett, John, ed. (1820). Debrett's Correct Peerage of England, Scotland, and Ireland. 1 (13 ed.). London: Printed G. Woodall, Angel Court, Skinner Street.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Pollard, Albert Frederick (1901). "Dashwood, Francis" Lee, Sidney. Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement. London: Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 112–115. Endnotes A volume of Dashwood's correspondence extending from 1747 to 1781 is in Egerton MS. 2136, and letters from him to Wilkes are in Addit. MS. 30867. See also Journals of the Lords and Commons; Official Return of Members of Parl.; Old Parliamentary History; Lists of Sheriffs, P.R.O.; Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1715-1886; Horace Walpole's Letters, ed. Cunningham, vols. i-v. and vii., Memoirs of George II, ed. Lord Holland, and of George III, ed. Barker; Wraxall's Hist. and Posthumous Mem., ed. Wheatle; Almon's Mem. and Corresp. of John Wilkes, ed. 1805; Bubb Dodington's Diary, ed. 1809, passim; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's Letters; Chesterfield's Letters; Boswell's Johnson, ed. Hill; Charles Johnston's Chrysal, 1768; Churchill's Poems, The Ghost and the Candidate; Bedford Correspondence; Thomson's Hist, of the Royal Soc.; Nichols's Lit. Anecdotes, viii. 236, ix. 454 (where he is confused with Thomas Stapleton, his successor in the barony); Mahon's Hist, of England; Leeky's Hist, of England; Lipscomb's Buckinghamshire; Collinson's Somerset; Doran's 'Mann' and Manners at the Court of Florence; Cust's History of the Dilettanti Society, 1898, passim; Courthope's, Burke's, and G. E. Cokayne's Complete Peerages.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Endnotes
Biography [ edit ]
Sir Francis Dashwood (1708- 1781) by George Knowles at controverscial.com
Writings [ edit ]
Abridgement of the Book of Common Prayer (1773), by Benjamin Franklin and Francis Dashwood, transcribed by Richard Mammana
The Hellfire Club [ edit ]Reddit CEO Steve Huffman admitted he edited comments made on the social media site by Donald Trump supporters.
Reddit CEO admits to editing posts from Donald Trump supporters Reddit CEO admits to editing posts from Donald Trump supporters https://t.co/GL2uMiP3j5 — TheBlaze (@theblaze) — TheBlaze (@theblaze) November 24, 2016
After major backlash Huffman ultimately confessed to altering posts by pro-Trump users in the subreddit known as r/the_donald.
As taken from As taken from Twitchy.com
According to “The Blaze,” Huffman was editing comments with his own username (f**k u/spezo) surrounding #Pizzagate trying to quote, “avoid a witch hunt” on the site. In addition to editing comments, sounds like Huffman took steps to altogether remove the #Pizzagate subreddit.
Users in the Trump supporters’ community blasted the move with comments in the post directed at Huffman using his “u/spez” Reddit name.
Just an example why no one trust the media, anymore. They are so arrogant, they don’t even understand the need for trust. @theblaze Just an example why no one trust the media, anymore. They are so arrogant, they don’t even understand the need for trust. — MrBoots (@MrBootsTheCat11) — MrBoots (@MrBootsTheCat11) November 25, 2016
So Wrong! They need to be held accountable! @theblaze So Wrong! They need to be held accountable! — Joyce A Lockyer (@joycealiceangst) — Joyce A Lockyer (@joycealiceangst) November 24, 2016
By Wednesday, “The _Donald” members found that many of their messages to Huffman had been edited. Huffman then responded with the following statement:
“Hey Everyone, Yep. I messed with the “f**k u/spez ” comments, replacing “spez” with r/the_donald mods for about an hour. It’s been a long week here trying to unwind the r/pizzagate stuff. As much as we try to maintain a good relationship with you all, it does get old getting called a pedophile constantly. As the CEO, I shouldn’t play such games, and it’s all fixed now. Our community team is pretty pissed at me, so I most assuredly won’t do this again. F**k u/spez.”
Reddit users accused Huffman of censoring what the administration does not agree with and some users called for his resignation.
Wake up right! Receive our free morning news blast HERE
Not censoring or blocking but CHANGING WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY POSTED. They need to sue the shit out of this guy. #Slander @theblaze Not censoring or blocking but CHANGING WHAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY POSTED. They need to sue the shit out of this guy. #Liable — #ShadowBlocked (@notalemming) — #ShadowBlocked (@notalemming) November 25, 2016When I get into cocktail-party conversation about language and politics, someone inevitably says “and of course there’s the rise of China.” It seems like any conversation these days has to work in the rise-of-China angle. Technology is changing society? Well, it’s the flood of cheap tech from China. Worried about your job? It’s the rise of China. Terrified of nuclear Iran? If only that rising China would stop resisting sanctions. What’s for lunch? Well, we’d all better develop a taste for Chinese food.
I was reminded of this walking down New York’s Park Avenue last night, when I saw a pre-school offering immersion courses in French, Italian, Spanish and Chinese. For years now, we’ve been seeing stories like this: Manhattan parents, always eager to steal some advantage for their children, are hiring Mandarin-speaking nannies, so their children can learn what some see as the language of the future.
But while China’s rise is real, Chinese is in no way rising at the same rate. Yes, Mandarin Chinese is the world’s most commonly spoken language, if you simply count the number of speakers. But the rub is that they’re almost all in China. Yes, we’ve also read that Mandarin is advancing in Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas Chinese communities (which have traditionally spoken one of China’s other languages, such as Cantonese). And China is trying to expand the use of the language through the expansion of its overseas Confucius Institutes. But English remains the world’s most important language. America’s superpower status has made it everyone’s favourite second language. This is where its power lies. A Japanese businessman does deals in Sweden in English. A German airline pilot landing in Milan speaks English to the tower. English is also the language of writing intended for an international audience, whether scientific, commercial or literary.
Could Chinese gradually assume this role as the world’s language of communication? I'll venture a prediction: No. Not as long as Chinese is written in traditional Chinese characters.
It’s not terrifyingly hard to learn to speak Chinese. Mandarin has few of the blistering array of case- and verb-endings that make languages like Russian or Arabic so difficult. Sentences are built on a simple system that can seem odd and ungrammatical to outsiders. (Sentences like wo shi zhong guo ren can be translated bit-by-bit as I yes middle country person, meaning “I am Chinese.”) The hardest part for non-Asians is probably mastering the “tones”: “shi” pronounced with a falling pitch means something completely different than “shi” pronounced with a rising, flat or dipping pitch.
But writing is a different story. Normal adult literacy requires a knowledge of about 6,000 characters, which must be memorised to be deciphered. Recurring symbols within characters can offer clues to sound and meaning, but they don't quite clarify the whole. Chinese people take years to learn the basics and many more to comprehend a full range of characters (the biggest dictionaries have more than 60,000 of them). For a foreigner, the task is immense—a mammoth memorisation challenge on top of the ordinary one of learning to speak a foreign tongue, usually undertaken in adulthood, without the benefit of immersion.
There is, of course, an alternative. Chinese can be written with the Roman alphabet (there’s an official system called pinyin), for the benefit of foreigners. Chinese people also use pinyin to enter Chinese characters on a standard computer keyboard. But China has resisted all attempts to simply switch to the alphabet for typical reasons: tradition and nationalism.
So should you teach your kids Chinese? Well, foreign languages are always a good thing to know, and if you really want them to live and work intensively in China, sure. But despite China’s rise, Chinese isn’t the world language of the future; the writing system simply makes it far too hard for the vast majority of the world’s people to use if they care to reach for the widest possible audience. I simply can’t imagine a Dutch physicist in 2110 learning Chinese in order to write up his research, or Finnish musicians recording in Chinese, the language “everybody” knows.
If China switches to an alphabet? That’s a different story.The Obama Administration has been dancing around the issue of how many Syrians are on the way to your towns and cities and I suspect that is because they don’t need one more thing before Tuesday to rock the Democrats’ boat.
Anne C. Richard is the Assistant Secretary of State who represented the US this week in Berlin, Germany where a confab was held to discuss what the heck the (western) world is going to do to help all those Syrian Muslims flooding UN camps.
Obama announced our refugee plan for FY2015 at the beginning of the month, but was pretty quiet about how many Syrians we are going to admit. At about that time, it leaked out that the UNHCR had lined up 4,000 Syrians to arrive soon. However, watch this news clip (just before the 3 minute mark) of Richard in Germany where she says we now have 5,000 in the pipeline.
Germany has accepted 70,000 Syrians (not clear if they are all in the country yet), but check out how the arrival of more Muslims is sitting with the German people as thousands rioted in Cologne last weekend. See our post of a few days ago by clicking here.
The Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society would like to see 30,000 real soon! See our post of two days ago where we learned that HIAS (a federal refugee contractor*** being paid to resettle refugees) is getting up a petition to tell Obama to increase our total refugee quota for the year from 70,000 to 100,000. Why HIAS wants more Muslims in America is beyond my understanding.
*** For new readers (we have many every day) here are the nine major federal refugee contractors (they then have 300 or so subcontractors spread out through America). And, btw, Anne C. Richard was formerly the VP of one of them—the International Rescue Committee—and before that she worked at the US State Department. She represents the classic case of the federal contractor/federal agency revolving door. See also in her bio that she worked for the International Crisis Group which George Soros played an instrumental role in forming.Amid the mounting financial crisis and growing worries about the economy, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is making gains in the key swing states of Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania, while his Republican rival John McCain is holding his own in Montana and West Virginia, according to a new TIME/CNN poll, conducted by Opinion Research Corp.
In Colorado, where the Democrats held their convention, Obama now enjoys the support of registered voters by a 51% to 45% margin; in late August McCain led that group by a difference of 49% to 44%. Among likely voters in the state, which TIME/CNN polled for the first time as part of this series of battleground polls, Obama leads by 51% to 47%.
In Michigan, the gap between McCain supporters and Obama supporters has also widened since the TIME/CNN poll in early September. Obama has gained two points among registered voters, now garnering 51% to McCain's 44%. As for likely voters, Obama leads by 51% to 46%.
Pennsylvania, Montana and West Virginia all show results that largely reflect their red-blue leanings of the 2004 election. Obama has expanded his late August four-point lead in Pennsylvania up to 52% to 43% among registered voters. He also currently leads among likely voters in the Keystone State by a healthy nine point margin, 53% to 44%.
McCain maintains a steady lead in Montana and West Virginia, states that George W. Bush easily won in the 2004 election (and which TIME/CNN had not previously polled). The new poll of likely voters puts McCain at 54% to 43% in Montana where Obama had once hoped of scoring an upset and by 50% to 46% in West Virginia.
Likely independent voters are proving key in Michigan, where they choose McCain by just 48% to 47%. Independents in West Virginia are leaning toward McCain 2-to-1, but Obama has them by anywhere from six to 13 points in Colorado, Pennsylvania and Montana. In all five states, Obama holds a significant advantage over McCain with likely self-identified moderate voters.
McCain proves popular with white voters across the board, consistent with the early September findings. He is especially popular among white men, although Obama holds a seven point lead among all men in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the new poll suggests that the appeal of McCain's running mate Sarah Palin may not be as much of a game changer as some believed a month ago. Obama has a double-digit lead among women in Colorado, Michigan and Pennsylvania, while he ties with McCain in Montana, and is ahead only 3 points in West Virginia.
All interviews were conducted by landline telephone between Sept. 21 and Sept. 23. In Colorado, 932 registered voters and 794 likely voters were surveyed, 966 registered voters and 755 likely voters in Michigan, 903 registered voters and 737 likely voters in Montana, 920 registered voters and 730 likely voters in Pennsylvania, and 876 registered voters and 694 likely voters in West Virginia. The margin of error for "likely voters" in all states was 3.5% plus or minus. The margin of error for the sample of "registered voters" was 3% plus or minus, except in the case of Montana and West Virginia, which were 3.5% plus or minus.
Click here for full results.For Gold Rush prospectors in 1860s California, profits came before the planet. Money-hungry miners devastated fields and waterways with hydraulic mining technology as they covered fertile farmland with silts and sediments. Forests were hacked down and rivers dammed dry — all for the prize of precious gold nuggets.
Fast forward 150 years, and some Silicon Valley successors are treading similarly mucky tracks. Bitcoin, the upstart digital currency that has surged to a high price of $15,000 on Thursday, is under scrutiny for its exorbitant electricity bill.
Critics call the currency dirty for a simple reason. Each bitcoin — a virtual nugget buried under near-impenetrable algorithms — takes huge computational energy to'mine'.
After the value of a bitcoin shot up tenfold during 2017, analyst website Digiconomist estimated its annual electricity demand to be about 32 terawatt-hours (TWh). That puts it in the same league as entire nation states, sandwiched somewhere between Serbia and Denmark.
Digiconomist's analysis is not the first to compare bitcoin's electricity draw to a country — mathematicians at Maynooth University pegged this as high as Ireland's in 2014 — but it is perhaps the most-cited.
Bitcoin mines consist of hundreds or thousands of humming computers stacked on shelves
Yet estimates vary wildly. Last month, software company SetOcean calculated electricity consumption to be about half of Digiconomist's figure. Back in July, entrepreneur Marc Bevand had it at around a quarter. And in January, Harald Vranken of the Open University put it even lower still.
So how much electricity does bitcoin really use?
Decentralized and anonymous
Energy estimates are tricky because bitcoin has no central authority.
Individual miners — not governments or banks — use specialist hardware to chip away at algorithms recording transactions across the network.
When miners strike gold, and add a new record to the "blockchain" ledger of transactions, they are rewarded with fragments of a freshly-minted bitcoin.
For each miner, the energy required to do this depends on two things: the complexity of the algorithm and the efficiency of their machines.
Watch video 02:35 Share What is a blockchain? Send Facebook google+ Whatsapp Tumblr linkedin stumble Digg reddit Newsvine Permalink https://p.dw.com/p/2iqr9 What is a blockchain?
Digiconomist analyst Alex de Vries, whose Bitcoin Energy Consumption Index model has faced criticism for some of its assumptions, said a more "optimistic" estimate can be simply calculated: Divide total computational power by that of the most efficient mining machines, and see how many fit in the network.
Analysis by DW using this approach produced a lower-bound estimate of more than a gigawatt of power across the entire bitcoin network for all of these calculations.
"This method ignores significant factors like cooling in large-scale operation, and older generations [of machines] completely," de Vries said, "but still leaves us with about 100 [kilowatt-hours, or kWh] per transaction instead of the 250 kWh I'm reporting."
Put into perspective, about 300,000 bitcoin transactions take place every day. Over a year, an electricity bill of 100 kWh for each equates to half of all the electricity consumed by Nigeria last year.
Not keeping pace
Vranken said his January estimates of less than half a gigawatt were "definitely not as much as a country consumes — but since then, things have changed."
Part of the confusion comes from bitcoin's meteoric price jumps, which have rendered many energy estimates out-of-date.
As the price of bitcoins rises, so too does the economic incentive to cash in on the craze. The resultant frenzy — which has been described as both a gold rush and a bubble waiting to burst — leads to more computer calculations, or hashes, per second.
"The hash rate in 2014 was about 300,000, and at the start of 2017 it was more like 2 million," said David Malone of Maynooth University.
In that period, top-shelf hardware got about five times as efficient at computing hashes, Malone said, outweighing a significant fraction of the increase in energy costs.
But now, the hash rate has leapt up to almost 12 million — but there "doesn't seem to have been big hardware advances in efficiency this year."
Clean or coal?
There are also concerns over bitcoin's electricity demand being supplied by fossil fuels.
More than half of bitcoin "mining pools" are based in coal-reliant China, according to a study by the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (which was sponsored by Visa).
Coal still makes up about two-thirds percent of China's energy mix
A Digiconomist analysis of a bitcoin mine in Inner Mongolia — where electricity was sourced from coal-powered plants — estimated one bitcoin transaction could have the same carbon footprint as a passenger flying on a Boeing 747 for an hour.
But some analysts note that the economic incentive for low-cost energy leads many to opt for renewables. "A significant concentration [of Chinese mining pools] can be observed in the Sichuan province, where miners have struck deals with local hydroelectric power stations to access cheap electricity," wrote Garrick Hileman of Cambridge University.
Troubling scale of impact
Clean or dirty, Ireland or northern Nigeria — regardless of the difficulty in tracking down exact figures, many fear the order of magnitude is troubling enough.
Even though bitcoin is only eight years old, it already accounts for somewhere between 0.05 and 0.15 percent of global electricity demand.
For a service used by just 3 million people, bitcoin is vastly less efficient than the current global banking system.
"It's a ridiculous number either way," said de Vries. "Bitcoin isn't sustainable, no matter how you measure it: We'd only be arguing whether it's 10,000 or 20,000 times worse than Visa."The Republican solution to sick people who need health insurance in a post-Obamacare world is increasingly coming to center on three words: high-risk pools.
The White House has reportedly secured the support of Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), a longtime legislator, by promising an additional $8 billion to fund these programs. That would mean the Republican plan has nearly $115 billion that states could use, if they wanted to, for high-risk pools.
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High-risk pools are a way for the government to offer subsidized health insurance to the most expensive patients — people with illnesses that could range from diabetes to cancer. The idea is to give those people coverage but keep premiums lower for other, healthier patients by pulling these sicker patients out of the insurance pool.
But high-risk pools also have a history of running into a big problem: They cost a ton of money. Pooling together the sickest patients means that a state high-risk pool will have really high medical claims.
“There is nothing definitionally broken about the concept of a high-risk pool,” says Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation who helped launch Maryland’s high-risk pool in the early 2000s. “The hurdle is it’s expensive.”
History suggests that the high-risk pools congressional Republicans want to encourage states to create would likely face funding challenges, and struggle to cover all those who might want coverage. Those with preexisting conditions may not be able to access the pools and could find themselves once again uninsured.
There were 35 state high-risk pools before the Affordable Care Act passed. To control costs, they would often do things like charge higher premiums than the individual market. Most had waiting periods before they would pay claims on members’ preexisting conditions, meaning a cancer patient would need to pay premiums for six months or a year before the high-risk pool would cover her chemotherapy treatments.
“The GOP has improved the bill by putting more money on the table, but they probably need to stack even more up to make this work,” says Tom Miller, a resident fellow at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “This is a get-out-of-jail payment. If you want a less regulated market, you have to pay more for a safety-net side program for people.”
High-risk pools are expensive. Really, really expensive.
Before the Affordable Care Act, there were 35 states with high-risk pools. In 2011, these pools covered 226,234 people, or 0.0007 percent of the American population.
But the small group generated a massive number of health care claims. They spent a collective $2.5 billion on health care in 2011. States lost a collective $1 billion on these bills. Even though high-risk pool members paid premiums — sometimes double those charged on the individual market — it just wasn’t enough to cover the really high medical bills.
“The costs continued to go up, and it started to become expensive for a lot of people,” says Lynn Blewett, director of the University of Minnesota’s State Health Access Data Assistance Center, who has studied Minnesota’s pools. “The premiums kept a lot of people from signing up.”
States usually funded |
MAKING PROGRESS."
Once the deal was inked, Trump visited the plant to claim a victory. "Carrier stepped it up, and now they're keeping -- actually, the number is over 1,100 people," he said. "Which is so great."
The facts: The company said the deal was possible because the incoming administration emphasized "its commitment to support the business community and create an improved, more competitive U.S. business climate." It also credits an incentive package offered by the state of Indiana.
Carrier says the agreement really saved 800 jobs -- not 1,100 -- from moving to Mexico. The company confirmed to CNNMoney that it never planned to move 300 administrative and engineering positions from Indianapolis.
Carrier will receive $7 million in financial incentives from the state of Indiana over the next 10 years -- a fraction of what Carrier expected to save if it moved the jobs to Mexico.
Carrier's parent company, United Technologies (UTX), is a major defense contractor.The proposal, in a paper published today, also includes using low-voltage electrical currents to stimulate coral growth and defend against the worsening impact of heat stress.
The paper, in the journal Nature Climate Change, says the pace of global warming is unparalleled in 300 million years and has led to temperature rises of at least 2 degrees Celsius and a 60-per-cent increase in surface ocean acidity over the past three centuries.
Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of Queensland University, Australia, writing with Greg Rau from the University of California and Elizabeth McLeod from The Nature Conservancy, calls for "unconventional, non-passive methods to conserve marine ecosystems".
"A much broader approach to marine management and mitigation options, including shade cloth, electrical current and genetic engineering must be seriously considered," the paper says. "The magnitude and rapidity of these changes is likely to surpass the ability of numerous marine species to adapt and survive."
The paper proposes a range of possible future options for ocean management, including selective breeding and adding base minerals and silicates to the water to neutralise acidity. The Barrier Reef includes about 900 coral formations stretching along 1,600 miles off Australia's east coast. Its coral formations and marine life attract about 2 million visitors each year.
The shade cloths proposed in the report would be anchored with ropes and float on the water surface to protect the corals from sunlight. In an experiment performed in Queensland several years ago, researchers deployed 15-feet by 15-feet sheets of plastic mesh, similar to those used by gardeners to protect vegetable patches.
Professor Hoegh-Guldberg told the Daily Telegraph the technique was useful for protecting small patches of coral but would not “save the Great Barrier Reef” as a whole.
“We are recommending looking at these technologies because at current rate of warming we may need to use them in 20 over 30 years time,” he said. “We should test them now and see which ones work. Shading is not a strategy that can be used across hundreds of kilometres of the reef. But it might - at a local level – be able to influence how many corals die.”
Earlier Professor Hoegh-Guldberg told The Conversation website: "It's unwise to assume we will be able to stabilise atmospheric carbon dioxide at levels necessary to prevent ongoing damage to marine ecosystems."
"In lieu of dealing with the core problem – increasing emissions of greenhouse gases – these techniques and approaches could ultimately represent the last resort."
A separate report by Australian scientists found climate change is having a dramatic impact on the country's marine life and causing tropical fish to turn up in the chilly southern waters around Tasmania.
The report, released last week, says south-east Australia has become "a global warming hot spot" and damage to coral reefs is becoming more severe.
It says climate change has caused worsening ocean acidification and coral bleaching as well as a southward migration of seaweeds, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish.
"There is now striking evidence of extensive southward movements of tropical species in south-east Australia, declines in abundance of many temperate species, and the first signs of the effect of ocean acidification on marine species with shells," says the report, by 80 scientists and led by the national science body, CSIRO.
The report found sea surface temperatures had increased by one degree centigrade over the last century and that the east coast of Tasmania and parts of Western Australia had the highest increases.
"The rate of temperature rise in Australian waters has accelerated since the mid-twentieth century; from 0.08 degrees/decade in 1910-2011 to 0.11 degrees/decade from 1950-2011," the report says. "Sea levels are rising around Australia, with fastest rates currently in northern Australia." Professor David Booth, a marine ecologist at the University of Technology Sydney, said tropical fish have been shifting towards Tasmania for 30 or 40 years but the flow has increased in the past 10 years.
"In this case the rapidity of the change is probably fairly unprecedented," he told ABC Radio.The Katy Freeway outside Houston, in 2013. cemaxx / Flickr
A new U.S. PIRG report names names.
When Texas expanded the Katy Freeway in Houston a few years back, the expectation was that making the massive road even wider would relieve traffic. Some $2.8 billion later, the 26-lane interstate laid claim to being the “world's widest freeway”—but the drivers who commuted along it every day were no better off. More lanes simply invited more cars, and by 2014, morning and evening travel times had increased by 30 and 55 percent, respectively, over 2011. The lesson of the Katy Freeway is precisely the one that U.S. PIRG hopes to convey in its new report, “Highway Boondoggles 2,” the sequel to a 2014 effort. Given that expanding highways at great public cost doesn’t improve rush-hour traffic, there are better ways to spend this money, argue report authors Jeff Inglis of Frontier Group and John C. Olivieri of U.S. PIRG. They identify a dozen road projects, costing $24 billion in all, that are “representative” of the problem: America does not have the luxury of wasting tens of billions of dollars on new highways of questionable value. State and federal decision-makers should reevaluate the need for the projects profiled in this report and others that no longer make sense in an era of changing transportation needs. There are plenty of powerful trends to back this position. The Highway Trust Fund and can’t sustain current spending levels. Driving trends across the U.S. have plateaued. Climate concerns demand prioritizing projects that reduce vehicle miles. The connection between road expansion and economic development, once taken as a given, seems more and more tenuous—with little opportunity for new access in mature corridors, and lesser need for travel in the digital age.
The case is bolstered by the fact that there’s a natural outlet for all that highway expansion money: road maintenance, which everyone agrees is vital and urgent, especially for America’s crumbling bridges. There are also far better ways to handle congestion—namely, setting a price for traffic during the peak periods. The point is not so much that no new road should ever be built, but that highway expansion should be a last resort instead of the immediate instinct. The report is worth a full read, but here’s a taste of the 12 projects it spotlights. 1. I-95 widening (Connecticut): $11.2 billion This project is part of a 30-year, $100 billion plan transportation package designed to improve many travel modes across the state. But while traffic in the metro New York region is obviously awful, experts have been saying for years that expanding I-95 isn’t the answer—something one Connecticut state planner echoed in October: “You can’t build your way out of congestion.” A better focus is improving Metro North rail service in the corridor or charging road fees during rush-hour (which could be reinvested in the system). 2. Tampa Bay Express Lanes (Florida): $3.3 billion Plans to build an interstate bypass near Tampa were approved back in 1996, but owing in part to local opposition they never materialized. That changed in May 2015, when the project was bundled into a larger interstate project known as the I-4 “Ultimate” expansion. Inglis and Olivieri note that the Tampa city council voted against the express lanes in June, but the state has subsequently given clear signs that the plans are moving forward. 3. State Highway 45 Southwest (Texas): $109 million This planned four-lane toll road near Austin, Texas, is not only likely to draw more traffic to a congested corridor but raises significant environmental and public health concerns. Case in point, via Inglis and Olivieri: “nearly all of the road’s planned route crosses above the Edwards Aquifer, which provides drinking water for 2 million Texans.” As an alternative outlet for the funding, they point to 21 “structurally deficient” bridges located throughout the region.
4. San Gabriel Valley Route 710 tunnel (California): $3.2-$5.6 billion This Los Angeles County highway link, tossed around for half a century, got new life with a local long-term funding measure in 2008. Officials studied four project options for the corridor: including BRT, light rail, and a potentially double-decker freeway tunnel (the most expensive option).* The tunnel would seemingly violate the state’s emerging mandate against projects that increase vehicle miles, and a five-city alliance is calling for a new report examining the options. Cities are changing fast. Keep up with the CityLab Daily newsletter. The best way to follow issues you care about. Subscribe Loading... 5. I-70 East widening (Colorado): $58 million The I-70 viaduct that cuts through Denver and dates back to 1964 clearly needs an overhaul: despite heavy repairs in 1997, the bridge is considered “structurally deficient” and it’s time has come. But local officials also plan to use the viaduct reconstruction to widen the highway from eight to 10 lanes. An expert review panel raised concerns that outdated traffic models informed that decision, and the project also raises environmental justice concerns given its location in a disadvantaged area. 6. I-77 Express Lanes (North Carolina): $647 million This express lane project represents a public-private partnership, with a company called Mobility Partners managing the new priced lanes. But the 50-year deal leaves a lot to be desired, according to Inglis and Olivieri. As is the case with many flawed PPP contracts, the state has to compensate the company for any other projects in the region that could potentially divert traffic from the road and thus drain toll revenue—including more free lanes or expanded transit options. 7. Puget Sound Gateway (Washington): $2.8-$3.1 billion The gateway plan would expand two state roads between Seattle and Tacoma (though a component to expand I-5 is “no longer being considered,” according to the state DOT).* But Inglis and Olivieri question its value from a traffic perspective—pointing out that “traffic on routes 167 and 509 remained stagnant between 2003 and 2014.” Instead they suggest repairing all of the state’s deficient bridges at a cost of $1.2 billion, which would even leave some money left over for other projects.
8. State Highway 249 extension (Texas): $337-$389 million In April 2015, Texas opened a six-lane, six-mile tolled expansion of S.H. 249. Now the state wants to extend the project another 30 miles in two phases. Officials justify the new corridor as necessary given population growth, but Inglis and Olivieri counter that its traffic projection relied on outdated trends and that this area already suffers from air quality concerns. They also note that officials failed to truly consider alternatives to a road expansion. 9. U.S. 20 widening (Iowa): $286 million This project would widen U.S. 20 from two to four lanes over a 40-mile stretch of rural territory. The spending would seem to violate a new contract with voters who agreed to increase their gas taxes in 2015 provided the money went toward “critical road and bridge construction projects that significantly extend the life of such assets.” Despite that mandate, Inglis and Olivieri write that three-quarters of the funding pile is going toward highway maintenance instead of expansion, with U.S. 20 widening leading the way. 10. Paseo del Volcan extension (New Mexico): $96 million Paseo del Volcan would build a new road on the outskirts of Albuquerque as a conduit for a sprawling residential development called Santolina, according to Inglis and Olivieri. “That project has drawn significant criticism from residents concerned about how much water the project would require,” they write. The plan seems to be preferred over a cheaper effort to upgrade the existing road network.Posted by coltsindianapolis on February 2, 2015 – 6:32 pm
The Indianapolis Colts today agreed to terms with wide receiver Duron Carter.
Carter, 6-5, 205 pounds, spent the past two seasons (2013-14) in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Montreal Alouettes and totaled 124 career receptions for 1,939 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2014, he was named a CFL All-Star after leading the team with career highs of 75 receptions for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns. His reception and receiving yardage totals ranked third in the league, while his touchdown total tied for second. In Week 19, Carter was named the CFL Offensive Player of the Week after reeling in 11 catches for 181 yards and a touchdown in a 17-14 victory over the Toronto Argonauts. As a rookie in 2013, Carter amassed 49 receptions for 909 yards and five touchdowns in only 11 games. He ranked second on the team in receiving yards, tied for second in touchdowns and third in receptions.
Carter played one season of collegiate football at Ohio State in 2009 and caught 13 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. He also returned two punts for 24 yards. Carter attended Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College in 2010 and recorded team highs in receiving yards (690) and touchdowns (10) and tied for second in receptions (44). He then transferred to Alabama in 2011 and Florida Atlantic in 2012, but did not play in any games. Carter is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter.
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Posted in Colts BlogThere has recently been a bit of commotion about whether or not to deprecate 'SHA1 certificates' for TLS, or at least how fast to do so. If you know something about TLS in general, this may sound a bit peculiar, because TLS certificates are based on public key cryptography (and public key signatures, where the CA signs your certificate and public key to say that they approve of it). SHA1 is not a public key system (that would be eg RSA), it is a well known and now old cryptographic hash.
Where SHA1 and other cryptographic hashes come into the picture is that CAs do not actually sign your certificate and public key. Directly signing lots of data with a public key is a very expensive and time-consuming thing, so what most everyone does instead is they take a cryptographic hash of the data to be'signed' and it is that cryptographic hash that is directly signed through public key cryptography itself. Since SHA1 hashes are only 160 bits (20 bytes), you can see that this represents a very big savings over what is probably hundreds of bytes of certificate data and public key information.
(This is a savings not just when the CA generates the signature but also every time it is validated, which is on every TLS connection. Well, almost every TLS connection. On the other hand, I found a SHA1 certificate and according to the detailed information in Firefox the 'Certificate Signature Value' is 256 bytes, the same as with a SHA256 certificate. This is probably less than the full certificate data, but it's clearly a lot more than just the SHA1 hash.)
Since the CA is only actually signing the SHA1 hash, not the full certificate and public key, you can 'break' their signature if you can create a second certificate that has the same SHA1 hash. With the same hash, the CA's certificate signature applies just as much to your malicious certificate as it does to the original certificate that the CA actually signed. TLS certificate validation will happily accept your malicious certificate instead and so on.
(I think that a sufficiently determined client could detect your malicious certificate under some circumstances, by looking up the SHA1 hash in the growing certificate transparency system and seeing that the details don't match.)
So when people talk about 'SHA1 certificates' or 'SHA256 certificates', this is really a shorthand for 'certificates that are hashed and signed using SHA1'. There is nothing intrinsic about the certificate data itself that is tied to the hashing algorithm used, so I believe that a CA could do things like re-issue a certificate it originally signed using SHA1 as a SHA256 certificate.
(It's probably obvious, but I should say it for the record: the choice of hashing algorithm for certificate verification doesn't affect the security of your public and private keys, so it is (or would be) perfectly safe to get a certificate re-issued this way with the same keys. In some situations this may make certificate changeover easier.)
At a mechanical level, you generally set the hashing algorithm when you generate a CSR (in OpenSSL, via eg'openssl req -new -sha256... '). However, basically all of the information in a CSR is advisory except for your public key, and I know that there are at least some CAs that basically take your CSR, extract the public key and maybe a few other pieces, and give you back a certificate that they put together themselves. These CAs are likely to ignore your choice of hashing algorithms too.
(Since no new SHA1 certificates are supposed to be issued after December 31st, pretty soon all CAs should either ignore you asking for a SHA1 hash or reject your CSR.)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Call it a sign of the times. A new national poll indicates that when it comes to dealing with the economy, Americans have more confidence in the White House and Congress than Wall Street, the banks or auto executives.
A new poll says Americans trust the government more than Wall Street to deal with the economy.
And that may be one reason why a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Monday suggests the public opposes plans to provide more taxpayer dollars to banks and major domestic automakers.
Thirty percent of those questioned said they're confident Wall Street will make the right decisions to help the country overcome the current recession. Slightly fewer -- 28 percent -- said they had such confidence in bankers and financial executives. And 26 percent said they're confident that auto executives will make the right economic decisions.
But 53 percent of those questioned said they have confidence in Republicans in Congress making the right calls regarding the economy. About 66 percent said they have confidence Democrats, who control Congress, will make the right economic decisions. And 75 percent said they think President Barack Obama will make the right moves when it comes dealing with the recession.
"You know times are tough when Republicans have more confidence in a Democratic president than they do in bankers or Wall Street investors, but that's what the poll is showing now," said CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Among Republicans, 37 percent say they are confident in Obama's ability to make the right economic decisions, but only 31 percent of Republicans feel that way about Wall Street."
"Labor union leaders don't fare badly either," said Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst. "Nearly half the public has confidence in them. But Wall Street investors? Bankers and financial executives? Auto company executives? No more than 30 percent have confidence in them.
"Right now, Americans trust political leaders more than business leaders. That's new and it has consequences."
Presidential Address Join the Best Political Team on TV as President Obama makes his first address to Congress.
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The poll suggests those consequences. Only 37 percent of those questioned in the survey favored more government aid for the ailing domestic automakers. Two of the major U.S. auto companies have asked the federal government for several billion dollars in assistance -- money the companies say they may need to stay out of bankruptcy.
When it comes to taxpayer dollars to help the banks and other financial institutions, just 36 percent favored providing the remaining $350 billion of the $700 billion that Congress allocated to assist them, with 62 percent opposed.
"Business scandals [are] everywhere," Schneider said. "Alleged multibillion-dollar swindlers Bernie Madoff and Robert Allen Stanford;... Swiss banks helping Americans hide their money;... huge bonuses for Wall Street executives: Does the public expect those people to bail the country out? Well, no."
But what about homeowners who can't pay their mortgages?
"Government programs to help ordinary Americans are much more popular," Holland said. "Six in 10 favor federal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure."
Schneider added: "They're generally seen as ordinary people who made bad financial decisions. The majority says they deserve government help."
The poll also asked about a program that would increase the federal government's influence over the country's health-care system in hopes of lowering costs and proving health-care coverage to more Americans.
"The last time the government tried that, back in 1994, it didn't work. The health-care business put up fierce resistance," Schneider said.
But, Holland noted, "more than 7 in 10 [in the current poll] say that they would favor a proposal that would increase the government's influence over the health-care system in an attempt to reduce costs and expand coverage."
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll was conducted Wednesday and Thursday, after the president signed the $787 billion stimulus package into law, with 1,046 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey's sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
All About Barack Obama • Democratic Party • Republican Party • National EconomyThe Eudyptula Challenge is a series of programming exercises for the Linux kernel, that start from a very basic “Hello world” kernel module, moving on up in complexity to getting patches accepted into the main Linux kernel source tree.
One of the first tasks of this quite interesting challenge is to compile and boot your own kernel. eudyptula-boot is a self-contained shell script to boot any kernel image to a shell. It is packed with the following features:
1 The only requirement is to have 9p virtio support enabled. This can easily be enabled with make kvmconfig.
2 Only udev is started.
It boots almost any Linux kernel, from distribution-provided kernels to custom kernels built to hack on some feature.
It uses the host root filesystem as the guest root filesystem. No disk images are needed as they take a lot of space, need to be maintained, become cluttered and the tools you need the most are never installed. To avoid any alteration, by default, the host filesystem is mounted read-only. If available, OverlayFS or aufs are used to add a writable overlay on top of it. It is also possible to use any directory as the root filesystem.
Your home directory is also available. This provides hassle-free sharing of scripts and results with the host system.
It starts a minimal system. Only the bits needed to start a shell will be involved. The whole system is able to boot in less than 5 seconds.
In the following video, eudyptula-boot is used to boot the host kernel and execute a few commands:
In the next one, we use it to boot a custom kernel with an additional system call. This is the fifteenth task of the Eudyptula Challenge. A test program is used to check that the system call is working as expected. Additionaly, we demonstrate how to attach a debugger to the running kernel.
3 A good way to start a container is to combine --root, --force and --exec parameters. Add --readwrite to the mix if you want to keep the modifications.
While this hack could be used to run containers with an increased isolation, the performance of the 9p filesystem is unfortunately quite poor.
Here are a few similar projects:Aaron Rodgers’ parents spotted taking Matt Ryan out for ice cream
SportsPickle Blocked Unblock Follow Following Jan 17, 2017
ATLANTA — Aaron Rodgers’ troubled relationship with his family may have hit a new low this week after his parents were seen treating Matt Ryan to an ice cream cone. The parents of the Green Bay quarterback tousled Ryan’s hair and gave him hugs as the Falcons signal caller enjoyed a cookies and cream cone with rainbow sprinkles at Morellis Gourmet Ice Cream in Atlanta. Their birth son will be in the city later this week to take on Ryan in the NFC Championship Game.
Rodgers has reportedly cut all ties to his family due to their disappointment with his lifestyle choices, and his parents now showing affection to a rival QB on the eve of a big game will likely only make the relationship worse.
The quarterback said he did not want to talk about personal issues, but did admit that “it’s disappointing to hear. Cookies and cream with rainbow sprinkles is my favorite and I think they know that.”
Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers, wearing matching RYAN 2 jerseys, were heard telling the Falcons QB that he “is such a good boy” and the “kind of son any parents would be proud to have” and “very tall and humble” and also “pure and righteous for not fornicating with a Hollywood harlot.”
Aaron’s father said he will attend Sunday’s game between the Packers and Falcons, the first Green Bay game he’s been to in quite some time.
“I will be there to cheer on my son,” he said. “My real son. Matt. It feels good to be proud of my son again and we are excited to sit in Matt’s box with his beautiful wife and kids.”• Paceman to have second operation on troublesome joint • Participation in England summer series under threat
England bowler Mark Wood out for up to eight weeks with ankle injury
Mark Wood has learned he requires a second operation on his troublesome left ankle, with the England and Durham fast bowler facing up to eight weeks out of action as a result.
The 26-year-old had surgery on the front of the joint in November in a bid to end the discomfort that saw painkilling injections required during his breakthrough international summer last year.
But after reporting further issues in pre-season with Durham – and despite a further jab – Wood saw a specialist in the Netherlands today, who discovered a small piece of bone is causing irritation at the back of the joint and a keyhole procedure to remove it is needed.
England’s Mark Wood to continue recovery from injury in South Africa Read more
Wood, who earned an England central contract last year, has been hampered by injuries in his fledging career and while he is ruled out of facing the early summer tourists Sri Lanka, he will retain some hope of returning to fitness in time to play Pakistan, with the first Test at Lord’s starting on 14 July.
The right-armer has played eight Tests since making his debut against New Zealand last May, taking 25 wickets, and was a key part of the attack who saw Australia beaten 3-2, taking the wicket that regained the Ashes at Trent Bridge.
Wood featured in England’s tour party to the United Arab Emirates in October playing the first two Tests against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and Dubai – the latter arguably his best international performance with the ball – before the ankle issue resurfaced and saw him ruled out of the limited-overs series.
As part of the rehabilitation following his first operation, Wood spent time in South Africa with England’s Performance Programme before joining up with the senior squad during their limited-overs series to continue working in the nets.
An expected comeback for Durham’s Second XI against Scotland was this week aborted following further pain in the area, something Wood hopes will be remedied by this second procedure set to take place at the end of this week or the beginning of next.The party game is over. Stand and fight
4 November 2010
"Rise like lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number!
Shake your chains to earth, like dew
Which in sleep had fall'n on you:
Ye are many - they are few."
These days, the stirring lines of Percy Shelley's "Mask of Anarchy" may seem unattainable. I don't think so. Shelley was both a Romantic and political truth-teller. His words resonate now because only one political course is left to those who are disenfranchised and whose ruin is announced on a government spreadsheet.
Born of the "never again" spirit of 1945, social democracy has surrendered to an extreme political cult of money worship. This reached its apogee when £1trn of public money was handed unconditionally to corrupt banks by a Labour government whose leader, Gordon Brown, had previously described "financiers" as the nation's "great example" and his personal "inspiration".
This is not to say parliamentary politics is meaningless. It has one meaning now: the replacement of democracy with a business plan for every human activity, every dream, every decency, every hope, every child born.
The old myths of British rectitude, imperial in origin, provided false comfort while the Blair gang built the foundation of the present "coalition". This is led by a former PR man for an asset stripper and by a bagman who will inherit his knighthood and the tax-shielded fortune of his father, the 17th Baronet of Ballintaylor. David Cameron and George Osborne are essentially fossilised spivs who, in colonial times, would have been sent by their daddies to claim foreign terrain and plunder.
Today, they are claiming 21st-century Britain and imposing their vicious, antique ideology, albeit served as economic snake oil. Their designs have nothing to do with a "deficit crisis". A deficit of 10 per cent is not remotely a crisis. When Britain was officially bankrupt at the end of the Second World War, the government built its greatest public institutions, such as the National Health Service and the arts edifices of London's South Bank.
There is no economic rationale for the assault described cravenly by the BBC as a "public spending review". The debt is exclusively the responsibility of those who incurred it, the super-rich and the gamblers. However, that's beside the point. What is happening in Britain is the seizure of an opportunity to destroy the tenuous humanity of the modern state. It is a coup, a "shock doctrine" as applied to Pinochet's Chile and Yeltsin's Russia.
In Britain, there is no need for tanks in the streets. In its managerial indifference to the freedoms it is said to hold dear, bourgeois Britain has allowed parliament to create a surveillance state with 3,000 new criminal offences and laws: more than for the whole of the previous century. Powers of arrest and detention have never been greater. The police have the impunity to kill; and asylum-seekers can be "restrained" to death on commercial flights.
Athol Fugard is right. With Harold Pinter gone, no acclaimed writer or artist dare depart from their well-remunerated vanity. With so much in need of saying, they have nothing to say. Liberalism, the vainest ideology, has hauled up its ladder. The chief opportunist, Nick Clegg, gave no electoral hint of his odious faction's compliance with the dismantling of much of British postwar society. The theft of £83bn in jobs and services matches almost exactly the amount of tax legally avoided by piratical corporations. Without fanfare, the super-rich have been assured they can dodge up to £40bn in tax payments in the secrecy of Swiss banks. The day this was sewn up, Osborne attacked those who "cheat" the welfare system. He omitted the real amount lost, a minuscule £0.5bn, and that £10.5bn in benefit payments was not claimed at all. Labour is his silent partner.
The propaganda arm in the press and broadcasting dutifully presents this as unfortunate but necessary. Mark how the firefighters' action is "covered". On Channel 4 News, following an item that portrayed modest, courageous people as basically reckless, Jon Snow demanded that the leaders of the London Fire Authority and the Fire Brigades Union go straight from the studio and "mediate" now, this minute. "I'll get the taxis!" he declared. Forget the thousands of jobs that are to be eliminated from the fire service and the public danger beyond Bonfire Night; knock their jolly heads together. "Good stuff!" said the presenter.
Ken Loach's 1983 documentary series Questions of Leadership opens with a sequence of earnest young trade unionists on platforms, exhorting the masses. They are then shown older, florid, self-satisfied and finally adorned in the ermine of the House of Lords. Once, at a Durham Miners' Gala, I asked Tony Woodley, now joint general secretary of Unite, "Isn't the problem the clockwork collaboration of the union leadership?" He almost agreed, implying that the rise of bloods like himself would change that. The British Airways cabin crew strike, over which Woodley presides, is said to have made gains. Has it? And why haven't the unions risen against totalitarian laws that place free trade unionism in a vice?
The BA workers, the firefighters, the council workers, the post office workers, the NHS workers, the London Underground staff, the teachers, the lecturers, the students can more than match the French if they are resolute and imaginative, forging, with the wider social justice movement, potentially the greatest popular resistance ever. Look at the web; listen to the public's support at fire stations. There is no other way now. Direct action. Civil disobedience. Unerring. Read Shelley and do it.December 7, 2016 3:53 PM
Last night the Common Council and I formally recognized these brave men for their acts of heroism by presenting them with an honoring resolution.
Freddie Carter and Greg Gersbach who both work for MMSD, along with three construction workers noticed a burning smell on the morning of August, 26th and called 911.
They didn't stop there, instead they went to check the house that was on fire and heard someone struggling inside. They were unable to get the front door open, but pushed a fan out of an open window and spotted the resident.
The men encouraged the occupant, who was weak from the smoke, to make his way to the window, where they were able to reach inside and pull him to safety! I am proud to have citizens such as these among the residents of our great City.You can’t talk about marketing today without talking about digital and social. It’s no longer a nice to have for brands, teams and leagues… it should be one of the key pieces leading your marketing strategy. With this shift, every brand wants to be digital first. They talk the talk, but many don’t walk the walk.
It seems that far too many organizations still don’t invest in an infrastructure that allows their teams to actually thrive. Take a look at this Twitter poll asking on the size of digital/social teams in sports. So many people are doing so much with so little:
#smsports friends, how many people on your team are currently dedicated solely to social/digital (including content creators)? — Jessica Smith (@WarJessEagle) May 22, 2017
The results of this poll are disheartening and shows how far we still have to go in the industry. It doesn’t matter if it’s a team, league or brand, flying solo in social and digital is a fast track to burnout. In an industry that operates 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, it’s not humanly possible for one person to strategize and execute well…. much less innovate or take anything to the next level.
It’s time for organizations to take a serious look at how committed they actually are to this thing called digital. The truth is there’s no such thing as a good social strategy without a good content strategy & the team (key word here) to create it. A great digital and social media presence takes a village.
Alongside the need to invest, teams also need to give serious thought to structure. Too often entry level jobs looking for too senior of people and senior roles not asking for enough experience. The best way to set up the team for success is to step back, talk to current staff and identify the actual needs. At a high level though, digital/social teams need a strategist, community manager and creators (again, super high level).
Strategist / lead.
This is the person that helps bring together the full vision to drive business results. They take the brand strategy and goals to figure out how that translates into the online world. This person should have a strong vision, marketing background and the ability to define a POV. They must also be able to work with creative, mentor teammates and help drive the plan forward. This isn’t an entry level job, but they should be able to roll up their sleeves and get it done.
Community manager.
Every team needs a great community manager (or two). This role is the heartbeat of the social team. They bring to to life plans, they build your community, they know your consumer. Their time is often spend building out calendars, engaging with the community and staying on top of the latest trends. Hire someone in this role with 1 to 2 years of experience. And, make sure to foster, mentor and push your community manager so they can move up and on to another role.
The creators.
A great social media strategy requires a great content strategy and the right creative team to bring it to life. If you are investing in strategist and community managers without investing in creatives, your vision will fall flat. Every organization should have some type of creative pod dedicated to digital and social. This team should photo, video and a stellar graphic designer.
This might not seem like rocket science, but the truth is many organizations aren’t investing in full digital teams. In a Twitter poll on resources, 72% of people that answered feel understaffed. That’s no joke!
We all know by now that digital isn’t the future… it’s here. And, it’s one of the best opportunities we have to connect with consumers and fans. Investing in digital means investing in good people. It takes a village to be a truly digital minded company. So start hiring and hiring right.Previous plans to clean the rocks had been stymied by a morass of state and federal regulations protecting the environmentally sensitive stretch of coastline in northern San Diego, where seals, sea lions, scuba divers, swimmers, tourists, former presidential candidates and the panoply of birds all congregate. The pretty cove is home to the area’s finest restaurants and most expensive homes.
The bacterial solution, city officials insisted, would not run off into the ocean. As a result, the city could forgo |
is full of menace in The Black Notebook and evokes the Paris of the post-Algerian war period; the Place du Panthéon becomes “sinister in the moonlight”. From 93 Rue Lauriston, where the French Gestapo once operated and where “tongues are loosened” in La Place de l’Etoile, his first novel, published in 1968, to the Square de Graisivaudan in his latest work, street names evoke a powerful mood of melancholy – or what the French call grisaille.
Like Baudelaire before him, Modiano profoundly regrets the destruction and passing of areas of old Paris. “In Baudelaire’s time the whole Carrousel area was destroyed. He wrote a poem about it... nowadays Paris is rather aseptic and everything has become more uniform, yet there is still something strange and mysterious about certain quartiers...
“... I often have a sense of Paris being covered by a layer of cellophane and I feel as though my own memories have become almost imaginary. It’s rather like a favourite pet – a dog or a cat – that has been stuffed and sent to the taxidermist. You recognise it, but it’s no longer alive.”
Unreliable, uncertain memories recall phantoms from Modiano’s own youth, and these characters often reappear in his work, giving the impression to many that he is writing the same novel over again. It is a point of view he does not deny. “I thought I’d written them in continuous fashion, in successive periods of forgetfulness, but often the same faces, the same names, the same places, the same sentences reoccur from one to another, like the patterns in a tapestry one might have woven when half asleep.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Barbès-Rochechouart Métro. Photograph: Denis Sinyakov/AFP/Getty Images
“Like all those born in 1945,” Modiano said in his speech to the Swedish Academy in December 2014 after being awarded the Nobel prize in literature, “I am a child of the war, and more specifically, since I was born in Paris, a child who owed his birth to the Paris of the occupation.” These were years brushed aside and quickly forgotten by many of his parents’ generation, and few French writers have explored the realities of the occupation and immediate postwar years quite so poignantly.
Shades of Modiano’s father, Albert, who was arrested as a Jew (though later released) during the second world war and who associated with racketeers and collaborators, and his Belgian-born mother, Louisa Colpeyn, a vedette of the Flemish cinema who died this year, flit through the pages of most of Modiano’s fiction. But, he writes, “Even the photographs of my parents have become photos of imaginary people. Only my brother [whose death, aged 10, had a devastating effect on the writer], my wife and my daughters are real.”
Characters that may be based on his parents appear in most of Modiano’s novels. He admits to a degree of ambiguity in his memory of them. “In a strange way I would rather have met them before I was born. I prefer to think of them as they might have been before they had children.”
Areas such as the Val‑de-Grâce are portrayed in Modiano’s work with wistfulness rather than nostalgia, as is the “Continent Contrescarpe” in the heart of the fifth arrondissement, which he describes in his preface to Hélène Berr’s Journal as “a sort of oasis in Paris” where no evil could infiltrate. Sections of The Black Notebook read like a street guide to the 14th arrondissement. The Rues d’Ulm, Rataud, Claude Bernard, Pierre-et-Marie-Curie form the “scholastic district”; the street that runs through the Montparnasse cemetery and “seems to go on forever” is the Rue Froidevaux and it features prominently in Paris Nocturne, Afterimage and In the Café of Lost Youth; while the narrator of Flowers of Ruin speaks of Saint-Germain-des-Prés as “my former village which I no longer recognise”, a milieu in which most of the cafés that Modiano knew in his youth have long since vanished.
“When I was a child, Saint-Germain was more of a working-class district... the Rue Dauphine, for example, was quite run-down. War was still close and the streets were rather dark... ”
When I was a child, Saint-Germain was more of a working-class district – war was still close and the streets were dark Patrick Modiano
In Modiano’s Paris, characters have difficulty recognising the city they once knew – the building of the Boulevard Périphérique, for example, destroyed many of the humble houses, cafes, small hotels and garages of the 18th arrondissement – and with that destruction went the secrets and lives of the largely working-class population that inhabited the area.
The day after we met, I walked from the Place Blanche, an important intersection in so many of Modiano’s novels, up through Pigalle and across the 18th arrondissement to the newly inaugurated Promenade Dora Bruder, a walkway that runs above the overgrown tracks of the now defunct Petite Ceinture railway line, separating Rue Leibniz from Rue Belliard. In June this year, in the author’s presence, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, unveiled a plaque as a memorial to Dora Bruder – the young girl whose life Modiano researched and who is the subject of what is perhaps his best-loved book (translated into English as The Search Warrant). She lived and went to school in the area before she was deported to Auschwitz in September 1942. However unreliable or fictitious our memories may be, this name, now immortalised on a Paris street sign, has become reality: Bruder and her brief life will never be forgotten and we can remain close to her in time and space.
• Euan Cameron is the translator of Patrick Modiano’s So You Don’t Get Lost in the Neighbourhood (MacLehose) and In the Café of Lost Youth (to be published in January)
• This article was amended on 2 November as Sous les Toits de Paris was directed by René Clair, and not Marcel Carné as previously stated.Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
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LAS VEGAS — Penn Jillette, half of the magic duo Penn & Teller, was among the hundreds of people who came to give blood and platelets in Las Vegas following the mass shooting.
“At my age it’s too late to be an EMT. It’s too late to be a first responder,” the magician and comedian said Wednesday. “I tell jokes, I do tricks and this is, well I’m afraid to say, quite literally the least I can do.”
Jillette was giving platelets at United Blood Services in Las Vegas, something he says he tries to do at least a few times a year.
He and his performing partner, Raymond Teller, host a “13 Bloody Days of Christmas” every year, where people who donate blood get free tickets to their show at the Rio.Nature is fickle, as they say, which leaves the nascent renewable energy industry with a problem: how to provide reliable juice 24/7, 360 days of the years, harnessing intermittent forces, such as wind and sunshine. Now, Phoenix, AZ-based Southwest Solar Technologies is developing the Compressed Air Energy Storage System, a promising technology that uses wind and solar to compress gas and then release it when needed.
According to Inhabitat, Southwest Solar’s Compressed Air Energy Storage System utilizes clean technology to pump heated and compressed air into an airtight chamber. Whenever there’s a high demand for electricity, that compressed air is released through a turbine to supply that demand–powered by solar energy during the day and wind at night.
The concept isn’t a new one, as Compressed Air Energy Systems currently exist in conventional power plants, one of which (in Alabama) has actually been in operation for a decade. But conventional plants compress and heat the air with natural gas or coal, which leaves a big dirty carbon footprint–whereas Southwest Solar Technologies is adopting the existing tech for the Green Age by using solar and wind.BlackBerry Z10 users, get your thumbs warmed up for a social media app treat! Based on your feedback, we’ve updated versions of our Twitter and LinkedIn apps for BlackBerry 10, adding some features that you’ve been asking for. Twitter users will enjoy an enhanced tweeting experience, while the LinkedIn update provides helpful business tools that allow you to keep connected to your professional networks.
* Please note it could take up to 24 hours for the apps to appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.
What’s new in Twitter v10.0.1:
Doing more on the Compose Tweet Screen – An enhanced Compose Tweet Screen allows you to take a new photo or add an existing one, add your location, and offers a shortcut for “@”.
– An enhanced Compose Tweet Screen allows you to take a new photo or add an existing one, add your location, and offers a shortcut for “@”. Composing Direct Messages – It’s now easier for you to compose a Direct Message – you can do it right from the “Me” tab within the app. Viewing Direct Messages from your contacts is also available in the BlackBerry Hub.
– It’s now easier for you to compose a Direct Message – you can do it right from the “Me” tab within the app. Viewing Direct Messages from your contacts is also available in the BlackBerry Hub. Edit Profile – You can now edit your profile picture, header, and details from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
– You can now edit your profile picture, header, and details from your BlackBerry 10 smartphone. Conversation view – You’ll see full conversation history when clicking on a tweet.
– You’ll see full conversation history when clicking on a tweet. Improved Image Viewing – You can now view pic.twitter.com full screen images, as well as pinch to zoom and pan images from the tweet details. Also, you can view full screen profile pictures from other Twitter users.
– You can now view pic.twitter.com full screen images, as well as pinch to zoom and pan images from the tweet details. Also, you can view full screen profile pictures from other Twitter users. Deleting Tweets – You are now able to delete your own tweets from any screen where their tweet is displayed. It’s as simple as holding down on a tweet and selecting the trash icon.
– You are now able to delete your own tweets from any screen where their tweet is displayed. It’s as simple as holding down on a tweet and selecting the trash icon. Block and Report as Spam – Block and report users as spam.
– Block and report users as spam. Enhanced Menu – Do more from the timeline, with new options to “Quote Tweet” after selecting “Retweet” as well as “Open Tweet” to view the tweet details page.
What’s new in LinkedIn v10.0.1:
LinkedIn Messages – Allows you to quickly message your connections from their profile page.
– Allows you to quickly message your connections from their profile page. Enhanced Job Search tools – You now have access to view, search and save jobs that are ‘Recommended’ for you.
– You now have access to view, search and save jobs that are ‘Recommended’ for you. LinkedIn Today – Choose the LinkedIn news that matters the most by filtering the news by Industries you are interested in.
– Choose the LinkedIn news that matters the most by filtering the news by Industries you are interested in. Better Image Viewing – Full-screen viewing of LinkedIn profiles for an enhanced visual experience.
So, to recap: Twitter v10.0.1 offers a variety of updates that gives you more options while you tweet, including an enriched Compose Tweet Screen, better Image Viewing and an enhanced Edit Profile feature. LinkedIn v10.0.1 allows you to keep closely connected to your LinkedIn networks through new features with Messaging, Job Search and Image Viewing.
Twitter v10.0.1 and LinkedIn v10.0.1 are available as free downloads in the BlackBerry World storefront. (Again, please note that it could take up to 24 hours for the apps to appear in the BlackBerry World storefront.) Try them both out and let us know what you think in the comments below.Gov. Ricardo Rossello is sworn in at the seaside Capitol in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. The U.S. territory is preparing for what many believe will be new austerity measures and a renewed push for statehood to haul the island out of a deep economic crisis. (AP Photo/Danica Coto)
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s new governor was sworn in Monday, promising an immediate push for statehood in a territory facing a deep economic crisis.
Gov. Ricardo Rossello, 37, proposed several measures aimed at alleviating the crisis shortly after he was sworn in at midnight. Among them is a proposal to hold a referendum that would ask voters whether they prefer statehood or independence. Many have argued that Puerto Rico’s political status has contributed to its decade-long crisis that has prompted more than 200,000 people to flee to the U.S. mainland in recent years.
“The United States cannot pretend to be a model of democracy for the world while it discriminates against 3.5 million of its citizens in Puerto Rico, depriving them of their right to political, social and economic equality under the U.S. flag,” Rossello said in his inaugural speech, delivered in Spanish. “There is no way to overcome Puerto Rico’s crisis given its colonial condition.”
The crowd rose to its feet and cheered as Rossello announced that he would fly to Washington, D.C., Monday to back a bill to admit Puerto Rico as the 51st state.
He also said he would soon hold elections to choose two senators and five representatives to Congress and send them to Washington to demand statehood, a strategy used by Tennessee to join the union in the 18th century. The U.S. government has final say on whether Puerto Rico can become a state.
Rossello said he also aims to boost public-private partnerships and use that revenue to save a retirement system that faces a $40 billion deficit and is expected to collapse in less than a year. He pledged to work closely with a federal control board that U.S. Congress created last year to oversee Puerto Rico’s finances, and he has said he supports negotiations with creditors to help restructure a public debt of nearly $70 billion.
“Puerto Rico’s recovery begins today,” said Rossello, a scientist with no political experience and the son of a former governor who also sought statehood for Puerto Rico.
Rossello announced that he has already signed six executive orders, including one to promote bilingual education, another to provide female government employees with the same pay as their male counterparts, and a third ordering agencies to reduce their budgets and contracts for professional services by 10 percent.
He also seeks to privatize services such as the generation of energy, establish an office to oversee and distribute federal funds to cut down on corruption, and to create financial incentives for doctors to boost the number of dwindling specialists.
Thousands of supporters cheered as they clutched umbrellas to protect themselves from a searing sun.
“This is a historic moment for Puerto Rico,” said 50-year-old Jose Davila as he waved a large flag from Rossello’s pro-statehood New Progressive Party. “He’s the hope of our island, he’s the hope for statehood, he’s the hope for a people that have suffered.”
Puerto Ricans have been hit with dozens of new taxes in the past four years and increases in utility bills as former Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla aimed to generate more revenue for a government he said was running out of money. Despite those and other measures, the island’s government has defaulted on millions of dollars’ worth of bond payments and declared a state of emergency at several agencies.
The federal control board has requested a revised fiscal plan that has to be approved by end of January, saying that the one Garcia submitted last year was in part unrealistic and relied too heavily on federal funds. Garcia had refused to submit a revised plan to include austerity measures. Rossello has said he would request an extension of that deadline as well as an extension of a moratorium that expires in February and currently protects Puerto Rico from lawsuits filed by angered creditors.
As supporters streamed early on Monday toward the Capitol building, one yelled out, “Today, a new Puerto Rico begins!” to the cheers of others, including those holding U.S. flags.A council has spent nearly £20,000 on a new executive office, complete with 52-inch flat screen television, DVD player and Freeview set-top box, even though the building in which it sits is slated for demolition within five years.
Basildon council bought a £1,385 TV screen as part of the internal construction work, along with a large table, 16 chairs, a whiteboard and a flip chart.
The improvements are part of a wider refurbishment at the Basildon Centre, costing £2 million, which is already almost £250,000 over budget despite the Conservative-controlled council’s headquarters being earmarked for closure to make way for a new development.
Allan Davies, deputy leader of the Labour group on Basildon council, said: “The hard-working taxpayer will not see this as a wise use of council resources.”
Malcolm Buckley, the council leader, said the room would be used “to meet business partners and Government representatives”, adding: “The system allows PowerPoint presentations on the television. Otherwise we would need a projector, which although cheaper, means presentations have to be watched in the dark.”
A new local authority has wasted £7,000 even before it has officially begun, after it was forced to scrap a logo which critics said resembled the hairstyle of Don King, the boxing promoter.
The emblem was commissioned in summer 2008 by Cornwall County Council in preparation for the new Cornwall council, a unitary authority which will come into existence in April.
But more than 12,000 residents signed a petition opposing the design because it no longer featured the familiar Cornish symbols of a shield with 15 golden bezants or the county motto 'One and All’.
A caller told a BBC Radio Cornwall phone-in that the logo looked like Mr King’s hairstyle.
David Whalley, the leader of Cornwall county council, said the existing logo would now be used, minus the word 'county’.
Mark Kaczmarek, an independent opposition councillor, said: “I’m delighted that we’re keeping the old logo. The people of Cornwall have spoken through the petition and it’s right that they have been listened to.”
Taxpayers are facing a bill of more than £47,000 for running costs on an empty building following a delay of more than three years in a private redevelopment project.
Perth and Kinross Council is paying for security and maintenance at Perth City Hall, an Edwardian landmark owned by the council that has been disused since 2005.
A firm has the rights to convert the building into a centre for shops and restaurants but its contract states that work does not have to begin until more than half the proposed units are filled, leaving residents to pick up the bill for keeping the site on hold indefinitely in the middle of a recession.
The local Perth City Centre Action Group has described the situation as a “debacle”.
A spokesman for the council said the costs from October 2005 to the end of last year were £47,000 and would continue to climb until the building was renovated or the contract expired.
He said: “We do not see this as waste but rather it is prudent investment in the maintenance of a Category B listed building owned by the council. The cost through neglecting such maintenance might well have been significantly higher.”
Do you know of a case where public money has been misspent?
Email wastewatch@telegraph.co.uk or write to Waste Watch, Sunday Telegraph News Desk, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT.By John Dodge
CHICAGO (CBS) — In a bizarre scene caught on tape, a man walked into McDonald’s in Chicago–completely naked.
The video was posted on Live Leak three days ago. It shows the man parading around the restaurant for about two minutes before police arrive.
At one point, some customers begin to strike the man with a yellow “Caution” sign. However, the man did not appear to be injured.
Before then, the man tried to enter a door leading to the food preparation area, approached the counter several times and strutted around the entire floor amid screaming and laughter.
The location of the McDonald’s was not immediately clear, but the first clue that the video was shot in Chicago happens when the videographer turns the cell phone on herself and says “Only at McDonald’s!”
She is wearing a Chicago Transit Authority knit cap.
Another clue occurs when two Chicago Police officers arrive at the restaurant to establish order and tell the man to sit down.
Yes, sit down, naked, in a restaurant chair.
The video show full-frontal nudity (the man isn’t even wearing shoes or socks) and is not safe for work, so CBS Chicago is not providing a direct link to the footage.
The video ends shortly after the police arrive.
Information on charges was not available."It's like we're not even in India!" An Australian cricketer shouts this across the lobby of the lushly appointed ITC Gardenia in Bangalore on a recent international tour. At once, the comfort to be felt in the increasingly opulent world of hotels and restaurants in one of the world's fastest growing economies was contrasted with the mess and noise to be seen, heard and smelt outside them.
Australian touring teams in India in recent times have been extremely well looked after off the field, while at the same time coping with an increasingly hostile and foreign environment on it. Cocooned in the best hotels and surrounded by support staff, it is possible for a cricketer to forget he is in India until he comes face to face with the combative home side and the pitches on which they play.
Go back a few decades to the late 1960s and the circumstances were rather different. The first Test of the 1969-70 tour took place at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium, home to the Cricket Club of India and venue for this year's warm-up match. Bill Lawry's team were housed in quarters at the stadium itself, on three-inch mattresses with wooden bases, with air-conditioning so loud as to make sleep impossible. In The Summer Game, Ian Chappell told Gideon Haigh of an evening search for food:
"Brian Taber went downstairs and came back with a loaf under his arm. 'If you want to eat another meal in this place, don't go down and look at the kitchen,' he said. Being curious, a couple of us went down to investigate and we found cats in the refrigerator, cats running over the uncovered food, green slime on the floor, barred windows with no glass, and a rubbish tip with an unbelievable stench outside the window."
The ensuing Test was marred by crowd riots and stands set on fire after a dubious caught-behind decision went in favour of Australia, as India battled to save the match on the fourth afternoon. Stumps were drawn early, in part due to concerns for the players' safety: Johnny Gleeson was struck in the back of the head by a bottle as the players departed; Lawry narrowly avoided a hurled wicker chair. The tourists huddled in the toilet block as a police lathi charge was ordered to quell the protests, and they were confined to their basic Brabourne lodgings overnight before completing victory the next day.
"Cocooned in the best hotels and surrounded by support staff, it is possible for a cricketer to forget he is in India until he comes face to face with the combative home side and the pitches on which they play"
As the tour rolled on, the players became increasingly discontented by the conditions under which they were expected to play, the hotels in which they were compelled to stay, and the burgeoning assortment of illnesses they were forced to suffer through. Many of the tourists have since pointed to the trip as the start of the rumblings that led to the World Series Cricket breakaway - Lawry's letter of complaint to the Australian Cricket Board may well have contributed to his 1971 sacking.
Certainly its effects were well measured by the ABC's Alan McGilvray when he first saw the Australia team in South Africa for the second leg of an unreasonably long and unrepeated tour: "They looked haggard. Their eyes seemed to be standing out of their heads and some of them looked positively yellow." It was a surprise to no one to see South Africa go on to win the Tests 4-0 by huge margins in their last series before apartheid-driven isolation.
Australia's last tour before the WSC truce was to India in 1979, Allan Border's first of many. In the intervening decade, conditions had not overly improved. Border called it "12 weeks of complete cricket culture shock". So it was for most members of the touring party, led by Kim Hughes, with only the slimmest smattering of experience among them. In the circumstances they did well to draw four of six Tests, while subsisting on diets composed largely of tinned fruit, boiled water and the odd tin of imported Swan Lager.
Little had changed by the time of the 1986 visit, at least in terms of the players' living conditions. Dean Jones, author of an epic double-century in the tied Madras Test of that same tour, recalled the mixture of rough sleep and rougher attitudes from spectators. "Even on the '86 tour some of the hotels were bloody awful, to be quite honest," he told cricket writer Philip Derriman in 1998. "At one place we had to sleep on towels. There were no sheets on the mattresses.
"[Fielding] you get bombarded with broken bottles, fruit, D-sized batteries - that's the latest craze - penny bungers, golf balls. We learned if you're fielding on the boundary to play to the crowd and enjoy them, and then they'll come on your side, like Pat Symcox did here. They're a very knowledgeable crowd over there. They follow cricket like Melbournians follow Aussie Rules."
Another decade passed before Australia's cricketers returned to India for a Test match, a one-off in 1996 in Delhi. This tour marked something of a Rubicon for the experience of touring life. The players' hotels were better, but the team's requirement to catch a slow train from Delhi to Patiala for their warm-up fixture ahead of the Test caused Mark Taylor's men to put their foot down about the need for charter flights between venues. That played out to the extent that an official line of "no plane, no game" was put out by the team management on the next trip to India, in 1998. Even then, Malcolm Knox wrote that the team's private attitudes contrasted with public platitudes:
"Team policy dictates that public questions about touring India be answered with an effusion of delight and love. Privately, nothing could be further from the truth. With a few exceptions, the Australian cricketers have been dying to get back home since early March. A good portion of the squad, simply, hate it here. They have played their cricket through a veil of homesickness. On the other hand, there have been many positives on this tour. Foremost is a recognition that Australian cricketers must come here more often."
On Australia's tour of 2013 tour, the side had to face pitches devised to exploit their weakness against spin to an extreme BCCI
So it was that they did come more often, to a peak between 2007 and 2011, where Australian sides visited India five years in a row. Driven largely by a far tighter financial and touring relationship between Cricket Australia and the BCCI, the frequent visits were bolstered by ever-improving standards of treatment for touring players in India, and also by their willingness to spend time in the homeland of the IPL and plenty of endorsement-deal opportunities. There was, too, a greater desire to explore the country, as championed by Steve Waugh and his 1998 offsider, Gavin Robertson.
"I'd like to think Gav and I played a small part in broadening the culture of the Australian team by moving away from the confines of five-star luxury," Waugh wrote in Out of My Comfort Zone. "Touring life gave me a chance to extend my horizons and grow as a person; it also had the ability to stunt a man's personal growth if the sheltered, artificial lifestyle dictated his every move."
But India's cultural and financial evolution also spawned hostility in the place where visiting players had once sought solace - on the cricket pitch. With each passing tour, conditions in the middle have become increasingly challenging while India's players have grown in their own belligerence, led by attitude-changers like Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan. There is a unity of purpose around India's performance at home that means pitches will suit the hosts no matter what part of a sprawling nation is called upon as a venue.
Undoubtedly Steven Smith's touring party are unlikely to see the conflagration of political infighting and indignant ground staff that combined to see a grassy strip rolled out in Nagpur for the deciding Test of the 2004 series. As much as Australia's series win can be put down to an excellent ensemble effort with the benefit of lessons learned in 1996, 1998 and 2001, those present at the old VCA Ground recall the sharp seam and bounce available to Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie. Mumbai's pitch turned square in the final Test, but by then the series was decided.
"With each passing tour, conditions in the middle have become increasingly challenging while India's players have grown in their own belligerence, led by attitude-changers like Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan"
The IPL, meanwhile, has had an oddly contradictory effect on visiting players. No generation of Australian cricketers spends more time in India than Smith's, yet the formulas of T20 and the proliferation of pitches friendly to batsmen mean Test matches in the same nation may as well be played on another planet. And even when the tournament has allowed close proximity between Test opponents, the locals have been canny enough to keep certain skills under wraps: Smith has spoken of the fact that R Ashwin often bowled him legbreaks in the nets they shared with Rising Pune Supergiants last year, while David Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad supremacy will offer him little in terms of relevant information when he lines up against the SG ball in Umesh Yadav's hands.
As if to underline the point, five years of IPL experience made little difference in 2013. Another inexperienced touring team were beaten badly, not helping themselves with internal problems that bloomed into "Homeworkgate" and more or less the end of Mickey Arthur's coaching tenure. But the pitches for that series, in Chennai, Hyderabad and Delhi in particular, were of a kind devised to exploit India's spin bowlers and Australian weakness against them to an extreme that even the likes of Ravi Shastri called foul.
India's strategy has evolved somewhat since, given the batting exploits of Virat Kohli and others, plus the now proven ability of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to prosper on surfaces affording them far less assistance than four years ago. Even so, the expectation is that nothing will come easily on the field of play, even if the privations of past tours are now little more than an unpleasant memory for those who experienced them and an outlandish tale for those who did not.
The coach Darren Lehmann, whose own playing career straddled the two Indias, has no complaints before the first Test. "The boys have been great in Dubai and conditions were fantastic there and obviously here," he said. "There's no excuses from our point of view, now it's just a good challenge for the group going forward against a quality side. Obviously they are heavy favourites, as they would be at home. They haven't lost a Test at home in almost 20 matches."
For Australia's cricketers, the real India starts at 9.30am local time on Thursday.On July 31st, Led Zeppelin will wrap up their massive, long-running reissue campaign with their final three albums: 1976’s Presence, 1979’s In Through the Out Door and 1982’s Coda. As with previous re-releases, each record will come packaged with a companion disc featuring alternate takes and mixes of many of the album’s tracks. Today, the band has shared one such version, “In the Evening (Rough Mix)”, from In Through the Out Door.
This never-before-heard early take on “In the Evening” noticeably lacks many of the production flourishes found on the final product. There’s a distinct lack of scuzz on John Bonhams drumming and Jimmy Page’s guitar work, and even Robert Plant’s vocals are devoid of the album version’s effects ticks. The result is a sound that sits at a more even level as opposed to the 1979 version’s deep pocket of noise. Take a listen below via Yahoo Music!.Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr is adding cabinet weight to a lobbying effort against proposed U.S. budget cuts to the popular and effective Energy Star program.
If the U.S. goes ahead with a plan to slash the Energy Star budget by 40 per cent it could cripple the program and put at risk up to one-third of the emissions reductions Canada hopes to achieve from its national climate change action plan.
"It's a very important program for us and has been for some time," Carr told The Canadian Press Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to eliminate the entire $50 million funding for Energy Star in his spring budget proposal, suggesting it is an area that could easily be privatized.
The House of Representatives, after months of lobbying, recently passed its budget bill, which proposes to cut the Energy Star budget by 40 per cent.
An Energy Star label at an appliance store in Mountain View, Calif. Some of the United States' largest manufacturers are among more than 1,000 U.S. companies urging Congress to preserve the 25-year-old Energy Star program, which promotes efficiency in home and business products. (The Associated Press)
Documents obtained through the Access to Information Act show Natural Resources Canada is skeptical that Canada could continue to work the program on its own if the U.S. pulls out of Energy Star.
"While too early to speculate on whether the final U.S. budget will follow through on this, there would be significant impacts on Canada's ability to maintain the program without U.S. leadership," reads a briefing note on the matter.
Carr plans to raise issue with energy secretary
The department outline a lobbying plan to try and stop the cuts that included having Carr raise it with Scott Pruitt, head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on a June visit to Ottawa.
Pruitt's trip was cancelled and the discussion was never held. Now Carr plans to raise it when he meets U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry in Paris in November.
Natural Resources has identified Perry as one of the best hopes to help because his record as the governor of Texas included significant work on energy-efficient building codes and backing for wind energy development.
Since 1991 the EPA has run Energy Star to certify and label consumer products, new homes and commercial businesses based on their energy use. The familiar blue label tells people that the product or house is more efficient than products without the label and studies suggest homes and businesses with the label can be rented or sold at a premium.
Canada joined Energy Star in 2001, but its participation relies on an agreement with the EPA which owns the rights to the program. Canada will spend about $10.5 million to run its side of the program this year.
'Best interests of both countries:' Carr
The U.S. has about 16,000 private partners who use Energy Star to label their products. There are about 2,000 such partners in Canada. But Energy Star is also the basis for almost all of the energy-efficiency programs run by the provinces, programs which are being looked at to cut nearly 30 million tonnes of carbon-equivalent emissions over the next 13 years as Canada tries to hit its Paris agreement commitments.
That amounts to one-third of the planned emissions under Canada's climate change framework and about 15 per cent of the total emissions Canada has to eliminate by 2030 to meet its Paris commitment.
Without Energy Star, Natural Resources officials fear those programs will collapse.
The Alliance to Save Energy, a U.S. partnership of private and public sector representatives, said the House of Representatives budget cut would be "debilitating."
"When you cut the budget of a program almost in half it's going to have some pretty devastating impacts," said alliance vice-president Ben Evans. "They will just not be able to do as much."
Evans said privatizing Energy Star is not a workable option because consumers aren't going to trust a certification if the program is funded by companies making money off the ratings.
Carr said the bottom line is Energy Star is "in the best interests of both countries" providing billions in savings to consumers on energy bills, cutting emissions and costing the governments just a small fraction in exchange.
The documents say every dollar invested by the public into Energy Star results in $600 worth of savings on energy bills.Beef. A staple of the American diet, and the stereotypically macho meat. Put simply, men love beef. But…it can be quite confusing. Unlike a chicken which has only a few types of cuts to remember, there are dozens for beef. Plenty you've heard of, porterhouse, T-Bone, chuck, sirloin, but do you even know what any of it means?
The next time you're out to eat for a steak dinner or grilling one at home, do yourself (and those you're serving) a favor and become familiar with the most common cuts of beef, what they're good for, and the best ways to cook them.
Don't assume you have to buy filet mignon to have beef that has both taste and flavor. As long as you prepare it correctly, any of these cuts will be delicious.
I consulted with Lou from the famous Maraconda's butcher shop right here at the Los Angeles Famers Market. Family owned since 1941, they know a thing or two about beef.Craciun Dan | October 10, 2014
Brackets is an open-source editor for web designers, developed by Adobe, with a wealth of features and a huge number of extensions, which can be installed in a few clicks, turning Brackets into a very powerful tool for web developers.
Brackets is written entirely in HTML/CSS and JavaScript. Brackets has a very clean, web-like interface |
now widely discussed in the league community.
Keegan Hirst's story will only be really powerful when it is no longer considered brave or admirable, just truthful Ian Roberts
Although Roberts’s sexual identity was the worst kept secret in rugby league, he was still under intense pressure to put the final nail in the coffin and come out publicly. For the gay community, sexuality was a matter of life and death. Gay bashings and killings were rife across Sydney, creating a siege mentality. Many in the community viewed Roberts’s coming out as a way to save lives, particularly with high rates of gay teen suicide blamed on a lack of positive role models. There were threats to be “outed”, as a footballer offered a unique bridge to the mainstream. Roberts was a “high value prisoner” for the community – for them silence was complicity and his privacy was a small price to pay.
An ARL staffer advised Roberts that coming out publicly would mean less sponsorship, using Martina Navratilova as an example. Roberts appreciated the honesty but could not buy in to the belief that the fans and sponsors would not tolerate a gay man.
“If someone asks me about the financial side of coming out I let them know that the ‘pink dollar’ is very elusive,” he says. “Don’t come out for financial reasons.”
After an agonising appraisal of his life, in 1995 Roberts came out officially in Australia with a story in New Weekly titled “A man and his match” detailing his relationship with his then boyfriend Shane.
For Roberts it was a sobering and cathartic moment and the public response oscillated from joy to horror. Peter FitzSimons in the Sydney Morning Herald was clear on the impact of the announcement: “Roberts is not the first gay footballer, but the first with the courage to live it openly. Surely the wretched schoolyard taunt of ‘yer a poofta’ has lost an awful lot of sting.”
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Roberts played 13 times for the Kangaroos between 1990 and 1994. Photograph: Getty Images
Roberts received thousands of letters of support, including some from grateful parents and teachers on how he had changed and saved lives by providing a role model. He was saving kids from killing themselves and people were grateful that he had provided an option for a life of remorse and sorrow for not “fitting in”.
Hate mail also flooded in, and people stopped him in the street to quote Scripture and confirm he was on a “highway to hell”. Some thought he should be put in a cage and poked with sharp bamboo.
Roberts decided to escape the Sydney bubble and moved to Townsville, a stint with the North Queensland Cowboys providing the critical distance he needed, and he enjoyed his football more than any time of his career. Coach Tim Sheens liked what he saw and made Roberts the captain. After two seasons, Roberts retired at 34.
He looks back at his role as an important one. “In the 90s gay men were murdered and bashed by vigilantes. There used to be moments of silence at the Sleaze Ball for these murders but, much like Aboriginal deaths in custody, mainstream media didn’t want to know.”
Over the past 20 years he has received a lot of mail from parents and teachers in small country towns, confirming that their child or student had come out, inspired by his bravery. “That telling the truth could change something. I didn’t appreciate it at the time but it’s had a huge impact downstream,” Roberts says.
Roberts has been the industry confidant for a number of league players and players in other codes who have contacted him about coming out. Roberts says: “I can’t offer them much, particularly those locked into marriages. You have to stick your nose above the wall of fear and say it. Most don’t understand what I mean when I tell them the truth will set them free. You feel it physically as well. Once you’ve come out it never ends. You have to keep coming out with every new person you meet who has a jolt when you mention your boyfriend.”
Roberts’s 1991 Stimorol trading card, during his time with Manly. Photograph: Stimorol
Yet life is good for Roberts. His long-term partner Dan is a kindergarten teacher, and he has just picked up three weeks’ acting work. In a 12-year acting career since hanging up his boots he has had roles in 40 film and television projects including Underbelly, Little Fish, Dancing with the Stars and Sea Patrol. His highlight? “Getting to bash Superman.”
What has he learnt on the journey? Bravery and humour are the two themes: “Be loyal to yourself and your values and walk as close as possible to what you believe in. Running from fear is avoiding growth. And humour heals. You have to have a laugh.”
His old coach and mentor Lowe understands Ian’s contribution more than most: “He was a trailblazer in many ways. There are few people like him – everybody he meets is better off for the experience. He never takes himself too seriously and can look at the gravest situations with a smile. I have two twin boys and to me Ian is like another son.”
Roberts is happy to hear that finally Hirst has followed in his footsteps and “taken the leap” by going public with his sexuality – just the second active rugby league player to do so. “It must have been difficult for him to admit he’s gay, from a tough town with zero tolerance,” he says.
“I truly believe in equality and Keegan’s story will only be really powerful when it is no longer considered brave or admirable, just truthful. Like me he has faced the moment when you realise that everything you grew up believing to be real is just the false reality of conformity and keeping you in your place.”
Moments and events accumulate to create change and as the first gay contact sport player to come out during a career, Ian Roberts sits with sports diversity pioneers Jackie Robinson and Martina Navratilova. Bearers of light who left an indelible mark by braving the jeers to be true to themselves.
Easing back into his chair and pondering his life choices, the once tough-as-nails working class kid feels like a grizzled combat veteran whose war is not over. Roberts says wistfully: “Some say I was brave, some say I was foolish but at 50 I’m at peace with who I am, but would love to know where my special niche to help people is. My coming out was a false dawn, change has enemies and there is a lot of work to be done.”
After a recent Labor meeting at a pub in Redfern he was approached by an old Aboriginal man, who said he liked him because he stuck by his mob. Roberts relays the story with a big smile. “It’s the greatest compliment I’ve ever received.”When RuPaul Charles and his fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race judges made a pit stop on the Emmy red carpet Sunday to be interviewed by TVLine’s Michael Ausiello, the two-time Emmy winner had no idea how much tea was about to be spilled!
At first, Mama Ru insisted that he couldn’t offer up a tease about the forthcoming Season 10. However, when Ausiello asked whether he thought the show would ever be able to top having Lady Gaga on as a guest judge, the drag superstar admitted, “It is kinda tough to top her. But I think we’ve done it. I really do.”
Since the only guest judge who could possibly top Lady Gaga would be Madonna, Ausiello asked if it was true, that Drag Race had booked her. “I can’t saaay,” Charles said, laughing. But, since he also didn’t say no, did that mean that the onetime Material Girl would soon be reading Ru’s queens for filth?
Press PLAY on the video above to draw your own conclusions. Then hit the comments: If not Madonna, who could top Gaga as a guest judge?Quantum information can't break the cosmic speed limit, according to researchers* from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland's Joint Quantum Institute. The scientists have shown how attempts to "push" part of a light beam past the speed of light results in the loss of the quantum data the light carries. The results could clarify how noise might limit the transfer of information in quantum computers.
The speed of light in vacuum is often thought to be the ultimate speed limit, something Einstein showed to be an unbreakable law. But two years ago,** members of the research team found a sort of "loophole" in the law when they devised a new way to push part of the leading edge of a pulse of light a few nanoseconds faster than it would travel normally. While the 'pulse front' (the initial part of the pulse) still traveled at the usual constant speed, the rising edge and the pulse peak could be nudged forward a bit. Since waves carry information, the team decided to explore what their previous results might mean for quantum information.
"How does the beam's quantum information behave if you try to speed up the leading edge?" says NIST's Ryan Glasser. "We knew if you could speed the information up successfully, it would give rise to all kinds of causality problems, as you see in science fiction movies about people traveling back in time. So while no one expects it to be possible, just what prevents it from happening? That's what we wanted to know."
The team set up a new experiment that "entangled" the photons in two different light beams, which means that quantum information in one beam—such as amplitude—is strongly correlated to information in the other. Ordinarily, measuring these parameters in one beam can reveal those in the second. But when the team nudged the waves in one beam forward and took their measurements, they found the correspondence with the second beam started to taper off, and the more they pushed, the more degraded with noise the signal became.
"We sped up the peak of the correlation between the two beams," Glasser says, "but we couldn't push the quantum information any faster than the speed of light in vacuum."
While further work is needed to determine what is fundamentally enforcing this information speed limit, the current findings could be useful for understanding information transfer within quantum systems such as those that will be needed within quantum computers. "We speculate that quantum noise and distortion set that limit," Glasser says.
A more detailed explanation of the study is available at http://jqi.umd.edu/news/advanced-light
* J.B. Clark, R.T. Glasser, Q. Glorieux, U. Vogl, T. Li, K.M. Jones and P.D. Lett. Quantum mutual information of an entangled state propagating through a fast-light medium. Nature Photonics. Published online May 25, 2014. DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2014.112,
** See the May 2012 Tech Beat story, "First Light: NIST Researchers Develop New Way to Generate Superluminal Pulses."More than 1,000 US businesses have been infected with a malicious program that targets point-of-sale systems and steals credit- and debit-card data, the US government warned over the weekend.
The malware, dubbed "Backoff" after a term used in its code, began spreading as early as October 2013 and has typically escaped notice by antivirus defenses. The US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT), the Secret Service, and the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) initially published an analysis of the malware in late July, but the groups updated their advisory on Friday with the estimated business impacted.
"Over the past year, the Secret Service has responded to network intrusions at numerous businesses throughout the United States that have been impacted by the 'Backoff' malware," the advisory stated. "Seven PoS system providers/vendors have confirmed that they have had multiple clients affected. Reporting continues on additional compromised locations, involving private sector entities of all sizes."
Malware that targets point-of-sale systems has evolved quickly over the past two years. In November, cybercriminals using point-of-sale malware stole more than 40 million credit- and debit-card numbers—plus personal information on 70 million customers—from retail giant Target. Other programs, such as the whimsically named "Chewbacca," have infected dozens of retailers and restaurants.
According to the US-CERT advisory, the group behind the Backoff malware operation scanned the Internet to find potential victims by detecting installations of the remote-desktop software frequently used by service providers to manage the point-of-sale systems of their retail clients. The attackers look for remote desktop solutions like Microsoft’s Remote Desktop, Apple's Remote Desktop, Chrome Remote Desktop, Splashtop 2, Pulseway, and LogMeIn, according to the advisory. Once a potential target is identified, the group uses the equivalent of a digital sledgehammer, attempting to break into the system using a list of common passwords.
Such techniques are a common threat to small retail businesses, according to Trustwave, who helped the government agencies in their analysis of and response to the 'Backoff' program. A third of cybercrime attacks on businesses focused on the point-of-sales systems in 2013, according to the company's 2013 Global Security Report. In 31 percent of incidents, attackers exploited weak passwords to gain access to targeted systems.
"In the past year, POS malware evolved substantially compared to previous years," Trustwave stated in the report. "While parsing track data from memory and logging keystrokes on the victim’s machine is nothing new, we noted new developments in data exfiltration processes and command-and-control (C&C) functionality."
In the latest attack, once the attackers were able to guess the password to the system, they installed the Backoff program. The malware disguises itself as a Java component on the system and listens for credit-card transactions, storing them for later transmission to a command-and-control server, according to the US-CERT's original advisory.
The US-CERT advisory recommends, among other measures, that companies lockout remote-access accounts after a certain number of log-in attempts and restrict access through the firewall or gateway.Fifty years ago today, on Jan. 17, 1961, Americans gathered around their TV sets to watch President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell speech from the White House. He chose his words carefully, and warned Americans about the growth in economic power and political influence of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry.
"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes," he said.
For some, Eisenhower's warning may just be a product of his time. The Soviet Union was on the rise and the U.S. military consumed much more government spending than it does now. But is there still not a message for Americans, who continue to spend nearly as much as the rest of the world's nations combined on their armed forces, and even for Canadians, who send their troops to fight alongside U.S. forces?
Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex's "total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual" is certainly relevant in the modern debate over whether Canada should purchase a fleet of F-35 stealth fighters for the air force.
Canadians are being asked to spend between $16 and $21 billion of public dollars in initial purchase and maintenance costs, according to Department of National Defence estimates, on these U.S.-built fighter-bombers, without a clear explanation of why they are needed for our protection.
The plane's stealth and ground-attack capabilities make it ill-suited for patrolling the arctic. The F-35 is made for "shock and awe" bombing missions abroad, but Canada has only dropped bombs from its aircraft once since the Second World War (in Kosovo). And the air force never sent its current fleet of CF-18 fighter-bombers to Afghanistan during a decade of war.
As Eisenhower might have predicted, the forces allied in favour of the F-35 program are defence firms and the military. In fact, it is sometimes hard to tell them apart. The former second in command of the Canadian Air Force, Major-General Richard Bastien, is now vice-president of the U.S.-owned aerospace company L-3 MAS, based in Montreal. Predictably, he told Members of Parliament in October that "the government must do its utmost to ensure that the F-35 is not only a military success, but also a success for industry in Canada."
Likewise the plane's U.S. builder, Lockheed Martin, has hired one of Ottawa's most successful defence industry lobby firms, CFN Consultants, which is composed almost entirely of retired officers from the senior ranks of the military.
Auditor General Sheila Fraser found that military leaders have been untrustworthy in the past, withholding information from the government on a recent multi-billion-dollar military helicopter purchase. She warned MPs that the F-35 project is very risky for taxpayers.
Eisenhower, a war hero and former five-star general, was not a pacifist. Instead he called for "balance between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the nation upon the individual." Many in Canada support having a military for natural disasters, search and rescue, protecting our sovereignty, and UN peacekeeping. But this is contingent upon a reasonable cost to the taxpayer, and must be considered alongside other priorities such as healthcare.
In an earlier speech, Eisenhower put the choice starkly: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed."
Fortunately, today we have much better social programs in Canada, but as the federal deficit increases, military spending is coming into direct competition with social programs for public spending. Clearly, with record-high military spending, coupled with a record-high federal deficit, it is fiscally irresponsible to make a military purchase of this magnitude at this time.
How will this be resolved? Eisenhower worried that the influence of a military-industrial complex would undermine the nation's democracy. The F-35 debate is a test to see whether Canada's military-industrial complex has succeeded in unduly influencing our democracy.
As Eisenhower said 50 years ago, "Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defence with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together." Some things never change.
To see Eisenhower's speech, click here for part one and click here for part two.
Steven Staples is the President of the Rideau Institute, and the founder of Ceasefire.ca. For more information on the No Stealth Fighters Campaign click here.Small. Fast. Reliable.
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The documentation is maintained in separate Fossil repositories located at:Businessman Clive Palmer has launched into a passionate rant slamming media mogul Rupert Murdoch, after he was approached by a journalist while on a family holiday.
The former federal MP was questioned by the journalist while in Venice on a Mediterranean cruise with relatives and friends, months after he appeared in court to give evidence to liquidators of his Queensland Nickel company.
Video of the altercation was posted to his Facebook page earlier today.
"There'll be a big issue at the next election and I'll be there to champion that cause so that Australians can have freedom of thought again – Murdoch needs to be held accountable," Mr Palmer can be heard saying.
"Murdoch needs to go to jail, run that!
"I think Murdoch needs to go to jail as soon as possible so that all Australians can be free, and the Murdoch empire should be broken up.
"We need to have media investment laws much like there was in Germany after World War II when many corporations were broken up because they had monopoly control."
Mr Palmer echoed US President Donald Trump's claims about "fake news".
"We need to have this at the forefront of Australia's public thought, and that's the real issue about this... the fake news that President Trump has identified that operates in the western world."
"We've seen thousands of journalists sacked by the Murdoch empire where he employs young journalists between 20 and 30 and discards them when they get older, we've seen his sub-editors and his editors manipulate the press and affect the whole freedom of thought in Australia."
Last month, Mr Palmer responded to News Corp Australia publishing photos and details of the 24-day, $10,000-a-head cruise he and his family boarded in Spain.
"Like any Australian, I have the right to take my family on a holiday,” he said in a statement on June 19.
"There are no actions against me for anything in any court. I have not been accused of any crime against anyone.
"If it's a crime to love your wife and children and to spend time with them then I am guilty."
Mr Palmer has consistently denied he was in charge of Queensland Nickel when it went under.
The company went belly up in 2016 with debts of about $300 million, causing up to 800 people to lose their job.
Liquidators are now seeking $66 million for the sacked workers.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019When planning your retirement in Costa Rica, you should consider what documents you will need and whether your documents have to be authenticated and legalized, also commonly referred to as apostille.
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Call us toll free at 1-888-433-1011 or visit us at idocscanada.caThe impact that Keith Emerson had on musicians and fans around the world is immeasurable. He graced our cover no less than eight times, and his music and gear was covered in several other issues. We'll be posting them online for you to enjoy in the coming months.
Following his death on March 11, we felt the best way to honor Keith's memory was to hear from many of the musicians and others who worked closely with him and knew him best. To them he was Emo, Fingers, Keith; but mostly he was a dear friend. Thanks to them all for sharing, and to Ellie Schwartz and Jack Hotop for helping to coordinate our talks. Keith—may your music and influence continue to be heard and felt for generations to come. Thank you for sharing your humble brilliance with us all.
(Photo: Carla Huntington)
[BREAK]
BRIAN AUGER
(TRINITY, OBLIVION EXPRESS)
“I first heard Keith and the Nice play at a show we both did in Croydon. He played ‘America’ and I thought he was just unbelievable. Our paths didn’t cross much back then, but years later he told me that he saw me playing at the Marquee Club and I was playing ‘Rock Candy’ by Jack McDuff, which was one of his favorite tunes. We shared a love for pianists like Hampton Hawes, Dave Brubeck, and Oscar Peterson, as well. So we both had many of the same influences but took them in different directions. His technique was unbelievable, and his sense of orchestration within a rock context was something to behold.
“Fast-forward a few decades and we find out we’re living only a few miles from each other in California. It was you [Jerry Kovarsky] who brought us together, at that dinner we had in 2006. We hit it off fabulously and became tight friends. I liked his gentle sense of humor, and we shared so much in common, being of the same ‘vintage.’ He was such a huge star around the world, but had no real sense of ego. We would call each other and go to dinner, and especially go out to hear music. I will miss those evenings and his company very much.”
Keith Emerson, Les McCann, and Brian Auger
[BREAK]
CARL PALMER
(ELP, ASIA, THE CARL PALMER BAND/ELP LEGACY BAND)
Carl Palmer and Keith Emerson.
I first met Keith in 1967; I was playing at Battersea Park College with Fleetwood Mac, depping [subbing] for Mick[y] Fleetwood. Top of the bill was The Nice. I had heard of them but never saw the band live, and I got to say hi to Keith after the show. He was a phenomenal player and I became an instant fan. So when I was contacted a few years later to audition for a new band he was forming, I had to go, although I was doing very well with Atomic Rooster at the time. There were very few keyboard players of that caliber: He was incredibly inventive and his musical direction, playing classical adaptations, was pretty much what I always wanted to do. So there was an immediate synergy. You all know the rest of the story…
Keith was the greatest musician I’ve ever played with. We had a total of sixteen years together making music and it was a fantastic experience. Keith was an individual who took his music seriously and tried to push everything he did to new heights. I’ll be doing a number of concerts and festivals this year in tribute to him.”
[BREAK]
JEFF “SKUNK” BAXTER
(GUITARIST FOR THE BEST, STEELY DAN, DOOBIE BROS.)
“I first met Keith at the China Club in L.A. back in the ’90s. I was in the house band, and Keith would come in and play all the time. The band would include John Entwistle on bass, and various guitar players, like Joe Walsh, lots of studio guys. We had great fun seriously playing, not just jamming. One night John and I were talking and thinking, ‘This is too good; we should do something more serious.’ A well-known publicist Michael Jensen offered to arrange a couple of shows in Japan so we solidified the band: Keith, John, Joe, Simon Phillips, and a singer buddy of mine Rick Livingstone. We didn’t know what to call ourselves, and being such shy wallflowers, we decided on The Best. [Laughs.]
“We started rehearsing, and the great thing was everyone was a fan of each other’s work and did their homework to make it sound right. Everyone brought their unique style to the band, and you might not think it would work, but it did. As an example of what Keith brought to the project, we were covering one of John’s tunes, ‘Boris the Spider.’ It’s not very complicated, but while we were playing, for fun, I started playing a bit of the music cue from Jaws and Keith jumps right on it, with the right French horn sound and everything. I look over at John, who was a classically trained French horn player, and start playing the intro to Mussorgsky’s ‘Night on Bald Mountain.’ He knew it, and again Keith was right on it. From there we started quoting Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and Keith could cover it all. When we got to Japan and whipped out that arrangement the audience was dumbfounded: They had no idea this group of people could go to those places.
“I took my parents on that trip; my Dad was a historian and was in WWII, and Keith was into those things, so they really hit it off. We were making good money for the gigs, so I asked Michael if he could find a bunch of kids from an orphanage and we’d take them to Disneyland, Tokyo, to give something back. I have two favorite images from that day. One was the ‘Ox,’ John Entwistle, standing there with six kids crawling all over him, and loving it. And the same about Keith: He really spent time with the kids and you could see how much he was into making them happy.
“After that tour Keith and I would hang out, and we did some recording. He did a brilliant arrangement of ‘People Are Strange’ for a Doors tribute CD that he had me play some Django-ish guitar on. I really loved the man: He was unique; a tremendous talent, with a lot of emotional depth. He was constantly thinking about music, and I think composing in his mind. I remember looking at him one day and saying, ‘Man, your brain is loud today!’ And Keith just smiled back and said, ‘Yeah, I know.’”
[BREAK]
MARC ANDRE BERTHIAUME
(TOUR TECH, STAGE MANAGER)
Marc Andre Berthiaume and Keith Emerson.
“We first met in 1978. I was in the nosebleed section of the Olympic Stadium concert, not toking, but still getting a contact high from the 58,000-plus fans in attendance. Later, I would tell Keith I was at that show, 5th from left, seat 503—remember me? And he’d respond, ‘Of course, I even looked straight at you,’ the same line he gave everyone that would ask that same question.
“Flash-forward to 1997: ELP is gearing up for another world tour. Through a series of events, I ended up being the monitor engineer. Hundreds of shows with him, and he never lost it. You gave him his mix, and that was pretty much it, with a few tweaks here and there. In 2005, I get a call: ‘Hey, it’s Keith Emerson. Want to be my keyboard tech?’ I gratefully accepted. ‘Hey Keith, remember me? I was the guy in seat 503 at the Olympic Stadium.’ ‘Of course I do, you were wearing that thing,’ came the reply.
“I worked with Keith from 2005 to the 2012 final ELP show at the High Voltage festival in London—a fitting end to ELP. I suggested he throw knives at the stack of Marshalls: He liked that idea, but was worried because Carl may be too close. And he told me the story of how they were on tour with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. As he looked to his Leslies to throw his knives, he spotted a guy crouched down and filming with a super 8 camera. And how this guy’s eyes opened wide when he saw the knives fly in his direction. The guy was Hendrix.
“I became the band tech on the Keith Emerson Band tours; some great shows, and a few transcendental ones. I’d sit stage right, handling patch changes, making white wine spritzers, and watching this genius work. My favorite memories are whenever there was an acoustic piano around: Keith would gravitate to it, and really play; mostly blues and jazz. He was in the moment.
“Now I am left here looking back at fond memories of the Keith not onstage; that smile and the quick puns. And his great laugh. Sitting on his terraced deck, watching the sunset over a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio. We’d talk of life, women, music, women, new keyboard equipment, women, Robert Moog, and… women. I’m sitting here writing this, looking up at a limited edition LP of the first Keith Emerson Band album, with his inscription: ‘To Kirky, a man who dares go where no man has gone before.’
“Well, I did, and I enjoyed the ride. I’m going to miss you, my brother.”
[BREAK]
MARC BONILLA
(GUITARIST, PRODUCER: KEITH EMERSON BAND)
“My first encounter with Keith was in 1973 at the Oakland Civic Center during ELP’s Brain Salad Surgery tour. He leapt off the stage with his Moog ribbon controller during ‘Tarkus’ and landed right in front of me. He gave me this curious look and smiled as if to say, ‘See you in 16 years, mate. Maybe we’ll do something.’
“In 1989, I was playing at a pub in San Jose, Calif., when in comes this person who proceeds to study us. I thought, ‘That guy looks like Keith Emerson,’ but I quickly shrugged it off, finished the tune and took a break. As he’s walking up to me, I said to myself, ‘That is Keith Emerson!’ He introduces himself and asks me the name of the last tune we played, and if we were planning on recording it. I said yes. He says, ‘Do you mind if I play piano on it?’ All I could think to say in my state of shock and bewilderment was, “Well, what have you done?’ And without a flinch he starts to calmly list his resume, starting with The Nice and moving into ELP before I could stop him and confess that it was just a joke.
“We began touring in 1998 with The Boys Club (with Glenn Hughes and Ronnie Montrose) and then as The Keith Emerson Band in 2006. He enjoyed reworking ELP tunes to exploit guitar and was always open to whatever ideas came down the creative pike. He was also very keen on improvisation during the show and would pick up stakes and turn left at a moment’s notice, which kept us all on our toes, and would give the audience something special and unique.
“When Keith suggested I produce the Keith Emerson Band album, I was honored and a bit apprehensive at the prospect. Here was a hero of mine and I was going to tell him what to do and how to play? It was a difficult hurdle to get past, but once we did, it was well worth the effort. The first time this occurred was during the Hammond solo in ‘Marche Train.’ Keith had shaved off a handful of passes and I could tell he was getting a little frustrated at not giving me what this ‘producer’ wanted. Then he says, ‘Right, run it again.’ And he carved off five or six amazing takes of keyboard gymnastics! After that, we knew that there was a hump we needed to get over before all the ideas accelerated into ‘flow mode,’ and we always found ourselves with an embarrassment of riches.
“Keith’s ambition always was to conduct his own compositions. The opportunity presented itself with maestro Terje Mikkelsen in 2010. We went to Munich, Germany to record the Three Fates Project, which was a pinnacle for Keith as well as the rest of us. We had re-orchestrated some of his ELP compositions and when heard in that context, you realize that he was a composer of the highest stature. When the orchestra was in rehearsals, Keith was at the back of the hall, sitting by himself. I walked back to see him and he had tears in his eyes. He said that this was a dream come true for him; finally having ‘Tarkus’ performed the way he had always heard it.
“The last concert we played together was at Barbican Hall in London with the BBC Orchestra in July of 2015. It was the first time much of this music had been heard. Keith was in high spirits and performed flawlessly. He was finally in his element. It seemed befitting and proper that his last gig was his best gig. I have no doubt he will take his place among the musical greats that this world has gifted us with. As it should be.”
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“On one occasion he launched into this amazing off-the-top-of-his-head synth intro to 'Touch and Go.' I walked over to him in the middle of it and asked, 'What is that?' He replied, shaking his head and confessing, 'I don’t know!' I was praying that our front of house mixer, Keith Wechsler, was running a DAT tape of the show, which he was (he knew the drill and was fully aware of Keith’s tendencies to explore new musical frontiers mid-concert). So upon returning home from tour, I took the DAT recording and scored it out for the rest of the band and that turned into 'Blue Inferno'off the Keith Emerson Band studio album, which features the very same recording from that evening.
“Keith always played with a sense of humor. It was vital to his style. He took what he did very seriously, but never himself seriously. He was always sticking in the odd Popeye theme or alternate X-rated lyrics to a ballad. The tour bus bill of fare was always Victor Borge, Dudley Moore, and John Valby. He knew the importance of the nod and a wink approach as a foil to the often intense and complicated music that was being performed. It was at the core of his playing and composing. That’s why you always had an 'Are You Ready, Eddy?' entrant on every album, even up to 'Gametime' off the Keith Emerson Band album, which was a lurid account of our touring misadventures..
“We developed a very healthy ‘raise and call’ sort of system whereby I would bring something in like 'A Place To Hide,' play it for him, and he would sit for a moment after the last strains of the song rang out and then would mutter, 'Bastard!' And then take it home and put on this amazing pianistic performance which took it to heights I never would have thought existed. And then he would come in the next day with something he had written for me to have a go at, |
see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see!'” “You might just as well say,” added the March Hare, that ‘I like what I get’ is the same thing as ‘I get what I like’!” “You might just as well say,” added the Dormouse, which seemed to be talking in his sleep, “that ‘I breathe when I sleep’ is the same thing as ‘I sleep when I breathe’!”
Also in chapter seven, Alice wonders about movement around a circular table, which is similar to the addition on a ring of integers modulo n. Here’s the quote:
“Then you keep moving around, I suppose?” said Alice. “Exactly so,” said the Hatter: “as the things get used up.” “But what happens when you come to the beginning again?” Alice ventured to ask.
And just for good measure, I’ll include my favorite quote (from chapter five in Through the Looking Glass):
Alice laughed. “There’s no use trying,” she said: “one can’t believe impossible things.” “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said The Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
There are plenty more fun references to mathematics, including some to geometry, calculus, and arithmetic. I highly recommend reading The Annotated Alice–lots of cool stuff in there. Have a great weekend!
AdvertisementsThey say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but try telling that to Melanie Martinez.
Dubbed "America's unluckiest woman," the Louisiana native and school bus driver lost her fifth home last week to a hurricane.
This time, Martinez witnessed herself as Hurricane Isaac pummeled her Braithwaite, La. home while she and her family huddled in the attic.
They had been trying to evacuate when her truck broke down, leaving them no other option than to stay behind and watch.
"We thought we were going to die in that house," she told the Guardian. "The water was coming up so fast. My husband used a hammer to put a hole in the roof but it broke. We used our hands and feet to punch the hole."
When the storm passed, they faced the all too-familiar wreckage. Martinez lost four other homes in the last 50 years Hurricanes Betsy (1965), Juan (1985), George (1998), and Katrina (2005).
To add insult to injury, A&E reality show Hideous Houses had selected her home for a $20,000 makeover just a few months before. Though she's considering moving to a home on higher ground this time around, Martinez is still hesitant to leave Louisiana.
"I was born here," she said. "It's home, home, home."
Supporters of the Martinez family have created a PayPal account for donations to help them rebuild.
When Hurricane Isaac made landfall on Aug. 28, Melanie and her family were ordered to evacuate their Braithwaite, La. home.
But as the flood waters closed in, her truck broke down, leaving them to seek refuge in their attic.
"We thought we were going to die in that house," she said.
Story continuesWASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan24) – US officials on Wednesday made clear their dissatisfaction with ongoing challenges from Ankara to US support for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria.
On Tuesday, Ilnur Cevik, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s chief advisor on Kurdish affairs, warned that the US troops acting as “armor” for the YPG “could accidentally get hit by a few rockets.”
The threat, made in a radio interview, elicited a strong US response.
Defense Department spokesman Eric Pahon told Kurdistan24, “We find these comments to be irresponsible and unacceptable.”
Cevik’s hostile comment was prompted by the US patrols along the Syrian-Turkish border that began after Ankara’s April 25 bombardment of YPG headquarters. They serve to protect the YPG against Turkish attacks.
Indeed, Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for the US-led coalition, in a press briefing via teleconference from Baghdad on Wednesday, explained that US forces had adopted a “very overt” presence in northern Syria.
Their mission, Dorrian stated, was to “observe and report” on any cross-border incidents along the Syrian-Turkish frontier and “reassure our allies on both sides” of the border of “our commitment to their security.”
Turkey appears little interested in such reassurances, however.
Erdogan “seems to be escalating the dispute with the US in the run-up to his May 16 meeting with [Donald] Trump,” Dr. Aykan Erdemir, a former Turkish lawmaker, now a senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies in Washington DC, told Kurdistan24.
Erdemir suggested it is “mostly posturing on Erdogan’s part,” but sets “US-Turkish relations on a dangerous trajectory.”
When Kurdistan24 asked Dorrian if the US remained concerned about further Turkish attacks on the YPG, he did not really answer.
Rather, in responding, he misspoke, as he affirmed Turkey is a “critical NATO ally,” and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) “are a part of the Syrian Democratic Forces,” a crucial partner against IS.
Of course, Dorrian meant “YPG” and not “PKK,” which the US and Turkey both consider a terrorist organization.
Dorrian also described the situation regarding Raqqa. The coalition remains focused on isolating the capital of IS’ self-proclaimed caliphate.
There has been “very heavy fighting in Tabqa,” where the SDF has liberated 90 percent of the city, as well as “the northern countryside above Raqqa,” he said.
Some 3,000 to 4,000 IS fighters, including leadership elements, remain in the city. IS’ defensive preparations are “very similar to what we saw in Mosul.”
They include “elaborate berms,” as well as “tunneling booby traps” and “vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.”
Raqqa will likely “be a very dangerous and difficult battle,” he said.
However, plans for Raqqa’s liberation are not yet finalized. Ordinarily, the coalition commander, Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, would determine the military plan.
But, because of Turkish sensitivities, “conversations” with Ankara “continue every day” at diplomatic and leadership levels. “The issue will be resolved” in Washington, Dorrian explained.
Almost certainly, it will be a major topic of discussion in Erdogan’s upcoming visit.
Ironically, Erdogan was in Moscow on the same day US officials expressed such dissatisfaction with Turkey.
Like the US, Russia has deployed forces to the YPG-controlled territory, in the western canton of Afrin, to deter Turkish attacks.
However, this does not seem to be a major irritant in Turkey’s dealings with Russia.
Erdogan proclaimed ties between the two countries, strained following Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet over Syria in late 2015, were entering a “new phase” and were now "beyond normalization.”
Editing by Karzan SulaivanyIf you clicked on a 42Floors ad for “new york office space” a while back, there’s an 89% chance that you landed on one of these eight versions of our site.
They’re all fake: just throwaway static HTML mockups.
Design evolution
When 42Floors launched back in March 2012, we had relatively few listings so we could fit them all on a list/map combo like this.
As our database grew, though, the map started to bog down with data points. When we added 1,300 listings for our New York launch, render times were hitting 12 seconds for Midtown. Plus, it was visually overwhelming to have so many data points on the map.
We took the obvious next step and started clustering.
Clustering solved our speed and density issues but we still weren’t happy with the design because it took too many clicks to drill down to individual listings.
So we came up with Unified View. Unified View was a three-month undertaking that burned up a lot of dev hours but it seemed worth it. The finished product was blazing fast and had all the goodies: big photo cards, infinite scrolling, a mini navigation map, and the ability to switch to a full-page list or map view just like AirBnB or Yelp.
Conversion rates
Given the unquestionable awesomeness of the new site, we expected a conservative 50% lift in conversion rates when we deployed. But there was nothing — not even a blip in bounce rate, time on site, or conversion rates to mark the deploy date.
Unsurprisingly, enthusiasm for working on the front end cratered for a while and our focus shifted over to the supply side of the business — adding more listings, making tools for building owners, etc.
We eventually did start talking about iterating on the design again but nobody wanted to sign up to build yet another version of the site and see it flop.
Ignoring the user
At this point, you might be suspicious that we’d been designing in a vacuum. Not so. We’d done plenty of interviews and mockup sessions with users trying to tease out what they wanted, it just never got us anywhere.
Here’s where I issue a disclaimer, lest I get trolled: talking to users is really important, just not about conversion funnels. Here’s my handy user feedback weighting algorithm:
Knowing something broken: 100% accuracy
Knowing what they want: 30% accuracy
Knowing what they’ll actually click on: 2% accuracy
With this in mind, we set out to disregard the focus groups and drive the design, instead, based entirely on browsing data from live traffic.
The problem was: how to get data? The types of wholesale redesigns that we needed to split test aren’t possible with Optimizely. Feedback services like 5SecondTest are unrepresentative of real users. We also couldn’t dedicate months to building multiple working versions of the site that would, in all likelihood, fail.
So we decided to fake it.
Faking it
Over the course of a few days we sketched out eight designs in Moqups and converted them into sloppy Photoshop mockups. We were pretty optimistic that the design called Modals would win. The modal-based UX paradigm was intended to act like a one-page app and solve the common back and forth problem of loading search results, clicking on an item, going back, etc.
In addition to ignoring our users’ design preferences, though, we also wanted to try ignoring our own design instincts. So we designed versions that we hated: Ugly Banking Site, Landing Big Buttons, etc.
We shipped the PSDs off to PSD2HTML and got back the quotes: $295 for the simplest design, $972 for the most complex one.
We added two extras to the typical package:
Copy and paste in listing descriptions and photos from specific real listings from 42Floors instead of lorem ipsum placeholders Use Bootstrap to make editing easier for us
Even though these were going to be static mockups, they had to feel real to first-time visitors, otherwise the test results would be worthless. So, each mockup got rollovers, hovers, lists, and modals that showed real but pre-populated data.
Live testing
PSD2HTML finished in nine days at a cost of $4,197. The next day we uploaded eight folders of static HTML into /public/land/v1-8 in our Rails app. We cloned eight copies of our AdWords campaign and changed the destination URLs to match.
Then we waited.
The winner
The winning variation was Google Hover Clone — a 1:1 mockup of Google’s site preview pane.
We call that static test Hover1. Our criteria for picking the winner came down to one number: tour request rate. In other words, what percentage of users found a listing they liked and contacted it using a particular design. We use other data points to augment this core metric (bounce rate, time on site, number of listings viewed, search criteria revisions), but ultimately a variation only wins if it’s better than the control at getting users to an office space that they like.
We went on to build a working version called Hover2 and put it in production back in August. With it, the long-awaited conversion rate lift finally materialized. As of this writing, we’re on Hover3 and about to deploy a split test for Hover4.
PS – The strangest outcome of the process was that Ugly Banking Site had the lowest bounce rate of all the designs by a wide margin.OTTAWA – Tom Mulcair says a New Democrat government would revive the long-gun registry, minus the flaws that made the original registry so controversial.
The NDP leader says his party is committed to ensuring police have the ability to track firearms.
But it’s still working out the details of how to do that without running into the problems that plagued the Liberal-instituted registry that was scrapped by Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
Farmers and hunters strenuously objected to the registry, but Mulcair says requiring firearms to be registered is no different than the obligation to register a car or license a dog.
And he says duck hunters don’t need assault rifles, unless they’re planning to shoot a pterodactyl.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says he would not revive the gun registry because it was too divisive; he says there are other ways to reduce gun violence, including the classification of restricted or prohibited firearms and the criteria necessary to purchase a gun.When David Bowie played The Marquee Club in October 1973, most of those who attended at this famed small venue did not realise that this would be the last performance Bowie would ever give as Ziggy Stardust.
Terry O’Neill, celebrated photographer, was given unprecedented access to document the event; a command performance for the American television program ‘Midnight Special’ and a show Bowie would name ‘The 1980 Floor Show‘. O’Neill captured Bowie and his crew backstage as they went through costume changes, and on-stage Bowie as he transformed into the character he’d soon put to rest. As O’Neill dodged television cameras and lights, he captured this significant moment in music history.
O’Neill remembers, “Bowie became a character when he performed. As much as a person takes a role in a play for the West End or on Broadway, learning the lines, putting on the costumes – this was, I think, the way he treated his stage. That night at the Marquee, I witnessed a modern-day Hamlet – and it was Ziggy Stardust”.
Award-winning music writer Daniel Rachel interviews key contributors from that day, including O’Neill, Ava Cherry, Amanda Lear, Suzi Ronson and Geoff MacCormack – along with new insights and memories from fans who were in the audience who played witness to this incredible moment in music history.
This stunning paper-over-board book with a printed case will be packaged with a clear neon acetate jacket.
Published by ACC Editions, Due Mid October
Unsigned – £29.95 / Terry O’Neill Signed Edition – £60.00A TENT soared across the skies, clearing the tops of two bungalows as a pensioner watched on.
Joan Bond, 69, of Grove Road, in Forton, Gosport, was in her kitchen when she saw the wind carry the round tent into the air on Thursday.
She said: ‘I was watching out the kitchen window when I saw it sailing across two bungalows and it landed in somebody’s garden. I’ve seen all kinds at my age but this is a new one – I’ve lived all over the world, in South Africa and Ecuador, but I’ve never seen anything like this before.
‘It was completely together, it even had the front sheet on. There’s some funny things in Gosport but this was a new one on me.’ It happened at 2pm.11438
Nach Bedrohungen im Internet : AG München verhängt Facebook-Verbot 25.03.2014
Ein 21-Jähriger muss sechs Monate auf das soziale Netzwerk verzichten, andernfalls droht ihm eine zweijährige Jugendhaft. Der Jugendliche hatte via Facebook mehrere Schülerinnen sexuell belästigt und bedroht.
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Vor dem Amtsgericht (AG) München hatte sich ein 21-Jähriger zu verantworten, der mittels Facebook mehrere weibliche Jugendliche bedroht und sexuell belästigt hatte.
Das Urteil: Zwei Jahre Jugendhaft. Ob es dazu kommt, ist hingegen noch fraglich und soll sich erst nach einer sechsmonatigen Vorbewährungszeit entscheiden. In dieser gilt für den Jugendlichen ein strenges Facebook-Verbot. Halte er sich nicht daran, werde die Sozialprognose sehr wahrscheinlich negativ ausfallen, so das Gericht. Aufgrund dieser Prognose werde auch entschieden, ob die Jugendstrafe zur Bewährung ausgesetzt wird oder nicht (Urt. v. 24.03.2014, Az. 1013 LS).
Nach Angaben des Gerichts seien Mitarbeiter der Polizei damit beauftragt, die interaktive Tätigkeit des Jugendlichen zu kontrollieren. Aber schon die mediale Berichterstattung könne dafür sorgen, dass der Verurteilte das soziale Netzwerk in nächster Zeit meidet.
una/LTO-RedaktionIt's a program training people to become law enforcement officers. But now there's concern it is out of control.
10Investigates first uncovered one student's problem with the Law Enforcement Academy at St. Petersburg College. Now we are hearing from others who say it is a much biggest issue.
Former recruit, Lori Mento, says of the program, “It was hard, but I survived.”
We reminded Mento she almost didn’t to which replied, “Ya, I almost didn’t.”
Former female police recruit sues over injuries
Mento is talking about her injury during training at the Law Enforcement Academy. A 2002 accident report says Mento was hurt when she bumped into a window during a physical confrontation exercise with her instructor Rick Tapia.
However, Mento disagrees with the wording of the accident report explaining, “That never would have happened if I just bumped into a window.”
And when the college investigated the incident it agreed with Mento and determined she was forced through a window. Mento says her leg was sliced open and she nearly bled to death.
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“Everybody just panicked,“ Mento said. “The instructor grabbed my leg, got some shirts from the guys and put it on my leg and kept me from bleeding out.”
Mento filed a lawsuit claiming it was known the training's location was dangerous.
But she says the worst part about the whole ordeal was that her instructor got an award for saving her life. The same instructor who she says forced her through the window.
Mento recalls, “They described the situation that I fell out of a plate-glass window and that he saved me from bleeding out and I thought that is wrong, that's not what happened.”
Mento ended up settling for $45,000.
That's taxpayer money! Your money.
Tapia is the same person accused of causing several injuries to Kathleen DeNardi during her training. She says she was forced to box against men twice her size.
We caught up with Tapia as he was conducting a physical training class on the street outside the college.
“She was boxing with guys,” we told him, but Tapia disagreed saying “She was doing light sparing, boxing is over the top, but she was doing light sparing.”
When we showed Tapia the pictures of her two black eyes and noted she ended up in the hospital we told him, “It looks pretty bad there.”
Tapia responded, “Appearance look worse than they are.”
Tapia couldn't say much more because of a pending lawsuit from DeNardi.
Now to Amy Andrews. She filled her own suit against the college after she was hurt in physical training forcing her to abandon a law enforcement career. That suit resulted in $15,000 settlement.
Again - taxpayer money. Your money.
DeNardi’ s attorney, John McGuire, sent this letter to Gov. Rick Scott saying the program is not safe.
McGuire says, “I have asked the governor to suspend the program entirely until this been proven safe for the students with St Pete college protocol.”
Following our investigation, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is reviewing the program.
But it's not just women making these claims.
Robert Bechard was hospitalized twice during his training and didn't graduate. Bechard says, “The program in my personal opinion is out of control and I would say the same thing even if a did graduate. The program's out of control it needs to be shut down revamped it needs to change.”
The college and Tapia say they cannot comment because they have been put on notice that an as the result of DeNardi’ s injuries. Right after our first story we received comments some saying Tapia is a great trainer.
And St. Petersburg College released this statement about the overall program: “During defensive and physical training there are inherent risks as recruits put into practice these skills and participate in demonstrations. In fact, as has been reported, there were two dozen reported injuries in the last five years in the law enforcement academies. The majority of these injuries were minor, and the recruits were treated and returned to class. It is unfortunate that some have chosen to misrepresent this program, which has an outstanding reputation and is nightly respected by the law enforcement community.”WASHINGTON—House lawmakers passed legislation Thursday that would make suspected membership in the violent MS-13 street gang a sufficient cause for deportation.
It is not clear whether the bill will pass the Senate, but President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill if it reaches his desk.
President Trump has cited the violent acts of MS-13 as a prime example of why securing the border and overhauling the current immigration system is of paramount importance to the nation. Many MS-13 members are in the United States illegally, but some MS-13 members are immigrants currently in this country legally. Still others are Americans who have been recruited.
The House passed H.R. 3697 in response to MS-13’s growing violence and its ties to Mexican drug cartels. Section 2(b) of the bill makes suspected membership in a “criminal gang” (including MS-13) sufficient cause to ban for life a foreigner from entering the United States. Section 2(c) of the bill makes membership in a criminal gang or involvement in any criminal gang activity grounds for immediate deportation.
Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA) introduced the bill. She was joined by several congressmen representing different wings of the GOP as original cosponsors, including Rep. Raul Labrador (R-ID) from the conservative-libertarian wing, Rep. Peter King (R-NY) from the moderate wing, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) from the mainstream conservative block of the GOP.
H.R. 3697 passed the House on September 14, by a vote of 233-175 on almost a straight party-line vote. Republicans favored the bill 222-1, while Democrats opposed the bill 11-174. Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) was the sole Republican to vote against Comstock’s bill.
The legislation is opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union and other left wing civil-rights groups, who claim that the legislation is inconsistent with due process and other constitutional rights.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. The House has approved 250 bills this year that have not passed the Senate.
Ken Klukowski is senior legal editor for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @kenklukowski.A language becomes extinct when its last speaker dies, but some argue that language death really occurs when the second last speaker dies, because for the lone remaining speaker, there is no one left to talk to.
The curious story of Ayapaneco, an endangered language from the state of Tabasco in Mexico, sparked worldwide interest when it was reported that the last two speakers of the language were not speaking to each other. What a thought! It is the expressive richness of language, the use of our own native tongues, that allows us to explore, fluidly and fluently, what it means to be human, to strengthen social bonds within our communities, to understand and be understood. The very notion of knowing a native language, the one in which you can best express yourself, and not being able to use it ever again, is poignant to say the least.
The telecommunications company Vodafone found it dramatic enough to conduct a rather ham-fisted viral marketing push around ‘revitalizing’ the critically endangered language. Though the real story may have been more complex, it is the idea that so many of the world’s languages, represented by one lonely last speaker who has no one left to talk to, are in urgent need of urgent rescue from extinction that many find compelling.
Consider that of the world’s 6,500 odd languages, roughly half are in danger of extinction within the century, as reported in Mark Turin’s 2012 paper on endangered languages. Furthermore, as the study states, “According to conservative estimates, 97% of the world’s people speak 4% of the world’s languages. Conversely, 96% of the world’s languages are spoken by 3% of the worlds people. Over 1,500 languages – one quarter of the total number of living speech forms – have fewer than 1,000 speakers. We now know that at least 50% of the world’s languages are losing speakers, some of them at a dramatic rate. Up to 90% of the world’s speech forms may be replaced by dominant regional, national or international languages by 2100.” David Crystal “suggests that an average of one language every 2 weeks may vanish over the next 100 years” and states that around 70 languages have got just one speaker left.
The situation, in a nutshell, is critical, and is what some have dramatically termed ‘linguicide’. As Turin puts it “certain languages are simply so socially dynamic, economically effective, politically well positioned, and downright successful that they eat up other speech forms… We may have to concede that the nicer that people are with one another (socially, economically and physically), the nastier that their languages are with each other.” That is to say, the more people want to interact and connect in a global, modern world using literate technologies that reach long distances and remote areas, the more dominant languages, such as English, Chinese, Spanish and the other usual suspects suppress and obliterate less well-known and well-travelled languages, linguistically and socially isolated languages, many of which (around 40%) have an oral tradition and no writing system.
On the surface, there isn’t anything wrong with people wanting to communicate with each other in a language they all understand. A global language certainly has its advantages. But it isn’t all beer and skittles. In the past many dominant languages rose to prominence through direct, violent or punitive colonial policies targeting indigenous and ancestral languages, including massacre and even genocide, setting off an inevitable trend towards language obsolescence. Modern factors are rather more insidious and harder to mitigate. According to Kenneth Hale, “language loss in the modern period is of a different character, in its extent and in its implications. It is part of a much larger process of LOSS OF CULTURAL AND INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY in which politically dominant languages and cultures simply overwhelm indigenous local languages and cultures, placing them in a condition which can only be described as embattled. The process is not unrelated to the simultaneous loss of diversity in the zoological and botanical worlds.” In the face of fast-paced industrialized life, the diversity of the world’s languages, much like ecological diversity, is in peril. Linguists are racing to document and preserve as much linguistic knowledge as possible but revitalization requires both community and political will and engagement to do more than simply recording a language’s words and structure before helplessly watching it die.
“It is agonising to stand beyond and watch one’s own community as it moves towards death. It is rare to be able to stand inside and watch, feel and ultimately understand as one’s culture and language are swallowed up by the forces of a larger world; and to survive the catastrophe alive, but a different person, suddenly a part of the rogue species itself”, Peggy Mohan reflects in her study on language death.
For some communities with healthier native speaker populations, modern technology and modern culture can go a long way in helping to revitalize their own native tongues, by encouraging young people to learn, play and create with their own community languages. Many of the last remaining speakers of critically endangered languages, now in the last years of their lives, are working tirelessly with linguists to record their lost language, building word lists and dictionaries and educational materials for future generations, such as Marie Wilcox, the last fluent speaker of the Wukchumni language.
For other linguistically isolated communities, some might think it would have been better if they’d never made contact with the modern world in the first place. In 2012, the Mashco-Piro Indian tribe of Peru, one of fifteen uncontacted groups in the Amazon, killed the only person who could communicate with them. The bewildering crime appeared deliberate as they called out to Nicolas “Shaco” Flores by name, a local Matsiguenka Indian who could communicate with them as he knew two related dialects, before shooting him. This seemed to be a determined warning against the modern world encroaching upon an older culture. Governments in Peru and Brazil have acted to shield remote tribes from contact but even so, inevitable interactions with the modern world may have a devastating impact on the health of the tribe. One such case is that of the most isolated man on the planet, so called by Slate, the last remaining member of an Amazonian tribe who has so far avoided all contact with modern society.
Without contact and collaboration with linguists, the culture and language of a remote community might be preserved in situ, but for how long? Once the sole member of a group dies without speaking to anyone, their linguistic knowledge will be lost forever. Those who have had to straddle the divide between the dormant ancestral language they knew as a child and the dominant language that replaced it at least have bilingualism to fall back on. As their ancestral language falls into disuse, from lack of people to talk to, they become less practiced as speakers and are more like ‘rememberers’ of a language, where the dominant language may well color their linguistic memories. The loss may not be immediately apparent as these speakers can still talk and interact with others in their local and wider communities, even if it is no longer in their mother tongue.
For Boa Sr., the last native speaker of Aka-Bo of the Andaman Islands in India, one of the world’s oldest languages, later life was much lonelier without anyone who she could speak to in her own language. According to Professor Anvita Abbi, a linguist who knew Boa Sr. well, “after the death of her parents, Boa was the last Bo speaker for 30 to 40 years. […] Since she was the only speaker of [Bo] she was very lonely as she had no one to converse with […] and had to learn an Andamanese version of Hindi in order to communicate with people.” Boa Sr. considered the nearby Jarawa tribe, who had not been nearly as affected as hers had been by interactions with the modern world, lucky to be able to live in the forest away from settlers. With the recent death of Boa Sr. in 2010, Aka-Bo became an extinct language, a devastating loss for the world’s linguistic diversity.
Many of us understand the urgency in protecting the natural world’s endangered species, if the melancholy depiction of lone pandas and polar bears are anything to go by, but do we recognize the importance in protecting and revitalizing our own human languages, to prevent the handful of speakers of centuries old languages from being the last of their kind?Is digital currency finally moving from mania to mainstream?
Digital Currency Primer Digital currencies are “mined,” traded and exchanged. (The Chicago Federal Reserve has published Bitcoin: A Primer. Bitcoin.org and Blockchain.info which are repositories for information and transactions. And numerous Bitcoin exchanges exist around the world for swapping Bitcoin with other currency.) According to the Chicago Fed, Bitcoin is a fiduciary currency and “inherently fragile.” Most fiduciary currency derives its value from “government fiat,” which means the government says it has value or at least someone else is willing to accept it as valuable. This is in contrast to commodity-based currency which is itself often a precious metal of value.
In the past few weeks, Bitcoin — the most widely used digital or virtual currency — has “gone parabolic,” as financial market watchers like to say, soaring from a value of $800 to $1200, then rapidly losing half as much as half its value after a Chinese exchange stopped accepting yuan deposits.
Despite the volatility, Bitcoin and other virtual currencies have captured the world’s collective imagination. Not so much for their use, but more for what the emerging phenomena say about the global economy, government-issued fiat currencies and central bank policies.
To true believers — and even some academics and wealth managers — investors should hold Bitcoin in addition to gold and other alternatives to help diversify their existing portfolio of investments.
But not so fast, say others. It’s a volatile and unproven currency, often fluctuating more than 10% in one day. The US dollar? Fractions of a percent. Same for the euro, the Japanese yen, the British pound. Even gold’s rapid decline in 2013 has been measured on a daily basis, aside from a 9% drop on April 15.
In the spotlight
So, should consumers be joining the digital currency revolution, and holding Bitcoin alongside other alternatives like gold?
Not exactly. But the increasing volume of alternative, cross-border currency is still worthy of attention. Even legitimate currency strategists from both Citigroup and Bank of America Merrill Lynch have attempted to tackle Bitcoin’s place in the world. But there’s also broad concern.
A hearing on the “risks, threats and promises” of virtual currencies was recently held by a US Senate committee. The People’s Bank of China has moved to bar financial institutions from Bitcoin transactions. Other central banks — in France and South Korea, for example — have issued consumer warnings on Bitcoin, cautioning buyers and merchants that its volatility could undermine its utility.
Former US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who coined the term “irrational exuberance” to explain the Japanese real estate bubble and, in turn, warn about late 1990s tech stock valuations, has said that digital currencies have no “intrinsic value.” Outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke, however, took a more hedged approach, saying that virtual currencies “may have long-term promise.”
Still, for many people, the lure of Bitcoin and other alternative currencies may be too much to ignore. Treading cautiously — and understanding the pitfalls — is key to mitigating your risk of getting burned.
“Technology is a tremendously disruptive force in society, and it knows no boundaries,” said Nicholas Colas, chief market strategist for broker ConvergEx, in reference to the advance and hype around Bitcoin.
How, exactly, does digital currency work?
Created in 2009, Bitcoin are finite (21 million will ultimately exist) and can be transacted in units as low as one “Satoshi” or 0.00000001 BTC, as Bitcoin are abbreviated. Bitcoin are created and recorded on a decentralized computer network, which work together to verify the “mining” of new Bitcoins and cross-reference and record any Bitcoin transaction.
Bitcoins move from one owner to the next when each party to a transaction sends (and confirms) an exchange. It could be anything from an online purchase to an international money transfer to settling a sports bet. Transactions are then verified across the network, to prevent double-spending of Bitcoin.
As described by a Chicago Federal Reserve primer, Bitcoin and other digital currencies are “inherently fragile” because there’s no way to gauge actual value or price. Buyers and sellers of the currency can debate its value or one side can simply chose not to accept it as payment. The value of official currencies, also called legal tender, is not ever in dispute.
Virtual utility?
Early on, Bitcoin was used to pay software programmers for their time and effort developing Bitcoin protocols, but its use has extended to general merchandise, online gambling, and, until recently, an intricate illegal drug-dealing network called “The Silk Road.”
So far, though, no major retailer has opened up their cash registers for volatile digital currencies. So the currency is used mainly by an ad hoc network of small buyers and sellers, although their numbers are growing.
Bank of America Merrill Lynch FX and Rates Strategist David Woo attempted to divine a fair value for Bitcoin, triangulating its usage in e-commerce and money transfer and its use as a store of value. Woo pointed out that Bitcoin’s volatility undermines its role as a medium of exchange — that is transactions plummet as volatility rises.
In spite of this, Woo wrote in his note that Bitcoin’s low transaction costs can make it attractive: it is inherently a peer-to-peer currency system and doesn’t require banks or other financial intermediaries to take their cut on transfers or storage. Its encrypted format also makes it more impervious than cash to theft or counterfeiting, he said. That said, Bitcoin exchanges have been hacked and suffered network outages, resulting in wild price fluctuations and stolen Bitcoins.
“The combination of legal tender status and supply anchors the value of dollars in transactions in a way that Bitcoin will never be anchored,” said CitiFX strategist Steven Englander.
And then there’s the competition. Developers for other digital currencies such as Litecoin and open-source payment networks are constantly looking to improve upon (replace) Bitcoin. It’s an “issue that the internet currencies will not be able to overcome easily,” said Englander.
Considering the traditional national and international system of currency that exists today, it’s not unreasonable to think cooperating governments could eventually come together to build in some of the features of a digital currency — with transaction verification and security to limit fraud and theft. They could “steal” some of the appeal of Bitcoin by making the alternative safer.
In our networked world, we often see companies and governments work to cut out alternative (sometimes illicit) activity and bring it to light.
Napster was co-opted first by litigation, then by Apple and iTunes. In the US, marijuana prices have been challenged by fresh legality in various states. Even loan-sharking in emerging economies has been diminished by innovative micro-lending platforms.
Eventually Bitcoin will be challenged when governments, banks, merchants and individuals at the centre |
-documented and worth mentioning.
Integrations are not Possible
Most sites run at least some third party integration. These just are not possible with AMP because of the way it caches the pages on Google. That means some of the tools you use to increase conversions or increase the order amount will not be used with AMP. Some of the common integrations we see that are not able to be used are:
Yotpo or other review platforms, so reviews are not shown
Trust seals, like SSL seals or payment gateway seals
Product recommendation engines like Nosto or Segmentify do not work
Search services like Algolia and others will not work
Financing services like Time Payment do not work on AMP
A/B testing is not supported
If your mobile site relies on any of these services or features, AMP will remove them all. Its starting to become clear how limited AMP is. Honestly, to me, it is a one trick pony. Is speed all it takes to close sales? I for one do not think so.
What About the Ranking Boost
If you have been told there is a ranking boost by using Google AMP, you have been lied to. The world of SEO sometimes seems like a mystical world, sometimes it is hard to understand how one thing will affect another that might affect rankings. But there are some clear things. When the people at Google talk, people in the SEO industry listen. Here is an official tweet on the matter that should put AMP as a ranking signal to rest.
AMP isn’t a ranking factor; if you decide to disable it, make sure to redirect appropriately. — John ☆.o(≧▽≦)o.☆ (@JohnMu) January 25, 2017
As much as some developers and module sellers want you to think that AMP is a ranking factor, you have read from the horses mouth that it is not.
But the speed
AMP is geared around speed. It strips everything that can slow a page loading time out to make it faster, features in some cases are stripped. A lot of the speed actually comes from loading the site through Google’s CDN network. Because of how AMP is designed, it will detect a the browser and refer to the desktop version in most tests. This makes actually testing an AMP cached site for speed very difficult. After a lot testing around I was actually able to find a way to test AMP pages versus mobile sites for their speed. Using GTmetrix from the Vancouver testing location you can test with a mobile browser. Google does not redirect the page, so you are able to test the AMP speed directly.
The first series of tests are ran on ebay, since they are a well known early adopter of AMP. For the tests the I used the Vancouver location and the Chrome Android Galaxy Nexus settings for both tests. I tested them both unthrottled as well. Exact same tests the AMP cached page and the regular Ebay mobile page. One thing to note, you do need a free GTmetrix account to be able to change the testing to these settings.
You can see in the first test that ebay without AMP loads almost 2 seconds faster than with AMP. The page size for the AMP site is almost twice as big as well. Another thing to note, is that with AMP the scores are better for PageSpeed and YSlow. Does better scores negate the almost 2 seconds extra load time?
These results have to be an outlier, right? Why would people use AMP if it actually slowed things down? I felt the same way, so I tested some more site. These next tests are done from OverStock’s site on a leather recliner landing page.
Looking at the two different examples above does AMP seem worth it to you? Especially when you consider that some elements you might use for conversion factors will have to be disabled. I cannot say I would recommend using AMP by looking at these tests.
Conclusion
Taking everything into consideration, I would decline recommending AMP for e-commerce sites. AMP itself is too limited, even if the speed increases that are promised are there, I don’t think I could recommend it because of the limitations. Almost everything that is limited on AMP has an actual conversion value. So you would have to weight the speed against the value of the conversion addons. Would your site loading 1 second faster be worth turning off a one click buying option for mobile users? Which would result in more conversions? Would having category pages that cannot be filtered be worth having a speed increase? I just don’t think the benefits outweigh the disadvantages in using AMP for an e-commerce site.
Have a different opinion? Let me know below in the comments.CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson announced on Monday that she had resigned from the network after more than two decades, and sources say her departure stems from disagreements over her former employer’s alleged bias.
Attkisson, an Emmy Award-winning journalist who previously worked for CNN, confirmed that she left CBS News with a single five-word message sent from her Twitter account on Monday afternoon.
“I have resigned from CBS,” she wrote.
Moments later, Politico writer Dylan Byers reported on her exit and included remarks made by sources who say they’re familiar with Attkisson’s departure from CBS.
Referring to allegations made by several unnamed sources, Byers wrote that Attkisson “had grown frustrated with what she saw as the network’s liberal bias, an outsize influence by the network’s corporate partners and a lack of dedication to investigative reporting.”
Attkisson has made a name for herself among fellow Washington journalist in recent years as a staunch critic of the Obama administration, and reported exhaustively on the Justice Department’s botched Operation Fast and Furious gun-running scheme and other DC scandals. According to Amazon, she is expected to release a book later this year tentatively titled “Stonewalled: One Reporter's Fight for Truth in Obama's Washington.”
Brains & artistry behind my 2013 Emmy for Outstanding Investigative Journalism:Producer Kim Skeen,Editor Nancy Wyatt. pic.twitter.com/LHYrCyLGp1 — Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) October 12, 2013
Other work attributed to Attkisson in recent months have included reports on the September 2012 storming of the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya and the tainted roll-out of the Affordable Care Act website by the White House, earning her the admiration of several contributors from the conservative-leaning Fox News network, including Stephen Hayes and Sean Hannity.
According to another report published on Monday by Erik Wemple at the Washington Post, Attkisson has become increasingly frustrated in recent months because her reporting on Benghazi and other matters have been routinely nixed from television broadcasts of The CBS Evening News. Wemple went on to site an unnamed source at CBS who said that Attkisson felt she was being kept off the air “because of political considerations.”
In Byers’ article for Politico, he alleged that those frustrations were severe enough that Attkisson approached management with her concerns nearly a year ago.
“Feeling increasingly stymied and marginalized at the network, Attkisson began talking to CBS News President David Rhodes as early as last April about getting out of her contract,” Byers added. “Those negotiations intensified in recent weeks, and her request was finally honored on Monday.”
“It’s been one of life’s great privileges to work at CBS News, and I’m sincerely grateful for the many opportunities I’ve had,” Attkisson said in a statement.Share 0 SHARES
PARENTS OF innocent young people today are being warned to protect their sons and daughters from an evil rave drugs DJ who is on the prowl in Dublin city tonight.
Gardai stated that a known dance music disc jockey by the name of Hardwell is expected to lure thousands of unsuspecting youths from the safety of their homes, to take part in a ‘cultist ritual of sex, drugs and violence’.
The DJ, who has been called a modern day Pied Piper by parental groups, will begin the debauchery at around 8pm in the O2 Arena.
Parents are being asked to do everything in their power to restrain their children from going to the event.
“We believe Hardwell’s music seduces young people into a semi-state trance through the medium of rave music,” a Garda spokesman told WWN earlier. “Many 16-25 year olds are persuaded by subliminal messages in the music, which secretly tells them to come to the rave and lose their poor little vulnerable minds.”
Last night in Belfast, about 50 teenagers had to be treated for the effects of Mr. Hardwell’s evil rave magic. Teenagers as young as 15 were said to be ‘dancing like lunatics’ for long periods of time without even stopping once to take a breath.
“They were obviously possessed by the rave music or something.” said one eyewitness, who stopped her daughter entering the rave just in time. “I was warned by other parents about the sick bastard. Luckily I found my Jessica just outside the arena about to ruin her life. I immediately ran over to her with fluffy ear muffs to break the spell. She’s at home now. Disorientated still, but safe.
Gardai in Dublin have been given 50,000 earmuffs to distribute tonight around the city centre, and have asked parents to just be aware of the influential powers of rave music upon young people.As you know, baseball projections, or any projections for that matter, are never a sure thing, especially when they consist of nothing but educated guesses, as mine do. Projection systems like Steamer and ZiPS, which you can find on FanGraphs lovely site, are much more accurate, because they use complicated and in-depth formulas and models to make their decisions on players. As for me, I simply did some research and predicted the results on my own.
But even though my projections were purely guesses, I still had my share of correct calls. Here’s where I went right:
Adam Lind
AVG HR wOBA wRC+ OBP ISO K% BB% WAR Projection.279 18.353 122.340 0.181 18.7% 7.8% 1.5 Season Stats.277 20.351 119.360 0.183 17.5% 11.5% 2.2
Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I was dead on when it came to projecting LInd. Aside from his on-base percentage and walk rate, I was just one or two points off on every offensive statistic. His WAR was higher than I thought it’d be; credit that to his glove. His 5 Defensive Runs Saved at first base was far and away a career high.
Though it’s not saying much, Lind had one of the best offensive seasons on the Brewers in 2015. He got on base more than any Brewer not named Gerardo Parra, and he rediscovered his power swing after hitting just six home runs a year ago.
2016 outlook: Don’t be surprised if Lind is traded this winter. New general manager David Stearns already cleaned house with the coaching staff and has reorganized the front office. It’s only a matter of time before he starts moving player personnel.
Ryan Braun
AVG HR wOBA wRC+ OBP ISO K% BB% WAR Projection.308 26.368 140.378.220 18.2% 8.9% 4.5 Season Stats.285 25.366 129.356.213 20.2% 9.5% 2.8
Okay, okay, I know there’s a huge discrepancy in Braun’s projected Wins Above Replacement and his actual WAR. I thought he was going to improve at least a little in right field since he had a whole year there under his belt. but he was just as pitiful as he was in 2014.
However, my prediction that he would transform back into one of baseball’s best hitters came true. Braun put up his highest ISO since 2012 and finished 29th in all of baseball in weighted runs created plus.
2016 outlook: With his extension just about to kick in, it’ll be tough to trade Braun, no matter how badly Stearns wants to. Nonetheless, Braun proved he can still hit with the elite, and he should continue that next season.
Scooter Gennett
AVG HR wOBA wRC+ OBP ISO K% BB% WAR Projection.268 6.310 95.314.125 17.0% 4.1% 1.4 Season Stats.264 6.289 77.294.117 17.4% 3.1% 0.2
As regular readers know, I’ve never been a fan of Scooter Gennett. Every time I see him at the plate, I shed a tear for the departed Rickie Weeks. Sigh.
I knew Gennett was going to have a below-average season, which is why I’m counting this as a win for my projections. Yet, I didn’t expect him to be so abysmal that I was rooting for Hector Gomez to take over his second-base job. He played no better than a replacement player. Offensively, he was useless, and his defense took a big slide as well.
2016 outlook: Honestly, I can’t imagine Gennett having a major-league job next year. Oh wait. The Brewers are rebuilding, which means Gennett will absolutely be on the team’s roster, unfortunately. Unless Milwaukee is ready to give one of their younger prospects a try. I mean, why not?
Jeremy Jeffress
ERA FIP xFIP SIERA HR K% BB% GB% WAR Projection 2.62 3.11 3.00 2.59 4 21.9% 9.6% 57.4% 1.0 Season Stats 2.65 3.22 3.00 2.85 5 23.5% 7.7% 58.2% 0.8
Before the season started, I wrote that Jeremy Jeffress would be MLB’s next top closer sometime in the near future, and after the stand-out numbers he racked together as the setup man in 2015, I’m even more confident in saying that. I called this one almost perfectly.
Jeffress is a strikeout and ground-ball pitcher, and he proved that over a full season for the first time in his career. He struck out almost nine batters per game and his GB% was the 17th-best among qualified relievers, mostly due to his power sinker.
2016: Jeffress will again be Craig Counsell‘s go-to-guy in high leverage situations next season, and he even could slide into the closer’s role if the Brewers choose to shed money and a veteran by trading Francisco Rodriguez.
You can check out my full list of projections here:
Hitters
PitchersJust a little something with which I’ve been idly occupying spare brain cycles lately… read on for an interesting puzzle.
Warm up: counting lambda terms
Consider a stripped-down version of Haskell’s type system with only natural numbers, polymorphism, functions, and tuples: no type classes, no algebraic data types, no base types other than Nat, and no bottom/undefined. (For those versed in the PL lingo, I mean System F extended with pairs — or we could even Church-encode the pairs, it doesn’t matter.)
Now for an easy warm-up exercise: for each of the following types, how many different terms are there with the given type? By different I mean observably different; two terms are different if and only if there exist inputs for which they produce different outputs. For example, and are different, since they can be distinguished by passing them the arguments (say) and. However, and are indistinguishable.
Remember, you can only use lambda, function application, and tupling. Using undefined in particular does not count.
The answers (stop reading if you want to work out the answers for yourself):
One (the identity function). Two: we can return either the first or the second argument. (This is the type of Church-encoded booleans.) Four: return the first value twice, or the second value twice, or both in either order. Eight: there are four ways to apply the two functions to the two values of type (apply one of them to both, or match them up one-to-one), and then two ways to order the results. Whoops, even I found this one tricky. Thanks to gasche for the correct answer (sixteen); see the comments. Omega: we can apply the function to the second argument any natural number of times.
Hopefully you didn’t find that too hard (although perhaps you found the fourth one a bit tricky). Now for a few more (easy) warm-up questions (I won’t bother giving the answers):
Can you write down a type with exactly three different inhabitants? Can you come up with a scheme for constructing types inhabited by any given natural number of different terms?
Counting linear lambda terms
And now for the interesting twist. We will now restrict ourselves to only linear lambda terms. By a “linear” term I mean, intuitively, one in which every input is used exactly once: inputs may be neither ignored nor duplicated. Put another way, every time we see, must occur free in exactly once. (Note, however, that type arguments may be used multiple times.) For example, is linear, but is not (since is used twice), nor is (since is ignored). For dealing with tuples, assume there are no projection functions like fst or snd, only pattern-matching like ; hence, using a tuple linearly simply means using each of its components exactly once. We could make all of this fully precise with a suitable type system, of course, but I hope this intuitive explanation will suffice.
Now go back and look at the four types listed above. How many linear inhabitants does each type have?
OK, that’s slightly more interesting but still not that hard; hopefully you came up with one, zero, two, four, and one. But now for the fun:
Can you write down a type with exactly three different linear inhabitants? Can you come up with a scheme for constructing types inhabited by any given natural number of different linear terms? If not, can you characterize the natural numbers for which such types do exist?
I’ll write more in a future post. For now, have fun, and feel free to post discussions, questions, solutions, etc. in the comments.
39.953605 -75.213937
AdvertisementsSo I just found this tweet that I made on January 2nd of this year…
As it states, it is odd for me to be sad when the holidays end. I have always enjoyed the holidays for the most part but having social anxiety and generally fighting depression throughout the winter months, spring time is always an incredibly welcome time for me.
I actually remember writing this tweet and I remember how sad I really felt. I was sitting in my living room looking around at the Christmas decor and sad to know that it was time to take it down. That may not seem weird to most but for me it is incredibly out of character. And now looking back.. I wonder…
Did something inside of me sense that this room would be the last place I ever saw my mother alive? Did I somehow know that the next day would be the last birthday my mother ever celebrated? Did I know that just 47 days later she would be gone from this world forever?
It feels like somehow my heart knew and was desperate to hang on to this particular winter even though I don’t generally enjoy winters because that particular upcoming spring would be the hardest season of my entire life. I know it might sound crazy but it feels like a part of me knew.
Is it just that hindsight is 20/20??
Or is there something more there? Does the world.. or God.. or the deep almost spiritually bond that we have with certain people warn us of upcoming danger??
I think it might. I think there is something there that helps to cushion the blow somehow, that helps to break the impending fall even if just a fraction. Something that tries desperately to warn us in one way or another.
I could be crazy.. or I could be on to something. I’ll let you know when I figure out which it is…
AdvertisementsThere were many disagreements during Thursday night’s GOP presidential debate in Detroit, but frontrunners Donald Trump and Ted Cruz agreed on one thing: Money buys influence in politics.
Cruz challenged Trump for making campaign contributions to Democrats. Trump responded by saying that he has “supported Democrats, and I’ve supported Republicans. And as a businessman, I owed that to my company, to my family, to my workers, to everybody to get along.”
His clear implication was that financial support to politicians helped him advance his business interests.
Cruz allowed that making campaign contributions as a way of buying influence was understandable:
Donald mentioned a moment ago that he was just doing business when he was writing checks to liberal Democrats. But that’s not, in fact, the checks he was writing. Listen, we could all understand if you write a check to a city commission because you’re looking for a zoning waiver on building a building. That may be corrupt, but you could understand real estate developers doing that.
Cruz instead accused Trump of making the contributions as an expression of his political support — which, of course, is the only historically acceptable reason to give money to campaigns:
That’s not what Donald Trump did. Donald Trump supported Jimmy Carter over Ronald Reagan. Donald supported John Kerry over George W. Bush. If you don’t like Obamacare, Donald Trump funded Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi taking over Congress to pass Obamacare.
Trump objected that his contributions were not political in nature, but purely transactional:
Actually, it was for business. It was. It was. It was for business. I pride myself, including outside of the United States. I’m doing almost 120 deals outside of the — which I hope to be able to stop very soon and let my children handle it — but we’re doing many, many deals outside of the United States. I support politicians. In 2008, I supported Hillary Clinton. I supported many other people, by the way. And that was because of the fact that I’m in business.
Neither the moderators nor the other candidates objected to this characterization of political giving. In a political campaign full of smoke and mirrors, it was a rare moment of brazen honesty about the corruption in our system.
Related:Persona 3 and 4 came at me during a crucial turning point in my life. It was when I was a teenager, testing my boundaries for the first time, messily jumping into relationships for the hell of it, and trying to do the general opposite of whatever anyone told me to. At that time, these two Shin Megami Tensei spin-offs seemed to understand me. They were two very edgy, very teenage games – perfect for a scrawny edgelord like myself. The focus on making friends, fighting the system, and understanding something that adults just didn’t get made me feel like I was a little less alone in the world – like someone out there got it. While Persona 5, the much-anticipated and much-delayed sequel to its smash-hit 2008 predecessor, doesn’t quite resonate with me as much as previous entries did, it managed to warm the cockles of my cynical heart and remind me how important this series was to me back then.
Part of that is how easily relatable I can see the plot being for its core demographic around the world. It’s something I could see sixteen-year-old me thinking is deep or profound, simply because the word “politics” gets thrown around a whole lot. The basic gist, without giving away too much, is that the protagonist was framed for an attempted assault on a woman. In reality, the perpetrator was a politician with a striking resemblance to Howie Mandel, but because the system is corrupt, the protagonist was pinned with the crime and put on probation. Cue an uncomfortable move to the big city and frightened looks from classmates at the new kid. As it turns out, however, the protagonist’s predicament is just one of many in a series of stories of privileged elite screwing over society. Those stories aren’t just a strange coincidence – there’s a vast conspiracy at work, and by the game’s climax, it’s a whole lot larger than one may initially suspect. And because this is a Persona game, it’s up to a scrappy group of mismatched teens and a strange mascot to expose the conspiracy, save the world, and discover the magic of friendship along the way.
Yes, the theme of Persona 5 is “taking down the system,” and for teens the world over, I’m sure it’ll go over pretty well. After all, what’s more appealing than a group of skinny, good-looking pals teaming up with a talking cat, sticking it to corrupt authority figures, and becoming internet celebrities through their secret rebel club? It’s practically High Schooler Wish Fulfillment 101.
If you’re not in the intended demographic, though, I feel that the narrative here falls a little flat. Even when players uncover the dots connecting former Olympic medalists, rich painters, politicians, and the like, it all feels a little shallow and lacking in the insightful social commentary present in previous games. “The system’s rigged, man” doesn’t quite feel as transgressive or meaningful as “save Japan from a mental health crisis” or as terse as “stop this small-town serial killer.” In Persona 5’s attempt at making the narrative’s stakes feel higher, the result is a plot that goes bigger but loses focus along the way. Big words are thrown around to trick players into thinking it’s a lot smarter than it really is, but when taking a look at the big picture, it’s impossible to not see through the veil and realize it’s a generic “row row fight the power” yarn with stylish gloss and some particularly lovable characters.
Yet, that stylish gloss goes a long way – I didn’t necessarily hate Persona 5’s narrative, despite my snark. That’s mainly because it was delivered in such a fun, pulpy way that it managed to engross me for hours at a time. Yes, when I took a step away from it, it seemed pretty dumb. But in the moment, it was hard not to get lost in each plot twist or character development. Even the most overdone stories can be entertaining if delivered in the right way, and this game is very much proof of that. If only for a few fleeting moments, the story managed to sufficiently invest me in these edgy teens in their fight to save the world that I remembered what it was like being young and wanting to stick it to the man.
But while the story takes even more precedent over gameplay than previous games, Persona 5 is still very much a role-playing game at heart. Players do enough story bits to hit up a dungeon, gain levels through turn-based battles, and face down a big bad at the end. Yet, while that basic framework is still here, it’s done in a way that is almost guaranteed to divide more hardcore MegaTen fans. While Persona 3 and 4 adhered to an incarnation of Shin Megami Tensei’s “grind away until your numbers are high enough” formula in procedurally generated dungeons, Persona 5’s main dungeons go an entirely different route. For lack of a better comparison, they’re what happens to when Uncharted is thrown into a blender with role-playing mechanics. Players are guided down sets of corridors, and encouraged to take cover behind every manner of box and wall they can. Once in cover, they can take down enemies from behind using stealth and get a drop on them in battle via a simple contextual action. Along the way, they’ll solve pretty basic puzzles and engage in some contextual platforming.
On the one hand, it’s hard to knock how cool these dungeons look. Traipsing through castles, pyramids and space stations is something one doesn’t get to do in every JRPG, but they all tie into Persona 5’s larger problem – style over substance. These dungeons are, by the series’ standards, simple in their layout and easy to blaze through. Playing on a harder difficulty level doesn’t change the fact that this is a game designed for players to win and feel good about while playing it. Where legacy titles seemed gleeful in their attempts at destroying players’ will to continue as they stumble through dungeons, Persona 5 holds your hand every step of the way – no grinding necessary. It feels explicitly made for casual players who loved Persona 4 but thought it was a tad too hard. Now, the opposite problem is present – longtime fans will likely find the main game a tad easy, and pretty linear a la FinalFantasy XIII’s infamous corridors. Thankfully, the presence of Mementos, an optional series of dungeons that are essentially a subterranean riff on Persona 3’s Tartarus, helps give older fans something more significant to sink their teeth into.
Despite my misgivings about the overarching narrative, the simplified gameplay, the handhold-y nature of it all, it’s hard to deny one simple fact – I really do like Persona 5. Its combat is sublime, its visual stylings unlike anything on the market, its soundtrack one of Shoji Meguro’s finest works. My myriad nitpicks of the game sort of fall to the wayside when I’m playing it, because it is ultimately a very fun game filled with characters that are a real joy to spend time with. Even Atlus at their most watered-down provide an experience better than 90 per cent of RPGs on the market – a testament to their careful workmanship. Playing a turn-based battle feels like a tense struggle instead of just clicking around menus. Clicking through dialogue feels like talking with a person as opposed to just making the plot go. Navigating dungeons, even the most linear ones, still feels like something much more than just walking in a straight line. Persona 5 is a game that clearly has been diluted for mass appeal, but on the same token, that focus on casual players really makes it easy to just start playing and never stop. It helps that talking to demons to recruit them, a personal favourite series feature, has finally returned, and is just as clever as ever.
Is Persona 5 the best Persona game? Not really. The best MegaTen? Far from it. But it is, irrevocably, a cut above its contemporaries in terms of playability, breadth of content, and presentation. In a near-decade of endless Persona 4 knock-offs, it seems appropriate that Atlus should come back and show all of its imitators how it’s really done. While old-school fans like myself will likely be more appealed to the upcoming Strange Journey remake or Switch title, Persona 5 is a fun, fizzy experience that I suspect a younger audience will love to bits.
Oh, and Caroline and Justine are the best, and should be protected at all costs.The former Carson's Ribs on Ridge Avenue is one step closer to becoming a Starbucks, with room for an additional business. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Ben Woodard; JLL Property
EDGEWATER — A drive-thru Starbucks and adjacent commercial space are a step closer to becoming a reality at the former Carson's Ribs location on Ridge Avenue after city officials granted developers a special- use permit for the site.
The 22,000-square-foot building at 5970 N. Ridge Ave. has been empty since the restaurant closed in 2005 and was bought that same year with the hope of redevelopment, though those plans fell through and the property went to auction.
It was bought by Crossroads Partners, who on Friday received approval from the city's Zoning Board of Appeals for a special-use permit for a drive-thru lane and setback variance that will be needed for the landscape of the new structure developers hope to build.
That building includes a Starbucks coffee shop, which would utilize the drive-thru, as well as an adjacent 2,400-square-foot storefront and a small parking lot with about 21 spaces.
JLL property management group is seeking a tenant for the additional retail space, which can be used by another restaurant, or by a non-food business, said Val Vance, a Crossroads representative.
If all goes as planned, the building would open in 2018, Vance said.
The vacant structure there now would be demolished.
Plans for 5970 N. Ridge Ave. [JLL]Donald Trump’s transition team on Wednesday distanced itself from the questionnaire it sent to the Energy Department asking for a list of staffers and contractors who had been engaged in climate policy discussions.
“The questionnaire was not authorized or part of our standard protocol. The person who sent it has been properly counseled,” an unnamed Trump transition official told CNN.
The Trump team sent a questionnaire to the Energy Department asking for a list of employees who had attended United Nations meetings on climate and those who attended meetings for the interagency working group on the social cost of carbon, a metric used by the Obama administration to determine the impact of reducing carbon pollution. The Trump team also asked which programs are “essential to meeting the goals of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan.”
The Energy Department rejected the request to list certain staffers this week, noting that employees were “unsettled” by the questionnaire.
“The Department of Energy received significant feedback from our workforce throughout the department, including the National Labs, following the release of the transition team’s questions. Some of the questions asked left many in our workforce unsettled,” Energy Department Spokesman Eben Burnham-Snyder said in a statement. “We will be forthcoming with all publically-available information with the transition team. We will not be providing any individual names to the transition team.”
Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Oversight Committee sent a letter to Mike Pence on Wednesday asking for a copy of the questionnaire and other attempts to identify certain staffers in other departments. They warned that that targeting certain employees would be an “abuse of authority.”
“We are concerned that these efforts to single out particular Department employees involved in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may be an attempt to target DOE employees whose scientific views on climate change differ from those of the incoming Trump Administration,” Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) wrote in the letter.We use standard size 6 inch x 6 inch (15cm x 15cm) square origami paper for this site unless stated otherwise. If you can, use different types of origami paper to change the look of the finished origami and have fun with it!
These are currently our most popular origami:
Money Origami Ring
The money origami ring with a dollar bill gives new meaning to the words "dime-in ring" (ten dimes, to be exact!).
Made this origami? Comment and Submit your photo using the comment box at the end of this page!
For those not in the USA, the dimensions of a USA one dollar bill are height = 66mm (2.6 inch) and width = 156mm (6.1 inch).
Start with a crisp new dollar bill. First, turn the backside to face up.
Then fold over just the white edge portions, as show in the second photo:
Money Origami Ring
Now fold the bill in half, lengthwise.
Now fold the bill in half, lengthwise (is there an echo in here)?
Then fold the white edge near the end of the folded bill. Fold it away from you.
Next, fold the "1" at that same end, so that the "1" is centered in a little square of folded money.
Now curve the rest of the bill slightly, in preparation for the curve to be folded later.
Now lay the bill back down, and fold part of it upwards at 90 degrees, as shown.
The exact length of the horizontal portion depends on the size of your ring finger!
After you have folded the ring once and understand the process, the next time you should be able to measure your finger with the dollar bill and get fairly close to a perfect fit.
The piece of folded bill sticking up is now folded over the back of the horizontal piece, to end up straight down.
Then flip the whole piece over as shown.
Remember the curved piece?
Now roll it around to form a complete circle. Line up the folds as shown.
The wrap the vertical piece downwards....
...then back up through the center of the ring. Almost there!
Now we need to make the whole thing stick together.
Take the folded end flap containing the "1", and tuck it into the edge of the vertical piece that you just wrapped.
See the photo for where to tuck.
You may need to use a fork, key, or other handy tool to open up that pocket slightly and get the flap tucked in.
And now the money origami ring is ready to wear!
From Holly in Rochester "origami ring made from money! he got it from my wallet! (he went to Jarred's) haha "
From Kim in Woodland " Dollar-bill ring. Took me a couple of tries to get the fit right, but I figured it out. "
From reader in Alexandra " This is my ring made out of a $20 note! ^_^ "
From Victoria in Orlando " Fits my pinky finger perfectly!!!!!! "
Did you make this origami? If so, upload your photo (2MB limit) via the comment box below. You can login with your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Yahoo accounts.The Detroit Lions have been discussing a contract extension with quarterback Matthew Stafford since the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine in February. If progress isn't made toward a deal, though, Lions president Tom Lewand suggested talks will be tabled until after the 2013 season.
"We've still got some discussion to have, but at some point in time we'll either get a deal done or we'll focus on football," Lewand said Saturday via the Detroit Free Press. "It's a different dynamic when you have two years left on a contract versus one. Most of them get done with a year left."
This is a sticky negotiation. Lewand realizes Stafford isn't going to take less money to extend, especially when he holds leverage with a $19.3 million salary-cap hit in 2014. The Lions have to be careful not to tie up too much of the salary cap in mega deals for Stafford and Calvin Johnson going forward. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will be due for his own extension next offseason, though the Lions have not yet begun talks with the lineman's agent.
Stafford won't land a contract on par with Aaron Rodgers' five-year, $110 million deal. But he might have his sights set on Joe Flacco's $29 million signing bonus after averaging more than 5,000 passing yards over the past two seasons.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.By Matt Agorist
In Russia, there are free speech zones, gays are persecuted, and speaking out against the State is often met with police brutality — just ask the activist band Pussy Riot. Vladimir Putin is not a hero. That being said, however, on a larger scale, Putin is not attempting to build an empire, he is not destabilizing the Middle East and installing dictators, he’s not funding ISIS, and he tends to resist moves by the globalists that are harmful to the well-being of the Russian people and their money.
As the Free Thought Project reported earlier this year, Putin |
with most speaking in support of the move to remove officers.
John Thompson, a St. Paul resident and friend of Philando Castile, who was fatally shot by a St. Anthony police officer last summer, said he has had brutal run-ins with police, but it would have never crossed his mind to report them to a police review board.
“It’s kind of like reporting the police to the police,” Thompson said of the need to remove officers from the commission. “The police have the law on their side, they’ve got everything. Can the civilians have something?”
John Thompson, Philando Castile's friend, testifying at St. Paul City Council about the Police-Civilian Internal Affairs Review Commission. pic.twitter.com/PyfGp3kRm5 — Mara Gottfried (@MaraGottfried) December 8, 2016
Several people told the council that officers were a necessary part of the commission.
“Without the patrol point of view, commissioners would be making decisions without vital information,” said St. Paul police officer Ed Dion, who serves on the review panel.
At the city council’s last public hearing on the commission, council members voted down amendments to remove officers or make them non-voting members. But St. Paul residents and at least 18 community organizations have been calling on council members to make it an independent, all-civilian commission.
Community members met with council members Rebecca Noecker and Jane Prince this week.
“I have really wrestled with this issue and I had a really impactful meeting with members of my community on Monday night,” Prince said. She said she heard from the attendees that they wanted officers removed from the commission because “they have a definite sense of a power imbalance in our community.”
But Prince was also troubled that the composition of the commission had become “the line in the sand for both sides of this discussion,” she said. “Because I think the overall reforms of the ordinance go a long way to creating a process that citizens can have confidence in and that police can have confidence in.”
The ordinance change to the commission would make it more independent from the police department by moving it out of the department to the city’s Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity.
Frederick Melo contributed to this report.We have already discussed the student loan bubble, and its popping previously, most extensively in this article. Today, we get the Q3 consumer credit breakdown update courtesy of the NY Fed's quarterly credit breakdown. And it is quite ghastly. As of September 30, Federal (not total, just Federal) rose to a gargantuan $956 billion, an increase of $42 billion in the quarter - the biggest quarterly update since 2006.
But this is no surprise to anyone who read our latest piece on the topic. What also shouldn't be a surprise, at least to our readers who read about it here first, but what will stun the general public are the two charts below, the first of which shows the amount of 90+ day student loan delinquencies, and the second shows the amount of newly delinquent 30+ day student loan balances. The charts speak for themselves.
This is how the Fed described this "anomaly":
Outstanding student loan debt now stands at $956 billion, an increase of $42 billion since last quarter. However, of the $42 billion, $23 billion is new debt while the remaining $19 billion is attributed to previously defaulted student loans that have been updated on credit reports this quarter. As a result, the percent of student loan balances 90+ days delinquent increased to 11 percent this quarter.
oh and this from footnote 2:
As explained in a Liberty Street Economics blog post, these delinquency rates for student loans are likely to understate actual delinquency rates because almost half of these loans are currently in deferment, in grace periods or in forbearance and therefore temporarily not in the repayment cycle. This implies that among loans in the repayment cycle delinquency rates are roughly twice as high.
We'll let readers calculate on their own what a surge in 90+ day delinquency from 9% to 11% (or as footnote 2 explains: 22%) in one quarter on $1 trillion in student debt means. For those confused, read all about it in this September article: "The Next Subprime Crisis Is Here: Over $120 Billion In Federal Student Loans In Default" which predicted just this.
* * *
And so it's official: Pop goes the student loan bubble, as just confirmed by the Fed.
Luckily student debt is dischargeable in bankruptcy. Oh wait. It isn't.
Source: Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, Household Credit Excel SourceA relatively unified party base gives Democrat Ralph Northam a clear lead over Republican Ed Gillespie heading into the final month of the Virginia governor's race, according to a new Washington Post-Schar School poll.
Northam leads Gillespie by 53 percent to 40 percent among likely voters, with 4 percent supporting Libertarian Cliff Hyra. The advantage is similar to a Post-Schar School poll this spring but larger than in other public polls of likely voters released over the past month, most of which found Northam up by single digits.
But the race is still fluid, with a sizable number of likely voters — 1 in 4 — saying they could change their minds before Nov. 7.
"There's a lack of intensity right now," said Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University, which co-sponsored the survey. "Many fewer people than typically at this stage are paying close attention, and the candidates at this point have really not excited the electorate.... A lot can change in the next month. If I were the Northam campaign, I would not feel too comfortable right now."
Gillespie could close the gap by consolidating support among Republicans, who historically have been more apt than Democrats to vote in low-turnout, off-year elections.
Confederate monuments and illegal immigration have played prominently during the campaign, but voters say they care more about health care, the economy and education.
[Read full poll results]
While the governor's race — the nation's only competitive statewide contest this year — is seen nationally as an important test of electoral politics in the President Trump era, the average Virginian seems uninspired.
[For the latest on the governor’s race, join the Post’s Virginia politics Facebook group here]
Fewer than 6 in 10 registered voters, 58 percent, say they are following the race closely — 10 percentage points lower than a similar point in the 2013 gubernatorial race.
Northam is the sitting lieutenant governor and a pediatric neurologist. Gillespie is a longtime GOP operative who led the Republican National Committee and nearly unseated U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D) in 2014.
Democrats also have the advantage in the race for state attorney general, where incumbent Mark R. Herring leads Republican challenger John Adams 52 percent to 41 percent among likely voters.
Trump and his actions in nearby Washington continue to distract and preoccupy Virginia voters. Roughly 6 in 10 Virginia likely voters disapprove of his performance as president, and more than 8 in 10 Trump detractors support Democrat Northam. But in a positive sign for Gillespie, just over half of all likely voters say Trump is not a factor in their choice. Some 17 percent of voters say they plan to vote to send a message of support for Trump, while 30 percent say they are voting to express disapproval.
Those who oppose Trump often do so vehemently. Rita Chavez, a nurse from Northern Virginia, said her dislike of Trump will cause her to vote against the issue that matters most to her.
"I am pro-life, and I have always voted pro-life, and unfortunately, I'm going to have to vote Democratic knowing that they're pro-choice," Chavez, 45, said. She said that she finds Trump insulting to immigrants and people with disabilities and that any Republican would have to repudiate Trump to win her vote.
Nearly 7 in 10 likely voters said they feel that Gillespie supports Trump, a perception that continues to hound his candidacy. While Trump is unpopular in Virginia — the only Southern state to vote for Hillary Clinton last fall — most Republican likely voters — 82 percent — approve of Trump's job performance. Gillespie cannot afford to alienate them as he tries to woo independent and moderate voters turned off by the president.
"That creates a difficult tightrope act to perform," Rozell said. Gillespie is "using some of these issues like immigration to drive the conservative vote, which he has not solidified, but he has to expand his support among groups of voters he's not doing well with, particularly women [and] people in the D.C. suburbs and exurbs, where they're not as conservative. How he pulls this off is his candidacy going forward."
Northam has a few factors working in his favor at this stage, according to the survey of 1,121 adults, including 720 likely voters, conducted Sept. 28 through Oct. 2. Among likely voters, a near-unanimous 97 percent of Democrats support Northam, compared with 89 percent of Republicans who back Gillespie. Among independents, 47 percent back Northam, while 40 percent support Gillespie, a margin within the range of sampling error.
While Gillespie draws 51 percent of white likely voters compared with 41 percent for Northam and 4 percent for Hyra, the Democrat has a huge edge among African American likely voters — with 90 percent support — and nonwhites in general, at 80 percent.
Women are also a big factor in Northam's support, with 58 percent favoring the Democrat compared with 37 percent for Gillespie among likely voters. Male likely voters split 48 percent for Northam and 43 percent for Gillespie.
As has been the case in recent years, populous Northern Virginia is leaning heavily toward the Democrat. Northam garners 61 percent of voters in the D.C. suburbs and 55 percent in the exurbs, compared with 35 percent for Gillespie around D.C. and 33 percent in the exurbs, where Hyra peaks at 8 percent.
Gillespie has a big edge in the rural, southwest portion of the state, with 53 percent to Northam's 37 percent. But Northam has a comfortable margin in Hampton Roads and the Richmond area.
Gillespie, who has proposed an across-the-board 10 percent cut to Virginia's income tax, leads Northam by 58 percent to 36 percent among likely voters who say the economy is most important in their choice.
Scott Parker, a 49-year-old owner of a construction business, said Gillespie represents "capitalism at its finest" and would be the best governor to support the private sector.
But the Hanover County resident said that business has been picking up in the past year and that he thinks the economy is doing fine.
"I don't think [Gov. Terry] McAuliffe has ruined anything, but I just think it can be better," said Parker, who is drawn to Gillespie's promise of income tax cuts.
Elizabeth Rodgers said she prefers Gillespie because of his focus on Virginia's economy and public safety. Northam seems like a nice guy but should stick to medicine, she said. She considers herself an independent, but she liked Trump and wants her governor to support him, too.
"Trump is president; it's important to support him," said Rodgers, a Norfolk resident in her early 50s.
Northam is strongest among health care-focused voters, garnering 73 percent support, as well as those focused on education, 72 percent of whom support him. Among all registered voters, 28 percent said health care is the most important issue that affects their vote, while a similar 26 percent chose the economy and 19 percent named education.
Gillespie's campaign has focused heavily on undocumented immigrants, highlighting crimes by the MS-13 gang and criticizing Northam for opposing a measure to ban the establisment of "sanctuary cities," localities where local police would not enforce federal immigration laws. Yet just 10 percent of likely voters say illegal immigration is their top concern and Virginia does not have any sanctuary cities.
[Gillespie tries to tie Northam to MS-13 in ad; Democrats compare it to Willie Horton]
More broadly, a 59 percent majority of registered voters say illegal immigration is "not a problem" in their part of Virginia, a flip from 2007, when 53 percent of voters said it was.
Gillespie's position on abortion — he wants the procedure banned with certain exceptions — appears to be a liability, as well. A 55 percent majority opposes a ban on abortions except in cases of incest, rape or to save a pregnant woman's life, while 37 percent support it. Among the majority who oppose this restriction, about 7 in 10 likely voters support Northam.
On another contentious issue, the Post-Schar School poll finds that a 57 percent majority of registered voters think Confederate monuments should be kept on government property, while 31 percent want them removed. After a violent clash in August led by white supremacists around a Confederate statue in Charlottesville, Northam called for the statues' removal. He later said the decision should be left to localities. Gillespie has said the statues should remain but historical context be added.
[In the former capital of the Confederacy, debate over statues is personal and painful]
Travis Farmer, 46, a taxi driver in Harrisonburg, said he felt disconnected from the race but would vote for Northam. In addition to the economy and education, he's concerned about police violence against African Americans and feels the Democrats are more sensitive to that.
Northam has an edge over Gillespie in personal popularity. By 44 percent to 28 percent, more registered voters have a favorable than unfavorable impression of him, while voters are split on Gillespie — 38 percent favorable and 37 percent unfavorable. Both men lack widespread enthusiasm among their supporters.
Democrats appear to have an edge on engagement this year. A 67 percent majority of Democratic registered voters say they are absolutely certain to vote or have already cast an absentee ballot, compared with 57 percent of Republicans.
This dynamic, along with greater levels of past election turnout, is one reason Northam's 10-point advantage with registered voters stands at 13 points among likely voters. In the June primary election, Democratic voters outnumbered Republicans by a roughly 3-to-2 margin.
The Post-Schar School poll was conducted Sept. 28 through Oct. 2 among a random sample of 1,121 Virginia adults. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points among the sample of 1,000 registered voters and 4.5 points among the sample of 720 likely voters. For vote choice questions, an eight-point difference between candidates is the threshold for statistical significance.
Fenit Nirappil and Emily Guskin contributed to this report.Selma Blair was removed from a Delta flight on a stretcher, this evening, after a bizarre on-air freakout in which the The People VS OJ Simpson star seemed to hint that something deeply troubling was going on in her life.
According to TMZ
Witnesses on a flight from Cancun, Mexico to LAX tell us, Blair was in first class and drinking wine. The witnesses say it appeared she put something in the glass and mixed it in. We’re told she suddenly started crying, “He burns my private parts. He won’t let me eat or drink.” The witnesses say she continued, “He beats me. He’s going to kill me.” We’re told 2 nurses on board came over to help and checked her bags for pills.
TMZ sources say the pilot radioed ahead saying there was a passenger on board who had been mixing alcohol and meds. When the plane landed, Blair was taken off on a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital.
This is all very peculiar. What could she have been talking about? “He burns my private parts” “He beats me” “He’s going to kill me”?
I hope it’s just drug paranoia and not something more worrisome. Well, that’s not true: I hope it’s NOT drug paranoia either… But either way, I think it’s time somebody took a deeper look into what’s going on with Selma.
RADAROnline has photos of Selma in Cancun with her four-year-old son, Arthur Saint, and his father, her ex, Jason Bleick. Hmmmm.
(Photo: Pacific Coast News)This article is over 3 years old
Australian-born manager was also known for his work as a musical producer and worked on Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar
Robert Stigwood, mentor to the Bee Gees, Eric Clapton and Cream, dies at 81
Robert Stigwood, who managed the Bee Gees at the height of their fame, produced and released Cream’s self-titled debut, and guided Eric Clapton’s successful solo career while producing musicals for the stage and screen, has died aged 81.
The announcement of the Australian-born music mogul’s death was made on Facebook by Spencer Gibb, son of Bee Gees band member Robin Gibb. Further details about his death were not immediately available.
Robert Stigwood obituary Read more
“I would like to share the sad news with you all, that my godfather, and the longtime manager of my family, Robert Stigwood, has passed away,” Gibb wrote, describing him as a “creative genius with a very quick and dry wit”.
Stigwood, who was born in South Australia, worked with a staggering number of groundbreaking acts, both on the Broadway stage and on the pop charts. He also produced counterculture stage hits Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as Evita, Sweeney Todd and Pippin, and produced or co-produced film musicals Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar and the 1978 jukebox musical of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Robert Stigwood, legendary musical producer and former manager of the Bee Gees and Cream. Photograph: Steve Back/ANL/REX/Shutterstock
Stigwood also produced the groundbreaking film of the Who’s rock opera Tommy, and Saturday Night Fever, which introduced disco music and a young John Travolta to audiences around the world, while propelling the Bee Gees to global stardom.
But he was most closely associated with his work with fellow Australians the Bee Gees, whom he guided at the height of their fame in the 1970s.
Tributes for the towering industry figure poured in on Tuesday.
Broadway musical producer Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom Stigwood worked on multiple projects, praised him on Twitter.
“Farewell beloved Robert, the great showman who taught me so much. With love, ALW,” he wrote.
Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW) Robert Stigwood with ALW & Hal Prince at @OfficialEvita's opening night at @AdelaideFesCentre in 1980. #TeamALW. pic.twitter.com/0rkaITdSMF
English lyricist and author Sir Tim Rice, who, with Webber, co-wrote Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, also shared his condolences.Django Inspect: A generic introspection API for Django models¶
Django itself has shipped with a “semi-private” introspection API, _meta, for a long time. I have created a drop-dead simple wrapper on top of this.
The value of introspection keeps growing on me as I realize how it makes making truly reusable applications possible. It is an interesting intersection of duck-typing and interfaces. Basically, you can create functionality that will work with any Django model, as long as it has the correct values on them.
However, I present this as a very useful proof of concept, and I think a lot can be done with these ideas to improve on them. I recommend you just pull down the code and play with it. The ideas are very simple, but the power it gives you is vast.
The code is on Github with a very simple test suite showing usage.
What does it do?¶ The API is very simple. You pass in a instance of a Django model, and you can get off the values that you care about. from django_inspect import base intro = base. Inspecter ( comment ) self. assertEqual ( intro. content. field, 'comment' ) self. assertEqual ( intro. content. value, 'First here, too!' ) This example is using a Django comment, as you can see. When you get a comment object, you want to see what the actual “content” of it is. Normally, this requires special casing in your code, or somewhere else. However, here we see it’s just intro.content.value, to get the value, or.field to get the name of the content field. The idea is that you have pluggable “parsers” that have names, which then map to fields on the model. By default, the name of the parser is checked, and any mappings you have passed in. Then it will go ahead and execute any custom logic that is associated with that parser. So for this example, the “content parser” knows about comments, so it knows to check for the “comment” field for it’s main content. This lets this mapping of content to fields to live inside the parser, and lets the user of the Inspecter to just say “I want the content”. Again, it’s just easier if you read the code, it’s really pretty simple.
Handling third party apps¶ Django Inspect also has the concept of mapping models to fields. So you can create a simple dictionary and pass it into your Introspection class, and it will map those keys to the corresponding fields. An example is worth a thousand words: DEFAULT_MAPPINGS = { 'comments.comment' : { 'content' : 'comment', 'pub_date' :'submit_date', } } I call this the “Mingus use case”. For example, if Mingus wanted to be able to introspect any of it’s reusable apps for what it’s “pub_date” or “content” fields were, it could ship with a mapping for all of the reusable app models, and then you would be able to write generic code that would work across all of those apps. This is partially inspired by South’s support for app migration directories
A complex example¶ Say I am using Nathan Borror’s Fantastic Basic Blog. It has it’s Blog Post model defined as such: class Post ( models. Model ): STATUS_CHOICES = ( ( 1, _ ( 'Draft' )), ( 2, _ ( 'Public' )), ) title = models. CharField ( _ ( 'title' ), max_length = 200 ) slug = models. SlugField ( _ ('slug' ), unique_for_date = 'publish' ) author = models. ForeignKey ( User, blank = True, null = True ) body = models. TextField ( _ ( 'body' ), ) tease = models. TextField ( _ ( 'tease' ), blank = True, help_text = _ ( 'Concise text suggested. Does not appear in RSS feed.' )) status = models. IntegerField ( _ ('status' ), choices = STATUS_CHOICES, default = 2 ) allow_comments = models. BooleanField ( _ ( 'allow comments' ), default = True ) publish = models. DateTimeField ( _ ( 'publish' ), default = datetime. datetime. now ) created = models. DateTimeField ( _ ( 'created' ), auto_now_add = True ) modified = models. DateTimeField ( _ ('modified' ), auto_now = True ) categories = models. ManyToManyField ( Category, blank = True ) tags = TagField () objects = PublicManager () When I go ahead and create an inspecter class for this, I will be able to define what fields I want to map onto what. So for example, here the ‘content’ field of the blog post is actually called “body”. I could create a simple mapping for this model, or I could modify the default parser to make the “content” field look for “body” models. BLOG_MAPPING = { 'blog.post' : { 'content' : 'body', 'pub_date' : 'publish', } } from django_inspect import base ins = base. Inspecter ( post, BLOG_MAPPING ) Now the following fields should have the following values: ins. content. field : 'body' ins. content. value : < Whatever my blog post is about > ins. pub_date. field : 'publish' ins. pub_date. value : < When my blog post was published >
Lots of room for improvement¶ There are a lot of interesting API niceities that could be added in on top of this code. I want to keep it really simple, however there is room for improvement. A couple that I have thought of: Expose this as a Proxy Model, where you would get a proxy model of your model with the introspection bits attached onto it.
Make a descriptor so that you can have a pass through values do magical things on the Parsers
Allow for complex parsers by having the parsers know about each other
Make the Inspecter class know more about the parsers and be able to do more interesting things there
Ship it with a default set of mapping that work for most reusable apps out there. Also have a “standard” way for apps to define mappings.
Lots more The whole idea of releasing this is to get feedback on what the actual API should look like. I think it’s pretty awesome currently for the simple case, but for more advanced use, it’s going to need to grow some features.Halfway between the villages of Gairloch and Ullapool in the North-West Highlands of Scotland, sits a small oval-shaped island named Gruinard. From the shores of the mainland, the island appears very quiet and peaceful. But in the 1940s, it was a different story.
It was here on Gruinard Island, during the Second World War, a team of scientists from the military research facilities at Porton Down demonstrated to Winston Churchill the lethality of anthrax, and the feasibility of using the deadly bacteria as the active agent in biological weapons.
Anthrax is one of the best known agents of biological warfare, and one of the most feared. Inhalation of anthrax spores induces flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath as fluid accumulates in the chest cavity. When not treated, condition of the patient rapidly deteriorates resulting in a swift death within 48 hours. Ingestion of the spores causes diarrhea, internal bleeding, abdominal pains, nausea and vomiting, but it is through inhalation that anthrax is the most fatal with mortality rates as high as 80%, even with medical treatment.
Anthrax was first used in the weapon form in the First World War by Nordic rebels against the Imperial Russian Army in Finland, although the effectiveness of the incidence was not known. The first human experimentation were made by the notorious Unit 731 of the Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War in the 1930s. Thousands of prisoners of war died after being intentionally infected with the bacterium.
In the early years of the Second World War, the Allies began investigating anthrax. British scientists knew that the bacteria was extremely resilient and can survive in harsh conditions for decades or even centuries. So they needed a remote and uninhabited island where they could carry out tests—one that could be kept quarantined. Gruinard Island was found suitable for the purpose.
A declassified film showing the trials at Gruinard Island.
In 1942, about eighty sheep were taken to the island and bombs loaded with dried anthrax spores were exploded close to where the sheep were tied up. The anthrax strain chosen for the test was a highly virulent type called “Vollum 14578”, named after R. L. Vollum, the Canadian-born bacteriologist who first isolated it from a cow in Oxford, England. Within days of exposure, the sheep were dropping like flies.
The British scientists concluded that a large release of anthrax spores over German cities would not only wipe out a large section of the population, but it would also render the cities uninhabitable for decades afterwards. This became the mission of “Operation Vegetarian”—a diabolic plan to drop anthrax-infected linseed cakes over German fields. These cakes would be eaten by the cattle, which would then be consumed by the civilian population, causing the deaths of millions of German citizens. Furthermore, anthrax would wipe out the majority of Germany's cattle, creating a massive food shortage for the rest of the population. Five million cakes were made ready to be disseminated in Germany. Some of the cakes were also tested on the sheep at Gruinard Island. Operation Vegetarian was only to be used if Germany made the first move in biological warfare, which thankfully, they didn’t. At the end of the war, the cakes were destroyed in an incinerator.
Meanwhile, at Gruinard Island the anthrax spores refused to die rendering the island uninhabitable for nearly fifty years until 1986, when an English company was brought in decontaminate the island. 280 tonnes of formaldehyde was sprayed over the island and the worst-contaminated topsoil around the dispersal site was removed. To see whether the clean-up was successful, a flock of sheep was released on the island. No ill effects were seen.
Finally, four years after the soil was soaked in formaldehyde, the island was deemed safe to visit. The junior Defence Minister himself visited the island and removed the warning signs. In 1990, the island was sold back to the heirs of the original owner for the original sale price of £500.
Also see: Vozrozhdeniya Island, a similar island from Russian tests on biological weapons.
Junior Defence Minister Michael Neubert removes the last warning sign for Gruinard island, off the west coast of Scotland.
Gruinard Island today. Photo credit: Kevin Walsh/FlickrA hiker became lost in Big Bend Ranch State Park on Thursday and spent the night in a canyon.
A 67-year-old woman became lost and injured her ankle while hiking in Big Bend Ranch State Park on Thursday. Customs and Border Patrol along with other agencies were called to assist the hiker, who spent the night in a canyon. less A hiker became lost in Big Bend Ranch State Park on Thursday and spent the night in a canyon.
A 67-year-old woman became lost and injured her ankle while hiking in Big Bend Ranch State Park on Thursday. Customs... more Photo: Customs And Border Protection Photo: Customs And Border Protection Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close Lost in Big Bend, hiker saved after almost 24 hours 1 / 45 Back to Gallery
A woman went out for a hike in Big Bend Ranch State Park. She ended up staying there for nearly a full day.
Customs and Border Protection agents say the 67-year-old woman hurt her ankle in Closed Canyon inside the park and was unable to get out on her own.
Border Patrol agents got a call about the woman on Thursday as they patrolled along the river east of Presidio.
HISTORICAL CLUES: Once a rain forest, the Texas Big Bend area holds hints of the past
The area features rugged terrain and high-angle bluffs, requiring agents to get assistance to get the woman out of the canyon.
Several departments including the AMO Alpine Air and Marine Unit responded, along with Presidio County Sheriff's Office deputies and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
The woman spent the night in the canyon before being stabilized and walking out on her own. Her name wasn't released.Reika, i just wanted to say that i am very happy to see you opening up your permissions, i respected you for your hard work and dedication but i obvioisly disagreed many times on your locked down philosophy for packs. I wont go into too much depth since i am on my phone but i think having reika review changes is fine, that is just you putting yourself through that extra work to ensure that you your mod is being used in a way you like and so that the end user is pleased. My question though: would you allow disabling of content if they dont fit the philosophy of the pack maker? Obviously you and them may have different views on specific machines and items and if they want to change a tier or disable an item how will the process go for them? Will you force that all of your mod is available to be used, in the specific tiers or any such changes?
Click to expand...New charges in Emeryville casino bust EMERYVILLE
The entrance to Oaks Card Club in Emeryville. The entrance to Oaks Card Club in Emeryville. Photo: Darryl Bush, The Chronicle Photo: Darryl Bush, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close New charges in Emeryville casino bust 1 / 1 Back to Gallery
The gaming director at an Emeryville casino that was raided by law enforcement officials has been charged in federal court with structuring monetary transactions to avoid detection, court records show.
Hoa The Nguyen, 47, of Alameda, who oversaw Asian gaming at the Oaks Card Club, had nearly $3 million deposited in his personal bank accounts from 2006 to 2010, and of 380 deposits, only five were greater than $10,000, according to the complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
Federal prosecutors said Nguyen structured more than $906,000 in transactions at three banks in Los Angeles and the East Bay so that each transaction totaled less than $10,000 a day at any given bank location. By depositing large amounts of money in this fashion, Nguyen avoided federal reporting requirements, authorities said.
Nguyen is under investigation in connection with a "criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and extortionate lending" at the Oaks Card Club and Artichoke Joe's, a casino in San Bruno, Internal Revenue Service Special Agent Bryan Wong wrote in an affidavit.
Last Wednesday, federal, state and local law enforcement officials searched Nguyen's home, raided both casinos and arrested 14 people, including casino employees. Loan sharks at the casinos threatened to harm borrowers who failed to repay loans with 10 percent interest per week, according to a 60-page indictment.
Some of the defendants dealt methamphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy and face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison if convicted, authorities said.
A man described as a onetime leader of the operation, Trang Man Looc, 54, of Hayward, was arrested and charged last week in federal court with bank fraud for allegedly lying on mortgage-loan applications, court records show. Looc, who has convictions for attempted extortion and weapons possession, is an associate of gang members in San Francisco's Chinatown, according to the FBI.After ending his 2013 campaign early to undergo surgery to fix a painful shoulder injury, Team Sky’s Ben Swift is back to his best in 2014. Following a strong spring and early summer, he took a break from racing, and then returned to competition at the beginning of this month with a few goals for the late-season calendar in mind. With one of those goals, Plouay’s GP Ouest-France, only two days away, he talked to VeloHuman about his season so far, his current form, and his expectations for the next few weeks of racing.
Swift started the year off very well; among several strong results, he contested a sprint finish after nearly 300 kilometers to land a podium place in Milano-Sanremo, and took a win at the Vuelta al País Vasco in a stage with some serious climbing challenges before the finish. With those results, Swift showed that he had not just recovered, but that he was feeling quite good and continuing to develop an already versatile skillset. For Swift, the success was directly attributable to his newly repaired shoulder, which has also given him a major morale boost.
“Last year and the years before, having that injury, you just can’t get the training that you need,” he explained to VH. “Morale’s not good and every time it hurts... you just can’t get the work done and you end up just getting yourself into a hole. So we made the call at the end of last year to finish really early and just get it fixed, and give myself a lot of time, and it seems to have worked. And once you get that confidence back really, I think that was another big thing, to prove not only to myself, but to everybody, that I could be at that level again, where I showed that I could be. So it was good to get that confidence back and that morale back.”
Swift put in more race mileage in May and June, riding in the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de Suisse and then landing a runner-up performance at the British National Championship Road Race. After Nationals, he took some time off to rest and recover for a few late-season goals. His return since then has had ups and downs: crashes marred his first race back, the Tour de Pologne, but days after leaving Poland he landed a 2nd-place finish in the RideLondon Classic. Last weekend’s Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg was his next target, but Swift wasn’t able to put in the performance he’d hoped for. Despite that, he is currently optimistic about his upcoming objectives.
“Tour of Poland... obviously that didn’t go too well, two crashes and a puncture. But I came good again in the RideLondon. And then I had a really heavy training block after RideLondon and before Hamburg. I was obviously expecting a lot more for myself in Hamburg, but I’m hoping it was just a bad day,” he said. “I haven’t had too many bad days this year. That was one of the first ones where I’ve been a protected rider and just had nothing. It was like, do one effort and that was it, I’m fatigued. So hopefully it was just a bit of training fatigue. I had a nice week in Nice this week with my soigneur, so hopefully in Plouay we can turn things around. But in the long term I’m not too worried. It would be nice to get a good result in Plouay and show that the legs are coming back but if not, I’ll just keep going easy and try to make the most out of Tour of Britain.”
Sunday’s GP Ouest-France in Plouay does have the sort of profile that would seem to suit the talents of Swift and his teammates, which has him feeling good about the opportunity to try for a top result.
“We’ve got Edvald [Boasson Hagen] starting to improve a hell of a lot now. He’s come into some really good form, so I can see it being myself and Edvald being sort of joint leaders for it. They’re quite interesting races these two, Hamburg and Plouay. You’ve got a lot of people that |
on a series of criticisms that have been voiced about her and the Democrats’ stunted political approach, banal policies, status-quo-perpetuating worldview, and cramped aspirations that seem far more plausible as authors of her defeat than the familiar array of villains — Bernie Sanders, Vladimir Putin, Jill Stein, Jim Comey, the New York Times — that she and her most ardent supporters are eager to blame.
Despite being illuminating, Klein’s discussion with Clinton contains a glaring though quite common omission: There is not a word about the role of foreign policy and endless war during the entire hour. While some of this may be attributable to Klein’s perfectly valid journalistic focus on domestic policies, such as health care, a huge factor in Clinton’s political career and how she is perceived — as a senator and especially as secretary of state — is her advocacy of multiple wars and other military actions, many, if not all, of which were rather disastrous, rendering it quite strange to spend an hour discussing why she lost without so much as mentioning any of that.
This is not so much a critique of Klein’s specific interview (which, again, is worthwhile) as it is reflective of the broader Democratic Party desire to pretend that the foreign wars it has repeatedly prosecuted, and the endless killing of innocent people for which it is responsible, do not exist. Part of that is the discomfort of cognitive dissonance: the Democratic branding and self-glorification as enemies of privilege, racism, and violence are directly in conflict with the party’s long-standing eagerness to ignore, or even actively support, policies which kill large numbers of innocent people from Pakistan, Libya, and Somalia to Yemen, Iraq, and Gaza, but which receive scant attention because of the nationality, ethnicity, poverty, distance, and general invisibility of their victims.
But a major part of this minimization is a misperception of the domestic political importance of these policies. From the beginning of his candidacy through the general election, Donald Trump rhetorically positioned himself as a vehement opponent of endless war, inveighing against both parties when doing so.
Though there is now a revisionist effort underway to falsely depict those who pointed this out as being gullible believers in Trump’s dovish and antiwar credentials, the reality is that most of us who warned of the efficacy of Trump’s antiwar campaign theme made explicitly clear that there was no reason to believe Trump would actually be dovish if he were elected. Indeed, from Trump’s history of endorsing the wars he was denouncing to his calls for greater and more savage bombing to his desire to nullify the Iran deal, there was ample reasons to doubt that he would usher in dovishness of any kind. But the point was that Trump’s antiwar posturing was a politically potent approach because of how unpopular endless war and militarism have become:SPOILER ALERT: This blog is for people watching Borgen on BBC4. Don't read on if you haven't seen episodes nine and 10 of the second season – and if you've seen further in the series, please do not leave spoilers
Catch up with Vicky Frost's episodes seven and eight blog
Could there have been a more satisfying ending to this season of Borgen? Birgitte, with her daughter on the mend, standing before parliament: triumphant in her reform plan, resounding in her dismissal of those who suggested her gender was holding Denmark back, and, thanks to Bent, smartly sidestepping Hesselboe's planned tax-cut ambush by calling an election early. No wonder she was doing her lovely nose-crinkle smile. For the greater part of this series, such a result seemed but a pipe dream.
Which is not to say that things tied up too neatly and too easily here – rather that these were an excellent two hours of television. If, like me, you found last week's double-bill disappointing, these were the episodes to restore your faith in Borgen. There were debates over press freedom, and women's role in the workplace and home; an almost-coup from Thorsen; Birgitte's attempts to balance her personal choices with her political convictions; the election. Yet mostly these episodes were about relationships: between partners, between parents and children, between friends. The difficult balance between work and home. Guilt and its hold over you. And all of it explored with some beautiful writing and fantastic performances.
The politicians
Given the current plans for the NHS, an exploration of the Danish healthcare system proved to be rather more interesting than one might have thought – Nyborg attempting to dismantle a system that relied on health insurance and private providers and re-establish public healthcare as the default option for Danes, rather than a second-rate, underfunded offering for use only by those unable to afford better.
I wasn't surprised that Laura's treatment proved to be the faultline that saw Birgitte and Phillip forced to choose private care for their daughter, sparking a media storm, but I did find the way it was dealt with here interesting. I presumed it would lead to a row between Birgitte and Philip as the prime minister's politics demanded Laura be treated in the public sector. But actually Birgitte never waivered when it came to doing the right thing for her daughter. That seemed to make sense to me: nothing in her character has suggested that she would put political expediancy before her daughter's health, but it would have been a convenient, dramatic route for the writers to take. I was impressed when they didn't.
There was some more top-notch acting from Freja Riemann as Laura in a difficult role, and some smart scripting: having the psychiatrist explain how she thought Laura might feel was a neat way of avoiding overwrought emoting but still getting the message across. I liked too that it was she who explained to Birgitte in a very straightforward manner that she had to return to work: that she couldn't blame her choices for Laura's illness. I've thought throughout both series that Birgitte could do with a good girlfriend or two to support her – it's odd she doesn't have them surely? – but this was a decent substitute.
I was genuinely outraged by the arrival of paparazzi at Laura's hospital, which was rather conveniently placed in the middle of a public park, outside the jurisdiction of trespass laws. Even so, in the UK this would have been dealt with under the Editors' Code of Practice and while I'm not suggesting it is rigorously applied by all, I'm not convinced that such intrusion into the life of the prime minister's teenage daughter, who was suffering from anxiety – of all things – would have taken place on this scale. Birgitte's decision to send Laura to a private hospital while passing a bill that would make it more difficult for many to access private healthcare would of course have drawn a great deal of comment. But I'd have thought Birgitte would have paid the price more than Laura.
In fact, I felt sure at one point Nyborg was going to resign – out of crossness if nothing else; Sidse Babett Knudsen was so brilliantly furious here. So the idea of a month off was interesting. How would we feel if David Cameron did the same, I wonder. (He did, of course, take some paternity leave when his daughter was born in 2010.) I await your Nick Clegg jokes below.
"Hi Cecilie. I'm just shouting at your boyfriend!" And for once, Philip seems to have listened to Birgitte. There was a beautifully directed moment at the beginning of episode nine when we saw Philip collapse in the arms of his girlfriend, as he wept for Laura, while Birgitte remained tense, holding it all together, in the hospital corridor. And then another at the end of episode 10, when we saw Philip's heart jump as he looked at his ex-wife, and she pulled her hand away.
I am not, however, convinced that the Nyborg-Christensens are due for a reunion: I get the feeling that Birgitte has had too long to grieve her relationship, and Phillip too many opportunities to return for this to work now. That barbed line about "turning into the Birgitte of your dreams" suggests the prime minister has stopped blaming herself for the breakup. Obviously, I hope I'm wrong – and not just for the fuzzy warm feeling of returning to a happy Nyborg household, but mainly because Mikael Birkkjær's performance in these episodes was first rate.
The newsroom
While Nyborg battled to balance her personal and professional life, so did Kasper and Katrine, who clearly hadn't thought through the idea of keeping their relationship secret properly, given their jobs in two of the gossipiest industries possible. It was never going to work – although I did very much like Katrine's putdown to the reporter from Channel 2 about Torben. Talking of whom … I loved his way of hiring Katrine: "You're a pain in the arse!" But his remarks about the reporter not getting pregnant the moment she moved in with Kasper seemed a bit unlikely in this context. Sometimes Borgen does rather underline things three times before drawing on them in highlighter to make sure you get the point.
When it comes to Laugesen, mind you, I'm quite happy with that: I tend to think the more panto the better with the evil editor, who seems to spend most of his time making videos that express the most extreme viewpoint possible. No wonder Pia was disgusted with him.
But Torben's pregnancy point was, of course, there to push the conversation between Katrine and Kasper, who began the double-bill running home with delight, and ended it barely able to grunt hello when the other one entered the room. Much of it was very well done: I wasn't keen on the over-literal brandishing of Katrine's pill packets, but I very much enjoyed the initial jokey conversation that revealed some proper truths, and the flat-viewing that ended in fighting. (Really, they shouldn't buy a place that seems to make them have instant arguments.) It was touching too to see Kasper make peace, of a sort, with his mum. Perhaps it's better that she can't answer the questions he's been furiously incubating for so long. But most effective was the Kasper-Laura storyline here. Him prompting her into attending the group therapy sessions; her persuading him that your future does not have to be determined by your past. Nicely done, I thought.
Thoughts and observations
• Was this the first time we were explicitly shown into the Hall of Mirrors? And why didn't it seem to contain any? I was expecting it to be like a fairground ride of distorting reflections.
• Not nearly enough Hanne action this week. But she is going to appear in a BBC1 drama. Look out for The Lady Vanishes, a single film coming this spring.
• Does Birgitte not own a pair of jeans? Even in her month off she spent her time in skirts and heels. Although the massive power bun had a little rest. (A good job – as some of you pointed out last week, it had become as super-sized as Hanne's scarves.)
• Sulky Ulrik had a good week – nailing Laugesen via Kasper's nurse, which made both parties in the Juul-Fonsmark household do a little whoop of joy.
• Loved, loved, loved the whole newsroom having a little gawp at Katrine and Kasper.
• Bent coming in with his hydrangeas was very sweet. I liked that he and Birgitte were back to their discussions in which she wears her sunglasses on her head.
• What would Katrine and Kasper actually fill that flat with? It's enormous compared to their place now.
• The figures: DKK5.8m is about £665,500 (and that's apparently with a discount). The mortgage would be DKK33,000 a month – or just shy of £3,790. Good job Katrine's been saving on her rent and Kasper doesn't buy anything he can't carry.
• The Danish for walk-in closet is apparently: walk-in closet. Not that Kasper has anything to put in one, of course.
• We saw more of Birgitte's house in the daylight in these episodes than I think we ever have before. I'm used to seeing it by the soft glow of lamplight.
• A small point but one that's bothering me slightly: does nobody in Denmark have an electric toothbrush?
• I loved Magnus trying to take loads of swords with him at the expense of clothes.
• Also Laura's great line: "You look like you've been in a meeting with my mum."
• And Birgitte's to Magnus: "We'll have a short argument and a short story. Then it's off to sleep."
• Finally, thank you all for your comments and enthusiasm for this Borgen blog. We'll be back for BBC4's next European import from next week as the fantastic Spiral returns. (I should direct you to our episode blog for the show, if you're playing catchup). Tak!Newly appointed government officials are always interesting interview subjects for the media, at least for the first few weeks. And this level of interest is even more pronounced when the new official is a key member of the country’s economic team.
So critical are the views of new Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr. for both local and foreign investors that a team of journalists and a production crew from CNBC flew in from their their regional headquarters a few weeks ago to interview him.
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In fact, no less than CNBC’s Martin Soong—one of the main anchors of the widely followed business channel —came to Manila to conduct the interviews, which were held at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig.
And so the interview with Espenilla was conducted and the new monetary policy chief acquitted himself well, outlining his views on the domestic and international economy and helping businessmen and investors get a better reading on the markets.
For the CNBC team, trips like this also presented opportunities to interview key Filipino business leaders and other government officials whose pronouncements may (or may not) be useful for their audience.
So they invited prominent interview subjects from the private and public sectors with the caveat that, unlike the long-running sit down interview with the BSP governor, the other guests would only have to endure a five-minute standup interview (as in, conducted literally standing up in front of a camera).
This was, of course, no problem for the likes of Aboitiz Power president Antonio Moraza, who spoke about the prospects of the conglomerate, as well as Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who answered probing questions about the power supply situation in the country.
But lo and behold! Here came another member of the government’s economic team who—to the surprise of the interviewers—asked why he was being subjected to a standup interview and not a longer (presumably more comfy) sit down setup like Espenilla’s.
Then came the next line which, bordering on being a tantrum, simply floored the organizers. According to our sources, this Cabinet man said something like: Why did you have me come all the way here from <bleep> (his office located somewhere in central Metro Manila) for only a five-minute interview? Don’t you know I outrank him (referring to Espenilla)?
So the flabbergasted TV crew proceeded to conduct the interview, only to notice that—because they had done their research well—the Cabinet man was spewing incorrect stats. They even pointed this out to him discreetly, shocked that someone in charge of economic numbers could get them wrong.
And the clincher? The Cabinet man answered in the affirmative when the interviewer asked him if he thought the Philippine economy was overheating. Twice. Wait… what?
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Maybe he was tired. Maybe the vehicular traffic was particularly bad that day, to come all the way to Taguig for just a five-minute standup interview, not befitting a key member of the economic team. Or maybe he was just a little out of it.
Whatever it was, the CNBC guys—too polite to show their displeasure right then and there—showed it in another way. The other interviewees got decent amounts of airtime, with Espenilla cornering the bulk of it, having two segments totaling almost 10 minutes of airtime.
What about the Cabinet man? Well, he got his airtime on the widely followed international business channel, too, but it all amounted to less than two minutes. To be exact, all 1 minute and 48 seconds of it. On hindsight, maybe his tantrum was retroactively justifiable huh? —DAXIM L. LUCAS
‘Chelsea’ on stage
Instead of enlisting any show biz professional to entertain guests during the listing ceremony for his company at the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy decided to make it more meaningful—and sentimental—by bringing to the limelight the person after whom Chelsea Logistics was named. It’s his teenage daughter Chelsea, who performed Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” with a backup choir.
The color green was the theme for Chelsea’s listing, reflecting not just the dominant color in the company’s logo but also Uy’s alma mater. Philippine Stock Exchange chair and fellow De La Salle University alumnus Jose “Titoy” Pardo (who also chairs DLSU’s board) also pointed out during the listing ceremonies Uy’s Green Archer roots.
With Chelsea’s valuation unlocked, and with a number of new assets added to Uy’s holding firm Udenna Holdings, expect Uy’s ranking among the country’s wealthiest to surge. Yesterday’s listing of Chelsea, however, saw the shares closing 1.12-percent lower than the offer price. —DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA
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MOST READFor a while I’ve been wondering how much work it would be to take Chrome DevTools out of the browser, and into its own app - independent of Chrome.
So about a month ago, where I had a quiet evening in the airport I pulled Chrome DevTools from the git repo, and wrapped the app with node-webkit. A few hours later, after figuring out how node-webkit worked, I had a functional prototype of DevTools as a standalone app.
Chrome DevTools as a stand-alone app via node-webkit. Next-up workspaces. (@paul_irish, @addyosmani) https://t.co/j0j78p2Mhp #airporthacking — Kenneth Auchenberg (@auchenberg) November 17, 2014
Now with a working prototype, the next thing was to polish the UI into something more pretty and functional.
Polishing the UI with Material design.
In these “material times”, where everything is getting re-designed into the material design pattern, it was natural for me to grab the AngularJS Material components, and try to create a somewhat material-inspired UI.
As a developer, with no special design expertise, I spent quite some time reading the Material design specification, and I was quite surprised how little “desktop” focus there is in the spec. It’s like the design team simply have forgotten that we have this thing called a “desktop” computers, where we use these oldschool interactions called mouse and keyboard.
Actually, the only mention of “desktop” I’ve been able to find was under the “tabs component”.
Source: http://www.google.com/design/spec/components/tabs.html#tabs-usage
So I spent quite some time searching for examples of how material should be applied to desktop apps, and after a while I came to the conclusion that there wasn’t any great examples around, so I started experimenting.
Hello Chrome DevTools App.
Let me introduce what I call the Chrome DevTools App. It’s a standalone app that runs Chrome DevTools in its own process. It’s powered by node-webkit, and it’s able to run on Windows, Mac and Linux, completely independently of Chrome.
When you start the app, you are presented with a list of “targets”, similar to how they are presented inside Chrome at chrome://inspect. For now, you’ll need to have an instance of Chrome running with remote debugging enabled, before the targets show up, but going forward we can make that much easier.
Click one of the targets and you are taken to the second screen in the app. This is where Chrome DevTools is instantiated, and connected to the relevant Chrome Remote Debugging endpoint. From here you can use Chrome DevTools just like you are used to within Chrome, there’s no difference.
I also added a back button that allows you to quickly switch between different targets, as shown in the below demonstration.
If you want to try out the Chrome DevTools App, you should checkout the GitHub repo, https://github.com/auchenberg/chrome-devtools-app, where I’ve written a little guide on how to get started.
Please be aware that this project is highly experimental, and I can’t guarantee that stuff won’t blow up, but give it a try, and let me know what you think ;)
Perspectives of taking DevTools outside of the browser.
As a part of this exploration there’s a few perspectives of taking DevTools outside of the browser, that I find super interesting.
Chrome DevTools is close to a functional editor.
Chrome DevTools is pretty damn close to being a fully featured editor. I’ve been quite vocal about this in the past, as I still think DevTools should be something different than an editor, but in the perspective of separating DevTools from the browser, we could easily make the editor part of DevTools much more prominent.
With relatively few UI changes, as DevTools already have functionality to read the filesystem via its much hidden Workspaces feature, we could easily turn DevTools into something like a basic version of Brackets. It’s straightforward.
Browser independence.
Another perspective of seperating DevTools from the browser is the independence of one specific browser. If Chrome DevTools wasn’t bundled together with Chrome, but something you installed seperately, we wouldn’t have the bias of DevTools only working with the browser it came bundled with.
Why are DevTools still bundled with the browsers? What if clicking “inspect element” simply started an external DevTools app?
Working with other browsers (via RemoteDebug).
With DevTools separated from one specific browser, a natural next step would be making the DevTools app work with other browsers. I already explored this idea about a year ago, in my What if you could use Chrome DevTools with Mozilla Firefox? blog post, where I showed how my RemoteDebug Firefox adaptor, could be used with Chrome DevTools.
Imagine if we invested time in such adaptors, and the Firefox adaptor was packaged as a Firefox extension (yes, it’s possible). Firefox instances would then be able to showed up in the “targets” list within the DevTools app. The same tool, now with multiple browsers.
We could easily do the same thing for Safari, via Google’s Safari to Webkit remote debugging proxy.
It’s not science fiction.
Working with other runtimes like node.js and iOS.
Another perspective of having DevTools as a seperate app, is to re-use DevTools with runtimes other than our browsers.
We have already seen this with projects like node-inspector, that enables developers to debug their node.js applications using Chrome DevTools. We have also seen other explorations like PonyDebugger, that allows developers to debug their native iOS applications using Chrome DevTools.
Source: http://github.com/square/PonyDebugger
I find this perspective really interesting, as there’s something about being able to re-use our tooling with various runtimes. It’s just nice to be able to re-use all the hardwork put into DevTools, instead of reinventing the wheel(s), just because the runtime is different.
Today both node-inspector and PonyDebugger are including their own DevTools front-end, which is a version of Chrome DevTools hosted via a small HTTP server running locally. By having DevTools as a standalone app, there isn’t a need for these tools to include their own front-end.
Instead they simply should make their remote debugging endpoint discoverable to applications like Chrome Devtools App. Imagine if we used mDNS to expose remote debugging targets on the network from various runtimes like node.js and browsers, and made the Chrome DevTools app look for them.
It would be much better experience for local developers, but also enable concepts like pair programming, remote support, etc.
Looking forward.
This could be the beginning of something new and exciting in the world of DevTools. I hope to have time to explore this idea more in 2015, as I believe it has a lot of potential.
If you like this idea, or find it utterly stupid, please leave a comment, as I love any kind of feedback.IceCreamSandwich Development/Discussion Thread
Quote: What is this?
not meant for daily use
irc.freenode.net #kindlefire-dev
Quote: What works? What doesn't?
before reporting any bugs
Hardware Video Decoding
Light sensor
Quote: Downloads
ff4e0ea9c27d28b18226e230e2bf2994 by sitic
11b5763810edb732379d39b6df9ccbcf
Quote: Workarounds / Fixes
Quote: Last words
♥
Hello everyone! This thread is dedicated to Hashcode's and JackpotClavin's work.This is an Android 4.0.3 ROM! It is based on CyanogenMod 9.I will not post any instructions how to flash this to your kindle until it is considered to be ready for daily use. If you know how, feel free to do it.revxx14 created a Google Spreadsheet to collect known bugs. You can find it right here Please take a look at itA rough list whatwork:Therea SOD bug and no, there isbluetooth.2012-02-24 cm9-02-24.zip Changelog:+init.d support+fix default.prop+Test: Apps use now xlarge layout instead of largeMore information here None needed.The devs do all of this for free, remember that. Buy them a drink!HP has announced plans to launch a pair of small tablets that can make calls in its first move towards making a smartphone since canning webOS. The HP Slate6 VoiceTab and HP Slate7 VoiceTab are a pair of Android tablets with 3G onboard designed for users who want to "consolidate their phones and tablets" into a single device.
The smaller tablet is the same size as some smartphones
Both tablets run Android 4.2 and feature unspecified quad-core processors, 16GB of storage, microSD slots, HD front and rear cameras, dual SIM slots, and stereo speakers. In an interview with Recode, HP's Ron Coughlin reveals the 6-inch device has a 720p display while the 7-inch version has a 1280 x 800 display. The back of both is coated in what HP describes as "a premium pixilated, scratch-resistant back cover design." It's been 16 months since HP CEO Meg Whitman admitted the company will "have to ultimately offer a smartphone," and the VoiceTabs — the smaller of which is the same size as smartphones already on the market like the LG G Flex — are the closest the company has come to a smartphone yet.
The tablets aren't intended for the US, but instead will be released in India next month. While it has faded elsewhere, HP's consumer PC business remains strong in India, and the company is hoping that brand-awareness will see its new VoiceTabs to success. Although pricing and processor specifications have yet to be made public, it's likely the tablets will be low- to mid-range: a press release announcing the devices notes they're going to be "great value."Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) has a striking track record for inflammatory and offensive rhetoric, much of it directed at the media. A few years ago, for example, the Republican governor climbed into the cockpit of a fighter-jet simulator and declared, “I want to find the [Portland] Press Herald building and blow it up.”
Yesterday, LePage added to his greatest-hits package with a new curious claim.
Gov. Paul LePage lashed out at the media for reporting he planned to leave the state during a budget impasse, and he suggested he sometimes concocts stories to mislead reporters. The Republican governor also characterized the state media as “vile,” “inaccurate” and “useless.” “I just love to sit in my office and make up ways so they’ll write these stupid stories because they are just so stupid, it’s awful,” he told WGAN-AM on Thursday.
LePage added, “The sooner the print press goes away the better society will be.”
Note the phrasing: in the governor’s mind, it’s a foregone conclusion that the print press will die. He just hopes it happens sooner rather than later.
We’ve come a long way from Thomas Jefferson writing in 1787, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.”
I’m curious, though, how the taxpayers of Maine will react to learning that they pay Paul LePage to sit in his office “and make up ways so they’ll write these stupid stories.” In context, it sounded as if the governor deliberately concocts false claims, in the hopes that reporters will pass along bogus information to the public.
That’s not generally what we see from a chief executive of a state – who presumably has actual work to do – but LePage is not a normal governor.The Dutch authorities insist it must be done, too. They pay Mr. Den Hertog to keep a ballooning geese population from devouring the grass of cow pastures and flying into planes taking off from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, a major hub in Europe. He is the unpleasant answer to what has become a problem on a grand scale for the Netherlands.
Geese populations here have skyrocketed, buoyed by a 1999 ban on hunting them; farmers’ increasing use of nitrogen-rich fertilizer, which geese apparently love; and the expansion of protected nature areas. That combination, plus an abundance of rivers and canals, has made the country a “goose El Dorado,” said Julia Stahl, head of research at Sovon, a group that monitors wild bird populations in the Netherlands.
Birds that used to return to the Russian Arctic and elsewhere in the summer are increasingly staying put. Dr. Stahl estimates that the graylag goose, which seemed to be dying out in the Netherlands in the 1970s, now accounts for three-quarters of the goose population, which can reach 800,000 in the summer and double that in the winter.
As long as animal rights activists do not interrupt the gassings, Mr. Den Hertog said, passengers flying to and from Schiphol Airport do not need to worry whether their pilots have the same skills and sang-froid as Chesley B. Sullenberger III, the US Airways captain who managed to land in the Hudson River in 2009 after geese knocked out his plane’s engines.Nemrut or Nemrud (Turkish: Nemrut Dağı; Kurdish: Çiyayê Nemrûdê; Armenian: Նեմրութ լեռ) is a 2,134-metre-high (7,001 ft) mountain in southeastern Turkey, notable for the summit where a number of large statues are erected around what is assumed to be a royal tomb from the 1st century BC.
Location and description [ edit ]
Some of the statues near the peak of Mount Nemrut
The mountain lies 40 km (25 mi) north of Kahta, near Adıyaman. In 62 BC, King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues 8–9-metre-high (26–30 ft) of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek, Armenian, and Medes gods, such as Zeus-Aramazd or Oromasdes (associated with Zoroastrian god Ahura Mazda), Hercules-Vahagn, Tyche-Bakht, and Apollo-Mihr-Mithras. These statues were once seated, with names of each god inscribed on them. The heads of the statues have at some stage been removed from their bodies, and they are now scattered throughout the site.
The pattern of damage to the heads (notably to noses) suggests that they were deliberately damaged as a result of iconoclasm. The statues have not been restored to their original positions. The site also preserves stone slabs with bas-relief figures that are thought to have formed a large frieze. These slabs display the ancestors of Antiochus, who included Armenians, Greeks and Persians.
The same statues and ancestors found throughout the site can also be found on the tumulus at the site, which is 49-metre-tall (161 ft) and 152 m (499 ft) in diameter. It is possible that the tumulus was built to protect a tomb from tomb-robbers since any excavation would quickly fill with loose rock.[1] The statues appear to have Greek-style facial features, but Armenian clothing and hair-styling.
The Lion with the Stars
The western terrace contains a large slab with a lion, showing an arrangement of stars and the planets Jupiter, Mercury and Mars. The composition was taken to be a chart of the sky on 7 July 62 BC.[2] This may be an indication of when construction began on this monument. The eastern portion is well preserved, being composed of several layers of rock, and a path following the base of the mountain is evidence of a walled passageway linking the eastern and western terraces. Possible uses for this site are thought to have included religious ceremonies, owing to the astronomical and religious nature of the monument.
The arrangement of such statues is known by the term hierothesion. Similar arrangements have been found at Arsameia on Nymphaios at the hierothesion of the father of Antiochus, Mithridates I Callinicus.
Ancient history [ edit ]
When the Seleucid Empire was defeated by the Romans in 190 BC at the Battle of Magnesia it began to fall apart and new kingdoms were established on its territory by local authorities. Commagene, one of the Seleucid successor states, occupied a land between the Taurus mountains and the Euphrates. The state of Commagene had a wide range of cultures which left its leader from 62 BC – 38 BC Antiochus I Theos to carry on a peculiar dynastic religious program, which included not only Armenian, Greek and Persian deities but Antiochus and his family as well. This religious program was very possibly an attempt by Antiochus to unify his multiethnic kingdom and secure his dynasty's authority.[3]
Antiochus supported the cult as a propagator of happiness and salvation.[4] Many of the ruins on Mount Nemrud are monuments of the imperial cult of Commagene. The most important area to the cult was the tomb of Antiochus I, which was decorated with colossal statues made of limestone. Although the imperial cult did not last long after Antiochus, several of his successors had their own tombs built on Mount Nemrud.[5] For around half of the year, Mount Nemrud is covered in snow, the effect of which increases weathering, which has in part caused the statues to fall in ruin.[3]
Modern history [ edit ]
The site was excavated in 1881 by Karl Sester [de], a German engineer assessing transport routes for the Ottomans. After her first visit in 1947, Theresa Goell dedicated her life to the site, starting campaigns in 1954. Subsequent excavations have failed to reveal the tomb of Antiochus. This is nevertheless still believed to be the site of his burial. The statues, all of them "beheaded", have not been restored to their original condition.
World Heritage Site [ edit ]
In 1987, Mount Nemrut was made a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.[6] Tourists typically visit Nemrut during April through October. The nearby town of Adıyaman is a popular place for car and bus trips to the site, and one can also travel from there by helicopter. There are also overnight tours running out of Malatya or Kahta.[7]
Gallery [ edit ]
Mount Nemrut
East Terrace
Mount Nemrut
Heads of statues
Heads of statues
East Terrace
East Terrace
West Terrace
East Terrace: Thrones
East Terrace: Heads of Antiochus I Theos and Heracles Artagnes Ares
West Terrace: Head of Apollo/Mithra/Helios/Hermes
East Terrace: Head of Apollon
West Terrace: Zeus Oromasdes
West Terrace: Heracles Artagnes Ares
West Terrace: Head of Goddess of Kommagene (Tyche)
West Terrace: Head of Persian Eagle God
East Terrace: Lion head
West Terrace: Eagle and Lion from sand stones
West Terrace: Sand Stone Stele / Stelae of Persian
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Sources [ edit ]Building a render prop with Recompose
Abhi Aiyer Blocked Unblock Follow Following Nov 23, 2017
Yesterday I tweeted this:
Today I just want to show you how to do this:
First we’re going to take the example from Michael Jackson:
Before I go any further I just want to put a disclaimer out there: this is just for fun. If I’m going to use the render prop approach then I want to go all in to the patterns there. Since I love using HOCs and especially recompose, I just wanted to do a little experiment merging the two worlds together.
What we’re going to do is use a HOC called withHandlers. This HOC takes an object map of factory functions which accept props and returns a handler. With the use of a factory function here, we can access props without needing to change our handlers signature. The handlers are then passed to the Base Component as immutable props so we can preserve the identity across renders and we can avoid the issues with shouldComponentUpdate() optimizations that rely on prop equality.
Let’s use witHandlers to write the same component above:The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled defenseman Frank Corrado from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League, it was announced today by executive vice president and general manager Jim Rutherford.
Corrado, 24, has skated in six games with WBS this year, tallying two points (1G-1A). He has also compiled a plus-4 that ranks second on the club.
A 6-foot, 205-pound Toronto, Ontario native, Corrado saw action in two games with the Penguins during last year's regular season after being acquired at the trading deadline in a deal from the Toronto Maple Leafs that sent Eric Fehr and Steve Oleksy to the Leafs. Corrado skated with Pittsburgh's "Black A |
's important to realise and develop as a personality."
Wolff is, however, proud of the way that Mercedes handled the Rosberg/Hamilton relationship throughout, with the rivalry never having ripped the team apart.
"Somehow it was part of the set-up of the team," he said. "We had these two personalities, demanding race drivers, and it was a really good situation for the team in them pushing each other and pushing us, and us pushing them.
"It feels that, even though we had these ups and downs and controversy up to a point that it got difficult, it was still a very good time. A very successful time and an enjoyable relationship."
New dynamic
Wolff says that the arrival of Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes as Rosberg's replacement has helped reset the situation at the team even further.
"It's a completely different dynamic," he said. "We've seen it already in testing and in the team briefings we have held.
"There is no baggage. There is no historic baggage between the two of them and I can see the rivalry taking place on track. Nothing else is to be expected. It's not happening in the briefing rooms and that's very good, because it is not causing us overhead."
When asked if he believed the relationship between Bottas and Hamilton would remain as strong when they start fighting each other properly on track, Wolff said: "I hope. Maybe it's naive, but I hope it can last.
"I'm under no illusion that there will be moments when it will be more difficult. A racing driver losing is not an individual that is particularly happy chappy."
Vettel rumours
Bottas is currently on a one-year deal and will need to keep impressing if he is to retain his seat for 2018.
However, despite recent stories suggesting that Mercedes was angling to lure Sebastian Vettel away from Ferrari, Wolff insists that remarks he made about the German were interpreted the wrong way by some.
"There was one quote that was blown completely out of context," he said. "What I said is that I like Sebastian as a personality. I get on with him very well. And for any team not considering Sebastian, if you were to have a vacant spot, would be silly. But there is no vacant spot to consider [at Mercedes].
"We have two drivers and we have committed to the drivers and we will give them every support that we need to give them.
"It's clear that Valtteri will need that support at the beginning coming new to a team, having the quickest Formula 1 driver of modern times as a teammate. I'm not thinking about 2018 and beyond. It's very far down my list of priorities."
Wolff said that the team was more than happy to wait to give Bottas every opportunity to show his potential before deciding if the Finn will be retained for 2018.
"I think we haven't set a time because we wait for five or six race weekends to see how it all settles down and then look at the situation. But it's so far down the line... Three months, it feels like ages."TV Reviews All of our TV reviews in one convenient place.
Outlander understands rape. And as a television series airing in 2015, it’s nearly peerless in that regard. Recently, Game Of Thrones used rape as a trope yet again. And the writers, again, proved they have no idea how to portray rape, especially in its aftermath. Rape narratives are not monolithic, nor are they ever simple, so they are very hard to effectively capture on television. And they should be.
In the season one finale of Outlander, we see, in flashback, how Captain Jack Randall repeatedly raped and brutalized Jamie before Claire, Murtagh, and the other men could break him out of Wentworth. “To Ransom A Man’s Soul” is hardly the first time Outlander shows violent sexual assault, but it’s the most terrifying episode to date, and quite possibly the most difficult episode of television I’ve ever had to get through. But unlike rape scenes on Game Of Thrones, these graphic scenes between Jamie and Randall never come off as sensationalized horror. There’s a sense that the writers have given thought to how this experience ties into the character’s arc. The sadistic Black Jack Randall has been after Jamie all season. It isn’t violence simply for the sake of violence. It’s violence that’s intricately connected to the character, his arc, and even the narratives of other characters on a show.
And the Outlander writers don’t back down from exploring the indelible aftermath of rape. Randall’s rape of Jamie isn’t treated as a linear arc with any type of real resolution. Jamie is physically removed from Wentworth, but he isn’t saved. He still experiences residual trauma in the form of hallucinations and flashbacks. He sees Claire as Randall, just as he eventually started to see Randall as Claire as both the result of Randall’s and then, eventually, as a survival mechanism. Never once is Jamie depicted as a victim in “To Ransom A Man’s Soul.” He’s a survivor; he does what he has to to keep on. Rape is so often conceptualized as violence against a body, but it cuts much deeper than that. It’s violence against a person’s soul, and the Outlander writers deal with the physical, spiritual, and psychological wounds of rape throughout “To Ransom A Man’s Soul.”
Game Of Thrones portrays rape as something that sort of just happens to women. That’s not to say the show completely denies the severity of rape, but as with a lot of the violence on Game Of Thrones, it just doesn’t seem like the writers have given any thought as to why rape exists in this universe or what it means for the characters. Writing about Ramsay’s rape of Sansa in “Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken,” Sonia Saraiya at Salon best characterizes the problem with Game Of Thrones’s portrayal of violence: “A world of violence is not a narrative, it’s just a theater of horror. …It creates a dissonance of attempting to identify with characters before seeing them suffer almost cartoonish horror in the arena of the show; the violence is titillation.” She continues:
“But rape isn’t mere violence; it’s not a punch to the head or a knife through the ribs. It’s an act that attempts to divorce a person’s soul from their body; to imitate the language of intimacy in what is purely cruelty. It is a kind of murder, except afterwards, the victim can still walk and talk and breathe.”
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In “To Ransom A Man’s Soul,” Jamie wholly, painfully experiences that feeling of being both dead and alive. When we see Jamie in Wentworth at the beginning of the episode, not long after Randall rapes him and convinces him to imagine he’s Claire, he asks Randall to pay the debt he owes by slitting his throat. Jamie wants to die. He wants to die even after he’s back with Claire. Even though she knows Randall raped him, Claire, understandably, can’t wrap her mind around why he wants to end his life. She thinks her love and his freedom is enough to lead him into the light.
But here, again, is where Outlander outsmarts Game Of Thrones. The writers understand that rape leaves gashes that don’t go away, even when the abuser is out of the picture. Much like his hand, Jamie’s soul is going to take a long time to heal, and the trauma might not ever go away completely if Outlander continues to be as realistic when it comes to psychological trauma as it has been in this first season. The writers do not sugarcoat or belittle Jamie’s desire to die. Even Murtagh notes it’s a natural, justified response: “He’s been tortured, raped, isn’t that reason enough?” he asks when Claire, exasperated, wonders why he so desperately wants to die. Even Outlander’s characters seem to understand rape and its lasting implications for survivors.
Nothing about the sexual violence of this finale is sensationalized or cartoonish, thanks in large part to performances from the main cast that are convincingly terrifying (Tobias Menzies), harrowing (Sam Heughan), and heartbreaking (Caitriona Balfe). Balfe and Heughan turn in work that could easily get them the awards attention Outlander deserves.
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But Anna Foerster’s direction also plays a huge role in the nuances and emotional complexity of “To Ransom A Man’s Soul.” Foerster also directed “The Wedding,”which is, I imagine, most people’s favorite episode of the season. While “To Ransom A Man’s Soul—and Foerster’s other episodes, including “Wentworth Prison”—are thematically and tonally quite different from “The Wedding,” her handling of the show’s most intense emotional moments remains consistent. Foerster captures Jamie and Claire’s intense love with close, intimate shots. She teases out the conflicting, ever-morphing emotions of each moment and presents them in all their visceral realness. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: Outlander is one of the most immersive shows on television, and that’s especially true for Foerster episodes. One of my favorite scenes from the finale shows Murtagh and Jamie arguing in Gaelic, and even though we don’t know what they’re saying, the scene’s direction—as well as their performances—bring enough meaning that verbal language doesn’t matter.
Even though Claire convinces Jamie to go on living and to cut away the seal Randall brands him with, there’s still a sense that Jamie’s healing process isn’t straightforward, that the show isn’t going to suffer from short-term memory loss when it comes to this experience. The removal of the seal is symbolic—not of Jamie’s complete release from Randall but of his first steps toward that release. Even fully clothed and bandaged, bantering with Claire on their boat set for France, Jamie is not yet whole. “I’m trying,” he replies honestly when Claire says it seems his sense of humor has returned.
Then, in the episode’s final minutes, Claire drops the reveal I anticipated the moment she collapsed in Murtagh’s arms halfway through the finale: She’s pregnant. At first, I worried Outlander was about to fall off the cliff into one of my least favorite television tropes: the idea that babies—especially surprise ones—can make everything better. But, this is Outlander, and while it’s a show that certainly has its flaws, nothing about this first season has ever seemed conventional or dumb. Jamie, initially, tells Claire that the news makes him happy. But the gradual unfolding of his smile as they hug undercuts his words. I don’t think Jamie is entirely lying about being happy, but it certainly isn’t the whole truth. Just as cutting off the seal isn’t the solution to his pain, a baby can’t save his soul. Maybe I’m reading too much into such a small physical action from Heughan, but since the beginning, Outlander has possessed a subtlety in its character work. And this is one of those small moments that I took a lot of meaning away from.
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Above all else, Outlander’s first season has been smart and radical, in small but powerful ways, like showing Jenny pumping her breast milk and showing male full-frontal nudity in the context of assault. “To Ransom A Man’s Soul,” as hard as it is to watch, honors all that revolutionary work the show has done on gender, sex, and power. Even though Jamie and Claire are heading to a new, safe home in France and the episode ends with more bright colors than we see in any other scene in the episode, there’s still a sense that darkness lies ahead and that Jamie’s trauma will continue to have psychological effects. A jaunty version of the show’s theme music, written by the incredible Bear McCreary, plays over the final scene, but it slows down, ending on a somber note. Just as it’s too smart and nuanced for clean-cut hero/victim dynamics, this show is too smart and nuanced for happy endings.
“I will have you any way I can, always,” Claire tells Jamie. And I believe her. I believe their love, because the writers and actors have convinced me so thoroughly of the power of true love throughout this first season. But that power stops short of being able to magically heal trauma. Outlander understands that.
Stray observations:
This brings us to the end of Outlander season one coverage! Through time and space, we made it. It didn’t end up having the REAL witches I was hoping for, but hey, Geillis Duncan is still one of my favorite characters from television this year—real witch or not.
On adaptations: I praise the writers of this show significantly for the story told here in the finale, and yes, I know they are working with existing source material, but hey, so is Game Of Thrones, and the GOT show writers decided to double down on the sexual violence of the books with no justification. As I haven’t read the Outlander books, I can’t speak on how “Wentworth Prison” and “To Ransom A Man’s Soul” do or do not deviate from the source material, but I do know that the writing here is incredibly tight. So I’m curious: Do the books handle trauma and sexual assault as well as the show does? Just be sure to mark any spoilers clearly if you have an answer.
Claire and Jamie are going to try to change the future!!! I am so excited to see how this unfolds.
Unlike Outlander, I’d like to end my coverage on a slightly happier ending, so let’s all take a moment to appreciate Claire’s very strong 18th-century drag look:At the ninth session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM), held April 19-20, 2012, in Libreville, Gabon, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) announced its plans to "launch an aggressive media campaign with the purpose of raising awareness of anti-Muslim hate movements in the world."[1] At the conference, on "Information Technologies in the Service of Peace and Development," were delegates from some 30 Arab and Islamic countries, including the "State of Palestine." Also in attendance were representatives from UNESCO and from the OIC's media subsidiaries: the International Islamic News Agency; the Islamic Broadcasting Union; the Research Center for Islamic History, Art, and Culture; the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; the International Islamic Fiqh Academy; and the Arab States Broadcasting Union.(For the conference's Final Communiqué in its entirety, see Appendix below) ICIM Conference Calls on Islamic Media to Correct "Misperceptions" of Islam Spread by Western Media
According to its minutes, the ICIM conference opened with a statement from Blaisse Louembe, Gabon's Minister of Digital Economy, Communications, and Post, calling on the OIC member states to coordinate their media organs in a global campaign to combat Islamophobia, to promote "peace, dialogue, and tolerance, and to launch awareness-raising campaigns to eliminate [the] violence advocated by some extremist movements." Louembe was followed by Moroccan Communications Minister Mustafa Khalfi, who, in a similar vein, warned those present of "the campaigns targeting the image of Islam and Muslims in the international media due to the mounting trend of Islamophobia," and emphasized the importance of coordinated international action to correct "misperceptions" about Islam. Similar remarks were made by Gabon President Ali Bongo Ondimba and by OIC Secretary-General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.
Conference participants also stressed the need for the media of the OIC member states to join efforts in "continuing to expose the barbaric acts perpetrated by Israel... so that the Islamic and international world opinion can be mobilized in support of the Palestinian cause," and commended UNESCO for its recognition of the State of Palestine. They called to step up media coverage of "Israeli aggression, human rights violations, and war crimes," in addition to adopting a resolution dedicating the last Friday of Ramadan annually to media coverage of the plight of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.
OIC Calls for Cooperation and Coordination in Islamic Media Efforts
Conference participants praised the OIC General Secretariat for its efforts in convening a February 2012 conference on the issue of "Defamation of Islam and Muslims in Western Media" in Brussels, attended by both Arab and Western bodies and representatives, and welcomed Saudi Arabia's proposal for a "Fund on Interaction with External Media," to which the kingdom allocated $25 million. The ICIM resolved to formulate a comprehensive outreach program addressed at the international community "in the languages it understands and in the methods conforming to its logic... in order to correct the image of Islam and clarify its noble mission and lofty values," with the help and involvement of OIC "member states and ambassadors' groups in key world capitals."
A resolution was passed to coordinate information among the OIC member states "in order to give a comprehensive picture of joint Islamic action," as was another resolution to establish a "Muslim Journalists' Forum" to assist in the OIC's media campaign. Similarly, praise was voiced for the OIC General Secretariat's proposal to adopt a "course [aimed at] training journalists to counter stereotypes about Islam and Muslims in [the] Western media." Resolutions were also passed for the OIC to open media coordination offices in various countries, to launch an "international Islamic satellite channel," to "highlight the commonalities of the ummah," and to establish an "OIC Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum."
Finally, the OIC welcomed a proposal by the Iranian delegate to host the 10th ICIM conference, slated for 2014, in his country.
Appendix: "Final Communiqué Issued by the 9th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers" (ICIM) [2]
"Date: 20/04/2012
"LIBREVILLE, REPUBLIC OF GABON
"19 – 20 APRIL, 2012
"(27 - 28 JUMADA AL-AWAL 1433H)
"I. At the kind invitation of the Republic of Gabon, the 9th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers (ICIM) under the theme "Information Technologies in the Service of Peace and Development" was held in Libreville, Republic of Gabon on 19 and 20 April, 2012 under the distinguished patronage of H. E. Ali Bongo ONDIMBA, President of the Republic of Gabon.
"II. The following Member States participated in the Meeting:
"- Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
"- State of the United Arab Emirates
"- Republic of Indonesia
"- Islamic Republic of Iran
"- Islamic Republic of Pakistan
"- Brunei Darussalam
"- People's Republic of Bangladesh
"- Republic of Benin
"- Burkina Faso
"- Republic of Turkey
"- Republic of Chad
"- Republic of Togo
"- People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
"- Republic of Djibouti
"- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
"- Republic of Senegal
"- Republic of Sudan
"- Syrian Arab Republic
"- Republic of Sierra Leone
"- Republic of Iraq
"- Sultanate of Oman
"- Republic of Gabon
"- Republic of Guinea
"- State of Palestine
"- Union of Comoros
"- State of Qatar
"- Republic of Cameroon
"- Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
"- State of Kuwait
"- Republic of Lebanon
"- Libya
"- Malaysia
"- Arab Republic of Egypt
"- Kingdom of Morocco
"- Islamic Republic of Mauritania
"- Republic of Niger
"- Republic of Yemen
"(List of delegations in Annex 1).
"III) The following specialized and subsidiary organs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
participated in the Conference:
"- International Islamic News Agency (IINA)
"- Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU)
"- Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA)
"- Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO)
"- International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA)
"- Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU)
"- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
"IV) The Conference opened with recitation of verses from the Glorious Qur'an.
"V) H. E. Mr. Blaisse LOUEMBE, Minister of Digital Economy, Communications and Post of the Republic of Gabon, delivered a statement in which he welcomed participating delegations in the 9th Session of the ICIM and reiterated his country's support to the Palestinian cause and to the reconciliation agreement signed in the Qatari capital Doha. He underscored the importance of the information issues on the agenda of the 9th ICIM, insisting on the need to support to the initiative of dialogue, solidarity and consultation among the Member States and their media organs. He also highlighted the need to address Islamophobia through diplomatic dynamism the achievement of peace, dialogue and tolerance and to launch awareness raising campaigns to eliminate violence advocated by some extremist movements. The Minister expressed his country's readiness to consider the implementation of the projects and resolutions emanating from the present session.
"VI) His Excellency Mr. Mustapha Khalfi, Minister of Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco and Chairman of the 8th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, delivered a statement in which he conveyed sincere thanks to the Republic of Gabon for hosting the 9th ICIM, commending Gabon's efforts to hold the session in the best conditions possible. In the beginning of his speech, Minister Khalfi warned of Israel's attempts to target Al-Quds city and the Aqsa Mosque and the campaigns targeting the image of Islam and Muslims in international media due to the mounting trend of Islamophobia, which raises the amount of the responsibility on media institutions in the Islamic world. He praised the revolution in modern ICT, whose attributes include enabling the Islamic world to correct misperceptions, and highlighted the importance of international action within the UN and the OIC to combat defamation of languages, including OIC's success in issuing a resolution in this regard in December 2010. The Minister called on Member States to work towards having the present session constitute a new beginning to Islamic joint media action both within and outside the OIC and in the handling of top priority issues.
"VII) The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, delivered a statement which he started by expressing profound gratitude to the Republic of Gabon and the wise leadership of His Excellency President Ali Bango Andimbam who continued on the path of his late father El Haji Omar Bango in the fields of development, reform and progress which has made the Republic of Gabon a modern and prosperous country. He lauded the efforts of the Republic of Gabon in making excellent arrangements for the 9th Session of the ICIM. The Secretary General stressed the continuous support of the OIC for the question of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shareef which is a top priority for the OIC. He condemned the judaization of the city of Al-Quds, the construction of Israeli settlements and the continued unjust blockade of the Gaza Strip which flout all international laws. The Secretary General touched upon the issue of Islamophobia which fuelled by misconceptions about Islam and Muslims and incites hatred and discrimination against them on religious and ethnic grounds. He emphasized the initiatives of the OIC and the UN in this regard. He underscored the need to come out with innovative ideas for the restructuring the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) and the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU) which represent OIC's media arm. On the other hand, the Secretary General insisted on the need to attach special importance to the African continent from the media, commending the proposals made to the session in this regard. The Secretary General called upon the Member States to support the different other draft resolutions submitted to the session for consideration.
"VIII) His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon, then delivered a statement in which he welcomed the participants on the 9th Session of the ICIM held in the Republic of Gabon for the first time. He commended the role of OIC Secretary General in holding the present session in Gabon and expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the Secretary General in managing the OIC. President Bongo stated that the present session is of utmost importance as it focuses on sensitive media issues. He expressed his support for the Palestinian cause, calling upon the Member States to pay more diplomatic and political attention to the Palestinian cause and to support the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle. In addition, the President drew attention to the looming dangers of Islamophobia and the growing hatred of Muslims in the Western media. In this regard, he commended the initiative of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia on inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue which is deeply rooted in the glorious Quran. President Bongo called for a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism, extremism and radicalism, stating that Islam and Muslims are the first victims of this phenomenon.
"IX) The Conference elected its Bureau as follows:
"- Republic of Gabon {Chair}
"{Vice Chairs}:
"- State of Palestine
"- Islamic Republic of Mauritania -
"- People's Republic of Bangladesh
"- Kingdom of Morocco {Rapporteur}
"X) The Conference adopted its Draft Agenda and Programme of Work as proposed by the preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials.
"(Documents No.:OIC/ICIM-9/2012/DA and OIC/ICIM-9/2012/DR.WP)
"XI) The speakers stressed in their statements the need to focus on the role of the media in the current dispensation and in continuing to expose the barbaric acts perpetrated by Israel in its despicable aggression against the Gaza Strip so that the Islamic and international world opinion can be mobilized in support of the Palestinian cause. They also focused on the importance of coordination among media circles of Member States in order to project the real image of Islam and stand up against media attacks against Islam, its symbols and sanctuaries. The speakers also emphasized the urgent need to benefit from the information and communication revolution being witnessed in the world.
"XII) The Director General of IRCICA, the Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) and the representative of Director General of the ISESCO delivered statements to the Conference.
"XIII) Based on the report forwarded to it by the Preparatory Meeting of Senior Officials (Document No.:OIC/ICIM-9/SOM-REP/FINAL), the Conference adopted the following resolutions:
"1. The Media in OIC Member States and its Role in Supporting the Cause of Al Quds Al Shareef and the Blessed Al Aqsa Mosque
"The participants underscored the special circumstances under which the 9th Session of the ICIM is being held, in the light of the changes going on in the Muslim world and of the plight of the Palestinian people caused by the continued Israeli occupation, the growing aggression and the persistent Israeli violations in the Palestinian territories, including the city of Al-Quds. The Participants condemned this barbaric aggression and commended the widespread international denunciation of the act as well as the support of Islamic states and peoples for the Palestinian cause as expressed at various international fora and occasions. They also commended UNESCO's recognition of the State of Palestine and affirmed their support for Palestine's quest for full membership of the UN.
"In their interventions, the participants stressed the need for continued widespread coverage to expose the Israeli policies against the Palestinian people. The participants directed an urgent appeal to the media in the Member States to continue and intensify media coverage in order to highlight the destructive effects of the Israeli aggression, human rights violations and war crimes committed by Israel in its aggression. They called for special media attention on the city of Al-Quds by dedicating the last Friday of Ramadan every year for providing complete media coverage of this holy city. In this regard, the Conference adopted resolution 1/9-INF on 'The Media in OIC Member States and its Role in Supporting the Cause of Al Quds Al Shareef and the Blessed Al Aqsa Mosque'
"2. External Media Action by Developing a Comprehensive Media Plan with the Contribution of Member States and Ambassadors' Groups in key World Capitals.
"The meeting commended the efforts of the OIC General Secretariat in interacting with external media, including through the organization of a workshop on the subject: 'Defamation of Islam and Muslims in Western Media' in the Belgian capital Brussels on 15-16 February 2012, with the participation of civil society representatives, media specialists, intellectuals and academics from both the Islamic world and the West. The meeting called for the implementation of the proposals of the workshop as included in the paper submitted to the Session under the title 'Draft Media Strategy of the OIC to Combat Islamophobia.'
"The Meeting recommended the activation of the resolution adopted by the 7th ICIM which called for the establishment of a mini-ministerial committee and called on it to convene as early as possible at the invitation of the Chairman of the 9th ICIM to prepare a comprehensive plan to reach out to the outside world and address it in the languages it understands and in the methods conforming to its logic and mental structure in order to correct the image of Islam and clarify its noble mission and lofty values. In this regard, the Meeting recommended the activation of the proposal submitted earlier by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to allocate a total budget of $25 million to the Fund on Interaction with External Media to which all Member States shall contribute. The establishment of the fund is necessary for effective interaction with foreign media for the benefit of the Muslim world. In this regard, the Conference adopted the draft resolution No. 2/9-INF on 'External Media Action by Developing a Comprehensive Media Plan with the Contribution of Member States and Ambassadors' Groups in key World Capitals.'
"3. Supporting the Restructuring Process of the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) and the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU)
"The Conference stressed support for restructuring of the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) and the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU). The Conference voiced its support for the process of restructuring these two organs, and called on all Member States to pay their mandatory contributions to the budgets of the two institutions. It adopted draft resolution No. 3/9-INF on 'Supporting the Restructuring Process of the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) and the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU).'
"4. Coordination in the Information Field in the Framework of the OIC in Order to Give a Comprehensive Picture of Joint Islamic Action.
"The Conference discussed the issue of coordination of information affairs among media institutions and departments in charge of media affairs in different OIC institutions. It lauded, in this regard, the role of these institutions and departments and invited them to contribute to highlighting their actions in different media outlets.
"The Conference recommended the need for coordination among various information institutions, departments and the Information Department of the OIC General Secretariat in order to highlight the media activities of the institutions and acquaint the Muslim world with their important role in supporting joint Islamic media action. In this vein, the Conference adopted the draft resolution No. 4/9-INF on 'Coordination in the Information Field in the Framework of the OIC in Order to Give a Comprehensive Picture of Joint Islamic Action.'
"5. Establishing an OIC Journalists Forum.
"Within the reinforcement of communication between media actors and the OIC General Secretariat, the participants in the Conference expressed their support for the need to reinforce communication and to establish a mechanism of coordination among media specialists in the Muslim world and the OIC General Secretariat. The Conference supported the proposal of establishing the 'Muslim Journalists' Forum' within the OIC to unite journalists and foster communication between them so that it becomes a forum for facilitating cooperation and developing specific mechanisms in Joint Islamic media action. In this regard, the Conference adopted the draft resolution No.5/9-INF on 'Establishing an OIC Journalists Forum.'
"6. Proposal of a Special Media Programme Highlighting Africa's Position and Role in the Muslim World
"The Conference commended the proposal of implementing a media programme for Africa highlighting its position and role in the Muslim world, particularly in light of Gabon's chairmanship of the 9th ICIM. The participants underscored the importance of the proposal which will contribute to projecting the significance of this continent and its economic, cultural, tourism and natural potential, thus reflecting its bright image in local and international media. In this context, the Meeting adopted the draft resolution No. 6/9-INF on 'Proposal of a Special Media Programme Highlighting Africa's Position and Role in the Muslim World,' which details the media programme for Africa.
"7. Opening of Media Offices.
"Pursuant to paragraph 7 of the Ten-Year Programme of Action to Meet the Challenges Facing the Islamic Ummah in the 21st Century adopted by the 3rd Extraordinary Islamic Summit Conference which highlighted the need to interact with external media efficiently in order to enable the Muslim world to present its views on world developments, and in light of the 8th ICIM's call on the OIC General Secretariat to take all appropriate measures and elaborate the needed mechanisms with a view to highlighting OIC's programmes and activities in the framework of joint Islamic action to project the true image of Islam, and to open media coordination offices in some countries, the Conference discussed the draft resolution on opening of media offices, considering the importance of linking and coordinating joint Islamic media action with many key capitals and Member States, and in OIC Offices abroad. These offices will enable the OIC General Secretariat to implement media plans in order to achieve stated and specific objectives in OIC conferences and official meetings on many issues of utmost importance such as Islamophobia, Al-Quds, development, trade, environment, tourism, fight against poverty and other major issues. In this regard, the meeting adopted the draft resolution No. 7/9-INF on 'Opening of Media Offices.'
"8. Launching an OIC Satellite Channel.
"Aware that the OIC which represents the official system of all Member States lacks an official media outlet which could help it to reach out to the Islamic public opinion and convey its noble message consistent with its Charter, the Conference considered Gabon's proposal of the launching of an OIC satellite channel under the umbrella of the OIC. The Conference noted that the project of launching the satellite channel comes in response to the calls and requests received by the OIC from its Member States, private institutions and civil society organizations, on the need for the OIC to adopt the project of an international Islamic satellite channel. The participants emphasized the importance of the OIC having a specialized satellite channel that raises awareness about the OIC, its members and activities, as well as all issues which could serve the Member States and promote knowledge of their political, cultural, economic, artistic and tourism activities. The channel would also highlight the commonalities of the Ummah. In this regard, the Conference called for the organization of an open-ended meeting at the headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah to discuss this matter. The Conference adopted the draft resolution No.8/9-INF on 'Launching OIC Satellite Channel.'
"9. Ensuring Implementation of Resolutions of Previous ICIM Sessions.
"The Conference discussed the elaboration of a clear mechanism for following up the implementation of the resolutions of previous sessions of ICIM and COMIAC, given the importance of these resolutions for the joint Islamic media action of the Member States. The Conference insisted on holding a meeting of the supervision and follow up committee in the various ICIM sessions to consider the actions implemented and identify the obstacles preventing Member States from completing the implementation of resolutions in coordination with the General Secretariat. The Conference emphasized the pressing need to provide the Information Department of the OIC General Secretariat with information on the implementation by the Member States of the resolutions of ICIM sessions in order to circulate them to the Member States. The Conference thus adopted the draft resolution No. 9/9-INF on 'Ensuring Implementation of Resolutions of Previous ICIM Sessions.'
"10. Activating Cooperation between the OIC and the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (GDSF).
"The Conference urged the Member States which have not yet joined the Digital Solidarity Fund to do so as soon as possible and to contribute to its financing, in application of the 1% principle for digital solidarity, and to support the Fund's project which consists of providing 500000 computers to the least developed countries among the OIC Member States. Commending the signature of the MoU between the OIC General Secretariat and the Global Digital Solidarity Fund, the Conference called on the two parties to cooperate in order to implement the relevant resolution adopted by the 11th Islamic Summit Conference held in Dakar in March 2008. The Conference then adopted draft resolution No. 10/9-INF on 'Activating Cooperation between the OIC and the Global Digital Solidarity Fund (GDSF).'
"11. OIC Member States Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (IBRAF).
"Considering the principled approval by the 9th Session of the Standing Committee on Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC) held in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, on 10-13 October 2010, of the proposal submitted by the Republic of Turkey to establish the OIC Member States Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum, and the recommendations of the kick off meeting of the Forum held in Istanbul on 17-18 November 2011, the Conference adopted resolution No. 11/9-INF on 'OIC Member States Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (IBRAF).'
"12. Cooperation within the OIC Computer Emergency Response Team (OIC-CERT).
"The meeting considered supporting the OIC Computer Emergency Response Team (OIC-CERT) which enjoys the status of an affiliated institution, and called on the Member States to take the necessary measures to urge the Computer Emergency Response Team and similar organs in those states to cooperate with the OIC-CERT for the establishment of a complex to provide support and respond to computer security incidents. The Meeting urged the Member States which have not yet joined the OIC-CERT to do so and to provide it with the needed support to enable it to continue its activities aimed at achieving peace and cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) which have become a crucial factor of development and stability. The Meeting approved draft resolution No. 12/9-INF on "Cooperation within the OIC Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).
"XIV) The Conference noted the utmost importance of the recommendation made by the Kingdom of Morocco on Countering Defamation of Religions and called on OIC Member States to support tabling the proposal at the UN so that a draft recommendation could be adopted calling on all States to respect the image of religions in all the various media and not to cause prejudice to religious symbols and sanctuaries, in demonstration of Islamic solidarity.
"XV) The called for the return of calm, peace and security to the Sahel and Sahara region and, in this regard, emphasized its condemnation and rejection of any attempts to undermine the security and stability of the Republic of the Sudan and stressed the OIC's commitment to the security, safety and inalienable sovereignty of the Republic of Mali over its internationally recognized borders.
"XVI) The Conference discussed and lauded the proposal submitted by the OIC General Secretariat upon the request of the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) on the adoption of the "Draft Course in Training Journalists to Counter Stereotypes about |
self-report, a fact noted by the university in its only, brief comment on the matter. It also didn't include any mention of a "failure to monitor" or "lack of institutional control," broad-based major violations that often come with harsher penalties. Though the Committee on Infractions still has the power to add those charges in August, Mark Jones, a former managing director of enforcement for the NCAA, said Monday it was "meaningful" that they weren't included now.
"It's not as bad as it could have been," said Michael L. Buckner, a Florida attorney who specializes in NCAA enforcement cases.
Beyond the NCAA hearing is the outside notion that Tressel won't make it to August, that the 10-year coach would resign or be fired before that point. There is a possibility that Ohio State could face more severe sanctions with Tressel still at the school, a potential reason to let him go. But Ohio State hasn't learned any new information about the investigation since OSU President Gordon Gee and Athletic Director Gene Smith backed Tressel at a news conference on March 8.
According to someone close to Tressel who was in touch with him since the Notice of Allegations, the coach affirmed that he isn't going anywhere. Asked at the beginning of spring practice if he'd considered resigning, Tressel said: "Never had that thought. That wouldn't be something that would jump in my mind, unless there came that point in time where I said the best thing for these kids would be if I do. I don't feel that way."
The NCAA also made clear that the players themselves will face no further sanctions, though some further extra benefits were discovered. Rather than $7,605 in money and discounts provided to six players, the NCAA is now alleging $13,360 in cash and discounts received by seven players. The seventh player isn't identified, but is apparently no longer on the team.
So for the moment, it's the coach and the school who have their futures in the balance, with much at stake 15 weeks from now, and much still left to clarify. Among the issues:
Repeat violator status: Because Ohio State had a major violation with basketball coach Jim O'Brien providing $6,000 to a recruit and quarterback Troy Smith receiving $500 from a booster that was handed down on March, 10, 2006, the NCAA warned that Ohio State could be seen as a repeat violator, which could lead to harsher sanctions. Those specifically spelled out in the NCAA Manual include loss of scholarships or postseason bans that could apply to bowls or the Big Ten championship game. However, more severe penalties are not automatic, and Buckner believes, based on the Notice of Allegations, that the repeat violator status may not be an issue.
The relationships: The Notice of Allegations spells out 42 specific areas in which Ohio State is to provide information to the NCAA by July 5, in advance of the hearing. They range from the cost, size and purpose of the Gold Pants trinkets given to players for beating Michigan, which two Buckeyes sold, to the TV contracts for OSU football games. Most important may be the statements describing the relationships to the football program of Edward Rife, the owner of the Columbus tattoo parlor who bought the memorabilia from the players; Christopher Cicero, the Columbus attorney and former OSU player who first tipped off Tressel; and Ted Sarniak, the mentor to Terrelle Pryor who was told by Tressel of Cicero's allegations.
The ruling: Given past history, the NCAA is expected to take six to 10 weeks to rule after the hearing, which would fall somewhere around the fourth to eighth games of the regular season. But the ruling could also take longer than that.
Buckner said Ohio State will be helped by the way it has handled this case, self-reporting the initial violations by the players and then the violations by Tressel. But Tressel hid the truth and never came clean. He could face penalties ranging from a longer suspension to, most severely, a show-cause penalty that would make him nearly unemployable.
At the very least, Tressel should have his day. Former Committee on Infractions chairman Gene Marsh previously told The Plain Dealer that Tressel's positive reputation in the community and the college football landscape should help him when the committee considers his case. And though Tressel's chances don't look good when spelled out on NCAA letterhead, there remains a personal component to this process.
"What is submitted right now is important," said Jones, now the chair of collegiate sports practice at ICE Miller, an Indianapolis law firm, "and the impression made at the hearing is important."
So on Aug. 12, Gee, Smith, Tressel, faculty representative John Bruno and compliance director Doug Archie should be in Indianapolis. After 322 games as a head coach, 128 of them at Ohio State, Tressel will have to answer for why his honesty and integrity fell short.The new Apple iOS 9.3 is here, and it’s full of tiny enhancements that will make life on an iPhone (or iPad) much easier. It’s important to note that Apple’s latest update to its mobile operating system is iterative (up from 9.2 to 9.3), so there won’t be any drastic changes. Nonetheless, Apple has added some very helpful improvements that will help keep your information safer than before. Here’s a look at all the new features in iOS 9.3:
Night Shift
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The science is in: Using your smartphone or tablet right before bedtime can negatively impact your sleep. The reason is that bright blue light messes your circadian rhythm. Apps like Flux have tried to combat this by matching the temperature of your iPhone’s display to the time of day—warm at night and like sunlight during the day.
Now, Apple is baking that feature directly into its mobile operating system. In iOS 9.3, your iPhone (or iPad) will monitor the time and location of your device to determine when the sun is setting in your location. It then changes the colors of your display, making them warmer (or more yellow), so that it’s easier on your eyes in the evening. In the morning, the device returns to its regular settings. The hope is that you can use your iPhone or iPad right before you fall asleep.
If you’re not interested in changing your display’s temperature, thankfully you can easily turn Night Shift off. If you go into Settings, then Display and Brightness, then Blue Light Reduction, you can adjust how orange or blue the screen is using a simple slider. You’ll also be able to view and modify Night Shift settings from the Control Center that’s revealed when swiping from the bottom of your device’s screen.
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Notes are now password protected
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If you’re constantly logging memos in your Notes app, this update will be a welcome addition to iOS. Up until now, it’s been difficult (if not impossible) to keep sensitive information confidential in your Apple Notes app. That’s not the case anymore.
Apple is adding the ability to lock notes with personal or confidential information: Notes that include medical information, banking account information, or anything else that you’d never want anyone else to see can be locked with a password or fingerprint. Apple is also adding the ability to sort notes by date created, date modified, or alphabetically.
Multi-user support for education
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One feature that’s been inexplicably missing from iOS is the ability to add multiple users to one device. For families, this is a huge deal because parents typically share their iPads (or occasionally iPhones) with their kids. Unfortunately, there’s still no way to manage permissions on an iPhone or iPad, but today we’re one step closer to having multiple accounts on a single device.
After the iOS 9.3 update, iPads will allow schools to create multiple users for a single device. The update means that a student can log into any iPad in a classroom and automatically have their apps, files, and home screen accessible.
This is a significant update for Apple, especially in the education market, and it gives schools a reason to consider purchasing an iPad. In the past few years, Apple has fallen behind to Google in the education market thanks to strong Chromebook sales. The ability to add multiple users to to a single iPad might help Apple fend off competition in education markets.
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New Health dashboard
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Apple is trying to make the Health section of iOS more useful. As part of that effort, the company is updating the Health dashboard to include more relevant information right away. Health categories like Weight, Workouts, and Sleep will now suggest apps that you can use for tracking.
Unfortunately, there still isn’t any Fitbit integration—the one health device that people are actually using on a daily basis. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the update is garbage, though. People who use their phone to log runs, for instance, will gain benefit from some of the update.
Apple CarPlay updates
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Apple CarPlay is featured in several 2016 and 2017 car models, and before many of those cars actually hit the road, Apple is tweaking some of the music playback options. With iOS 9.3, CarPlay will begin suggesting songs, artists, and albums based on your preferences.
In Apple Maps, a new Nearby feature will show you points of interest—gas stations, restaurants, coffee shops and more—while you’re driving, so you don’t have to search while you’re on the road.
Top Image: APSure, we've heard RIAA-admiring lawyers affirm that ripping your own CDs is in fact "stealing," but it seems the aforementioned entity is putting its money where its mouth is in a case against Jeffrey Howell. Reportedly, the Scottsdale, Arizona resident is being sued by the RIAA, and rather than Mr. Howell just writing a check and calling it a day, he's fighting back in court. Interestingly, it seems that the industry is maintaining that "it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into their computer." Ira Schwartz, the industry's lawyer in the case, is arguing that MP3 files created on his computer from legally purchased CDs are indeed "unauthorized copies," and while we've no idea what will become of all this, we suppose you should go on and wipe those personal copies before you too end up in handcuffs.
Update: We got some more info on the case -- it looks like Jeffrey's actually being sued for illegal downloading, not ripping, but this whole "ripping is illegal" tactic is still pretty distasteful. Check out this post for the full story.
[Via BlogRunner]No sympathy: How Ayn Rand’s "elitism" lives on in the Trump administration Despite promises to the rural working class, the Republican Party is still under the influence of Rand's elitism
President Donald Trump’s secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has said Ayn Rand’s novel “Atlas Shrugged” is his favorite book. Mike Pompeo, head of the CIA, cited Rand as a major inspiration. Before he withdrew his nomination, Trump’s pick to head the Labor Department, Andrew Puzder, revealed that he devotes much free time to reading Rand.
Such is the case with many other Trump advisers and allies: The Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan, famously made his staff members read Ayn Rand. Trump himself has said that he’s a “fan” of Rand and “identifies” with Howard Roark, the protagonist of Rand’s novel, “The Fountainhead,” “an architect who dynamites a housing project he designed because the builders did not precisely follow his blueprints.”
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As a philosopher, I have often wondered at the remarkable endurance and popularity of Ayn Rand’s influence on American politics. Even by earlier standards, however, Rand’s dominance over the current administration looks especially strong.
What’s in common with Ayn Rand?
Recently, historian and Rand expert Jennifer Burns wrote how Rand’s sway over the Republican Party is diminishing. Burns says the promises of government largesse and economic nationalism under Trump would repel Rand.
That was before the president unveiled his proposed federal budget that greatly slashes nonmilitary government spending — and before Paul Ryan’s Obamacare reform, which promised to strip health coverage from 24 million low-income Americans and grant the rich a generous tax cut instead. Now, Trump looks to be zeroing in on a significant tax cut for the rich and corporations.
These all sound like measures Rand would enthusiastically support, in so far as they assist the capitalists and so-called job creators, instead of the poor.
Though the Trump administration looks quite steeped in Rand’s thought, there is one curious discrepancy. Ayn Rand exudes a robust elitism, unlike any I have observed elsewhere in the tomes of political philosophy. But this runs counter to the narrative of the Trump phenomenon: Central to the Trump’s ascendancy is a rejection of elites reigning from urban centers and the coasts, overrepresented at universities and in Hollywood, apparently.
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Liberals despair over the fact that they are branded elitists, while, as former television host Jon Stewart put it, Republicans backed a man who takes every chance to tout his superiority, and lords over creation from a gilded penthouse apartment, in a skyscraper that bears his own name.
Clearly, liberals lost this rhetorical battle.
What is Ayn Rand’s philosophy?
How shall we make sense of the gross elitism at the heart of the Trump administration, embodied in its devotion to Ayn Rand — elitism that its supporters overlook or ignore, and happily ascribe to the left instead?
Ayn Rand’s philosophy is quite straightforward. Rand sees the world divided into “makers” and “takers.” But, in her view, the real makers are a select few – a real elite, on whom we would do well to rely, and for whom we should clear the way, by reducing or removing taxes and government regulations, among other things.
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Rand’s thought is intellectually digestible, unnuanced, easily translated into policy approaches and statements.
Small government is in order because it lets the great people soar to great heights, and they will drag the rest with them. Rand says we must ensure that “the exceptional men, the innovators, the intellectual giants, are not held down by the majority. In fact, it is the members of this exceptional minority who lift the whole of a free society to the level of their own achievements, while rising further and ever further.”
Mitt Romney captured Rand’s philosophy well during the 2012 campaign when he spoke of the 47 percent of Americans who do not work, vote Democrat and are happy to be supported by hardworking, conservative Americans.
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No sympathy for the poor
In laying out her dualistic vision of society, divided into good and evil, Rand’s language is often starker and harsher. In her 1957 novel, “Atlas Shrugged,” she says,
“The man at the top of the intellectual pyramid contributes the most to all those below him, but gets nothing except his material payment, receiving no intellectual bonus from others to add to the value of his time. The man at the bottom who, left to himself, would starve in his hopeless ineptitude, contributes nothing to those above him, but receives the bonus of all their brains.”
Rand’s is the opposite of a charitable view of humankind, and can, in fact, be quite cruel. Consider her attack on Pope Paul VI, who, in his 1967 encyclical Progressio Populorum, argued that the West has a duty to help developing nations, and called for its sympathy for the global poor.
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Rand was appalled; instead of feeling sympathy for the poor, she says:
“When [Western Man] discovered entire populations rotting alive in such conditions [in the developing world], is he not to acknowledge, with a burning stab of pride – or pride and gratitude – the achievements of his nation and his culture, of the men who created them and left him a nobler heritage to carry forward?”
Telling it like it is
Why doesn’t Rand’s elitism turn off Republican voters? — or turn them against their leaders who, apparently, ought to disdain lower and middle class folk? If anyone – like Trump — identifies with Rand’s protagonists, they must think themselves truly excellent, while the muddling masses, they are beyond hope.
Why hasn’t news of this disdain then trickled down to the voters yet?
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The neoconservatives, who held sway under President George W. Bush, were also quite elitist, but figured out how to speak to the Republican base, in their language. Bush himself, despite his Andover-Yale upbringing, was lauded as “someone you could have a beer with.”
Trump has succeeded even better in this respect — he famously “tells it like it is,” his supporters like to say. Of course, as judged by fact-checkers, Trump’s relationship to the truth is embattled and tenuous; what his supporters seem to appreciate, rather, is his willingness to voice their suspicions and prejudices without worrying about recriminations of critics. Trump says things people are reluctant or shy to voice loudly — if at all.
Building one’s fortune
This gets us closer to what’s going on. Rand is decidedly cynical about the said masses: There is little point in preaching to them; they won’t change or improve, at least of their own accord; nor will they offer assistance to the capitalists. The masses just need to stay out of the way.
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The principal virtue of a free market, Rand explains, is “that the exceptional men, the innovators, the intellectual giants, are not held down by the majority. In fact, it is the members of this exceptional minority who lift the whole of a free society to the level of their own achievements."
But they don’t lift the masses willingly or easily, she says: “While the majority have barely assimilated the value of the automobile, the creative minority introduces the airplane. The majority learn by demonstration, the minority are free to demonstrate.”
Like Rand, her followers — who populate the Trump administration — are largely indifferent to the progress of the masses. They will let people be. Rand believes, quite simply, most people are hapless on their own, and we simply cannot expect much of them. There are only a few on whom we should pin our hopes; the rest are simply irrelevant. Which is why she complains about our tendency to give welfare to the needy. She says,
“The welfare and rights of the producers were not regarded as worthy of consideration or recognition. This is the most damning indictment of the present state of our culture.”
So, why do Republicans get away with eluding the title of elitist — despite their allegiance to Rand — while Democrats are stuck with this title?
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I think part of the reason is that Democrats, among other things, are moralistic.
They are more optimistic about human nature — they are more optimistic about the capacity of humans to progress morally and live in harmony.
Thus, liberals judge: They call out our racism, our sexism, our xenophobia. They make people feel bad for harboring such prejudices, wittingly or not, and they warn us away from potentially offensive language, and phrases.
Many conservative opponents scorn liberals for their ill-founded naïve optimism. For in Rand’s world there is no hope for the vast majority of mankind. She heaps scorn on the poor billions, whom “civilized men” are prodded to help.
The best they can hope for is that they might be lucky enough to enjoy the riches produced by the real innovators, which might eventually trickle down to them in their misery.
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To the extent that Trump and his colleagues embrace Rand’s thought, they must share or approach some of her cynicism.
Firmin DeBrabander is a professor of philosophy at the Maryland Institute College of Art.All about Lucy "Lucy" is the name given to the first partial skeleton ever found of the species Australopithecus afarensis. She was discovered in Ethiopia's Awash Valley in 1974 by U.S. paleoanthropologist Donald C. Johanson and named after the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. No foot bones were found with her skeleton, but other bones showed she was able to stand upright. Recent analysis of foot bones from another specimen show A. afarensis had feet similar to those of modern humans.
A ancient hominin species recently discovered in Ethiopia appears to add a new branch to the human evolutionary tree.
Eight foot bones from the yet-to-be named species were discovered in 2009 in the Afar region of Ethiopia, according to a study published Wednesday in Nature.
The fossil remains show the new hominin lived 3.4 million years ago — about the same time as and not too far from Australopithecus afarensis, the species of the famous skeleton known as "Lucy." A. afarensis, which walked on two legs, was previously believed to be the only hominin of its time and therefore assumed to be the direct ancestor of modern humans.
The study was led by Yohannes Haile-Selassie, a curator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. (Yohannes Haile Selassie/Cleveland Museum of Natural History) "We never expected another related species running around," Yohannes Haile-Selassi, lead author of the study, said in a news conference organized by Nature. Haile-Selassi is a curator and head of physical anthropology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Ohio.
Surprising 2nd hominin lineage
He said the new discovery shows hominin evolution didn't follow a single lineage, contrary to what many scientists previously thought.
Like A. afarensis, the new species has characteristic features in two of its joints adapted to walking on two legs – features unique to hominins and not found in apes or monkeys.
Hominins and hominids Humans are part of a larger group of closely related human-like species, such as Neanderthals, called hominins. All hominins are themselves part of a larger group known as hominids that includes all the great apes such as chimpanzees and gorillas.
But unlike A. afarensis and modern humans, the new hominin has no arch running from its heel to the ball of its foot, and therefore could not have walked long distances. The arch absorbs energy, allowing humans to apply a greater load to each foot while walking or running.
The big toe of the new species is also quite different from that of A. afarensis and modern humans.
"It has a grasping big toe … which indicates that it was doing quite a bit of climbing," said Bruce Latimer, an anthropologist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
In this image, the eight bones of the new hominin are superimposed on the outline of a gorilla foot to show where they would fit. (Johannes Haile-Selassi/Cleveland Museum of Natural History) That makes the foot more similar to the foot of a species called Ardipithecus ramidus, a species that lived a million years earlier.
Latimer said the contrast between the foot of the new species and that of A. afarensis hammers home the fact that A. afarensis was "fully committed" to walking on two legs.
Haile-Selassi said researchers are hoping to recover more specimens from the new species that will allow them to have a better idea of how it fits in the hominin family tree so they can give it genus and species names.
However, he said, despite the new find, it is still likely that modern humans descended from a more recent hominin called Australopithecus garhi, which lived 2.5 million years ago and is probably descended from A. afarensis.Albert and Jean Langer opened Langer's Delicatessen at Alvarado and 7th Streets back in June 1947, a bastion of pastrami sandwiches located a patty melt's throw from MacArthur Park. Many say Langer's pastrami sandwich is the best in the West, and some say it is the best in America, or even the world. Now you can get a Langer's pastrami sandwich for free.
To celebrate 65 years of pastrami awesomeness, Langer's will be serving free No. 19 sandwiches next Friday and Saturday. You know the No. 19, right? Hand-cut hot pastrami, cole slaw, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese on warm, double-baked rye bread. The thing about Langer's pastrami is that, though it's not cured or smoked in-house, it is steamed for up to three hours until it's uber-tender and therefore has to be hand-cut.
"I can't machine-cut it," the late Al Langer once told The Times. "I steam it so tender it'd fall apart. This way, you get pastrami that's thicker and juicier.... You know, good pastrami requires effort."
From 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 15 and 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on June 16, each customer is eligible to receive one free No. 19. The customer must be seated and served by a Langer's server inside Langer's Deli on standard Langer's seating (a booth, a counter stool or a Langer's chair) during the event hours. Free No. 19's are not available for carry out.
704 S. Alvarado, Los Angeles, (213) 483-8050, www.langersdeli.com.
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LudoBites, the cookbook
Dinner tonight! White gazpacho with grapes
Food porn: Caramel-drizzled chocolate cheesecake cupcakes
-- Betty Hallock
Photo: The No. 19 sandwich at Langer's. Credit: Langer's DelicatessenA brawl between two families broke out at a Fort Myers Chuck E. Cheese's on Sunday when two children began to argue over tickets.
A witness to the fight told NBC 2 that the brawl had about 10 to 15 family members on each side fighting.
"Food was flying and drinks then she took the metal thing off the table and threw it," she said.
Pepper spray was used by a family member, spraying children and families inside the Chuck E. Cheese's location, she said.
Most of the family members involved in the fight left the establishment before police arrived, Fort Myers Police Department said.
Chuck E. Cheese's sent NBC 2 a statement saying:
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“We are deeply saddened that individuals would choose to behave in this manner in front of children and families. We take altercations in our stores very seriously and have spent more than $15 million to date on measures to help ensure the safety of our guests. As an environment dedicated to serving young children and families, Chuck E. Cheese's will not tolerate violence of any kind in our stores."
Nobody was arrested, and Chuck E. Cheese's kicked out anybody who was involved in the incident.A recent video shot in Moscow showed what happened when two men walked around the city holding hands. The hidden camera captured the pair being insulted and threatened – and how they escaped violence only by admitting they were just doing a social experiment.
[Watch: What happens when two men walk around Moscow holding hands]
A group in Ukraine tried filming a similar video in the streets of Kiev. Things didn't turn out as well.
In this video produced for Bird in Flight magazine, Zoryan Kis and Tymur Levchuk walked around the streets of Kiev holding hands. As you can see, at first they get only looks of shock and comments of surprise. "Are you serious?" one girl asks while laughing. "It's the first time I've seen people like this."
Things take a turn for the worse, however, after one of them sits on the other's lap on a bench in the center of Kiev. A large group of young men, described as neo-Nazis by Kis, approach them, at first asking them whether they are "patriots."
However, once a nearby police officer walks away, the group spray mace into Kis and Levchuk's eyes and begin violently kicking them. The attack only ends when others intervene.
The video makers want to be clear that such violence isn't representative of all Ukrainians. Speaking in the video, Kis concludes that the video shows "in our society there are very few aggressive homophobic radicals that are ready for an attack. Other people just do not care if it doesn't concern them personally. And [homophobic] minority is trying to force everyone to play by its rules."
Eugene Safonov, the editor of Bird in Flight magazine, told the Independent that if Kis and Levchuk hadn't run into the violent group seen in the video, he thinks things would have been okay. "Despite the fact that there were idiots in Kiev who attacked them," Safonov told the British newspaper, "our experiment demonstrated that such idiots can be counted on one hand, and the majority of Kiev citizens are more tolerant to gays than people in Moscow.”
[Gay rights in Eastern Europe: A new battleground for Russia and the West]
In 2010, the European Social Survey found that just 28 percent of Ukrainians felt that "gay men and lesbians should be free to live their own lives as they wish," the lowest number recorded in Europe outside of Russia, where just 25 percent of those polled agreed with the statement. A recent gay pride march in Kiev ended in violence and controversy.
More on WorldViews
What happens when two men walk around Moscow holding hands
A new Swedish message to Russian submarines: ‘This way if you are gay.’
The surprising Russian reaction to gay marriage in the U.S.Bitcoin phenomenon needs more study: Lew 8:08 AM ET Thu, 23 Jan 2014
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew called bitcoin a "phenomenon," but told CNBC on Thursday that the U.S. government needs to make sure the digital currency doesn't become a funding haven for criminals and terrorists.
In an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Lew told "Squawk Box" he has spoken to JPMorgan Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon about bitcoin, and the two share a certain "incredulity" about it.
(Read more: Dimon: Economy starting to fire on all cylinders)
"From the government's perspective, we have to make sure [bitcoin] does not become avenue to funding illegal activities or to funding activities that have malign purposes like terrorist activities," Lew said.
"It is an anonymous form of transaction. And it offers places for people to hide."
(Read more: Treasury launches new security—first in 17 years)In the spring of 1976, Sigrid Nunez went to the apartment of Susan Sontag, who was recovering from cancer surgery and needed someone to help answer her mail. Nunez had just gotten her M.F.A. from Columbia and lived nearby to Sontag’s apartment at 340 Riverside Drive. On her third visit, Nunez met Sontag’s son, David Rieff, and shortly thereafter the two began dating. It wasn’t long before Nunez moved in, beginning what would be a complicated relationship with both Sontag and her son. Her memoir, Sempre Susan, chronicles those few years she spent with Sontag and Rieff. We sat down for coffee not too long ago at the City Bakery on 18th Street to talk about the book.
I was really struck by the line in the book where you say, “Exceptionalism: Was it really a good idea for the three of us, Susan, her son, myself to share the same household?” Was it?
Well, as it turned out, it was a very bad idea. But at the time there were various reasons that made it less crazy than it might have seemed. First of all, Susan had just recently been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. She was also in the middle of breaking up with the woman who’d been her partner for several years. She’d always hated living alone, but now she was frankly terrified, and she made it clear that she’d be devastated if David were to move out. Also, David was still in school at the time, and he was financially dependent on Susan.
I could see myself being excited about the idea of living with Susan Sontag, and being eager to experience the intimacy of a peculiar situation. Was part of you unconcerned about whether this was a good idea?
I was never not concerned about it, but the truth is I thought it was going to be temporary. In fact, in the book, I originally said this in so many words, but I ended up cutting that part because it sounded silly, like I was trying to make excuses. But the truth is, I figured once David finished school we’d move into a place of our own. As time passed, though, it became increasingly clear that Susan would do anything to keep David from moving out. And it wasn’t just a question of the three of us living under the same roof. Susan wanted the three of us to do everything together. As I say in the book, I can hardly remember times when David and I went out alone.
Was she forthcoming about the fact that she really just wanted to be with her son?
As she said often, defensively, “Why do we have to live like everyone else?” As far as she was concerned, there was nothing so damn great about the traditional nuclear family. In fact, she loathed the very idea of the nuclear family. And she pointed out that, in other cultures, an arrangement like ours would’ve been perfectly normal. Also, she always insisted that she and David were different from ordinary mothers and sons. She liked to think of herself as David’s “goofy older sister.” It wasn’t neediness that made her want to keep David with her, she’d tell people, but her enormous love for him.
You talk about how your writing changed after you had this experience with Susan. I was really taken by those passages where you describe her giving you changes and advice on your fiction and you don’t accept it.
I hadn’t published anything yet. I was trying to write, but nothing was really working out. And the whole time I was living with Susan and David, I wasn’t able to write. But because she kept pushing me, I did finally show her a story I’d written. She was generous in her comments and she encouraged me to think I was someone who could become a writer. But for the most part, whenever she tried to criticize my work, I didn’t take it well.
Unfortunately, I was like a lot of my own students, who don’t really want criticism, just encouragement. It’s both embarrassing and hilarious to remember it now. You don’t sit there at twenty-five, unpublished, inexperienced, and respond to Susan Sontag’s editorial suggestions like a little snot, rejecting every one of them. But it had a lot to do with the fact that I didn’t admire Susan’s own fiction. I’d read her first two novels and some of her stories, and I didn’t admire them the way I admired the essays. So when she tried to talk to me about language and style, I didn’t really trust what she said. Anyway, she was offended, of course, and she didn’t forget either. Years later, she’d ask me to send her my work and when I did she refused to say anything about it.
Can you explain the cult of Susan Sontag?
I think it had everything to do with the way she first appeared on the scene, this brilliant, beautiful, intellectually passionate young woman writing these sharp, confident pieces about art and culture, in a style all her own. She was brainy but also sexy, totally bookish but also a party girl—a rare and pretty irresistible combination. She captured the media’s attention right away, and then, because she was so active and productive and had such a broad range of interests, and also because she was always so vocal and fearless about her opinions—no few of which were controversial—attention kept getting paid. It would have been hard for Susan Sontag not to have a high profile. Whatever she said, people quoted her. And people always wanted to interview her and photograph her. Being a lifelong world traveller was part of it, too. And of course it had everything to do with gender. It was such an unusual life for a woman. I mean, if you think about it, she was pretty much the only woman of her kind.
Why did you decide to write this memoir now?
I’d never thought about writing about Susan, ever. But about three years ago, the writer Elizabeth Benedict asked me if I’d write something for an anthology called Mentors, Muses & Monsters: 30 Writers on the People Who Influenced Them. I wanted to write about Elizabeth Hardwick, who’d been my teacher at Barnard. But it turned out both Elizabeth Benedict and Mary Gordon were already writing about her. Then it occurred to me I could write about Susan, because even though she wasn’t a professor of mine, she was certainly a major influence.
I’d already published a short memorial piece a year after her death, and then for the anthology I wrote this twenty-page essay, which was also published in Tin House. James Atlas read it and asked me if I’d be willing to write a book about Susan, and I thought I could do that so long as it was a short book. I would never have been interested in writing a biography or a critical study, but I saw the possibility of a short memoir, taking off from the two essays I’d already written and limited to that particular time when I got to know her well, and what it meant to be a young writer under her influence. But otherwise I’m sure I’d never have written a book about her.
Were you concerned about Susan’s privacy?
Yes, but for a number of reasons less so than I might have been about some other public figure. For one thing, though you hear it said about Susan that she was a very private person, she was in fact the least private person I’ve ever known. She told everyone everything: the most intimate details about her life, all about her personal history, the people she knew, famous or unfamous, what she thought of everyone and everything—she had no use for secrecy or even for discretion. And it was never as if I was her special confidante. Whatever she shared with me she shared with many others as well.
Also, so much about her private life has now been published. I’m thinking of David’s book, Swimming in a Sea of Death, about her last struggle with cancer, which also draws a portrait of the kind of person Susan was at home. And now the first volume of her journals is out, an extremely self-revealing book, in which you can see clearly the same person—though much younger—that I was writing about. Her ferocious ambition, her neediness and vulnerability, her lack of maternal feeling, her anxiety about her sexuality, and her sense of herself as a failure at love—it’s all there.
Was this easier to write than fiction?
In many ways, yes, and not just because it’s short. Unlike most of my novels, it didn |
involved only a small number of infants, all of whom were losing weight at a rapid rate as newborns, but the findings may have implications for all breast-feeding mothers.
Breast-feeding activists have long argued that supplementation is detrimental to breast-feeding. It is a position that has been codified in the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (“Give infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically indicated”) and programs like New York City’s Latch on NYC, which goes so far as to lock up formula as if it were a dangerous drug.
(MORE: Breast-Feeding Wars: Why Locking Up Baby Formula Is a Bad Idea)
What’s interesting to note is the fact that many other cultures — some with much higher breast-feeding rates than ours — infants are given other liquids until a mother’s milk comes in. According to a review of 25 previously published studies of tens of thousands of mother-infants pairs in such countries as India, China, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, a significant portion of women (from 25% to 50%) delayed breast-feeding for an average of 66 hours. Many of these infants received supplemental fluids, some of which are even imputed to have ritual significance.
One of the greatest barriers to breast-feeding in this country is the unreasonable expectations set by breast-feeding advocates. They are loathe to admit that many babies may benefit from supplementation in the first days after birth, that some babies will require more milk than their mothers produce, and that many mothers must return to work within weeks and simply cannot breast-feed exclusively. Instead of acknowledging those realities, they have alienated new mothers with their all-or-nothing approach, leaving most women to figure out a method of combining breast and formula feeding that works for them on their own.
(MORE: Dr. William Sears: Meet the Man Who Remade Motherhood)
According to the most recent numbers available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 25% of breast-fed children are given supplemental formula in the first two days of the child’s life, 37% of breast-fed children are given supplemental formula by 3 months and 43% by 6 months of age. Those are some large numbers, and yet women who combine breast-feeding with any formula at all are basically anathema to the lactation police.
The Pediatrics study is both small and preliminary, but the results accord with breast-feeding practices both around the world and in our own backyard. It’s time to put what we know to good use to stop making women feel guilty about combining breast-feeding and supplementation if that’s what works for her baby and herself.Video by Strangemen & Co. Music by Sam Bennett.
Click here for the Facebook Event page!
At 59E59 Theaters - GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Three years ago, Sarah Kennedy thought she was hired as a translator for a corporate military prison in Baghdad, only to discover that she would be acting as an interrogator instead, retrieving information from dangerous prisoners of war -- by any means necessary.
Now, Lily Strauss - a disgraced reporter in the waning days of journalism - must uncover Sarah’s story through webs of corporate lies and government deception, and ultimately choose between her own journalistic ideals and the devastating consequences of telling the truth.
On the Head of a Pin, a political thriller in the tradition of “Network” and “A Few Good Men,” is an exploration of who watches the watchers, and what happens when they look away.
Please help us raise the funds that will enable us to make our OFF-BROADWAY debut!
$15 tickets at the door!! Click here for the Facebook event page!
We are going to celebrate the end of this Kickstarter with an event which will feature aPLAY called The WOODSMAN, an original puppetry piece based on the the origin of the Tin Man from L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of OZ.
AND THEN aPARTY with booze ($2 beer!), live music, snacks, games, and a healthy dose of chaos and merriment!
I'm also pretty sure the 7 FOOT TALL Tin Man will be walking around looking for a heart (ladies, this is your chance)!!
Come see this amazing new play with puppets designed and created by James Ortiz, live music, and dance -- and then stick around for $2 beer, LIVE TUNES, potential puppet love, and much much MORE!!
THANK YOU!!!The first thing you need to do is create a bootstrap script to run when starting the Hadoop cluster. In the Amazon tutorial, they use Yum to install NPM and Node. That leaves you with an out-of-date version, and you can’t use useful ES6 features such as generators.
bootstrap.sh
Grab nave and use it to install the latest version of node quickly from a binary.
#!/bin/bash # installs node on the HDFS cluster $PATH="$PATH:/usr/local/bin" # get nave install script wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/isaacs/nave/master/nave.sh # install latest node sudo bash nave.sh usemain 5.0.0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 #!/bin/bash # installs node on the HDFS cluster $ PATH = "$PATH:/usr/local/bin" # get nave install script wget https : //raw.githubusercontent.com/isaacs/nave/master/nave.sh # install latest node sudo bash nave. sh usemain 5.0.0
With Node installed on your servers, we can now write a mapper and a reducer script with few lines of code. Here is example job that calculates the average age of users.
mapper.js
Iterates over all the JSON entries and extracts the ages
#!/usr/bin/env node 'use strict' var readline = require('readline'); var rl = readline.createInterface({ input: process.stdin }); // reads from stdin line by line rl.on('line', (line) => { // do stuff with line and prepare data for the reducer var entry = JSON.parse(line); var data = { age: entry.age }; process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(data) + '
'); }); 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 #! / usr / bin / env node 'use strict' var readline = require ('readline' ) ; var rl = readline. createInterface ( { input : process. stdin } ) ; // reads from stdin line by line rl. on ( 'line', ( line ) = > { // do stuff with line and prepare data for the reducer var entry = JSON. parse ( line ) ; var data = { age : entry. age } ; process. stdout. write ( JSON. stringify ( data ) + '
' ) ; } ) ;
Reducer.js
Keeps track of the age sum and then return the sum divided by the total
#!/usr/bin/env node 'use strict' var readline = require('readline'); var rl = readline.createInterface({ input: process.stdin }); var summary = { age_sum: 0, num_entries: 0 }; rl.on('line', (line) => { if (!isValidJson(line)) return; var data = JSON.parse(line); // reducer logic, do stuff with data summary.age_sum += data.age; summary.num_entries++; }); // when finished processing, write the results to disk rl.on('close', () => { process.stdout.write(summary.age_sum / summary.num_entries); }); var isValidJson = (n) => { try { JSON.parse(n); } catch (e) { return false; } return true; } 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 #! / usr / bin / env node 'use strict' var readline = require ('readline' ) ; var rl = readline. createInterface ( { input : process. stdin } ) ; var summary = { age_sum : 0, num_entries : 0 } ; rl. on ( 'line', ( line ) = > { if (! isValidJson ( line ) ) return ; var data = JSON. parse ( line ) ; // reducer logic, do stuff with data summary. age_sum += data. age ; summary. num_entries ++ ; } ) ; // when finished processing, write the results to disk rl. on ( 'close', ( ) = > { process. stdout. write ( summary. age_sum / summary. num_entries ) ; } ) ; var isValidJson = ( n ) = > { try { JSON. parse ( n ) ; } catch ( e ) { return false ; } return true ; }
Hopefully this helps you get started entering Big Data with Node.
EnjoyWhen was the last time you heard Nancy Grace rail obnoxiously from the television screen about the murder of Brisenia Flores?
You know who I’m talking about – it’s hard to miss her shrill delivery on the cable TV dial. She’s one of those either-lover-her-or-hate-her people; I’m one of the click-the-channel-quickly-when-I-see-her-on-the-screen people. I’m not a fan.
Grace has gotten good traction from the Casey Anthony trial.
But she’s not the only one. The Anthony trial has been fodder for a noxious amount of media attention. Granted, the case had all the required ingredients of a Hollywood murder drama: the pretty baby, the attractive mother, the unspeakable crime. It was hard to avoid it in the tabloids and every news-type television program the country. It was the perfect story to bounce around the media echo-chamber, let it fester, grow and bring more viewers.
From a ratings standpoint, cynical as it may sound, it was a gold mine. Now that the trial is over, now that Casey Anthony was found not guilty, the story has gotten a second wind in the form of outrage, trial deconstruction, jury second-guessing and commentary. It should be good for at least another week. I wonder though, what if little Caylee Anthony had been a minority child? What if she had been, say, Latina? Would the attention have been the same?
No need to stretch the theory, we have a good case at hand – a recent case that has as much drama as the Caylee story.
Brisenia Flores, the nine year old girl who was murdered in Arizona, shot by a group of pseudo-vigilantes who forced their way into her home looking to steal drug money that was to be used to finance a citizen border protection organization. They killed her father, wounded her mother and then killed the nine year old for reasons that still make no sense. Basically, it was a group of anti-immigrants who killed a little Latina girl to pay for their anti-immigrant activities. Perfect fodder for Grace and her ilk, no? In fact, the third and last defendant in the Brisenia Flores murder trial, Albert Gaxiola, was being tried at the same time as Casey Anthony. But not a peep in the media.
This isn’t to diminish what happened to little Caylee Anthony. It is a horrible crime that has yet to be solved. But the story quickly went from being sad to being a side-show – amplified by the 24 hour news wheel and the instant Internet repost cycle. We talked about it, we tweeted about it, we linked to it on FaceBook.
How does that compare to the attention given to the Brisenia case?
It doesn’t. Comparatively, the Brisenia case is no less sad, no less outrageous. The only difference is that she was Latina. And please don’t misconstrue my intent. This isn’t to take a victim stance, to say poor-are-we because our victim of heinous crime didn’t get the same attention as the little white girl. This is simply to point out a very real circumstance that has as much to do with the overblown coverage of the Casey trial as it does with the lack of attention to the Brisenia trial. The biggest difference now is that the Brisenia trial is not yet over. Two of the three defendants have been found guilty, the third trial is under way. I’m wondering if Nancy Grace will have something to say about that.
Follow Victor Landa on Twitter: @vlanda
[Image Courtesy Presente.org]The story of INSIDE is about control and conformity, The game starts as a boy being completely oppressed by the world around him, coldly being strangled or shot on sight. But as the game progresses he gains more knowledge and therefore control allowing him to overcome his obstacles. One prominent example of this is dogs: at the beginning of the game, you’re only option is to run from the dogs, then you learn to trick them by climbing back and forth over a fence that they have to lengthily circumvent, and by the end of the game a small pack barks at you but is too afraid to actually attack you. In many ways he gains control using the same methodology as the oppressors, like using their mind controlled zombies and jet powered boxes. At the end of the game, the boy thinks he’s gained complete control when pulling the mind control cords out of the zombie flesh monster, but he still gets sucked up into it. After slowly becoming more like his oppressors, he literally embodies conformity and becomes the monster he was fighting against.
During the first playthrough, the little boy’s goal appears to be purely survival. He’s constantly covering new ground because nowhere is safe. During this first playthrough, the boy’s goals line up with gameplay and player motivation in terms of puzzle solving. Both me and the boy don’t really know what our end goal is, but we know that we need to use this rope and that lever in order to progress. For him progressing is continuing his escape, while the player is progressing closer to the end of the game. As the player, we assume that we are in total control of the boy, but we don’t really understand the context for a lot of actions we make the boy do; why am I pulling out this worm from a pig, or why am I moving this box around even before I know of it’s usefulness? This ludonarrative-dissonance always inhibits immersion for me, because player character doesn’t know that they are solving video game puzzles, like I do.
INSIDE’s theme of control and subverting control doesn’t only exist between the boy and the corporation, it’s also between the player and the boy. The player assumes that they are in complete control over the boy, because we think we know more than him because of our previous puzzle game experience and we control his every movement like the mind control helmet. We think we are pushing him along to further our goal of beating the game, but the farther into the compound you get, the more you sense that the boy has a specific goal in mind unbeknownst to the player.
The boy’s goal is to free the blob, but fails and gets sucked into it. Then the combination of the two escape the facility and roll down the mountain. At the bottom, the blob lands on the beach resembling a beached whale. After the credits, the game restarts, and the beginning of the game is the boy sliding down a hill into the forest. It’s implied that the boy falls out of the blob and back into the beginning of the game. Thus, the story of INSIDE is cyclical, where the boy always runs right only to fail and end up back in the forest.
This revelation recontextualizes who’s in control of the boy and flips dramatic irony on it’s head. Throughout the first playthrough, the boy knows more than the player. We aren’t controlling a naive little boy and helping him escape,but rather he is story’s driving force who knows exactly what challenges lie ahead of him. He is in more control than us because this is the first time we’ve seen what he’s seen possibly dozens of times. Learning about INSIDE’s reverse-dramatic irony redeems and explains the video game-y puzzle ludonarrative-dissonance that bothered me through the first playthrough. Now with the boy’s past revealed, we know that he would grab this box as fast as the player would because he’s seen it before and already knows what to do.
While the boy is actually in more control than the player, and occasionally the corporation, he still can’t control his fate. At the end of the game he wants to free the mind controlled blob, but fails after getting sucked into it and killing it after escaping the facility. The progression of the game is the boy’s Sisyphean torment, fighting an uphill battle against control, but like clockwork always fails spectacularly with the ball literally rolling back down a hill and the boy having to restart the process, for all eternity. The only way for it to be stopped is to turn off the game, or in the boy’s case through the secret ending after finding all of the secrets (of which he has infinite cycles to find), in which he literally unplugs a cord to end the game.
Article by Taylor Kalsey
AdvertisementsThe fact that party leaders and netas in Uttar Pradesh routinely trample over the country's law is a known fact. With the police hand-in-glove with the ruling Samajwadi Party MLAs, their pet gundas and party men are more or less free to do what they want.
Bad would be an understatement to define the law and order situation in the state with rapes, murders and abductions being an everyday events. While Akhilesh Yadav, a fresh face, was voted to power with much hope, he has failed, that too miserably, at changing anything.
The latest casualty of this lawlessness is a journalist Jagendra Singh who was allegedly burnt to death for Facebook posts against a Samajwadi Party MLA Ram Murti Verma.
Singh who had suffered 60 percent burn injuries on 1 June, died late on Monday night the Civil Hospital in Lucknow, where he had been admitted.
According to The Hindustan Times, "Singh sustained severe burn injuries when police raided his home at Awas Vikas colony, under the jurisdiction of Kotwali police station, to arrest him in connection with a case. The journalist had alleged police inspector Sriprakash Rai set him on fire. He also accused Verma, the dairy development minister and a leader of the ruling Samajwadi Party, of hatching a conspiracy to kill him."
A quick look at the Shahjahanpur-based journalist's Facebook page reveals several posts on Ram Murti Verma.
In one post Singh alleges that Verma did not want a leader Amit Yadav aka Rinku to get an MLC ticket, hence he had given tickets to many of his own people in the party to make things difficult for Yadav.
In another Facebook post, Singh had alleged that Verma and his operatives were guilty of gangraping an Anganwadi worker. Singh had said while SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav dismissed rape as mistakes made by young boys, women leaders in the party too had turned a blind eye to this woman's plight.
In several other posts Singh alleges that Verma's men were planning to attack the home of a woman, he had also questioned how Verma had accumulated so much wealth.
Singh's family members allege that he was being hounded by state minister Ram Murti Verma's men, including police Inspector AK Rai. During a visit to the hospital, senior police officer Amitabh Thakur was told by Singh that he was first attacked by the minister's henchmen on 28 April. On 1 June, he said, the attack was abetted by a police inspector.
According to The Indian Express quoted Singh's son Rajan as saying, "Ram Murti Singh Verma and his associates were threatening my father for the past few days and police was acting at his behest. The minister’s three associates, who attacked my father on April 28 were not arrested. A few days later, police lodged a false case against my father."
Even as the family alleges foul play in Singh's death, it does not come as a surprise that the police have said that it was not a murder but a suicide.
Kotwali SHO KK Tiwari told The Indian Express, "A police team led by then SHO Prakash Rai had gone to Singh’s house on June 1 to arrest him. But Singh went to his terrace and started hurling abuse at the team… While the policemen were trying to pacify him, he poured kerosene oil on himself."
Strongly condemning the murder, Press Council of India Chairman CK Prasad said it was an attack on freedom of press and demanded an SIT probe into the incident.
"The murder of a journalist at Shahjehanpur in UP is certainly an attack on the freedom of the press and as such it should be treated seriously. The state government should appoint a Special Investigative Team consisting of officers of impeccable character and track record to get to the truth of the matter as it allegedly involves a minister of the state Cabinet," the PCI Chairman said.
Prasad also announced that the Press Council of India (PCI) would appoint a fact-finding committee which would visit the place of the incident and submit its report on the basis of which the Council would take appropriate action.
While several people had been earlier arrested for Facebook posts on leaders, this shocking case comes as another eye opener to the intolerance some leaders have towards criticism. Trying to stifle voices of dissent is nothing new. This incident shows that in a state like UP — where political clout is the ticket to committing crimes without fear of consequences — such voices have no place at all.
The fact that the police called it a case of suicide shows pressure from the government on them against acting against any of its leaders. If you are a minister, MLA or an MLC, or anywhere closely related to them, it only takes one call from them to get you out of the lock up, that is if at all the police manage to arrest you. If you are an honest policeman and refuse to bow down, you will most likely be transferred.
In 2014, when several murder and rape cases in UP grabbed media's attention, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had squarely denied that his state's law and order has any problem. He had said, "It (law and order situation) is good in UP and better than in many other states... That is why they (investors) have come in such large numbers," he had said.
While there has been no reaction from the Akhilesh's government on this gruesome incident, it isn't likely to be any different from what he has said in other criminal cases. While'stern action' is promised against those committing crimes, it is only limited to the ones who have no political connections.
With agency inputs
Firstpost is now on WhatsApp. For the latest analysis, commentary and news updates, sign up for our WhatsApp services. Just go to Firstpost.com/Whatsapp and hit the Subscribe button.Supporters of former Democrat presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders reacted ecstatically to an NBC Nightly News tweet indicating the Vermont senator had been nominated for president of the United States.
While technically true, the tweet’s language is imprecise. Sanders’s name was placed into nomination for president Tuesday afternoon at the Democratic National Convention, but the tweet leaves readers with the impression he had prevailed in the roll call vote and was the party’s nominee.
Bernie lovers on Twitter were elated.
The placement of his name into nomination preceded a roll call vote of the entire convention, which presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton will win.
Clinton will formally accept the Democrat nomination for president Thursday evening.
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In Cannonball, North Dakota, over 100 police with military equipment are advancing on a resistance camp established by Native American water protectors in the path of the proposed $3.8 billion Dakota Access pipeline. Photos and multiple videos posted to Facebook Live depict over 100 officers in riot gear lined up across North Dakota’s Highway 1806, flanked by multiple mine-resistant ambush protected military vehicles (MRAPs), a sound cannon, an armored truck and a bulldozer. There have also been reports from water protectors that the police presence includes multiple snipers. Police appear to be evicting the camp in order to clear the way for the Dakota Access pipeline company to continue construction — which was active at times on Thursday just behind the police line.
Police advance towards blockade on Hwy 1806 to evict #OcetiSakowin from 1851 treaty land and pave way for the #DakotaAccessPipeline. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/VRQAGRdN10 — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016
Happening now: 100+ Police in ND approaching #NoDAPL frontline resistance camp with multiple MRAPs, sound cannon, armored truck, bulldozer pic.twitter.com/QzqEhO4Kgk — Democracy Now! (@democracynow) October 27, 2016
Cody Hall of Red Warrior Camp told Democracy Now! that behind the line of police, the Dakota Access pipeline company is carrying out construction with cranes and bulldozers on the sacred tribal burial site where on September 3, unlicensed Dakota Access security guards unleashed dogs and pepper spray against Native Americans.
PHOTO: Just behind militarized police line on Highway 1806 in North Dakota, Dakota Access pipeline company actively continues construction pic.twitter.com/CQgYXV3JGn — Democracy Now! (@democracynow) October 27, 2016
Water protectors have set up a blockade of the highway using cars, tires and fire. Elders are also leading prayer ceremonies.
Happening now: #NoDAPL water protectors blockading highway 1806 with cars, tires & fire amid fears 100+ police about to raid resistance camp pic.twitter.com/GGwD8IRAK5 — Democracy Now! (@democracynow) October 27, 2016
Dallas Goldtooth of the Indigenous Environmental Network reported in a Facebook Live video posted just before 2 p.m. local time that police have begun arresting water protectors in the ongoing standoff. Sacheen Seitcham of the West Coast Women Warrior Media Cooperative told Democracy Now! police have used tasers against water protectors, and that she was hit with a concussion grenade.
The frontline camp sits directly in the proposed path of the Dakota Access pipeline on private property purchased recently by the Dakota Access pipeline company for $18 million. In establishing this frontline camp, water protectors cited an 1851 treaty, which they say makes the entire area unceded sovereign land under the control of the Sioux. Over the weekend, police arrested more than 120 people in a peaceful march to this site during which police deployed tear gas and used rubber bullets to shoot down drones the water protectors were using to document police activity.
Ahead of today’s apparent police raid, the Federal Aviation Administration also issued a temporary no-fly zone for the airspace above the resistance camps for all aircraft except for those used by law enforcement. This order means Native Americans can no longer fly drones to document police activity, but the police can continue to fly their surveillance drones and helicopters.
The apparent police raid of the resistance camp comes only minutes before Standing Rock Sioux youth flooded the Hillary Clinton campaign headquarters in New York City to demand Clinton oppose the Dakota Access pipeline.Senate Republicans vow no other legislation will pass the Senate until after the next elections if Democrats trigger the "nuclear option" to change the chamber’s rules.
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Instead, Republicans say they will campaign against the Democrats’ “tyranny of the majority” in hopes of regaining control of the Senate in 2014, when 21 Democrats face reelection.
They are vowing to use their majority control to jam through a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, a repeal of the Wall Street Reform Act and other GOP priorities.
“If Sen. Reid changes the character of the Senate, then the Senate ceases to function. We’ll take our case to the people, we’ll argue for a new majority and then Republicans will be in a position to do whatever Republicans with 51 votes want to do,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander Andrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderPence meeting with Senate GOP ahead of vote to block emergency declaration Addressing repair backlog at national parks can give Congress a big win The Hill's Morning Report — Emergency declaration to test GOP loyalty to Trump MORE (R-Tenn.), who spoke out against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidBottom Line Brennan fires back at'selfish' Trump over Harry Reid criticism Trump rips Harry Reid for 'failed career' after ex-Dem leader slams him in interview MORE’s (D-Nev.) threat to trigger the nuclear option.
The tactic contemplated by Reid entails changing the Senate’s rules with a simple majority vote to prohibit filibusters against executive and judicial branch nominees.
Alexander, a former member of the GOP leadership who is close to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellHouse to push back at Trump on border Democrats block abortion bill in Senate Overnight Energy: Climate protesters storm McConnell’s office | Center-right group says Green New Deal could cost trillion | Dire warnings from new climate studies MORE (Ky.), said Republicans will use the nuclear option to ram through legislative changes if they regain Senate control.
He said the GOP conference could pass with a simple majority vote legislation to weaken unions, authorization to complete the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline and other items.Featured Stories, Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, MIT, MIT EAPS, MIT News, News | July 11, 2017
Climate Change to Deplete Some US Water Basins, Reduce Irrigated Crop Yields
By 2050, the Southwest will produce significantly less cotton and forage, researchers report.
A new study by MIT climate scientists, economists, and agriculture experts finds that certain hotspots in the country will experience severe reductions in crop yields by 2050, due to climate change’s impact on irrigation.
The most adversely affected region, according to the researchers, will be the Southwest. Already a water-stressed part of the country, this region is projected to experience reduced precipitation by midcentury. Less rainfall to the area will mean reduced runoff into water basins that feed irrigated fields.
Production of cotton, the primary irrigated crop in the Southwest and in southern Arizona in particular, will drop to less than 10 percent of the crop yield under optimal irrigation conditions, the study projects. Similarly, maize grown in Utah, now only yielding 40 percent of the optimal expected yield, will decrease to 10 percent with further climate-driven water deficits.
In the Northwest, water shortages to the Great Basin region will lead to large reductions in irrigated forage, such as hay, grasses, and other crops grown to feed livestock. In contrast, the researchers predict a decrease in water stress for irrigation in the the southern Plains, which will lead to greater yields of irrigated sorghum and soybean.
If efforts are made to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate climate change, the researchers find that water scarcity and its associated reductions in cotton and forage can be avoided.
“In the Southwest, water availability for irrigation is already a concern,” says first author Elodie Blanc, a research scientist at MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. “If we mitigate, this could prevent added stress associated with climate change and a severe decrease in runoff in the western United States. But it will be even worse in the future if we don’t do anything at all.”
Blanc’s study appears in the journal Earth’s Future, and her co-authors are Erwan Monier, a principal research scientist at MIT; Justin Caron, an assistant professor at HEC Montreal; and Charles Fant, a former MIT postdoc.
“A more integrated world”
While many researchers have investigated the effects of climate change on crop yields, Blanc’s study is one of the first to consider how a changing climate may shape the availability and distribution of water basins on which irrigated crops depend.
“Most modeling studies that look at the impact of climate change on crop yield and the fate of agriculture don’t take into account whether the water available for irrigation will change,” Monier says.
In predicting how climate will affect irrigated crop yields in the future, the researchers also consider factors such as population and economic growth, as well as competing demands for water from various socioeconomic sectors, which are themselves projected to change as the climate warms.
“We try to be as representative of reality as possible,” Blanc says.
To do this, the researchers used a model of 99 major river basins in the country, which they combined with the MIT Integrated Global System Model-Community Atmosphere Model — a set of models that simulates the evolution of economic, demographic, trade, and technological processes. The models also include the greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants that result from these processes, and they incorporate all of that information within a global climate model that simulates the physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere, as well as in freshwater and ocean systems.
“We’re looking at a more integrated world, and how all these interactions will drive changes in irrigation,” Monier says.
“Severely accentuated” shortages
The researchers focused their global simulations on the U. S. and modeled the country’s evolving economic activities in different geographic regions to determine the water requirements for five main sectors: thermoelectric cooling; public supply, such as for drinking water and other public utilities; industrial demand; mining; and irrigation.
They then used a crop model to simulate daily water requirements for various crops, driven by the researchers’ modeled projections of precipitation and temperature, and compared these requirements with the amount of water predicted to be available for irrigation in a particular basin through the year 2050.
“The biggest finding is that it really makes a difference in specific regions, whether you take into account how irrigation availability will change in the future and how that will impact yields,” Monier says.
By 2050, the team projects that, under a business-as-usual scenario, in which no action is taken to reduce greenhouse gases, a number of water basins in the U.S. will start experiencing water shortages. Several basins, particularly in the Southwest, will see existing water shortages “severely accentuated,” according to the study.
The researchers note that the basins that will be the most affected generally do not supply the largest areas of irrigated cropland. For example, though climate change will significantly reduce cotton production in the Southwest, the bulk of the country’s cotton production does not occur in this region.
“It may not matter too much for the total crop production of the U.S., but if you’re a farmer in that particular region that’s going to be impacted, that matters to you,” Monier says. “What we want to do is provide useful information that either farmers or land investors can use to look into the future and make decisions on where is the right region to expand irrigated agriculture, and where is it more risky. We also want to make clear that climate mitigation is better for U.S. irrigated agriculture than not doing anything.”
A climate-changing landscape
Under the same business-as-usual scenario, the researchers projected higher yields for irrigated crops such as wheat, soybean, and sorghum. The increased production in these crops is driven by higher precipitation predicted to occur in the central U.S., combined with higher concentrations of carbon dioxide, which reduces a plant’s water requirements.
The researchers predict that crop yields for wheat, soybean, and sorghum should increase even more if mitigation measures are put in place. In addition to a business-as-usual scenario, the team ran its simulations under two mitigation scenarios, previously proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in which efforts are made to mitigate global warming to 2 and 3 degrees Celsius, relative to pre-industrial times.
They found that both mitigation scenarios should increase yields for all crops compared to the business-as-usual scenario, including cotton and forage, and that the more ambitious scenario has the potential to reduce the number of water-stressed basins.
Going forward, the researchers plan to factor into their simulations various ways in which climate change drives adaptation, and how such adaptations in turn shape crop patterns and the agricultural landscape.
“In the real world, if you’re a farmer and year after year you’re losing yield, you might decide, ‘I’m done farming,’ or switch to another crop that doesn’t require as much water, or maybe you move somewhere else,” Monier says. “That’s the next step: How would the agricultural sector adapt?”
This research was supported, in part, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.A monster supercell on May 22, 2014 produced giant, destructive hail and an EF-3 tornado just west of Albany, New York. In general, the event was poorly forecast.
The supercell formed outside of the “slight risk” area outlined by the Storm Prediction Center 1630 UTC forecast. Additionally the tornado probability was <2% and not contoured in the SPC forecast. The morning Area Forecast Discussion from Albany summed up the severe weather threat in the following way:
THEREFORE...WE FEEL THE THREAT OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IS VERY LOW (BUT NOT ZERO PERCENT). THE BETTER THREAT APPEARS TO BE LARGE HAIL BUT AGAIN THAT IS A VERY LOW THREAT.
I don’t think anyone (myself included) expected a long-lived supercell producing a long path of significant severe weather. The storm gave us an opportunity to look at how this supercell looked with dual polarization radar – a relatively new tool in our severe weather arsenal.
The storm started out with a classic large hail signature in Fulton County, NY to the north of the New York State Thruway. The above video from the town of Broadalbin shows baseball size hail falling from the storm. While low level rotation was unimpressive the mid level mesocyclone was cranking.
From a dual pol perspective this was a classic large hail case. A large area of high reflectivity (near 70dbz in places) with ZDR near 0 and pockets of low CC. Because hail tends to tumble as it falls it appears spherical to the radar – hence a differential reflectivity near 0. Not shown is KDP which is fairly low over Broadalbin – only about 1º/km showing that liquid water was not a large contributor to the high reflectivity – the hail was! In addition, a three body scatter spike (note very low CC downraidial of hail core) was present from the lowest elevation slice (near 2,000 ft AGL) all the way up to 20,000 feet! Storm top divergence was also |
can see the problem with that?" Elsa said, chuckling nervously. Upon seeing that Anna's countenance remained serious and her gaze had not lessened in its intensity, she continued, "Anna, I may prefer those of the fairer sex, but I won't have you forsake your vows simply to—"
"But what if I want to?" her protégée insisted, lips curling into a frown that somehow managed to keep its adorable touch. "Why can't...Why can't I just marry—"
Elsa interrupted her with a finger to her lips, averting her gaze from the girl before her. "You forget the world we live in, Anna. Beyond these walls, it is cruel, callous, cold. Even… even if, by some miracle, the world turns a blind eye to what we share and allow us to live in peace...the church would raise an uproar. The marriage you've probably dreamt of at least once before...you won't have it."
"But what if I marry you in secret?"
The absurdity of the words gave her pause.
"No, you can't."
"W-What? No, you're not allowed to get up." She pushed her down, legs straddling her.
"Anna." Elsa sighed, looking away with her hands by her waist. "Look… we're only together… to work. To get you married, and that's all. Anything else… like this… is a taboo. Plus, if Hans comes in here and finds me naked and you on top of me, he'll kill us. He has the power to, Anna."
"But—"
"Don't forget that we're only here because he hired me and he likes you. We would be out in the streets in no time if this continues and we both know we don't want that. Oh, Anna…" She grinned bitterly, a hand cupping her cheek and caught a tear that fell ever so slowly. But why? Why cry now? Elsa knew that she liked him one way or another, but not loved him. Wasn't that what she wanted?
Anna held her hand, tightly and warmly. This was comforting for some reason. "You're right." She sniffled. "The church will find out… and perhaps, we'll be burned alive in public. We do have a very religious society, after all."
Elsa nodded, wanting to apologize but she couldn't. She just couldn't. These were her feelings and she'd expressed them openly and happily. Anna had accepted her, yet Elsa denied themselves from being together. This wasn't fair. This was… necessary.
Finding Anna getting off of her, and handing over her clothes, she looked at the painting. "Um… it's… the painting needs some more work to be done, but… I'm tired. I'll see you tomorrow, Elsa."
Her voice cracked, and a part of Elsa's heart cracked with it.
"Anna—"
"I just...I just thought that having something would be better than nothing at all," the girl continued, shoulders drooping ever so slightly. "That even if we can't have all of it, we could...we could at least try."
All Elsa wanted to do was call out to her, assure her that they would at least be in each other's lives. Could she even promise that much? Not for certain. Once the two of them were wed, she would have her own premises. Their lives would become separate, only distantly related compared to what they were now. What was the use in kindling a flame that would only have to be extinguished?
So instead, she said the only words of comfort that were open to her, forcing the words out as she finally began to pull her dress back on. "The painting… it's finished."
"What?" Anna asked, her hand on the doorknob. "Oh. You don't want to pose for it again, I understand."
"No, it's not—I'm being genuine. Your artistry has created something spectacular. I will be fairly embarrassed for anyone else to see it, given that it's my face, but… but it's perfect. No further work is required, and that is… my official word, as your mentor. Take pride in this accomplishment."
With a slightly sad smile, she gazed evenly at the blonde. Then, after mulling it over for a moment, she said, "It's not for sale. A painting like that belongs in a private collection." As she pulled open the door, she added one more word before slipping out: "Mine."
The minute she was alone, Elsa slumped to the floor, utterly drained. How this many emotions and venting of spleens had put her through the ringer! It would be a wonder if she even felt like getting up in the morning.
Yet, on the other side, Anna took a quick glance at the door behind her before turning and giving her new painting in possession a look of awe and wonder. She knew she was improving as a painter, but she wasn't struck by the skill she managed to to put from brush to canvas. She was struck by the beauty of, who Anna thought, would never be with her despite them both knowing what they truly wanted.
Perhaps she could run away and elope with Elsa? As much as Hans held her entire life in the palm of his hand, the riches and attention he would shower her with were nothing compared to merely being with Elsa, alone. But where exactly would they run? With Hans's status, there's no telling what he could do to the both of them. Murder, possibly? Was Hans even capable of that?
Anna gave her being with Elsa a second thought, and it pained her to know the kind of pain Elsa could be under just trying to help a man, who possibly never loved her to begin with, win her affections.
She held the painting close and quietly sobbed.
Our contributors: The Wandering Quill, iamrottingunman/iamrottingbitch, forkanna/Jessica-X, Cyrianu, Brown TurtleHow I Accidentally Trashed Mike Cernovich to the Media
Kyle Duck Blocked Unblock Follow Following Jun 20, 2017
I was recently interviewed by Ariel Stulberg on Search Engine Optimization, online marketing, “fake news”, hoaxes, social media, persuasion and how they’re all interconnected.
Ariel is writer for FiveThirtyEight and Vox.com.
This was my first media interview, and it was a lot of fun. Ariel is bright, conscientious, objective and asked some pointed questions.
…But I have a newfound respect for politicians and pundits.
You see, doing media is a skill.
Imagine every word you speak being recorded and potentially broadcast to the whole world.
Pay attention to the things you say during the course of the day. Think about what could be taken out of context.
You might even notice that sometimes you say things in conversation that you don’t even mean.
It takes real discipline to stay on message and keep mistakes to a minimum.
For the most part, I did a good job of this.
Though I could have been more interesting, and there are a couple of verbal ticks I need to eliminate.
The only mistake I made was comparing Louise Mensch to Mike Cernovich.
If you’re not familiar with either, Mike is the author of Gorilla Mindset and a self-made media mogul. Louise is a former UK MP who is enjoying a run of infamy as a Trump-Russia conspiracy theorist.
Unfortunately, I messed up the recording and didn’t capture the interviewer’s voice in the conversation, only mine. (Again, it was my first interview.)
Without Mr. Stulberg’s voice, it’s hard to tell from the recording what the context of that comparison was.
To be fair to Mike, I preceded it with praise on how he “drives traffic” (he does), has a Twitter worth millions and for being a self-made man.
Here’s the point in the interview where we discuss Mike:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFkIpsvHWA8&feature=youtu.be&t=22m40s
Though it wasn’t my intention to bad mouth Mike, my quote could easily be taken out of the context.
The point is that doing media is work.
Though it was fun, I will be taking some precautions in the future:
- Limit the time.
Guarding and thinking about every word takes a toll on your energy. The longer you talk, the more likelier you are to make a mistake.
In the future, I’ll limit media interviews to 45 minutes or less.
- Have a plan
You should write down points you want to make and refer back to those.
If you don’t have a direction in mind for the discussion, then the journalist will dominate the subject and tone (that’s his job).
- Have fun.
In retrospect, I was a little too cautious. Try to express your points in funny ways.
There’s an optimal point somewhere between Sam Hyde and being a bore.
The full interview is below.
Here are some of the topics we cover:
- How Google’s search results algorithm works
- Is Google biased?
- How hoaxes spread online
- Corrupt journalists and SEO
Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFkIpsvHWA8
P.S. This is my new company Triumph.AI as discussed. If you’re interested in Artificial Intelligence for SEO, you might want to read about it. Note: the website is still a work in progress. =PThis article is over 2 years old
The mining and resources giant Adani is being investigated for alleged involvement in a US$4.4bn pricing scandal around coal sales by Indian power companies.
Adani Enterprises is one of six Adani Group companies named for the first time in connection with an industry-wide scandal in which Indian energy companies are accused of profiteering on coal imported from Indonesia. The company denies being involved over-valuing the coal.
Adani's Carmichael mine approval labelled 'economic stupidity' Read more
It comes days after Adani Enterprises’ Australian subsidiary, Adani Mining, was granted mining leases by the Queensland government for the country’s largest proposed coal project in the Galilee basin.
The Adani Group companies are among dozens of companies targeted in an 18-month investigation by the Indian Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), the Economic and Political Weekly revealed.
DRI last week issued a “general alert” to customs offices claiming that power companies were exploiting “higher tariff compensation based on [the] artificially inflated cost of the imported coal” from Indonesia, it reported.
Profits from the alleged scam by companies supplying state-owned power utilities were being “siphoned” overseas, the DRI alert said.
An Adani Group spokesman told Guardian Australia it was “aware of the investigations being conducted by the DRI, and has fully co-operated, and shall continue to co-operate with the investigating agencies”.
Green and Indigenous groups furious over Queensland's Carmichael coalmine lease approval Read more
“Adani Group denies the allegations of over valuation and there is no show cause notice received till date,” he said.
The DRI, an agency attached to the Indian finance ministry, made its first arrest as part of the investigation in February, in a case unrelated to the Adani Group.
In court documents following the arrest, the DRI alleged a number of Indian power plants were inflating the prices of their Indonesian coal imports, passing on the costs to customers and hiding the profits overseas, the Economic and Political Weekly reported.
The power companies typically used front companies in Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai to inflate the prices of coal in official billing documents, the DRI alleged.
Indian energy minister Piyush Goyal told Economic and Political Weekly that the DRI was “investigating cases related to misdeclaration of value (over invoicing) of coal imported from Indonesia and supplied to power plants of NTPC [the former National Thermal Power Corporation, India’s biggest power producer]”.
The publication named Adani Group companies Adani Enterprises, Adani Power, Adani Power Rajasthan, Adani Power Maharashtra, Adani Wilmar and Vyom Trade Link as targets of the investigation.
Adani to face no action over Australian CEO’s link to Zambia mine pollution Read more
The Adani Group spokesman said all its coal imports had “taken place at contemporaneous prices prevailing in the international market which all along [have] been accepted by customs authorities across all ports in India.
“Adani Group is supplying to different utilities including public sector utilities in the power sector through a transparent bidding process,” he said.
“The tariff in most cases is also discovered through bidding system and other cases determined by the regulatories in accordance with law.”
Adani Mining has indicated about half the coal from its Queensland mine, which will produce up to 60 million tonnes a year, would supply the Indian market, including Adani’s own generators.There are a lot of different things being worked on by the development teams at Snapshot Games right now. We wish we could show them all to you, but some will have to wait until next time.
In this update, we're going to take a look at some new designs for soldier classes, and some redesigns on existing models.
New Jericho
A lot of work is currently being done on the New Jericho faction. There's still some concept work happening, and some "first pass" 3D models are starting to form.
The Silhouettes
One of the important considerations when designing the look of characters is to make them distinct. The aim with Phoenix Point is to make each class (or enemy archetype) easily identifiable from their silhouette, regardless of faction.Fruit juices and smoothies can be as acidic as fizzy drinks and if consumed regularly can contribute to erosion of tooth enamel.
Dentists advise that it is best to brush teeth with a fluoride toothpaste before drinking fruit juice as this helps strengthen the enamel against the corrosive effect of the acidic juice.
But most people still brush their teeth after breakfast, for example, when their tooth enamel has been weakened by fruit juice and brushing can be harmful.
Dr Nigel Carter, the chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: "Once you have eaten your breakfast the protective enamel on your teeth is softened temporarily for up to one hour.
"If you brush your teeth at this point, before the enamel has had a chance to harden again, you can risk eroding away the enamel and this can also increase your risk of suffering tooth decay."
He said the popularity of fruit smoothies was a concern because of their high sugar and acid content.
Dr Carter added: "Dental health is often considered to be of secondary importance to other health issues, but the latest scientific research has found strong links between oral health and a range of serious health conditions including heart disease, heart attacks, respiratory disease, strokes, diabetes and low birth weight babies."
A survey released by the BDA and Oral B to mark National Smile Month found that almost a third of people believe fruit smoothies are good for teeth.
Other results from the survey disclosed Britain's poor dental habits, which include flossing while driving, opening bottles with the teeth, ignoring bleeding gums and using earrings and lollipop sticks to pick the teeth.
More than one in 10 has flossed while driving, and more than a quarter have opened a bottle with their teeth. Almost one in three has suffered bleeding gums and half ignored them.
Bleeding gums is a sign of gum disease which has been linked to heart disease. Bacteria from the mouth gets into the bloodstream where it encourages fatty deposits to cling to the inside of arteries, limiting blood flow.
People with gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease than those without gum disease.
Research has also linked gum disease to an increased risk of strokes and it may encourage premature labour in pregnant women.
Other results from the survey include:
• More than one in three people brushes their teeth for less than a minute, when two minutes is recommended.
• One in four thinks that using an electric toothbrush is "lazy" but actually it can be more effective.
• One in five can't remember when they last changed their toothbrush when it should be changed every three months.
•One in three brushes their teeth only once a day or less.More Americans identify themselves as conservative than as liberal on economic and social issues, but the gap has shrunk to the smallest in the 14 years Gallup has been conducting its annual Values and Beliefs research, the polling company revealed on Wednesday.
According to the poll, which was conducted in early May, 34 percent of Americans said they were conservative on social issues, while 35 percent said they were moderate and 30 percent liberal.
That 4 percent difference between conservative and liberal stands in stark contrast to where the country stood a half decade ago. In both 2009 and 2010, the conservative advantage on social issues stood at 17 percent, according to Gallup poll data.
Gallup said that while Republican views on social issues have been steady the past four years, Democrats are now more likely to identify as socially liberal, especially regarding same-sex marriage and legalization of marijuana.
“Because Republicans have stayed where they were on social issues while Democrats have shifted in a more liberal direction, overall the country is significantly more liberal on social issues than it was,” said William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and former policy adviser to President Bill Clinton. “If you look at Democrats on social issues, they have shifted very sharply since Obama’s election.”Volcanic eruptions are the most spectacular expression of the processes acting in the interior of any active planet. Effusive eruptions consist of a gentle and steady flow of lava on the surface, while explosive eruptions are violent phenomena that can eject hot materials up to several kilometres into the atmosphere.
The transition between these eruptions represents one of the most dangerous natural hazards.
Understanding the mechanisms governing such transition has inspired countless studies in Earth Sciences over the last decades.
In a new study led by Dr Danilo Di Genova, from the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, an international team of scientists provide evidence, for the first time, that a subtle tipping point of the chemistry of magmas clearly separates effusive from explosive eruptions worldwide.
Moreover, they demonstrate that variabilities at the nanoscale of magmas can dramatically increase the explosive potential of volcanoes.
Dr Di Genova said: "The new experimental data, thermodynamic modelling and analysis of compositional data from the global volcanic record we presented in our study provide combined evidence for a sudden discontinuity in the flow behaviour of rhyolitic magmas that guides whether a volcano erupts effusively or explosively.
"The identified flow-discontinuity can be crossed by small compositional changes in rhyolitic magmas and can be induced by crystallisation, assimilation, magma replenishment or mixing.
"Composition-induced flow behaviour variations may also originate from changes in magmas intrinsic parameters such as temperature, pressure or oxygen fugacity."
These can result in revitalization of a previously "locked" magma chamber via chemical fluidification or may hinder efficient degassing and lead to increased explosive potential via chemical "stiffening" of a magma.
Furthermore, the study showed how the sudden precipitation of iron-bearing nanocrystals, which have been recently found in volcanic rocks, can increase the explosive potential of a magma via both depletion of iron in the melt structure and providing nucleation points for gas bubbles which drive explosive eruption.
###
Paper:
'A chemical tipping point governing mobilization and eruption style of rhyolitic magma' by D. Di Genova, S. Kolzenburg, S. Wiesmaier, E. Dallanave, D. Neuville, L. Hess and D. Dingwell in NatureThe state of New Jersey told an Army officer dealing with terror threats at Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton that there is no “justifiable need” for him to have a concealed carry permit.
Lt. Col. Terry S. Russell, the product manager for the Army’s Individual Weapons and Small Arms program, requires a Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance for his job. The base where he works was chosen as a terrorist “dry run” for a a Vehicle Borne Improved Explosive Device, and hackers have tried to obtain information on personnel.
Regardless, Oceanport Police Chief Daniel W. Barcus still denied the solider a permit, a decision ultimately backed last month by Superior Court Judge Joseph Oxley.
“None of these threats appear to specifically relate to this applicant — he is in no different position than any other person who is assigned to that facility,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a Jan. 29 letter to the judge after Col. Russell appealed the police chief’s decision, New Jersey radio station WKXW-FM reported Friday.
Mr. Gramiccioni said that if Col. Russell were granted a permit for protection, then others stationed at Picatinny Arsenal would apply using the same rationale.
Lt. Col. Russell holds a senior position at the base, the station reported. He also has 27 years in service.
Though the soldier’s attorney, Evan F. Nappen, argued that the denial “puts national security at risk,” the judge sided with the police department at an April 5 hearing, thanking Col. Russell for his service before rejecting his appeal.
“Jersey sucks,” one of the station’s readers wrote Sunday in response to the news. “End of story. Move to a state that actually recognizes the 2nd Amendment because every single criminal and thug has a weapon — and you don’t.”
“This is why many of the so-called ‘common sense regulations’ are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Bottom line: You can’t trust the government — state or local,” added another.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said Lt. Col. Russell was 27 years old instead of having 27 years in service.
Copyright © 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.The Islanders went into draft day looking to improve on several fronts, knowing that the biggest thing they had going for them was their prospect depth. Well, to the surprise of very few, the Islanders and Nino Niederreiter parted ways today. The Isles sent “El Nino” to the Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck and Minnesota’s 3rd round pick. When people first learned of it, they were a little taken aback.
At the draft party I heard a lot different reactions:
“I hope this is a joke!”
“YES, great deal!”
“Very interesting, I am not sure to think about this, but I trust Garth Snow“
So, as you can see people are not sure what to make of this because they don’t really know a whole lot about Cal Clutterbuck and Nino was a prized prospect. He was picked 5th overall, and these kind of picks are supposed to pan out. But, in hockey as in life, things that are supposed to happen don’t always do.
Cal Clutterbuck, 25, played in the Western Conference. Let’s be honest, most Eastern Conference fans aren’t really focused on what goes on in the West. With most of the games, especially last year, being played against Eastern Conference opponents, we lose track of these kind of players.
Well, that begs the next question? Who on earth is Cal Clutterbuck?
He’s got a great name, but there is a tad more to his game than that. He is a hard hitting forward who has played close to 350 games in his NHL career after being drafted 72nd overall by the Wild in 2006. Clutterbuck is not someone you have to worry about with injury either. He has missed no more than 8 games in any season. Before a guy named Matt Martin came along and stole his crown, Clutterbuck was the NHL’s hit leader for the previous 3 seasons. But make no mistake, he is not Martin. He is a heavy hitter, but he has 20 goal potential. Before this previous season, he scored 15 and 19 goals in his last 2 NHL campaigns. He has 62 goals and 48 assists in his NHL career.
Clutterbuck said of the trade: “For me, it’s about being the same person every day. I’m going to help them succeed any way I can.” A good attitude to have and we are happy to have him on the Island.
The Nino Frustration Factor
It’s well known that Nino was unhappy. He had to go. Last season he, or “his agent” complained that he wanted to traded. After an unsuccessful debut in 2011-12, in which he was pretty much relegated to the 4th line most of the season, Niederreiter lit it up in the AHL…in the first half. He really felt he had something to prove and he really went out in the first half of the year and showed that. But after he told the Islanders that he was frustrated about his lack of a call up, his numbers really fell off. That being said, he did wind up with 28 goals in 74 games. A solid total for sure. However, after alerting the Islanders that he would not be attending the prospect scrimmage this coming month, it was apparent that something had to be done.
The fact is that he is still 20 years old (he will be 21 in September). He does have a tremendous upside, and the Islanders of old would have rushed him up and kept him up here. Even during the TSN broadcast of the NHL Draft, they said “The Islanders have been criticized in the past for rushing prospects, but they did a great job in sending players like Griffin Reinhart back to Juniors.” If he is not willing to wait his turn and pay his dues, then what choice did Snow really have at this point? He may very well have had a different fate with this team if he really worked hard and did everything asked of him. But, in hockey as in life, if you don’t work hard and you cause problems, it’s going to catch up to you.
Unfortunately for Neiderreiter and the Islanders it was not a match made in heaven. He could turn out to be the next Todd Bertuzzi or Zdeno Chara; players the Islanders traded way too soon. Or, he could turn out to be the next Robert Nilsson or Ryan O’Marra (Ironically both were drafted #15, where the Isles drafted this year).
Only time will tell, but “In Garth We Trust”.
With the Number 15 Pick, The Islanders Select…
Ryan Pulock, D, Brandon Wheat Kings
“The hardest shooting defenseman in the entire draft.” A few people were a little surprised that the Isles once again went for a defenseman, their 8th consecutive defensive draft pick, but Snow loves his rocket shot and his leadership capabilities. It doesn’t hurt that his father grew up an Islanders fan. Pulock said “I’m sure he’s smiling ear-to-ear, just like me. All of his life he’s been an Islanders fan”.
Snow stated “With the guidance from our coaching and development staff, we’re confident that Pulock will develop into yet another key piece of the core. Ryan’s leadership qualities, his steady defensive presence and his ability to jump into the play on offense will be an asset for our team for years to come.”
Upside
Aside from his 100+ MPH shot, Pulock does have lot of great attributes. He can play both sides of the puck. He is a very good all around defenseman. He is not afraid to throw his body around and be physical. He is not even 19 yet, he won’t turn 19 until October. He is 6’1″, 210 lbs., so he’s not a small guy. He had 14 goals and 31 assists last year with the Brandon Wheat Kings, as the captain of the team. He is projected to be a Power Play quarterback and people compare him to Dan Boyle. Not a bad guy to be compared to.
Downside
The team still needs solid offensive forces and with Nino gone, they need to add at least another solid forward to the coffers. Pulock does need to work on his skating, as that is not his greatest asset. But, then again, so did John Tavares and that has worked out well. He missed 11 games due to injury and played most of the year with a cast on his wrist.
Looks like a solid pick, and I look forward to watching him develop.
Where’s Our Goalie?
With the news that broke earlier about Cory Schneider being shipped to the New Jersey Devils for JUST the 9th selection, it looks like Roberto Luongo is out of the running to be between the pipes for the Islanders next season. It was a little surprising considering rumors have the Islanders offering Nino and the pick for Schneider, and yet they were turned down.
There is still plenty of time. I know people on social media are currently losing their minds that Snow didn’t trade Rick Dipietro for Sergei Bobrovsky and a 1st round pick, but it doesn’t work that way. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I believe in Garth Snow. Give him time. Luongo may not want to be the anointed one in Vancouver, and he still may want out. Jonas Hiller may be a cap casualty. Jaroslav Halak may also be out in St. Louis. There are plenty of options. Let’s not give up the ship just yet. It’s June 30.
Eamon McAdam
That being said, the Islanders did finally break the defenseman string by addressing the lack of goalie depth in the system. They selected goaltender Eamon McAdam of the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) with the 70th pick overall (the pick they got from Minnesota in the Niederrieter trade). He represented the US in the 2012 World Junior A Challenge and compiled a 4-0 mark with a 2.18 GAA and a.927 save percentage. McAdam was ranked number three among goaltenders according to the ISS final rankings prior to the NHL Draft.
Here is what Islanders goalie coach Mike Dunham had to say about McAdam:
Eamon McAdam is a positional goalie with good patience and quick feet who does a good job finding pucks through traffic. McAdam has a knack of making the big save.
He is the first goalie the Isles have taken since taking Cody Rosen (now out of the organization) with their 7th round pick in 2010. With McAdam off to Penn State in the fall, the Islanders hold his rights for four years if he stays in school. This gives the 6’2″ netminder time to develop, and the Isles time to evaluate what they have, if anything.
The Other Draft Picks
Taylor Cammarata
It didn’t take long before the Isles were up again at number 76. With that pick, they selected McAdam’s teammate Taylor Cammarata. In 59 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks, he scored 93 points; tallying 38 goals and 55 assists. Obviously Cammarata can put the puck in the net, but there’s a big problem; er a small problem. He is only 5’7″ and 157 lbs. He struggles against physical play and does most of his scoring from the perimeter.
That being said, scouts were still very high Cammarata because he continues to prove the doubters wrong. He may be small, but the former Shattuck-St.Mary’s teammate of number 1 overall pick Nathan MacKinnon has a way of overcoming that and putting the puck in the net. He even received the 2013 Dave Tyler USA Hockey Junior Player of the Year Award.
If he can contribute at the NHL level remains to be seen. He just turned 18 and it at least a few years away from making it to the pros. He will begin his development at the former home of Kyle Okposo, University of Minnesota, in the fall.
When you take a look at this picture Cammarata looks like someone’s 14 year old brother! He is definitely young, but take a look at pictures of Derek Jeter when he was drafted. Humans have this interesting thing they do, called growing. It will be interesting to see if he can fill out a bit.
Stephon Williams
With the 106th overall pick the Islanders selected goaltender Stephon Williams from Minnesota State-Mankato. The 6’2″ netminder was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Rookie of the Year and Goaltending Champion this past March.
Amazingly, Williams also played for the Waterloo Black Hawks, and was teammates with the Islanders first 2 draft picks. But, the 20 year old Alaskan actually spent this past year in college. The freshman compiled a 21-12-2 record with a 2.00 GAA and.924 save percentage in 35 games. He also had 4 shutouts and was named to the 2012-13 WCHA 1st team.
Viktor Crus Rydberg
No, that’s Victor Cruz, not an Islanders draft pick. With the 136th selection, the Isles took center Viktor Crus Rydberg from Linkoping (Sweden). The 18 year old Swede is described by HockeysFuture.Com as having a “complete skill set”. He tallied 12 goals with 23 assists with the Linkoping Men’s U20 team in the Swedish Elite League. Crus Rydberg was ranked 14th amongst International skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings. He is said to have great lower body strength, and is tough to knock off the puck. But, he definitely struggled this past year. He is having problems living up to the praise that people heaped on him. His skills are up there with anyone in his age group in Sweden, but it seems to be a matter of putting it all together. His production has not been bad, just below what people expected of him.
It will be interesting to see what he can do over the next couple of years. At 5’11, 187 lbs he may put some meat on his frame and may even add an inch or two. This could be an intriguing pick to watch develop. He has the skills, let’s see what he can do with them.
Alan Quine
With the 166th overall pick the Islanders have selected Alan Quine from the from Belleville Bulls (OHL). Quine was originally a 3rd round selection, 85th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He did not sign and went back into the draft.
Quine is a 20 year old Center described as having great skating ability, and great speed. He had 67p (23g, 44a) in 54 GP between Belleville and Peterborough this past season. In the playoffs with Belleville he scored 15pts in 17GP.
Initially he was described as more of a checker, but he really has turned on the offense and now his offensive overachievements have people noticing. He is 6′ tall and 181 lbs. If he wants to be an effective NHL player, he will have to put on a bit more muscle. But, given the fact that he is already 20 and was drafted once before, he could be someone to keep an eye one.
Kyle Burroughs
At number 196, and their final selection,the Islanders selected defenseman Kyle Burroughs from the Regina Pats (WHL). Burroughs led defensemen on Regina with 33 pts (5g, 28a) in 70 games this past season. He has been described as a long shot to make it, but someone who has a ton of heart. Of course, anyone selected with the 196th pick is a long shot but heart is a great characteristic to have. He really came on in the 2nd half of the year and was ranked 133 among North American skaters by Central Scouting. Burroughs just turned 18 and was named top defenseman on the Pats this year, despite a slow start to the season.
So, the Isles picked up 7 draft picks and a new, hard hitting, 25 year old forward. All in a day’s work for Garth Snow. Free agency starts Friday.
Until we meet again Isles fans.
-EBSir - As professionals and academics from a range of backgrounds, we are deeply concerned at the escalating incidence of childhood depression and children’s behavioural and developmental conditions. We believe this is largely due to a lack of understanding, on the part of both politicians and the general public, of the realities and subtleties of child development.
Since children’s brains are still developing, they cannot adjust – as full-grown adults can – to the effects of ever more rapid technological and cultural change. They still need what developing human beings have always needed, including real food (as opposed to processed “junk”), real play (as opposed to sedentary, screen-based entertainment), first-hand experience of the world they live in and regular interaction with the real-life significant adults in their lives.
They also need time. In a fast-moving hyper-competitive culture, today’s children are expected to cope with an ever-earlier start to formal schoolwork and an overly academic test-driven primary curriculum. They are pushed by market forces to act and dress like mini-adults and exposed via the electronic media to material which would have been considered unsuitable for children even in the very recent past.
Our society rightly takes great pains to protect children from physical harm, but seems to have lost sight of their emotional and social needs. However, it’s now clear that the mental health of an unacceptable number of children is being unnecessarily compromised, and that this is almost certainly a key factor in the rise of substance abuse, violence and self-harm amongst our young people.
This is a complex socio-cultural problem to which there is no simple solution, but a sensible first step would be to encourage parents and policy-makers to start talking about ways of improving children’s well-being. We therefore propose as a matter of urgency that public debate be initiated on child-rearing in the 21st century this issue should be central to public policy-making in coming decades.Serious people were appalled by Wednesday’s vote in the House of Representatives, where a huge bipartisan majority approved legislation, sponsored by Representative Sander Levin, that would potentially pave the way for sanctions against China over its currency policy. As a substantive matter, the bill was very mild; nonetheless, there were dire warnings of trade war and global economic disruption. Better, said respectable opinion, to pursue quiet diplomacy.
But serious people, who have been wrong about so many things since this crisis began — remember how budget deficits were going to lead to skyrocketing interest rates and soaring inflation? — are wrong on this issue, too. Diplomacy on China’s currency has gone nowhere, and will continue going nowhere unless backed by the threat of retaliation. The hype about trade war is unjustified — and, anyway, there are worse things than trade conflict. In a time of mass unemployment, made worse by China’s predatory currency policy, the possibility of a few new tariffs should be way down on our list of worries.
Let’s step back and look at the current state of the world.
Major advanced economies are still reeling from the effects of a burst housing bubble and the financial crisis that followed. Consumer spending is depressed, and firms see no point in expanding when they aren’t selling enough to use |
so I stayed in,” Bradshaw said.
His cousin Barnett was killed last year over Thanksgiving weekend, with police reporting that two men opened fire at a house party. Barnett, 18, was fatally shot in the chest, and five others were wounded.
“I’ve lost a bunch of cousins,” Bradshaw said, “too many to talk about right now.”
Life as a cadet offered its own challenges. Bradshaw arrived at West Point knowing little about rules and ranks.
During basic training, he recalled, “I was not mentally prepared to be standing in the sun all day listening to people yell at me.”
Football practices were just as grueling.
“You’re around all these seniors, these big linemen,” he said, “and as a quarterback you step in the huddle and have to know what everyone is doing, including the defense. My head was spinning.”
He leaned on his mother. The two are close enough in age — he’s 23, she’s 40 — that Collins said the two “grew up together. He is my BFF.”
A BFF with whom she compared grades.
“I’ve always been an A student,” she said proudly. “We were about tied.”
tgreenstein@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @TeddyGreenstein
Haugh: Northwestern deserved better than the Music City Bowl »E.C.S. sent along this clip from Keeping Up with the Kardashians in which the world is introduced to Kim’s wax figure, to be installed at the famous Hollywood wax museum, Madame Tussauds. E.C. asks, and suggests and answer to, the question: What has Kim Kardashian done to earn a spot beside historic presidents and renown musicians? Kardashian, she explains, is being honored for her capitulation to patriarchy. She explains:
Using her attractiveness, and her sexual and social capital as tools, Kim has made herself both a career and fame by winning the attention of men…
E.C. is referring, here, to Kardashian’s patriarchal bargain. A patriarchal bargain is a decision to accept gender rules that disadvantage women in exchange for whatever power one can wrest from the system. It is an individual strategy designed to manipulate the system to one’s best advantage, but one that leaves the system itself intact.
Indeed, this is what Kardashian has done, and very successfully. So, for what is she famous? For making this bargain and getting such a good deal for herself. “Congratulations, Kim,” E.C. writes, “for being patriarchy’s perfect woman.”
Clip:
See also our post on how Tila Tequila’s patriarchal bargain ultimately backfired.Abstract
Intelligence is not a term commonly used when plants are discussed. However, I believe that this is an omission based not on a true assessment of the ability of plants to compute complex aspects of their environment, but solely a reflection of a sessile lifestyle. This article, which is admittedly controversial, attempts to raise many issues that surround this area. To commence use of the term intelligence with regard to plant behaviour will lead to a better understanding of the complexity of plant signal transduction and the discrimination and sensitivity with which plants construct images of their environment, and raises critical questions concerning how plants compute responses at the whole‐plant level. Approaches to investigating learning and memory in plants will also be considered.
Received: 2 December 2002; Returned for revision: 13 February 2003; Accepted: 3 March 2003 Published electronically: 9 May 2003
INTRODUCTION
Intelligence is a term fraught with difficulties in definition. In part, the problems arise because of the human slant placed on the use and meaning of the word. However, although as a species we are clearly more intelligent than other animals, it is unlikely that intelligence as a biological property originated only with Homo sapiens. There should therefore be aspects of intelligent behaviour in lower organisms from which our superlative capabilities are but the latest evolutionary expression.
Stenhouse (1974) examined the evolution of intelligence in animals and described intelligence as ‘Adaptively variable behaviour within the lifetime of the individual’. The more intelligent the organism, the greater the degree of individual adaptively variable behaviour. Because this definition was used to describe intelligence in organisms other than humans, it is a definition useful for investigating the question in plants. Do plants exhibit intelligent behaviour? The use of the term ‘vegetable’ to describe unthinking or brain‐dead human beings perhaps indicates the general attitude.
However, in animal terms, behaviour is equated with movement, and since plants exhibit little if any form of movement, plant intelligence on that basis does not exist. Although some higher plants exhibit rapid movements (e.g. Mimosapudica), these are exceptions rather than common‐place. Mimosa captures our attention because it operates on a time scale similar to our own, and it is the difference in time scales that frequently makes plants seem unmoving. The use of time‐lapse facilities has indeed indicated that plants operate on very much slower time scales than our own, but once observed in this way, movement is quite clear.
In addition, the majority of multicellular plants, including macroalgae, are sessile, the result of a decision several billion years ago to gather energy and reducing potential via photosynthesis. Since light is freely available, movement has never been particularly critical to plant survival. Such movement as has been observed is usually limited to less complex plants such as blue‐green algae. Rejection of that (photosynthetic) decision by the primordial animal eukaryotic cell ensured that movement became critical to find food and mates. Once animals started to prey upon each other, the development of highly differentiated sensory systems and specialized nerve cells to convey information rapidly between sensory tissues and organs of movement was an inevitable consequence. The predator–prey relationship has acted as a positive feedback loop to accelerate complex development and equally complex organ differentiation in animal evolution (Trewavas, 1986b). Movement is, however, the expression of intelligence; it is not intelligence itself. Stenhouse (1974) regarded the early expressions of intelligence in animals as resulting from delays in the transfer of information between the sensory system and the motor tissues acting upon the signals. The delay enabled assessment of the information and modification of information in the light of prior experience, and it was that assessment that formed the basis of intelligence. The key difference between plants and animals in the Stenhouse (1974) definition is in the word ‘behaviour’. Silvertown and Gordon (1989) have defined plant behaviour as the response to internal and external signals. In plant terms these are familiar growth and development phenomena, such as de‐etiolation, flower induction, wind sway response, regeneration, induced bud break/germination, tropic bending, etc. Thus, a simple definition of plant intelligence can be coined as adaptively variable growth and development during the lifetime of the individual. To add significance to this definition, time lapse shows that virtually all plant movements are indeed the result of growth and development.
It can be objected that animals also grow and develop, but there are important qualitative differences. The sessile plant requires a morphological and developmental pattern that enables exploitation of local minerals, light and water. Since the environment is a variable and often unpredictable quantity for any individual plant, development continues throughout the life cycle and is necessarily plastic if proper exploitation and growth are to be achieved. Plasticity is from all examinations adaptive (Sultan, 2000), by its nature variable between individuals in different environments, and therefore must involve an element of computation if it is to succeed. Since all plants exhibit adaptive plasticity within the lifetime of the individual (Bradshaw and Hardwick, 1989), they must all exhibit intelligent behaviour according to the definition above. In contrast, much animal development and differentiation is confined to a uterus or egg, is minimal in the adult form and, as a consequence, is often described as unitary. Plant development is clearly modular, highly polarized through tip growth, and often exhibits complex branching patterns to enable proper resource exploitation that continues throughout the life cycle.
It is crucial to appreciate that all intelligent behaviour in both animals and plants has evolved to optimize fitness. Plants must then have access to an internal memory that specifies the optimal ecological niche in which maximal fitness, usually regarded as the greatest number of viable seeds, can be achieved. When the niche is sub‐optimal, plasticity in growth and development intervenes to counterbalance and to attempt to recover as far as possible the benefits of the optimal niche. The sub‐optimal niche can then, in some way, be compared with the optimal niche to specify the necessary extent of plasticity in growth and development.
This article considers various aspects of plant intelligence and attempts to answer some of the inevitable criticisms that will come with the notion of the intelligent plant. The major problem is a mind‐set, common in plant scientists, that regards plants basically as automatons. The reasons for this mind‐set will be examined later, and counter‐evidence provided. Other aspects, such as learning, memory, individuality and plasticity in plants will be reviewed, and the article will finish with some interesting examples of intelligence in action which ecologists are beginning to uncover. The article is long—it has to be when trying to justify a change in attitude. A very short version of this article has been published (Trewavas, 2002b), and see discussion article by Philips (2002).
SOME IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES OF A DEFINITION OF PLANT INTELLIGENCE
Intelligent behaviour is regarded as a property of the whole individual plant or animal. Although there is discussion among population ecologists as to whether the plant should be regarded as the genet or an individual ramet because of the modular character and a certain degree of independence of behaviour of individual meristems (White, 1979), I shall assume that the individual is the genet. A consequence of a repetitive modular structure is that the individual ramets might be regarded as being like parallel processors contributing different experiences resulting from different ages to present day decisions.
Learning and memory are the two emergent (holistic) properties of neural networks that involve large numbers of neural cells acting in communication with each other. But, both properties originate from signal transduction processes in individual neural cells. Quite remarkably, the suite of molecules used in signal transduction are entirely similar between nerve cells (Kandel, 2001) and plant cells (Trewavas, 2000; Gilroy and Trewavas, 2001). Most decisions made by plants about growth and development do seem to involve communication between all parts of the plant, but with prominence in the decision given to meristems local to the signal. In the marine snail Aplysia, and probably all animal neural systems, learning and memory are intertwined. Learning results from the formation of new dendrites, and memory lasts as long as the newly formed dendrites themselves (Kandel, 2001). The neural network is phenotypically plastic and intelligent behaviour requires that plastic potential. Plant development is plastic too and is not irreversible; many mature plants can be reduced to a single bud and root and regenerate to a new plant with a different structure determined by the new environmental circumstances.
Adaptively variable behaviour in animals is commonly secured by coordinating different groups of muscles. Individuality in cell and tissue behaviour in plants can underpin behaviour of different, but equal, variety in individual plants, and will be considered later.
Do plants work by rote, incapable of anything but reflexive responses?
The animal reflex arc is invariant under all conditions and a common attitude sees plant behaviour as analogous and likewise automaton, rote and invariant. There are probably at least four reasons for this mistaken perception.
(1) The use of statistics to simplify complex individual behaviour.
Statistics originated as a method to test whether two populations differed significantly as a result of their environmental treatments. However, the wholesale summary of physiological responses through means, averages or medians simply eliminates individual variation on the common, but incorrect, assumption that such variation is only experimental error (Trewavas, 1998). Individual behaviour (as required in the definition of intelligence) is ignored and behaviour thus over‐simplified. Quite critically, the mean or average does not usually reflect the behaviour of any individual and is simply a composite population response with meaning only to those who wish to study the behaviour of whole populations. But the behaviour of the mean is commonly assumed to reflect the behaviour of each individual in the whole population, particularly when describing mechanisms. Statistical averaging can seriously mislead as to actual mechanisms in individual plants.
Gravitropic responses illustrate the difficulty. Ishikawa et al. (1991) imposed a gravitational stimulus on young growing roots to produce, some 5–6 h later, the textbook picture of recovery to vertical growth. However, the trajectory of individual roots back to the vertical was far from simple, and Ishikawa et al. (1991) properly recognized five approximate classes of response. Zieschang and Sievers (1991) found the trajectories of individual gravi‐responding roots of Phleumpratense too complex to summarize as statistical means. Gravi‐responding hypocotyls or coleoptiles can likewise show enormous variations in trajectory back to the vertical (Macleod et al., 1987). Red light, calcium, touch, moisture, oxygen, temperature, ethylene and auxin have all been reported to modify gravitropic bending, illustrating the common observation that physiological phenomena are integrated responses resulting from many environmental influences (Trewavas, 1992). But variations in individual seedling sensitivity to each of these factors increase the variety of individual responses. Rich and Smith (1986) noted similar complexity in initiation time in phototropism, with individual hypocotyls requiring anywhere from 5 to 40 min to initiate response to the same blue light signal. They discuss the problems that averaging incurs in deciding on transduction mechanisms to this signal. Integration of many different environmental influences to produce a final integrated response is a particular feature of the intelligent animal.
(2) Controlled environments during experimentation.
Because the effects of the numerous environmental factors on plant growth and development can be complex, students are taught to examine such complexity by keeping all environmental factors constant except one, which is varied sufficiently strongly to obtain a response. Again, the response is usually summarized statistically. These experimental approaches, which are perfectly valid for asking questions about population behaviour, predispose towards assumptions that responses are reflexive because the signal is imposed until a response is obvious. A good example is water deprivation in which water is withheld until a response is achieved. However, in the wild, a multiplicity of factors affect the response to water deprivation, and the imposition of the stimulus takes place in a constantly changing environmental framework on plants of different age, different genotypes and very different circumstances. Experimentally depriving an animal of water or nutrient for several days and then exposing it to sources of either, would give rise to an apparently reproducible response (particularly when summarized statistically), but no‐one would regard such responses as indicating lack of intelligence; far from it.
(3) The capacity to navigate a maze.
One of the hallmarks of intelligent behaviour in the laboratory is the capacity of animals to run successfully through mazes and to receive an eventual reward. But the capacity of plants to grow through an environmental maze is not commonly assumed to represent intelligent behaviour and attracts little attention. Individual branches growing through gaps towards sources of light are an obvious example (Trewavas, 1986b). Numerous studies on rhizomes suggest that higher plants must be able to construct a three‐dimensional perspective of their local space and optimize their growth patterns to exploit resources, thus receiving rewards for successful behaviour. To any wild plant the environment represents a continual maze that must be successfully navigated.
Dia‐gravitropic rhizomes can certainly sense vertical environmental vectors, either from being buried or from receipt of light near the surface, with vertical growth then being adjusted (Bennet‐Clark and Ball, 1951; Maun and Lapierre, 1984). Consistent control of rhizome horizontal direction has been observed, particularly in heterogeneous soil environments, which are extremely common (Farley and Fitter, 1999). Rich soil patches are exploited by increased branching and growth; poor ones are either directly avoided or the rhizome thins to conserve resource use and growth is accelerated to speed the detection of new richer patches (Salzmann, 1985; MacDonald and Lieffers, 1993; Aphalo and Ballare, 1995; Evans and Cain, 1995; Kleijn and Van Groenendael, 1999; Wijesinghe and Hutchings, 1999). Evans and Cain (1995) report that Hydrocotyle rhizomes veer away from patches of grass and thus from competition.
Roots are able to sense humidity gradients and thus also construct a three‐dimensional environmental perspective (Takahashi and Scott, 1993). Increased root branching in soil patches rich in nitrate or phosphate indicate a similar ability in environmental perception (Drew et al., 1973). Roots will also take avoidance action when near others (Aphalo and Ballare, 1995). These data, and others, have led to the concept that plants actively forage resources from their environment (Hutchings and deKroon, 1994) using assessment mechanisms similar to those of animals.
Both plants and animals use exploratory behaviour to enhance the chances of survival by optimizing the gathering of food resources, thus maximizing both the potentials for reproduction and the selfish passage of genes into the next generation.
(4) Intelligent behaviour in animals requires the right environmental context for it to be expressed.
A simple (sometimes controversial) way to detect intelligent behaviour in humans is to impose an IQ test. These two factors, environmental context and organism, are both essential in detection and examination of intelligent behaviour. Just as obvious intelligent behaviour is not so easy to detect in caged animals in zoos, it will not be readily observed in laboratory grown plants; in part, because the necessary competitive and variable circumstances to elicit intelligent responses are not present. Intelligence requires both the organism able to compute and the right environmental circumstances to elicit that computation. On that basis, it is not surprising that most observations supporting the concept of plant intelligence come from ecologists studying plant behaviour under conditions more nearly mimicking those of plants in the wild. The observations of Darwin or Von Sachs that suggested similarities between animal behaviour, nervous systems and the behaviour of plants (quotations are to be found in Trewavas, 1999) could represent the lack of controlled growth and laboratory facilities in the 19th century, and thus the likely observation of plants growing under less‐controlled and far more realistic circumstances, eliciting intelligent behaviour.
THE BASIS OF INTELLIGENT BEHAVIOUR
Learning involves goals and error‐assessment mechanisms
At its simplest level, whole organism learning requires two things: (1) a goal (or set point), usually determined in advance, and (2) an error‐indicating mechanism that quantifies how close newly changed behaviour approaches that goal. For those who prefer a familiar human example with a short‐term goal, learning to ride a bike is a good model. The process of learning requires a continual exchange of information and feedback from the goal to the current behaviour in order to correct current behaviour and direct future behaviour more closely towards achieving the goal.
Wild plants need trial‐and‐error learning because the environmental circumstances in which signals arrive can be so variable. That is, the starting point can be indeterminate and rote behaviour would be insufficient to ensure successful progress towards the goal. Whereas the eventual fitness goal may always be the same, the life trajectories attempting to achieve that goal must be learnt. Indications of trial‐and‐error learning can be deduced from the presence of damped or even robust oscillations in behaviour as the organism continually assesses and makes further corrections to behaviour. The reason that plants respond to gravity, for example, is primarily one of nutrition (shoots to light, roots to minerals and water), leading to better growth and eventual reproduction. But roots and shoots may find themselves at any angle to the final desired position and thus must learn progressively how to approach the internally specified optimal angle if conditions allow. However, the final branch angle adopted depends on a congruence of environmental assessments with internally specified information which can be accessed as a default position when conditions are optimal.
There are numerous plant learning examples, and I detail a few to indicate the point. Oscillations and overshoot in the approach of seedling shoots or roots to the vertical after horizontal displacement have been reported, for example, by Johnsson and Israelsson (1968); Heathcote and Aston (1970); Shen‐Miller (1973); and Ishikawa et al. (1991). Johnsson (1979) lists a further 23 earlier references that report this behaviour. Bennet‐Clerk and Ball (1951) detailed the gravitropic behaviour of many individual rhizomes and report overshoot, undershoot, growth initially in the wrong direction and sustained oscillations. These authors specifically note that averaging tends to eliminate detection of individual behaviour because individuals are rarely in synchrony with each other. Clifford et al. (1982) reported that deliberate bending of Taraxacum shoots causes over‐compensatory growth in the other direction upon release, again indicating error correction with a goal (or set point).
Bose (1924) used continuous recording to report that the behaviour of petioles, roots, styles and leaflets of Mimosa to thermal, mechanical and light stimuli often oscillated in their approach to a new state of growth.
When leaves are deprived of water, stomata reduce aperture size, but a tendency to overshoot and oscillations in the new steady state have both been reported (Stalfelt, 1929, quoted in Raschke, 1979). Raschke (1970) detected oscillations of the average stomatal aperture determined by porometry in different regions of maize leaves. Johnsson (1976) concluded that both feedback and feed‐forward mechanisms are involved in error correction and optimizing stomatal aperture.
Following mild water stress there is often a period of compensatory growth after rewatering, indicating an error‐correction mechanism (Stocker, 1960). Trees can abscind sufficient leaves to adjust numbers to current water supplies. Some trial‐and‐error mechanism must determine when sufficient have been dropped (Addicott, 1982). Similar mechanisms must be present for all phenotypically plastic processes. Thus, for example, stem thickening in response to wind sway must be able to access the goal of optimal wind sway and a trial‐and‐error assessment of how far the individual is from that goal.
Resistance to drought or cold can be enhanced by prior treatment to milder conditions of water stress or low temperature (e.g. Kramer, 1980; Kacperska and Kuleza, 1987; Griffiths and McIntyre, 1993). Such well‐known behaviour (acclimation) requiring physiological and metabolic changes is analogous to animal learning.
Similarities in avoidance responses by plants and animals
A single stimulus in the marine snail, Aplysia, designed to produce avoidance responses (the goal in this case) may only initiate short‐term memory changes lasting a few minutes (Kandel, 2001). The intracellular mechanisms involve the second messengers Ca2+ and cyclic nucleotides and a limited number of protein kinases that phosphorylate ion channels that serve as temporary memory (Greengard, 2001). Repetition of the stimulus or increasing its intensity modifies protein synthesis in neurones and the formation of new dendrites (neural connections). The transduction of these avoidance stimuli involves MAP kinases, control of gene expression by cyclic nucleotide binding elements (CREB), and the ubiquitin pathway to dispose of protein kinase A‐regulatory proteins. Increasing the size of the stimulus again greatly enhances further dendrite formation and results in a strengthening and increased effectiveness of dendrites already present in the chosen pathway of communication by adhesion mechanisms that may involve integrins. Additional growth factors are now involved including EF1α (Greengard, 2001), a protein with similar functions in both animals and plants. The new dendrites in this animal represent memory and as they disappear so the memory disappears.
Drought avoidance behaviour by plants is well established. Slight variations in water availability incur equally slight, but temporary, reductions only in cell growth rate, probably involving changes in second messengers, particularly cytosolic Ca2+, [Ca2+] i, and phosphorylation changes in turgor‐generating ATPases and associated ion channels (Begg, 1980; Hanson and Trewavas, 1982; Palmgren, 2001). More intense stress signals initiate changes in protein and wall synthesis, cuticle thickness, stomatal conductance and limited morphological reductions of leaf area (Hsaio et al., 1976; Kramer, 1980). Each of these processes seems to have a discrete water potential threshold at which it is initiated. Perhaps progressive reductions in plasma membrane wall adhesion are responsible, initiating transduction mechanisms and modifying plasmodesmatal functioning. The transduction mechanisms include those mentioned above and MAP kinases and other protein kinases modifying transcription factors (Hetherington, 2001; Jonak et al., 2002).
With more severe water stress, the root : shoot ratio increases and, in wild plants, it can vary up to 20‐fold (Chapin, 1980). In developing leaves, the internal mesophyll surface area is reduced and stomatal density modified, producing a xeromorphic‐type morphology (Stocker, 1960). Increased hairiness, early flowering and a modified vascular system are induced later, indicative of memory of the initial droughting signal (Stocker, 1960; Kramer, 1980).
All of the above responses, whether physiological or morphological, must be initiated and transduced by mechanisms that can assess the current supply of water against a notional optimal supply. The plant learns by trial and error when sufficient changes have taken place so that further stress and injury are minimized and some seed production can be achieved. The responses to water stress are modified by interaction and integration with other environmental variables, e.g. mineral nutrition, temperature, humidity, age, previous plant history, disease and probably with all external environmental influences; they are not therefore reflexive responses. Clearly decisions are made by the whole plant.
The similarities between avoidance responses in neural circuitry and plant water stress are: (1) a graded response in both cases according to strength of stimulus; (2) similar transduction mechanisms with the different strengths of stimuli; (3) morphological changes in nerve cells and plants induced only by the stronger stimuli; (4) the result of neural learning is to coordinate the behaviour of different muscles to enable an avoidance response by movement. The result of plant learning is to coordinate the developmental behaviour of different tissues to produce an avoidance response by phenotypic plasticity. Muscles are as constrained in their behaviour as any plant tissue, there are just many of them that can be coordinated together to generate great varieties of behaviour. (5) Animal learning lays down additional pathways of communication. Plant learning increases vasculature and increased communication between cells through plasmodesmata (see below). (6) Both organisms integrate the present organismal state to modify the response to further signals. Morphological changes in plants do act like long‐term memory, because they will influence subsequent behaviour by the individual plant when other environmental signals are imposed. It can be objected that long‐term animal memory is reversible in the absence of further stimulation, whereas morphological changes are not. However, this is not the case. In the short term, stomata usually open again within a few days when water stress is still imposed. ‘Xeromorphic’ leaves are often the first to be abscised after rewatering and new leaves are formed by bud break. There is root turnover and death (Bazzaz, 1996) enabling some recovery of root : shoot ratios.
Do seedlings learn about their environment?
The seedling stage is the most vulnerable for any higher plant, with chaotic fluctuations at the soil surface in temperature, moisture, carbon dioxide, light, patchy nutrient dispersal and the common but variable enemies of disease and predation. There is also a stochastic character to seed dispersal, dormancy breakage, degree of phenotypic individuality (Bradford and Trewavas, 1994) and thus indications that the behaviour of every seed will differ from that of others in certain aspects of behaviour (Bazzaz, 1996). The integrated environment can be viewed as a topological surface continually changing in shape that is directly mapped onto the signal transduction network in sensitive cells and tissues in mirror image, eliciting responses to navigate the environmental maze (Trewavas, 2000). Each seedling must experience a unique spatial and temporal environmental surface. Bazzaz (1996, p. 168) illustrates topological surfaces constructed from the interaction of two environmental variables on different genotypes.
It is recognized that signal transduction mechanisms can be represented as a network. The implication may be that pathways of information flow between the signal and response may not be invariant between different individuals (McAdams and Arkin, 1999; Csete and Doyle, 2002; Elowitz et al., 2002; Guet et al., 2002; Levsky et al., 2002). What is suggested is that when a seedling first receives a signal, a weak response is constructed using the signal transduction constituents to hand and with the signal information finding various channels through which it can flow. Further signalling reinforces this information channel by synthesis of particular signal transduction constituents, much as increased numbers of dendrites improve information flow rates during neural network learning. The signal transduction network thus learns (Trewavas, 2001). Seedlings that fail to learn adequately, quickly die off. It is already known that Ca2+‐dependent and ‐independent processes can be separately invoked to induce identical physiological processes (Allan et al., 1994), and that the synthesis of many constituents concerned with calcium signal transduction are synthesized following signalling (Trewavas, 1999, 2001).
COMMUNICATION TO CONSTRUCT INTELLIGENT NETWORKS
Intelligence requires a network of elements capable of adaptively variable information flow to underpin intelligent behaviour. In animals, nerve cells are specifically adapted by structure to enable rapid phenotypic adjustments and computation. But, critically, a network requires communication between the elements.
Communication in neural systems
Much early work in the last century hinged on the notion that communication across nerve synapses and throughout the brain was purely electrical. Action potentials jumped across the synaptic divide propagating further action potentials downstream. A contrasting view suggested that communication between nerve cells was performed solely by chemicals, although these in turn would generate action potentials down the long axon. Neurotransmitters were released by fusion of secretory vesicles with the plasma membrane. Specific neurotransmitter receptors across the synapse induced a new action potential by modifying ligand‐operated ion channel function. The chemical messenger theory is correct: 99 % of all communication in the brain is chemical (Greengard, 2001). Action potentials are used primarily to speed communication down the long nerve cell axons.
Two kinds of chemical transmission are recognized. Fast transmission, completed in milliseconds, uses the neurotransmitter glutamate and glutamate receptors; fast inhibition uses γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). Slow transmission can take many minutes and is enormously more complex, involving at least 100 different chemicals falling into four classes: biogenic amines, peptides, amino acids and nitric oxide (Greengard, 2001). Quite remarkably, glutamate has recently been found to influence cytosolic [Ca2+] i in plant cells and nitric oxide is a recognized second messenger in plant cells (Dennison and Spalding, 2000).
Communication between and within plant tissues
That the various parts of plants communicate with each other has been established by many experiments. Various surgical treatments (such as removal of root or shoot or leaves, mimicking predation or other damage), resource stress (lack of light or water or minerals) or exposure of one part of a plant to varying resource levels, give rise to specific changes in growth and development elsewhere in the plant, indicating communication of the stimulus. Such phenomena have been called correlations. In these above cases, development is usually adjusted to try and recover a balance between root and shoot or to ensure a better balance of basic resources. [Note, again, the presence of a goal (set point) and an error‐correcting (learning) mechanism.] Flowering, tuberization, bud break, enhanced root growth and branching can follow selective exposure of leaves to particular light periods. Signals are thus transmitted from the leaf to other tissues (Trewavas, 1986b).
Shortage of specific resources leads to accelerated growth of the tissue (either as elongation, weight or branching) that normally collects the resource. In contrast, abundance of all resources leads to increased branching or, if the resource is localized, often local branching. When shaded, shade‐intolerant species show substantial elongation of the primary stem (at the expense of lateral stem growth), increased leaf area and a disproportionate reduction in the growth of fine roots (Bloom et al., 1985). Shortage of water leads to enhanced root growth and particular proliferation when an abundance of resources is located. Lake et al. (2001) observed that high CO 2 levels reduce stomatal frequencies, but the CO 2 signals are sensed by mature leaves and the information conveyed to developing leaves which cannot respond to high CO 2. Communication of aphid attack between plants has recently been shown to involve other volatiles (Petterson et al., 1999).
By use of a microbeam of red light, Nick et al. (1993) provided convincing evidence for cell‐to‐cell communication between cotyledon cells with long‐range inhibition of gene expression in un‐irradiated cotyledon cells at some distance from the irradiated patch. Moreover, the cell regions responding were, in turn, specifically determined by the region irradiated, suggesting selective communication only between certain cells in the cotyledon.
The information that is being communicated between tissues and cells is now known to be extraordinarily complex. Communication involves nucleic acids, oligonucleotides, proteins and peptides, minerals, oxidative signals, gases, hydraulic and other mechanical signals, electrical signals, lipids, wall fragments (oligosaccharides), growth regulators, some amino acids, secondary products of many kinds, minerals and simple sugars (Bose, 1924; Gilroy and Trewavas 1990, 2001; Jorgensen et al., 1998; Sheen et al., 1999; Mott and Buckley, 2000; Sessions et al., 2000; Kim et al., 2001; Nakajima et al., 2001; Brownlee, 2002; Haywood et al., 2002; Takayama and Sakagami, 2002; Voinnet, 2002; references on growth regulators in Quatrano et al., 2002). Transcripts can even move between graft unions (Kim et al., 2001). From the current rate of progress, it looks as though plant communication is likely to be as complex as that within a brain. The demonstration of macromolecule movement between cells is of considerable significance because it enables substantial amounts of information to be built into the signal if needed; thus complex information can be encoded in the signal.
Plasmodesmata controlling information flow
Plasmodesmatal connections enable movement of proteins and nucleic acids as well as smaller molecules between plant cells (Zambryski and Crawford, 2000). Movement of transcription factors and nucleic acids has the potential to activate or repress genes in cells remote from the source by activation of DNA methylation or by mRNA translation; oligonucleotides with specific sequences can silence genes. To create a complex, cellular network capable of computation also requires particular cellular locales for specific receptors remote from the source of the signal. Alternatively, substantive variation in sensitivity to the same signal between individual cells might achieve the same end.
Furthermore, just as synaptic connections (dendrites) can be increased to amplify particular pathways of communication during learning, individual cells can modulate the extent of plasmodesmatal transport. Physiological alterations of plasmodesmatal transport result from anaerobic and osmotic stress, or changes in [Ca2+] i or inositol phosphates (Ding et al., 1999). I expect this list to increase. Even slight changes in growing conditions have been observed to modify signal transmission (Zambryski and Crawford, 2000). Quantitative and qualitative changes in plasmodesmatal number occur during development, and secondary plasmodesmata can be formed in the absence of cell division and can even branch rather like the synthesis of new dendrites.
Plasmodesmatal connections seem to be limited to adjacent cells. Whether plasmodesmatal strength, analogous to synaptic strength, could be increased is not clear but, intriguingly, one of the proteins that binds plasmodesmatal proteins is pectin methylesterase (Jackson, 2000). Such observations might imply that connections between plasmodesmata and the wall can be altered and that mechanical constraints alter plasmodesmatal function leading to a modified flux of information. In this case wall interactions could control the ability of plasmodesmata to act like an information valve, changing flux rates according to mechanical stresses imposed either by the environment or resulting from mechanical stresses induced by growth.
Communication within cells
Communication within cells is equally complex, and stable and transient transduction complexes are known to be used to interpret new information (Gilroy and Trewavas, 2001). Cytosolic Ca2+, [Ca2+] i, in particular, seems to act as a cellular second messenger with ubiquitous roles in signal transduction and intracellular communication. [Ca2+] i has very limited cytoplasmic mobility, and enhanced entry through channels following signalling activates Ca2+‐binding proteins within the microdomain in which channels are clustered (Trewavas, 2002a). Localized intracellular distributions and particular control properties of channels and ATPases that pump Ca2+ back into subcellular compartments or walls result in Ca2+ waves and oscillations (Mahlo et al., 1998; Schroeder et al., 2001), a rich source of information and specific communication. Rapidly moving Ca2+ waves have been observed in a number of cell types and thus can act to coordinate parts of the recipient cell towards a behavioural objective (Sanders et al., 2002). The wave moves on the surface of cellular membranes, most probably the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and inner plasma membrane surface. The wave itself is a movement of Ca2+‐induced Ca2+ release and not a physical transmission of Ca2+ ions. Topological similarities between Ca2+ waves and simple neural circuits enabling aspects of computation to be understood have already been drawn (Trewavas, 1999).
Many different environmental signals (e.g. touch, wind, cold, disease, gravity, |
. The highest record to date is 172 inches across the 1977-78 winter. Do you remember this crazy snowfall? Panegyrics of Granovetter/Flickr High snowfalls have been known to shut down the city for days, halting transportation and impacting power. While the city prepares for snowstorms in advance, with the unpredictable Great Lakes nearby, you never know what's going to happen. mooninsean/Flickr The coldest temperature on record for South Bend is -21.1 degrees and the most snowfall tends to occur in December and January. mooninsean/Flickr
Did you know this was the snowiest city in Indiana? For more fun facts about Indiana winters, read more about this historic ice storm that shut down parts of the Hoosier state.Well, this is a first. Of all the major OEMs that we cover on Android Police, few give us more headache when it comes to their Android updates than Samsung and LG. HTC, Sony, Motorola have been known to reveal which devices they plan to update to a newer version of Android and to give a timeline of that update, a practice they have followed over the past few years, but Samsung and LG? Radio silence. That frustrated us as reporters and you as users because you never knew if a phone you bought last year would get bumped to a new Android version or not. And you didn't have a timeline. But that has changed today.
Samsung posted the official news of Android 7.0 Nougat rolling to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which we reported last week, but at the end of the press release, it slipped one interesting nugget of information for other device owners:
Android 7.0 Nougat will be expanded to additional countries on the following devices within the first half of this year: Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge and S6 edge Plus, Galaxy Note5, Galaxy Tab A with S Pen, Galaxy Tab S2 (LTE unlock), Galaxy A3, and Galaxy A8.
Ah, official news, how we revere you! So there you have it, straight from the horse's mouth. Samsung's four flagships from 2015 will see the update as well, which we all expected, along with a couple of tablets, and the A3 and A8, though there's no specific variant of the latter two mentioned. My bet would be the 2016 versions, but don't take my word for it. The absence of the A5 from this list is a little weird. Could be a mistake, a delay, or bad news for all A5 owners.
As to the timeline, we're looking at "the first half of this year," which is vague enough to give Samsung more than 5 months of leeway before it starts rolling these updates. Regardless, this is good news and I hope Samsung takes updates even more seriously with Android O, with more expansive beta tests and earlier official news of the lucky devices and schedules.Moroccan King Mohammed VI (C) ruled out any peace deal that allows for Western Sahara independence in a speech on November 6, 2017
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Algiers (AFP)
The Polisario Front on Wednesday condemned a speech by Moroccan King Mohammed VI ruling out independence for the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
The speech on Monday "contradicts the commitments of Morocco", said a senior official of the pro-independence movement, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, quoted by the Algerian news agency APS.
He said the king's stand ran contrary to commitments to the African Union banning occupation of the territory of a fellow member country.
Morocco rejoined the AU in January, having walked out in 1984 in protest at the admission of the self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which is recognised by several Arab states, as a member.
Mohammed ruled out any peace deal that allows for Western Sahara independence, as the United Nations renews efforts to resolve the decades-old dispute.
A UN peacekeeping force has been deployed in the former Spanish colony since 1991 with a mandate to organise a referendum on its independence or integration with Morocco.
Morocco agreed to the vote in a 1988 agreement with the Polisario Front that ended 13 years of conflict but has since blocked it being held, saying it will accept only autonomy for the territory.
"No settlement of the Sahara affair is possible outside the framework of the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara and the autonomy initiative," the king said in a televised address.
His speech marked 42 years since hundreds of thousands of Moroccan civilians marched across the border to lay claim to the mineral-rich territory.
The "Green March" triggered war with the Algerian-backed Polisario Front which had been campaigning for independence for the territory since 1973.
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in April that called for a new push for talks between Morocco and the Polisario.
Tens of thousands of Sahrawi refugees have lived for decades in desert camps run by the Polisario in neighbouring Algeria.
Spread over 266,000 square kilometres (103,000 square miles) where the desert meets the Atlantic Ocean, the Western Sahara is the last territory on the African continent whose post-colonial status has yet to resolved.
Morocco controls all of the territory's main towns. The Polisario controls parts of the desert interior.
© 2017 AFPCopyright by WISH - All rights reserved An Indiana State Police traffic stop on Oct. 18, 2017, on Interstate 74 near St. Paul resulted in one arrest. (Photo Provided/Indiana State Police)
Copyright by WISH - All rights reserved An Indiana State Police traffic stop on Oct. 18, 2017, on Interstate 74 near St. Paul resulted in one arrest. (Photo Provided/Indiana State Police)
Staff Reports - ST. LEON, Ind. (WISH) -- An Indiana State Police trooper's traffic stop led to the find of wrapped plastic bundles containing what's believed to be marijuana.
The traffic stop occurred about 3:20 p.m. Wednesday on eastbound Interstate 74 eastbound near the 165-mile marker
"The investigation began when Trooper Randel Miller conducted a traffic stop on a 2004 Ford Excursion for a traffic violation," a news release from state police said.
Police dog Jinx alerted the trooper to the odor of drugs coming from the sport utility vehicle, the release said. A subsequent search found the bundles.
"The packages were hidden in various locations inside the vehicle," the release said. "In total, the packages weighed approximately 33 pounds with an estimated street value of $150,000. Troopers determined that the marijuana had originated in Colorado and was being taken to an unknown location in Ohio."
Copyright by WISH - All rights reserved Michael Granados Jr. (Provided Photo/Indiana State Police)
Copyright by WISH - All rights reserved Michael Granados Jr. (Provided Photo/Indiana State Police)
A passenger in the vehicle, Michael W. Granados Jr., 23, of Denver, Colorado, was arrested and taken to the Dearborn County Jail, where he was preliminarily charged with dealing marijuana (over 10 pounds) and possession of marijuana (over 10 pounds), the release said. Granados was being held pending his initial court appearance in the Dearborn County Circuit Court.Here is a collection of 10 tips that are slightly more advanced than usual. They are aimed at those who want to become more expert Mac users - and of course those who think they already are experts... In general these tips will help you save time and effort when carrying out day to day tasks and hopefully introduce some concepts and applications you may not have come across before.
1. Download Quicksilver
This is really the most important pro app for Mac OS X. The principle of Quicksilver is simple, but it is amazingly powerful: Hit a hotkey, then start typing what you want to do. You can open an application. Send an email to a certain contact. Pause iTunes. Anything (more or less). But what makes this so incredible is that Quicksilver learns over time so you can get what you want faster and more efficiently with less and less effort. Head here for a more detailed explanation, or if you've got some time to spare, watch this demo video. Download it from the Blacktree site.
2. Get to grips with keyboard shortcuts
This may seem like a really simple tip, but far too often I watch supposedly experienced computer users take forever performing simple tasks like copying and pasting. The fact of the matter is keyboard shortcuts make everything easier, but not only do you have to learn them, you have to get into the habit of using them. There is a hugely extensive list here, but to be honest nothing will save you more time than getting into the habit of using shortcuts for quitting, closing windows, copying and pasting and switching applications.
For the more adventurous, you can create your own keyboard shortcuts in the keyboard and mouse section of System Preferences. And if you want to go even further, here are 10 AppleScripts that you can assign keyboard shortcuts to using Quicksilver.
3. Drag and drop everywhere
This is often a problem that comes from working in Windows a lot, where drag-and-drop doesn't quite have the same power. However in Mac OS X, you can use it almost anywhere. Dragging folders onto open/save dialogs will make it display that folder. Dragging text selections onto icons in the Dock does all sorts of useful things. And you can just drag files onto "Choose File" buttons in web pages.
4. Change hidden settings with Terminal commands
Often developers choose not to include some settings in the preferences of an application in order keep things nice and simple for the user. Luckily, they often leave these hidden settings accessible via the Terminal. Although this will scare off a lot of people, being comfortable with the Terminal is really useful and it's the best way to get a higher level of customisation and enable hidden features on your Mac. Luckily, modifying preference files is one of the easiest things you can do in the Terminal - just paste in a line of code and hit return. Simple! Here is a list of Terminal commands that will work with every version of Mac OS X, and here are some ones just for Leopard.
5. Download VLC
VLC is a multipurpose media player that can play pretty much any movie file you throw at it. While Quicktime will serve you for most needs, VLC will handle anything that Quicktime struggles with, as well as stubborn DVDs and VIDEO_TS folders. Download it here.
6. Understand the concept of packages
In Mac OS X, packages are just folders disguised to look like single files. In fact, almost every application is a package. To look inside packages, just right-click on one and choose Show Package Contents. Why would you want to do this? Inside application packages are all the files it needs to run. Once inside, you can tinker about and change things. Here's a previous tip with a collection of things you can do, including changing the unexpectedly quit message, the iCal alarm message and the layout of System Preferences.
7. Quickly kill accidently opened applications
If you are clumsy like me, you will often accidently click the wrong icon in the Dock. Or maybe you occasionally want to stop iTunes opening up when you plug in your iPod. If you are quick enough, you can just right-click (Control-Click) on the icon in the Dock and choose Force Quit. If you are too late, pressing the Option key will change Quit to Force Quit so you can close the unwanted application even faster.
8. Make rectangular selections (Cocoa apps only)
This is one of the best tricks for saving time when you are moving round chunks of text. If you want to select a column in a table or remove the numbers from the start of each line in a list you would normally have to go through every line individually. This can be hugely time consuming if you have a long list. To get around this, just hold the Option key while making the selection. Now you can draw a box around the stuff you want to copy or delete etc. and not worry about having to select entire lines.
9. Learn some AppleScript
Don't be put off by the idea of a programming language - AppleScript is about as close to normal english as you can get. AppleScript's real power is it's ability to automate repetitive tasks — in fact Automator is basically just a visual way to create AppleScripts. The best way to get familiar with AppleScript is to download some example scripts, try and figure out how they work, and then try and extend them or customise them for your own needs. If you are looking for scripts, I've written loads of tips that use a small bit of AppleScript to solve a problem.
10. Get comfortable using the command line
While you might be fine pasting a single line into the Terminal to change some hidden settings, you might not be comfortable actually working from the command line. I guess the whole point of Mac OS X is that it is a pretty graphical interface placed over the command line, but in reality some things are faster from the Terminal, and some things aren't possible without it. Learning about using the command line requires a whole tutorial in itself so I won't go into it here. O'Reilly have a great series of tutorials for beginners, and OSXDaily have a list of common commands.On Sunday evening, a bomb exploded near a bus stop at a busy transport hub in central Ankara. At least 37 people died and many more were injured. Innocent people who were just trying to go about their day-to-day business had their lives blown apart. It’s the third high-fatality attack on the Turkish capital since October, meaning that in five months this welcoming – if often a little boring – city has seen more blood spilled by terror than many places do in a lifetime. Yet where was our “Je suis” moment?
Ankara car bomb: Turkish president vows to defeat terror after dozens killed Read more
After the Paris attack last November, some Turkish schools had mourning ceremonies that lasted a full day. Buildings sported the tricolor flag, people lit candles in solidarity with the victims and hung pictures in condemnation of the senseless violence. This was despite the fact that, when a similar number of people were killed at a peace rally in Ankara the month before, the ripples were hardly felt by the rest of Europe. No BBC reporters broke down in tears. No Facebook app was launched to convert profile pictures into Turkish flags.
While the circumstances of the various attacks in the two cities were very different – Ankara has been subjected to three suicide bomb attacks while Paris’s attacks in January and November last year were largely carried out by gunmen – it’s hard to say that this alone could cause such widely different shows of support. If Sunday’s bomb had instead been in Piccadilly Circus, the closest London equivalent to Kizilay in Ankara, the world would be talking of nothing else. So why not for Ankara?
“Is it because you just don’t realise that Ankara is no different from any of these cities?” James Taylor wrote in a Facebook post that went viral. “Is it because you think that Turkey is a predominantly Muslim country, like Syria, like Iraq?”
Britain has a love-hate relationship with Turkey. In tourist polls of the most popular destinations, sights and people, it often appears as both one of the most and one of the least liked places. It continues to teeter on the line between east and west, making it hard to understand – a Muslim country with increasingly conservative values that also has its sights set on the EU. Yet geographically, Turkey is Europe’s neighbour and politically Turkey has long been an ally, of sorts, to the west. It is not the only place to have seen its tragedies paid little attention by the rest of the world, but it feels like the most “western” example.
Perhaps the lack of sympathy for the city comes from pure ignorance
“Contrary to what many people think, Turkey is not the Middle East. Ankara is not a war zone, it is a normal modern bustling city, just like any other European capital,” said Taylor. The fact that violence in Turkey has been on the rise since the ceasefire between state forces and the Kurdistan Workers’ party (PKK) came to an abrupt end is undeniable. So is the country’s proximity to Syria. Yet despite the heavy presence of armed police, there are no tanks on the streets of Ankara or barrel bombs being dropped.
Perhaps the lack of sympathy for the city comes from pure ignorance. When I first moved to Ankara, 18 months ago, I was asked by friends and acquaintances if “they have chairs in Ankara, or does everyone sit on cushions on the floor?” and if I would be “allowed to walk down the street on your own as a woman?” Most frustrating, and common of all, was “Are you sure Ankara is the capital, because I’m pretty certain it’s Istanbul?”
More people have been killed in the three attacks on Ankara than were in the multiple attacks on Paris. Many of the people killed were Muslims. They may not have been from one of Europe’s sexiest cities, but their killing at the hands of terrorists still deserves our solidarity. As Taylor asks, “You were Charlie, you were Paris. Will you be Ankara?”Fat Adapted equals Improved Endurance
-by Scott Johnston, Uphill Athlete co-founder and Master Coach
Everest season is upon us. Two athletes that Steve and I have coached – Cory Richards and Adrian Ballinger – are currently in Tibet at Everest base camp to attempt the world’s tallest peak without supplemental oxygen. We wanted to give a behind the scenes look at our approach to training these two. Below is my story about working with Adrian, and in case you missed it, check out Steve’s story here.
The first thing to understand about Adrian Ballinger is that he has a high capacity for work. His long list of accomplishments includes being the only American to have skied two different 8,000 meter peaks, the first ski descent of Manaslu, and being the first person to summit three 8,000 meter peaks in a three-week period. In other words, he’s a pretty fit guy who’s certainly no stranger to big mountains.
It was a bit of a surprise to him when, last year, he had to turn around just shy of the summit on a no-supplemental oxygen climb of Everest. He got too cold to continue. Not to say that making a climb of Everest sans oxygen tank is ever easy, far from it. But for a climber of Adrian’s prestige, fitness, experience, and skill set, there had to be something wrong – and I was pretty sure I knew what.
Adrian’s partner at the time, Cory Richards, was being coached by Steve, and sending us daily updates about his progress, so I was able to monitor Adrian throughout his climb. When Adrian had to turn around but Cory was able to continue, I really started to connect some of the dots.
A few months later, Adrian contacted me to get some help for another Everest attempt in 2017. By then I had a hypothesis that explained what had gone wrong, which I shared with him. To be positive, though, I wanted to verify what I suspected was causing his debilitating cold stress on a metabolic level by means of a lab test. He agreed, and sure enough, when the lab test results came back, my hypothesis was validated.
At the time of Adrian’s climb in 2016, he was heavily reliant on eating some kind of high-energy bar, gel or similar product at once-an-hour intervals. What that immediately told me was that his metabolic preference was heavily shifted toward carbohydrate use.
At the time of Adrian’s climb in 2016, he was heavily reliant on eating some kind of high-energy bar, gel or similar product at once-an-hour intervals. What that immediately told me was that his metabolic preference was heavily shifted toward carbohydrate use. We often see this phenomenon with many long-distance athletes because they’ve been led to believe that if they aren’t fueling hourly during their workouts, something’s wrong. A huge industry exists to sell energy bars and gels, and there definitely is a time and a place for these sorts of fuels. What we see all too often is that an over reliance on such products can inadvertently shift the metabolic preference to carbohydrates. That’s precisely what Adrian had done, which the lab test confirmed.
When Adrian’s test results came in, I walked him through the physiological processes that led to him getting so cold. Being highly reliant on carbs caused two exacerbating effects:
1) Glycolytic metabolism, as compared to fat metabolism, is relatively stressful on the body. It produces a number of metabolic byproducts that are hard for the body to deal with. Repeated high-energy activity that relies primarily on glycolytic metabolism, especially in combination with the reduced oxygen level present at higher altitude, tends to cause a stress to the body.
2) Since we have very limited glycogen storage capacity and since consuming enough carbohydrate calories in the cold with a suppressed appetite is difficult, Adrian was very likely in a glycogen depleted state.
The outcome of this combination created a stress reaction we have seen many times. In Adrian’s case, his body’s response was the shunting of blood from the extremities to the core in order to preserve the vital organs. This is very likely why Adrian’s hands and feet were becoming so cold, eventually forcing him to turn around before Everest’s summit.
I told Adrian he needed to do a 180° turn in his training and his dietary habits – which can be a hard thing for a widely recognized and respected athlete at the top of his field to hear. But because he had black and white test evidence he could see, and because I explained the physiology behind what happened on Everest, he bought in with 100% confidence and commitment.
His commitment made him great to work with. We were able to take his high working capacity and shift it into the type of training that we know is so effective. Soon he was training at a high volume, 20+ hours per week, but in the right intensity zones. We also made some dietary shifts, which were suggested by the metabolic testing mentioned earlier, doing many of his aerobic workouts in a fasted state.
Initially, it was very hard for him to do his low intensity workouts without eating before and during workouts because he was so accustomed to his previous eating patterns. But almost every week we were seeing gains in efficiency. Soon he was doing four or five hour workouts without eating anything, and feeling more and more energetic the whole duration of the workout. This was a good indication that his body was learning to utilize fat better.
Adrian had heard the theory, seen the test results, and then experienced continual gains throughout our training. About a week ago he went back to the lab at UC Davis, conducted the exact same tests, and saw enormous improvements. SEE THE RESULTS BELOW.
Adrian is headed back to Everest as a different athlete this year. He’s fat-adapted and possesses greater knowledge of his body’s metabolism and stress responses. Ultimately, the success of a climb of Everest without supplemental oxygen has so much to do with external factors that nothing is a guarantee. But Steve and I, as well as Adrian, feel very confident about his chances this go round, and all of us here at Uphill Athlete are rooting for him.poster="http://v.politico.com/images/1155968404/201612/42/1155968404_5236119679001_5236109095001-vs.jpg?pubId=1155968404" true Gingrich: Under Trump, China won't intimidate us
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich praised President-elect Donald Trump on Monday for breaking with diplomatic tradition by speaking to the president of Taiwan, suggesting that their phone call will establish a new, more favorable relationship for the U.S. with China.
Trump spoke Friday with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the first time that a president-elect is known to have spoken with Taiwan’s leader in more than 35 years. The U.S. officially cut ties to the Taiwanese government in 1979, when it recognized the government in Beijing as part of the "One China" policy. America maintains close but unofficial ties with Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province.
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“I think this whole state department mythology that we have to somehow let the Chinese dictate to us is nonsense and I thought it was a good signal to the world that Donald Trump is going to be his own person,” Gingrich said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” Monday morning. “If the Chinese want to deal with the United States, they are going to have to actually deal with the United States. They are not going to be able to intimidate us.”
The former speaker, a close adviser to the president-elect throughout his campaign, said Trump was right to take the Taiwanese president’s call, as he would be to communicate with the democratically-elected leader of any nation. The Manhattan billionaire pledged during his campaign to take a stronger stance with China, stopping the flow of American jobs there and addressing its practice of currency manipulation. Trump’s Friday phone call was a first step in resetting the U.S.-China relationship on better terms.
“I think that for a long time we were intimidated by Beijing, and I think we were in part patient because we had this theory that they would gradually mellow and they would become more democratic and freer and more open. Well, that's not happening right now,” Gingrich said. “We're not the enemies of China. Let's be very careful. We don't want to start some kind of cold war with Beijing. But I think we're going to have very tough negotiations and I think we have to try to understand each other but that means the Chinese have to try to understand us as much as we have to try to understand them.”
Pushing back against suggestions that Trump’s phone call represented a haphazard approach to foreign policy, Gingrich said the president-elect is “winging [it] within some very core principles.” The former speaker urged Trump to continue to break with diplomatic norms where he sees fit and called on him to reform the State Department to more closely align with American values.
“Somehow it's okay with the state department to talk to any dictator on the planet, but an elected leader of a democracy, boy, that's really dangerous,” Gingrich said. “Which is why, frankly, I think the next secretary of state has to spend half their time cleaning out the state department and the other half their time negotiating with the world.”Abstract
Background Patient satisfaction is a widely used health care quality metric. However, the relationship between patient satisfaction and health care utilization, expenditures, and outcomes remains ill defined.
Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult respondents (N = 51 946) to the 2000 through 2007 national Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, including 2 years of panel data for each patient and mortality follow-up data through December 31, 2006, for the 2000 through 2005 subsample (n = 36 428). Year 1 patient satisfaction was assessed using 5 items from the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey. We estimated the adjusted associations between year 1 patient satisfaction and year 2 health care utilization (any emergency department visits and any inpatient admissions), year 2 health care expenditures (total and for prescription drugs), and mortality during a mean follow-up duration of 3.9 years.
Results Adjusting for sociodemographics, insurance status, availability of a usual source of care, chronic disease burden, health status, and year 1 utilization and expenditures, respondents in the highest patient satisfaction quartile (relative to the lowest patient satisfaction quartile) had lower odds of any emergency department visit (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.84-1.00), higher odds of any inpatient admission (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.02-1.23), 8.8% (95% CI, 1.6%-16.6%) greater total expenditures, 9.1% (95% CI, 2.3%-16.4%) greater prescription drug expenditures, and higher mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.05-1.53).
Conclusion In a nationally representative sample, higher patient satisfaction was associated with less emergency department use but with greater inpatient use, higher overall health care and prescription drug expenditures, and increased mortality.
While most health care quality metrics assess care processes and health outcomes, patient experience or satisfaction is considered a complementary measure of health care quality.1 Patient satisfaction data may empower consumers to compare health plans and physicians,1,2 and both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the National Committee on Quality Assurance require participating health plans to publicly report patient satisfaction data.3 Health plans use patient satisfaction surveys to evaluate physicians and to determine incentive compensation, and consumer-oriented Web sites often report patient satisfaction ratings as the sole physician comparator.
Satisfied patients are more adherent to physician recommendations and more loyal to physicians,4,5 but research suggests a tenuous link between patient satisfaction and health care quality and outcomes.3,6,7 Among a vulnerable older population, patient satisfaction had no association with the technical quality of geriatric care,8 and evidence suggests that satisfaction has little or no correlation with Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set quality metrics.3,7
In addition, patients often request discretionary services that are of little or no medical benefit, and physicians frequently accede to these requests, which is associated with higher patient satisfaction.9,10 Physicians whose compensation is more strongly linked with patient satisfaction are more likely to deliver discretionary services, such as advanced imaging for acute low back pain.11
Although benefits of discretionary care are by definition limited or absent, discretionary services may lead to iatrogenic harm via overtreatment, labeling, or other causal pathways.12 In a national Medicare sample, health care intensity varied widely among patients across US regions, despite similar illness burdens.13,14 Within 3 chronic illness cohorts, greater health care intensity was associated with increased patient satisfaction with some aspects of care but also with higher mortality and without improvement in the quality of care.13,14 Discretionary care has been similarly associated with added risks and costs in other studies.15-20
The associations among patient satisfaction, health care intensity, and outcomes have not been studied within a national sample that includes adults of all ages. Therefore, we used Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data to assess the relationship between patient satisfaction and health care utilization, expenditures, and mortality in a nationally representative sample.
Methods
Design, setting, and patients
We conducted a prospective cohort study of adult respondents to the 2000 through 2007 MEPs. The MEPS is an annual nationally representative survey of the US civilian noninstitutionalized population assessing access to, use of, and costs associated with medical services.21 The MEPS household component uses an overlapping panel design in which individuals are interviewed successively during 2 years. During each year, respondents complete self-administered questionnaires about health status and their experiences with health care. The MEPS sampling frame is drawn from respondents to the National Health Interview Survey, an annual in-person household survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. The National Health Interview Survey data are linked with death certificate data from the National Death Index, enabling mortality ascertainment among MEPS participants. Mortality outcomes through December 31, 2006, were available for the subsample initially enrolled in panel years 2000 through 2005. Response rates to the household component of the MEPS ranged from 66.5% to 70.5% during the study years.
In each year, we included respondents aged at least 18 years reporting having 1 or more physician or clinic visits in the prior year. Capitalizing on the panel survey design, we assessed the association between patient satisfaction in the first panel year (year 1) and health care utilization and expenditures during the subsequent panel year (year 2). Therefore, for respondents enrolled in 2000, we assessed satisfaction (and other baseline variables) in 2000 (year 1), utilization and expenditures in 2001 (year 2), and mortality through 2006. This prospective design enabled adjustment for year 1 utilization and total health care expenditures and greater adjustment for baseline health status and propensity to use care.
Outcomes
Health Care Utilization
During each survey round, the MEPS collects detailed information about health service use, including office and emergency department visits, inpatient hospitalizations, and prescription drug use. Self-reported health care utilization is validated and verified by standardized medical record abstraction among a subsample of respondents. We used these data to specify in year 2 whether participants had 1 or more emergency department visits and 1 or more inpatient admissions.
Health Care Expenditures
The MEPS ascertains from respondents and physicians the sum of insurance payments and out-of-pocket costs for services received. The MEPS aggregates payments to estimate total expenditures and expenditures within service categories. We used these data to estimate year 2 total health care expenditures and year 2 expenditures for prescription drugs.
Mortality
We assessed mortality by National Health Interview Survey linkage with the National Death Index.22 For analyses, we measured survival time for respondents enrolled in panel years 2000 through 2005 from the beginning of the initial observation year until the date of death or December 31, 2006 (≤6 years).
Patient satisfaction
At the midpoint of study years, patients responded to questions from the Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey, which evaluates patient satisfaction across 5 dimensions, ranging from physician communication to health plan customer service.23 Patient satisfaction with physician communication is strongly correlated with other Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Survey dimensions and with global satisfaction.24 Therefore, we used responses to 4 items pertaining to physician communication, specifically how often in the past 12 months patients' physicians or other health care providers performed the following: (1) listened carefully, (2) explained things in a way that was easy to understand, (3) showed respect for what they had to say, and (4) spent enough time with them. We also used a fifth item in which patients rated their health care from all physicians and other health care providers on a scale of 0 to 10 (from the worst to the best health care possible). We created a scale by standardizing (to weight each question equally) and averaging responses to the 5 items (mean, 0; median, 0.22; interquartile range, −0.47 to 0.72; Cronbach α = 0.88), in which higher numbers indicate greater patient satisfaction. We categorized patient responses into quartiles of the year 1 satisfaction scale.
Covariates
We identified year 1 covariates to address potential confounding by sociodemographics, health behaviors, health care access, propensity to use health care, and health status. Sociodemographic covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity (white, Hispanic, black, or other), urban metropolitan statistical area vs nonurban residence, census region (West, Midwest, Northeast, or South), household income (<100%, 100%-124%, 125%-199%, 200%-399%, or ≥400% of the federal poverty level), and education (less than high school, some high school, high school graduate, some college, or college graduate). We assessed health care access by health insurance coverage status (uninsured, privately insured, or publicly insured) and by the presence of a usual source of care, and we assessed health behaviors by smoking status.
We assessed morbidity by a count of 8 self-reported chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, asthma, emphysema, and arthritis). We used the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey mental and physical component summaries as measures of mental and physical health status, respectively.25,26 These measures also served as indirect measures of chronic disease severity.27
We also included a single-item self-rated health measure in which patients rate their health as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. This single-item predicts mortality and inpatient and outpatient utilization independent of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey.28
To address otherwise unmeasured morbidity and propensity to use care, we included the following year 1 utilization measures: total health care expenditures, number of office visits, indicators of any emergency department visits and any inpatient admissions, and the number of drug prescriptions.
Statistical analysis
We performed descriptive analyses to compare patient characteristics and unadjusted outcomes across patient satisfaction quartiles. To identify independent associations between patient characteristics and high satisfaction, we used logistic regression analysis to model highest patient satisfaction quartile (vs lower) as a function of patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.
We conducted analyses of health care utilization, expenditures, and mortality outcomes that adjusted for the range of covariates listed in the previous subsection. We used logistic regression analysis to model binary year 2 outcomes (emergency department visits and inpatient admissions) as functions of year 1 patient satisfaction quartile. We modeled year 2 total and prescription drug expenditure outcomes using 1-part generalized linear models with logarithm links and Poisson distributions.29 Parameter estimates (PEs) from log cost models yield percentage differences in costs relative to the reference group: % Cost Difference = [exp(PE) − 1] × 100. For utilization and cost outcomes, we used fitted models to estimate adjusted marginal differences in outcomes by patient satisfaction quartile.
We used Cox proportional hazards regression to model mortality as a function of year 1 patient satisfaction quartile. We found no graphical or statistical evidence of violation of the proportional hazards assumption.
We repeated each model with the exclusion of patients with poor self-rated health and 3 or more chronic diseases. This was done because of the possibility that these patients may be more dependent on (and satisfied with) their physicians but more likely to use hospital care and to die.
Descriptive statistics, PEs, and SEs are adjusted for the MEPS survey design. Analyses were performed using commercially available software (STATA/MP 12.0; StataCorp LP). Hypothesis tests were 2-sided with α =.05. The study had no external funding source.
Results
The sample included 51 946 adult respondents to the 2000 through 2007 MEPS, including 36 428 respondents from 2000 through 2005 with mortality outcomes through 2006 (mean follow-up duration, 3.9 years). Highest year 1 patient satisfaction was significantly associated with older age, female sex, black race/ethnicity, and health insurance coverage (Table 1). In adjusted analyses, patients with highest satisfaction also had higher 12-Item Short Form Health Survey scores (ie, better physical and mental health status) and were more likely to self-rate their health as excellent or poor (Table 2).
Health care utilization and expenditures
In adjusted analyses, the odds of any emergency department visit were lower among patients in the more satisfied quartiles relative to patients in the least satisfied quartiles, although the association was of borderline significance among patients in the highest satisfaction quartile (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.84-1.00; P =.06) (Table 3). Relative to the least satisfied patients, the adjusted odds of any inpatient admission during year 2 |
not be licensed?
I think we are constantly trying to get smarter and get better. This is a bit of a moving target and we want to have as much information at our disposal to make sure that we're providing the absolute safest environment for our athletes. That's why we're doing the Cleveland Clinic study.
Some people are critical that the UFC and other promotions offer "Knockout of the Night" bonuses, which some say entices concussions. What are your thoughts on that?
Listen, at the end of the day it's a contact sport and it is a sport where you can win by knockout. Obviously we have "Fight of the Night" bonuses that don't necessarily have to do with knocking people out. We have submission of the night which of course is something that's not focused on knocking somebody out. It's just something that's just part of the sport. Some people might not agree with it. But it is truly part of the sport. I think it would be sort of silly for us to deny that it's part of the sport. It's a part of boxing too. These are elements that are part of the sports. I don't know what to say other than it's part of our sport and something our athletes have liked as part of the compensation they get.
One of the reasons why MMA is safer than a sport like boxing for example. What happens when a guy gets a concussion in a boxing event? They stand him up and he gets counted to eight and he gets more punishment. As you know from our events, they're stopping very quickly. Once a guy goes down and can't defend himself the fight's over with. So there's not this standing somebody up so he can clear the cobwebs and then just sort of go back at it again. That's the other thing. When a guy gets knocked down he probably has a brain concussion. In boxing he's stood back up. In our sport the fighting's over at that point.
But I've watched enough MMA fights to see that when a guy gets dropped with a punch he often times absorbs several more blows before the fight is waived off. A guy who gets knocked down often will grab his opponent's leg, hold on tight and try to avoid more blows and try to clear his head and shake the cobwebs. And yet the fight goes on. How is that any better or different than a standing-eight count in boxing?
It's certainly possible, but I think if you look, we can probably do a statistical analysis to show you what happens after a guy gets knocked down. For example, the Frank Mir fight, the guy gets caught with a knee, they stop the fight. That's more of the rule and not what you were describing which is more I think the exception. He got caught with a knee, he dropped to his knees (and) they stopped the fight. It was our last event.
Do you guys really care about your fighters' health? You look at a guy like Wanderlei Silva who's been knocked out several times, many people think he's taken enough punishment and should have retired long ago. But he's still fighting in the UFC.
I'll just give you one example, I think it answers the question very well. We have a fighter who you've probably heard of by the name of Chuck Liddell and Chuck Liddell was the biggest star we've ever had in the history of this company. He was probably the first MMA athlete to really and truly cross over into the mainstream. Whether it was on "Entourage." Whether it some of the stuff he's done with sponsors. He lost three fights in a row and he lost them by getting knocked out. We could have literally as a company made millions and millions of dollars with Chuck. But we just felt it was not the right thing to do. He probably could have gotten a doctor to say he's okay. I don't know if he could or couldn't have. But I think he probably could have. We just felt like he wasn't competitive anymore.
Whether or not his brain was okay was one thing. But we just felt he wasn't competitive enough anymore and we didn't feel like it made sense for him to take punishment. So there's a specific concrete example where our company literally walked over tens of millions of dollars in profits to do what we believed was the right thing and to go to a guy and say, 'Listen. We think your career's over. We don't think you're competitive anymore. We don't want you to get hurt.' And Chuck's now an executive in the company and he works with us and he does lots of promotional stuff and he's a great guy. All I can say is that if that doesn't answer the question, I don't know what does.
From talking to several top doctors, we're told standard MRIs and CT scans cannot detect concussions or cumulative brain trauma. Is that a concern?
I'm not a doctor so if there's new technology out there we're all for it. The only other thing and you should probably talk to Dr. Bernick about this is the other thing that these MRIs are revealing is sort of shrinkage, which is a very important factor in determining brain injury. I think that's something they focused on, the shrinkage in the brain. But to answer your question, if there's better technology out there we're for it. We're relying on the Cleveland Clinic to guide us when it comes to those type of issues.
Anything you want to add?
We've got a great situation right now with the athletic commissions around the world that have treated concussions seriously and I think have the highest standards of any sport.I have been intending for quite a while to add a few pages to my site about common mistakes and popular misconceptions. What finally prodded me to do this first page was the recent discovery that I had myself suffered from a misconception for the whole of my life – and I’m very far from being the only one. So here goes...
The Ten Commandments are not what you think
Stephen Poley
Most people in Christian-oriented countries have heard of the ten commandments and, even if they can’t remember them all, would probably reckon to recognise them if they saw them. If asked what they were, many people would probably manage “thou shalt not kill” and “thou shalt not steal”. Smart Alecs (well, smart Alices anyway) know that while you may not covet your neighbour’s wife, there is no prohibition on coveting your neighbour’s husband.
Perhaps you are mentally wincing at the ignorance of people nowadays and have already mentally filled in the blanks (thou shalt have no other gods before me; thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image; thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; and so on).
If so, you are wrong. Those are, contrary to popular opinion, not the biblical ten commandments!
Have I taken leave of my senses? Well, I don’t think so, no. I simply did what so few people do – I went and read the relevant bits of the bible. And I took advantage of modern technology to search the bible as well. I demonstrate below that these Supposed Ten Commandments (STCs) are not the ten commandments that the bible refers to.
Why aren’t they the Ten Commandments?
The phrase “ten commandments” occurs just three times in the bible. Two of these are in Deuteronomy: chapters 4 and 10 tell us that the ten commandments were written on two tablets of stone, but neither chapter says what the ten commandments actually were. The other reference to the ten commandments occurs in Exodus, and I will return to it shortly.
The STCs are given in two places: firstly in Exodus 20 and then, slightly reworded, in Deuteronomy 5. Neither chapter refers to them as the ten commandments! The former does not give them any title, while the latter defines them as the statutes and ordinances (or ‘statutes and judgments’ in the KJV). The statutes and ordinances are not the commandments, but something distinct. This is clear from several references in the bible, among them the previously mentioned Deuteronomy chapters 4 and 10.
The number of edicts is not even ten; it is not really clear where one ends and the next begins, but in Exodus 20 there are at least fourteen and arguably more. The last one is the rather precious “neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.” (Apparently Hebrew priests, like Scotsmen, were not in the habit of wearing undergarments.)
True, there is a brief interlude after verse 17. But this is due to a disturbance among the people, not due to God. When God resumes speaking, there is nothing whatever to suggest that his statements from verse 22 onwards are in any way different from, or less significant than, what he has been saying up until then. If verses 2-17 were to be part of “the N commandments”, then verses 22-26 must be as well.
So if these are not the ten commandments, what are? While I could perhaps answer that question very briefly, one really ought to first take a more detailed look at the book of Exodus.
A closer look at Exodus
The story of the ten commandments starts in chapter 19 where God arrives in a thunderstorm and Moses goes up the mountain for the first time. God tells Moses to keep the rest of the people away – Moses gets a monopoly on hearing what God has to say.
(Incidentally there is an oddity here which I can't resist mentioning, although it is not really relevant to this essay. In chapter 19 God also gives instructions to the priests. Only at this time there weren’t any priests – Aaron is appointed as first priest in Exodus chapter 40!)
In chapter 20, God gives the list of edicts of which the first few have become popularly known as the ten commandments (and which I call the Supposed Ten Commandments). As I said above, the number is not actually clear. The words “thou shalt” or an equivalent phrase occur 19 times in the chapter. The edicts are not given a name (such as “ten commandments”) and in fact the word “ten” does not occur in the chapter.
But this is just the start of what God has to say. In chapters 21 to 23 he goes on to give an enormous list of edicts, covering everything from the seduction of virgins to stealing sheep. Chapter 21 has several rules about the keeping of slaves, which was not forbidden at all, and 21:20-21 even says it is permitted to kill a slave. Stealing a slave however is punishable by death (21:16) as is cursing ones parents (21:17).
In Chapter 24 God says he will give Moses tablets of stone “with the law and the commandment”. Then he embarks on an immensely long description of the requirements for the ark of the tabernacle and the clothes of the future priests, which fills chapters 25 to 30 inclusive.
In Chapter 31 God reiterates the importance of keeping the sabbath and says that anyone who works on a Saturday shall be put to death. To make sure the point gets across, he then says it again. And then he gives Moses the tablets of stone, the “tables of the testimony”.
In Chapter 32 Moses finally brings the tablets of stone down the mountain, written on both sides.
But what was actually on the tablets? It is not at all clear. If it is everything that God has said since Moses first went up the mountain, the tablets must be the size of houses, which makes carrying them an interesting challenge. It could be everything said from the point that God first announced he would give Moses stone tablets, but that is still chapters 25-31 – an awful lot. It seems reasonable that only part of what has been said is inscribed on the tablets, but there is no indication what that part is. Certainly there is nothing whatsoever to suggest it is specifically the first 17 verses of chapter 20 (the STCs). But all in good time...
Moses obviously takes great care of these God-given tablets of stone. Well – no, actually he doesn’t. When he sees what the Israelites have been up to while he was up on the mountain, he throws them down in irritation and breaks them. He then arranges a round of fratricide, in which three thousand men are killed, and for good measure God sends a plague upon the survivors.
A quiet interlude takes place in Chapter 33, where Moses makes friends with God again.
And then finally it happens: in Chapter 34 Moses cuts two new tablets of stone, goes up Mount Sinai, and God writes on them “the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.” And this time we are told what they are, and they are explicitly identified as the ten commandments.
Actually they are rather curious. They consist of eight of the rules from the middle of Chapter 23, rewritten in a different order, one rule from all the way back in Chapter 13, long before the Israelites got anywhere near Mount Sinai, and one completely new rule which hasn’t been mentioned before!
Nonetheless, Exodus Chapter 34 is the one and only place in the bible where the Ten Commandments are explicitly given.
The Real Ten Commandments
Here then are the Ten Commandments of the bible (according to the King James version).
“ Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite. Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down their groves: For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and one call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods. Thou shalt make thee no molten gods. The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt. All that openeth the matrix is mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, that is male. But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end. Thrice in the year shall all your menchildren appear before the LORD God, the God of Israel. For I will cast out the nations before thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year. Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven; neither shall the sacrifice of the feast of the passover be left unto the morning. The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother’s milk. Observe thou that which I command thee this day: And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. ”
Why the confusion?
So why are so many people convinced that the ten commandments are to be found in Exodus 20?
Obviously part of the cause is that the ten commandments are – at least judged by modern standards – a rather bizarre anti-climax after the dramatic stories of Exodus 19-32.
One confusion factor is formed by Deuteronomy 5:22, which talks about “these words” (the STCs) being written on tablets of stone. This clearly conflicts with Exodus 34. Either Deuteronomy is in error, or it refers to yet another set of tablets, not mentioned in Exodus. Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that Exodus 34 contains the only set of edicts labelled as the “ten commandments”.
That Deuteronomy could simply be in error is made likely by the words immediately previous to the above: “These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more.” But according to Exodus 20-31, he certainly did add more, and it is all spelled out there in great detail.
Exodus is the original story. Deuteronomy is a later abridged version with some new material, and was considered the second giving of the law (the name Deuteronomy means “second law”). Did the author of Deuteronomy misread Exodus? Or did he in fact represent a different tradition, in which the STC’s were indeed the ten commandments? Possibly he did, but if so, he didn’t say so explicitly.
Another confusion factor is that the word “commandment” gets used rather a lot. For example Leviticus 27 is said to be “the commandments” – but not “the ten commandments”.
The New Testament muddies the waters further. Misreading and misquoting the Old Testament is not rare in the New. For example Mark 1:2-3 quotes a passage supposedly from Isaiah which does not actually occur there. Similarly Matthew 27:9 refers to a non-existent passage from Jeremiah, (something similar is in Zechariah and is probably what Matthew had in mind), while Matthew 2:23 and John 17:12 refer to supposed scriptural passages which do not exist anywhere in the Old Testament.
It seems to be in this spirit that Mark 10:19 quotes Jesus as saying: “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.” This summarises five of the edicts from Exodus 20, calling them commandments, and adds one – “defraud not” – which does not come from Exodus at all. Luke (18:20) ‘corrects’ this by dropping “defraud not”. Matthew (19:18) also drops “defraud not”, but instead adds “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”, which also does not occur in Exodus.
It seems somewhat appropriate that the run-up to this – in Matthew, anyway – has: “ ‘if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments’. He saith unto him, ‘Which?’ ” A very good question.
Note also that Matthew 22 talks with great emphasis of the two commandments, neither of which comes from Exodus.
All in all, it seems that some people have put two and five together, and made ten. Nowhere does the New Testament mention, or list, ten commandments.
Sources and further reading
My sources for this essay are an electronic copy of the King James version of the bible and a paper copy of the Revised Standard version.
Since the original version of this essay I have also checked a Dutch-language version of the bible. Interestingly it contained some more occurrences of the phrase “ten commandments” (“tien geboden”) as the phrase “ark of the covenant” is rendered in a few places as “ark of the ten commandments”. However none of them has any material effect on the discussion above.
It seems extraordinary that hardly anyone has noticed that the ten commandments of the bible are not what most people think. Nonetheless I have found few articles addressing this. Even critical essays such as Commandments Five to Eleven by David E. Cortesi assume that the ten commandments are to be found in Exodus chapter 20.
The nearest I have found is the article WHAT Ten Commandments?! by Judith Hayes. If I recall correctly it was this article that first drew my attention to the fact that there was something funny going on here. But I think that even she has missed a few points.
Similarly the article Which Ten Commandments? by Cliff Walker and Jyoti Shankar draws attention to the commandments in Exodus 34. But they also miss the fact that they are the only ten commandments. However they have an interesting slant illustrating that various religious groups manage to read Exodus 20 differently, and extract different sets of ten commandments from it.
In any case neither the actual nor the supposed ten commandments form much of a basis for modern moral standards. It is distinctly odd that some passionate Christians claim that the (supposed) ten commandments are so important, when Christians systematically break the fourth of them (the third in the Catholic list): the injunction to keep the Sabbath – i.e. Saturday – holy. And few are interested in keeping the second either (which the Catholic list conveniently omits!) – the prohibition of graven images.
For an alternative, and historically more significant, set of ten commandments see Richard Carrier’s essay The Real Ten Commandments. And for an alternative modern set, far superior to anything you will find in Exodus, see The New Ten Commandments – A decalogue for the modern worldAmerica's job market remains one of the few bright spots in the economy.
The U.S. economy added 255,000 jobs in July and the unemployment rate remained at 4.9%. It far surpassed expectations of economists surveyed by CNNMoney, who had predicted a gain of 182,000 jobs.
"Employment growth remains strong," says Jim O'Sullivan, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, a research firm.
So far this year, America has added about 1.3 million jobs. That's a healthy improvement but still a slightly slower pace than last year, when it had gained about 1.6 million jobs by this point. Job gains for May and June were revised up a bit too.
Related: Spring slump: U.S. economy only grows 1.2%
Wage growth continued to show signs of more momentum. Wages grew 2.6% compared to 2.2% the same time a year ago.
It's better, but still low: Prior to the recession, wages were growing at between 3% and 3.5%. It's one of the last areas of the economy to really turn in the right direction, and a major reason why American don't feel great about the economic recovery.
"It's headed in the right direction but there's still a long way to go," Heidi Shierholz, chief economist at the Labor Department, told CNNMoney Friday.
America continued to show it is increasingly focused on service industries like banking, health care and education, and less on sectors like manufacturing and mining.
Business services -- which includes a wide range of jobs such as computer designers and engineers -- led the pack with 70,000 news jobs. Health care, financial services and hospitality also gained more positions.
America's mining sector lost 6,000 jobs in July. Employment in construction and manufacturing had small gains.
Related: Cheap oil has killed nearly 200,000 jobs
Experts caution that despite the strong numbers in July, job growth can't sustain this pace with unemployment so low.
"Jobs reports like this, where everything comes up smelling of roses, are very rare," says Joseph Lake, global economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit, a New York firm. "This rate of job growth will not be sustained."
Outside the job market, warning signs are flashing. U.S. growth has been weak this year, averaging 1% in the first half. Many American companies, such as Ford (F), Kate Spade (KATE) and Office Depot (ODP), have reported disappointing earnings.
Americans are still spending at some stores and restaurants, but businesses have pulled back significantly. The decline in business spending is a key reason why growth is so low.Suspension Operation:
• Suspension will allow the vehicle to roll over minor terrain irregularities (pits, rails, curbs) without losing speed.
• Fixed situations where a vehicle could get stuck on slight terrain bumps up to 60 cm high, such as shell-holes, rails, basements of destroyed buildings, rocks, hummocks, or debris. Also, vehicles will not lose speed when rolling over a slope with one of their tracks.
• If the vehicle has enough speed, it can jump over ditches, ruts, etc.
• Added temporary change to gun depression upon sudden forward start and braking. This change is experimental. The change in gun depression is caused by a slight decline of the vehicle hull when engaging suspension at the moment of forward start or braking.
Improvements to Vehicle Controllability on the Move:
• Decreased the loss of speed upon turning a moving vehicle.
• Turns will become smoother.
• Improved control over turn radius—now it will be easier to turn the vehicle by a required number of degrees. To control the turn radius, press or release the “W” button while holding down a direction button (“A” or “D” for left and right turn respectively). At the same time, if you release the “W” button, the vehicle will sharply decrease its turn radius without a significant loss of speed, and it will be possible to continue the turn by holding down “W” again. This can be used to effectively flank enemy heavy tanks.
New Vehicle Maneuvers Using the Handbrake:
• When reaching the required speed, a turn with the use of the handbrake will result in a sharp change in movement trajectory (“police turn". To perform a police turn, block one of the tracks. To initiate a turn, hold down either W+A (for left turn) or W+D (for right turn), then press the Space bar.
Vehicle Interaction upon Collisions
• The new physics will add the ability to overturn an enemy vehicle upon collision if its hull is slightly elevated or the vehicle is standing down a slope. A number of additional factors influence this ability, such as the difference in vehicle weights, vehicle engine power, angle of attack, traction, etc.
An overturned vehicle will be destroyed after 30 s. If a vehicle is laying on its side or roof, it can be easily turned over onto its tracks again with the help from another vehicle.
• An enemy vehicle can now be pushed off a vertical surface, such as a bridge or mountain. That vehicle can also get overturned as the result of the fall.
Interaction with Surface
• Added the graphical effect of skidding.
Other Changes:
• Changed the behavior of vehicles and how their weight is perceived by the player.
• Vehicles can roll over visibly surmountable objects on the map.It’s hard to believe that South Park is gearing up for its 19th season, which starts on Wednesday. When the show premiered in 1997, the following were true:
Hillary Clinton’s greatest challenge was her president husband’s adultery, email servers being hardly a thing.
Tiger Woods had just won his first Masters and probably didn’t even know what sex was.
My favorite TV show was Barney, and I’d go approximately the next ten years without watching a single episode of South Park.
The early episodes of South Park are legendary for their crudeness, both in construction paper animation quality and the characteristic “toilet” humor that the show expertly meta-lampooned with Terrance and Philip, starting a long tradition of firing back at critics. No one had ever seen a television program with so little reverence and so much cultural allusion, stuffed with absurd situations and yet simultaneously tackling important issues such as gay rights, assisted suicide, and censorship. All these years later, South Park still has those traits and, more importantly, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have remained funny and fresh.
But there’s no denying that the show, despite its continued relevance as social satire, has changed profoundly since its inception, most notably through a style shift from the playful faux-innocence of the early seasons to the more mature (can South Park be mature?) self-awareness of more recent episodes. The old absurdity is still there—what other show would explain Obama’s reelection as part of a Chinese plan to acquire the rights to Star Wars?—but it’s gained a theatrical element, with everything from the increased use of dramatic music to über-sincere politicians and businessmen contributing to the new vibe. An episode like Season 16’s “Faith Hilling,” with an emphasis on modern media and the presence of earnest yet clueless governmental agents creating pointless tension, is par for South Park’s modern course—ridiculous, caustic, but definitely world-weary.
A huge part of what made the show so funny from the start was that its stars were four potty-mouthed third-graders whose otherwise naïveté allowed them to see the world more clearly than the batshit crazy adults around them. But then Cartman became a downright evil and manipulative sociopath, Stan and Kyle dealt with some serious issues that probably made them more cynical (in Stan’s case, we know he’s become more cynical), and Butters Stotch arrived on the scene as an even more naïve character to take their place.
The most essential player in South Park’s shift, though, has been Randy Marsh.
His rise in prominence is only rivaled by that of Butters and was driven by the need to fill the role of featured adult. Mr. Garrison and Chef, formerly the most insane and reasonable people on the show respectively, jointly held that title for most of South Park’s first decade. But Mr. Garrison hasn’t been terribly interesting since his reversion to male in “Eek! A Penis,” when the sexual confusion and compensatory bigotry that made him shine were finally resolved. And Chef was last seen shitting his pants in death after falling off a cliff in Season 10’s premiere (courtesy of Isaac Hayes taking offense to the notorious “Trapped in the Closet”).
With their decline, Randy stepped to the forefront and brought neither the former’s repressed sexuality or the latter’s clear rationality, replacing them with a middle-aged neurosis that undoubtedly has its roots in Parker and Stone’s own aging. They were in the 20s when they created South Park, as were many of the show’s original fans, and they’ve had to find ways to maintain a vigorous passion despite the wearying passage of time and expending energy on other incredible projects like The Book of Mormon. Randy is the cartoon manifestation of that struggle. His zany ideas and obsessions nearly always carry the distinct undertone of an attempt to recapture the lack of responsibility and immaturity that define childhood. And regardless of what’s happening in the realm of current events, Randy’s often urging for simple, irrational solutions that harken back to easier days. While Stan and his friends see the world for what it really is and behave accordingly, Randy is the part of us that lives in fantasy land and wants nothing more than to spend all our time there. And over the past several years, that desire has resonated more powerfully with both audiences and with Parker and Stone, who have used Randy at an increasing rate as the centerpiece of their episodes.
It’s gotten to the point where Randy Marsh can and should be called the star of South Park. He was voted by the show’s fans as the 2015 BRO DOWN Champion (essentially their favorite character), narrowly beating Cartman. He’s been a regular participant in the show’s most memorable moments of the past five years. Over the past two seasons’ twenty episodes, nearly half have featured Randy as a main character—and even in bit parts he nonetheless manages to steal the spotlight. For example, the main plot of last year’s episode “The Cissy” was forgettable (Cartman put his typical selfish twist on transgender rights), but it will forever be known as the birthplace of the “Randy is Lorde” storyline that made waves on global social media. Individual episodes as a whole might generate more buzz on a case-by-case basis (“200-201,” “World War Zimmerman,” and “Go Fund Yourself” are among the more recent ones to incite heavy responses), but Randy is single-handedly able to create memorable moments in a way that no other character can really accomplish—not even Cartman and Butters, whose shtick has grown a little boring.
Of course, a superstar is not born overnight. Randy has been built into his current dominant, relatable self over the long course of South Park, and I went back and tracked every significant episode in his development to try to determine how, why, and when he dethroned Eric Cartman as the emblematic character of the show.
Randy Marsh first appeared in “Volcano,” the third episode of the entire series, as the town geologist.
https://secure.hulu.com/embed.html?eid=RvQkWRObebm01ZnCpnaDfA&partner=southpark&sourceUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fsouthpark.cc.com%2Fclips%2F149677%2Foh-my-god-a-volcano%23source%3D08f60a6f-24a8-4d88-88a3-eb5588494cbc%3A25eeb8de-ed8e-11e0-aca6-0026b9414f30%26position%3D68%26sort%3Dviews&embed_age_gate_intro=true
His first line, as he spotted the wildly gesticulating needle of the seismograph: “What the heck is this?” There was already characteristic Randy stupidity, as he called “Frank” and asked what the moving needle meant. But then he went away for the rest of the episode, which stars Jimbo and Ned (both of whom have faded into the background in recent years) alongside the boys.
He was first identified as Stan’s dad in “An Elephant Makes Love To A Pig,” two episodes later, but this didn’t become significant until Season Two’s “Clubhouses,” Randy’s debut significant role. And even then, he was present mostly through his absence, as his separation from Sharon created an inconvenience for Stan, who had to deal with his mom’s new partner Roy. This wasn’t remotely similar to the separation Randy and Sharon undergo in Season 15’s “You’re Getting Old,” which posed an existential threat to the show’s universe. Still, though, we got to see Randy driving a convertible and rediscovering his glory days with an interest in younger women. More importantly, we saw that he and Sharon have a rollercoaster relationship whose hills and valleys are only exacerbated by his ridiculousness.
Randy had two major appearances in Season 3: “Spontaneous Combustion” and “Two Guys Naked In A Hot Tub.” In the first of these, he presented the absurd strategy of farting more as the solution to South Park’s burning issue, but it feels like a conclusion any Parker and Stone-created scientist would reach—there’s no classic Randy ridiculousness or obsession, and to boot he’s totally overshadowed by a crucified Cartman in this episode. In the latter episode, Randy and Gerald Broflovski masturbated in front of each other, creating an awkward situation that explored men’s comfort with their sexuality, but once again it wasn’t particularly definitive of Randy’s character (except perhaps laying foundations of his insecurity). In a later season, Stephen Stotch probably would have fit the scenario better.
The first “classic” Randy moment didn’t come until Season 4’s “Something You Can Do With Your Finger.”
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Finally we get some absurd anger over a trivial subject; finally we get Randy slipping into an alter ego that takes him back twenty years; finally Randy himself is the inanity in the episode. He even has a trademark freakout when he discovers that Stan was continuing to sing in Fingerbang even after Randy had forbidden it. But the most crucial aspect of this episode is that after Randy tells his son all about The Ghetto Avenue Boyz’ rise and demise, he says, “Now I’m a joke.” This is the real root of Randy’s fantasy-laden antics that have driven his character for the past fifteen years: a profound uncertainty of his place in the world, in his marriage, and in his purpose. His attempts to escape these doubts lead him to delve into obsessions and take up disparate personas, fulfilling the very real dream of forfeiting all responsibility and returning to childhood that exists within a huge segment of the adult male population that watches South Park. The only unifying value he seems to hold across his wide world of shenaniganery is his desire to be a good father to Stan and Shelley—again, something much of the audience probably holds dear—alternating between strict discipline and joining his son in pseudo-youth. In “Something You Can Do With Your Finger,” Randy puts both tactics on display, moving from immovable, unexplained fury at Stan to joining Fingerbang onstage at the mall.
So, at long last, Randy was on track to becoming Randy. But it still took awhile for his personality to gain a significant presence for a few reasons. Seasons 5-9 saw Butters ascend to prominence—probably the single greatest character decision Trey and Matt have made, because not only did Butters’ role as outcast/bitch of the group add enormous comedic value, but he also gave Cartman a natural pawn and serial victim just as he was morphing into the sociopath we know today. The Cartman-Butters dynamic was, at its peak, a guarantee for a classic episode whenever it was featured (“Casa Bonita,” “AWESOM-O,” “The Death of Eric Cartman,” et cetera). And even when the show focused on adult characters, Mr. Garrison and Chef still received most of the attention—this was the era of Mr. Slave, the most ridiculous human character conceived in the show’s history, and Chef therefore had all the more reason to play |
does not doom you to their fate.
Realize that many of their rules were created out of fear. They are afraid that you will suffer the same way they did when they were your age.
Don’t forget that they love you. Explain to them that you all want the same thing: for you to be happily married.
Explain that courtship is not helping you become happily married. Courtship leads to singleness more often than it leads to marriage.
If all else fails, play the grandchildren card. Most parents want grandchildren. Try to explain that if they want grandchildren you need to get married and courtship is not helping you do that.
Where do we go from here?
Share this post with your community on Facebook and Google+ to continue the conversation. My hope is that as single people start embracing traditional dating we can restore the fun first date to our culture. The more people who read this post the more guys that will start asking girls out and the more girls who will say “yes” to that first date.
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If I have learned one thing running PracticalCourtship.com, it is that courtship is very controversial. Even the definition of the word sparks a debate. That is fine. I am happy to see your thoughts and opinions in the comments. A few requests for the comments:
Keep the conversation civil. No name calling. Just because you were hurt in the past is no excuse to hurt others in the future.
No name calling. Just because you were hurt in the past is no excuse to hurt others in the future. Keep the conversation humble. Bragging about how this is not a problem in your family is not very helpful.
Bragging about how this is not a problem in your family is not very helpful. Please read the follow up article before posting comments. I may have already addressed your question in the Q&A post.
I may have already addressed your question in the Q&A post. I reserve the right to delete comments. It is not censorship to take your comment off of my personal blog. Remember you can say whatever you want about me or this post on your own blog or Facebook page.
If you think that this post should be expanded into a book to respond to some of the concerns posted below, click here, to get book updates.
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Thank you to everyone who backed Courtship in Crisis on Kickstarter. You can now find the book on Amazon.A Rochester radiologist is part of a team of doctors encouraging people to switch to a vegan diet.
Dr. Ted Barnett says a plant-based diet is a prescription for combating chronic health problems such as obesity and diabetes.
"There's over a million people in the Rochester metropolitan area, and if 10 percent of them have diabetes - which is s a conservative estimate - that means there's over 100,000 people with diabetes. Almost all of them would either have their diabetes resolved or get significantly better if they adopt this, and we could certainly prevent future diabetics from coming into existence."
Dr. Barnett thinks doctors and other health care professionals should set the example.
"We don't expect doctors to smoke, and doctors who do smoke have a hard time convincing their patients to stop smoking. By the same token, it's hard for doctors who are overweight and eating a horrible diet to lose weight and eat better."
A nonprofit called the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is asking people to try a vegan diet for 3 weeks. Dr. Barnett says most of the barriers to that idea are societal and cultural, and they can be overcome.
"Most of us who have access to supermarkets like Wegmans and Tops and the Public Market can easily do this. We could do it today; just decide you're going to change your diet. Now, there are going to be other folks living communities who don't have access to some of the better fresh vegetables and so forth, but they certainly have access to beans and rice."
You can find recipes and other information at www.KickstartYourHealthRochester.orgRemember when rock stars used to be bad examples? Especially in matters of health? Hard to remember that far back, now, perhaps, but there was a time when, if we were to think of a 50-ish rocker, we'd gently hum that Pink Floyd song about being "shorter of breath and one day closer to death."
But Anthony Kiedis, who turns 50 this week, represents the new paradigm of the anti-geezer, middle-age-defying rock god. He's buffer than buff, held up as the model of healthy living by Men's Fitness magazine, and very likely to outlive the cockroaches that will outlive the apocalypse.
Asked about approaching the big five-oh, Kiedis recently told England's Q magazine: "I like the idea of defying the convention of what it is to be in your 40s, or 50s, or 60s. Discovering surfing at this stage of my life is definitely going to keep me active till the day I die. So, yeah, I accept the challenge… In the same way that [the late American exercise and nutritional guru] Jack LaLanne did—doing things in his 70's that no man on earth could do: pulling tugboats across the San Francisco Bay with his teeth."
Whatever other purposes the Red Hot Chili Peppers' frontman has used gym socks for over the years, he has clearly used them in a gym.
So when Men's Fitness put him high atop their ranking of the "best rock star abs," it represented a long journey down the road of health from the guy who, when the Chili Peppers were starting out in the 1980s, once told an interviewer that "the only exercise I ever get is sex." Because you can't aspire to pulling a tugboat across the bay based solely on that regimen.
What's most remarkable is that this 50-year-old remains that musclebound body while eating a mostly vegetarian diet. We say "mostly" because Kiedis has admitted to some exceptions."I'm not a true vegan," he told Maxim in 2008. "I dabble in sustainable fish and dawdle in the consumption of eggs. Steak doesn't speak to me, and tempeh is so-so."
So far, PETA, which named Kiedis the world's sexiest male vegan, has refrained from retroactively stripping him of that title, Lance Armstrong-style.
He's also regarded as one of rock's sexier single dads. His son, Everly Bear, turned 5 last month, and they're regularly photographed together, whether it's at beach outings or book signings. The boy was only 9 months old when Kiedis and the child's mother, former model Heather Christie, split up. ("Anthony is a great dad and I will love him forever for giving me the gift of life. I really hope he finds what he's looking for," Christie, then 22, told People magazine after the 2008 split.) Since then, the rocker hasn't been publicly linked with any one gal for long.
But maybe fitness is his real first love.
When he was turning 40, Kiedis was already being asked about how he kept it up. His answer then: "I take my dog, Buster, and run in the Hollywood Hills. And I swim if I'm near a clean ocean or a pool that doesn't have chlorine." (He is a sustainable fish, so to speak.) "I'm a vegetarian. I start every day by drinking water, then an enzyme protein powdered thing and then a pot of green tea. I'm trying not to eat late at night; James Brown once said the secret to his success was not to eat after 6 p.m."
Scoring after 6 p.m. was another thing, back in the day. In his autobiography, Scar Tissue, Kiedis pointed out the irony of how, in the '80s and '90s, he was maintaining a lot of the staples of keeping his body healthy while at the same time ravaging it with a level of drug abuse that might have easily killed someone less fit.
"It's weird," he wrote in the memoir. "I was such a survivor and so wanted to be a part of life while I was trying to snuff out the life that was inside of me. I had this duality of trying to kill myself with drugs, then eating really good food and exercising and going swimming and trying to be a part of life. I was always going back and forth on some level."SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Monday halted enforcement of an $8.6 billion award against Chevron Corp (CVX.N), siding with the oil company against Ecuadorian plaintiffs in a long-running dispute over Amazon rain forest pollution.
Workers clean up an oil waste pit owned by state petroleum company Petroecuador in Shushufindi, some 410 km (254 mi) east of Quito in this December 8, 2009 file photo. REUTERS/Guillermo Granja
The move follows an Ecuadorian court’s judgment last month that went against Chevron in what has become an international test case, watched closely by private-sector oil companies wary of potential damages claims elsewhere.
U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan, extending a February 8 temporary restraining order that froze enforcement of damages, issued a preliminary injunction preventing the plaintiffs from trying to collect on the judgment outside Ecuador.
A legal battle in several jurisdictions around the world, Kaplan wrote, would only make it more likely that Chevron would decide to settle.
“If Chevron were to yield to the coercion, the damage would have been done,” the New York judge wrote in his 127-page ruling. “Chevron would have paid a price for peace.”
Kaplan’s is just the latest move in a 17-year-long legal battle in which rain forest residents say Texaco, bought by Chevron in 2001, is responsible for hazardous oil-drilling waste dumped on their land in the 1970s and 1980s.
Chevron says Texaco cleaned up all waste pits for which it was responsible before turning the sites over to state-owned oil firm Petroecuador, which still operates in the area.
Questions surround the enforcement of the Ecuadorian court ruling because Chevron has no assets in the country, but the second-largest U.S. oil company worries that the plaintiffs will try to collect on the judgment in other countries.
So in anticipation of a judgment in Ecuador in favor of the Ecuadorian farmers, Chevron asked Kaplan to step in.
Kaplan decided that the ultimate enforcement of any damages can be litigated in the United States.
“Chevron is not a fly-by-night operation about to flee the country,” he wrote, adding that the San Ramon, California-based company is a major enterprise “quite able to pay the entire judgment” if it loses the case.
As part of its broad attack on the plaintiffs’ allegations, Chevron filed a civil racketeering lawsuit in New York on February 1 against some Ecuadorian plaintiffs, their Amazon Defense Front supporters, and their main U.S. lawyer, Steven Donziger.
Kaplan noted that the damages from the Ecuadorian court in Lago Agrio have jumped to more than $18 billion, given that the award doubled due to a lack of a public apology from Chevron and when a payment to the Amazon Defense Front is included.
The plaintiffs have appealed the Ecuadorian court’s decision, claiming more money was needed for cleanup efforts.
Their case against Texaco was originally filed in New York in late 1993, before it was dismissed and refiled in Ecuador a decade later, in a change of forum supported by Texaco.
The plaintiffs did not have an immediate comment on Kaplan’s ruling on Monday.In what may be the latest major escalation involving North Korea - and potentially the nation's 7th nuclear test - China's earthquake administration said it detected a magnitude 3.5 earthquake in North Korea, which it suspects "was caused by an explosion", raising fears that the rogue state has tested another nuclear bomb. The Chinese administration said in a statement on its website that the quake was recorded at a depth of zero kilometers, while Xinhua said the epicenter was in roughly the same place as a similar shallow earthquake on 3 September, which turned out to be caused by North Korea's sixth and largest nuclear test.
However, in analyzing the same earthquake, South Korea came to a different conclusion, and said it was likely to be natural or man-made such as a nuclear test. South Korea’s weather agency assessed the seismic activity as a natural event.
"The quake is presumed to have occurred naturally," an agency official said, according to South Korea's Yonhap news agency. "A sound wave, which is usually generated in the event of an artificial earthquake, was not detected."
“We use several methods to tell whether earthquakes are natural or manmade,” an official, who asked for anonymity, told the Independent. “A key method is to look at the seismic waves or seismic acoustic waves and the latter can be detected in the case of a manmade earthquake. In this case we saw none. So as of now we are categorizing this as a natural earthquake.”
Furthermore, all of North Korea's previous six nuclear tests registered as earthquakes of magnitude 3.9 or above. The last test on 3 September registered as a 6.3 magnitude quake. A secondary tremor detected after that test could have been caused by the collapse of a tunnel at the mountainous site, experts said at the time.
Additionally, the US Geological Survey said that it detected a magnitude 3.5 quake in the area of previous North Korean nuclear tests, but that it was unable to confirm whether the event was natural. North Korea's weakest nuclear test, its first, which it carried out in 2006, generated a magnitude 3.9 quake.
As shown previously, satellite photos of the area after the 3 September quake showed numerous landslides that were apparently caused by the huge blast, which North Korea said was a hydrogen bomb. It is possible the tremor was linked to ongoing landslide activity.
Overview of Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site Before the nuclear test:
And after:
Nuclear proliferation watchdog CTBTO said on Saturday it had detected two seismic events in North Korea on Saturday but they were probably not deliberate explosions.
“Two #Seismic Events!... unlikely Man-made! Similar to "collapse“ event 8.5 mins after DPRK6! Analysis ongoing,” CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo said in a Twitter post.
Two #Seismic Events! 0829UTC & much smaller @ 0443UTC unlikely Man-made! Similar to "collapse" event 8.5 mins after DPRK6! Analysis ongoing pic.twitter.com/DXaDn8TZOf — Lassina Zerbo (@SinaZerbo) September 23, 2017
Concerns about another North Korea test have been heightened ever since Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, who is currently in New York for a United Nations meeting, warned on Thursday that Kim could consider a hydrogen bomb test of an unprecedented scale over the Pacific. Ri told reporters that a test of "the most powerful detonation of an H-bomb" was one possible "highest-level" action against the US.
But he said that he did not know exactly what his state's exact plans were. "We have no idea about what actions could be taken as it will be ordered by leader Kim Jong-un," he added.
The quake comes amid heightened tensions around the Korean Peninsula, as the North has been maintaining a torrid pace in nuclear and weapons tests. The state said its recent nuclear test was a detonation of a thermonuclear weapon built for its developmental intercontinental ballistic missiles. In two July flight tests, those missiles showed potential capability to reach deep into the US mainland when perfected.Content: Stranger of Sword City
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Twitter: @PR_ExperienceThe Hillary Clinton campaign is recruiting former prosecutors to go after and criticize FBI Director James Comey for deciding to reopen an investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server to handle official government business.
The campaign sent out letters to ex-prosecutors on Sunday, just two days after Comey informed Congress on Friday that the FBI had reopened the investigation after finding new emails related to the case during a separate probe into former disgraced congressman Anthony Weiner of New York.
The campaign is circulating a draft letter to the former federal prosecutors that criticizes Comey for moving ahead with an investigation without all the facts, the Daily Beast reported.
"It is out of our respect for such settled tenets of the United States Department of Justice that we are moved to express our concern with the recent letter issued by FBI Director James Comey to eight Congressional Committees," the letter reads.
The campaign's letter said Comey's "unprecedented decision to publicly comment on evidence in what may be an ongoing inquiry just eleven days before a presidential election leaves us both astonished and perplexed."
It said Comey's actions violated "longstanding Justice Department guidelines" for making public disclosures on investigations especially when it comes to politicians and the timing of elections.
"Director Comey's letter is inconsistent with the prevailing Department policy, and it breaks with longstanding practices followed by officials of both parties during past elections," the campaign's letter reads.
The Daily Beast obtained the letter from Elkan Abramowitz, who served formerly as chief of the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Abramowitz agreed with the Clinton campaign, and said what Comey did was "outrageous."You don't even need to do the math on this one. George Strait, who is embarking on his final tour with the Cowboy Rides Away trek, is going out with a bang. The singer will perform at the closing night of this year's Rodeo Houston and over 77,000 tickets were sold in the first two minutes after being placed on sale.
While Strait is merely retiring from active touring but will continue to make music, fans are answering the call and turning up in droves to see him before he rides off into the sunset. But to sell nearly 80,000 tickets in 120 seconds is absolutely mind-blowing.
This year marks Strait's 29th time playing the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and it is a historic performance for the event, as it is breaking records.
"To say that George Strait is an icon or to say that he is the 'King of Country Music' is an understatement when referring to his drawing power at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo," said Leroy Shafer, the VP and COO of the show. "I have been involved with marketing rodeo and concerts here since 1973 and this is the hottest show we have put on sale in those 40 years. This is going to shatter all Reliant Stadium attendance records."
Strait will perform on March 17.Salon has run an editorial by Richard Cooper called "Superheroes are a bunch of fascists," and it's sort of annoyed me. Not because Cooper is wrong - he is, fundamentally correct that the root of superheroics is fascism - but because the editorial is so surface level and ignorant not only of superhero comic book history but seemingly of superhero movie history.
Superheroes are essentially fascist because they use force to accomplsh their goals, and their goals are almost always supporting and protecting the status quo. We could actually argue against superheroes as fascist by noting that fascism is about putting the state first and there are almost no state-driven heroes, but let's roll with it. Superheroes fit within the fascist romanticization of masculinity and power through violence, as well as the fascist belief that humans are inherently unequal. As Cooper notes in his piece, Alan Moore was kicking this around for a long time; Cooper mentions Watchmen, but I'd say Miracleman is a better examination of a lot of this stuff. In the final issue of Moore's run, Miracleman assumes totalitarian control of the world after an apocalyptic battle with Kid Miracleman (a pre-9/11 9/11, if you will), which is presented as the logical conclusion to having godlike beings walking among us. For comic fans the political nature of superheroes has long been a point of discussion.
But Cooper has a narrow focus; he's only interested in the Christopher Nolan superhero movies, the Batfilms and Man of Steel. Those films definitely reflect an authoritarian point of view, but they don't reflect the totality of superhero films. If anything Cooper has on his hands an interesting argument for why Man of Steel gets Superman so very, very wrong, but he instead paints with a broad brush.
To address the points he does make: yes, Batman is perhaps the pinnacle of conservative fantasy, a rich white man who does the job the corrupt authorities cannot, and does it with an excessive amount of violence. There's an intriguing streak in conservative thought that runs to the authoritarian but despises the bureacracy of government - see the upcoming Lone Survivor, for instance, for a film that celebrates the machinery of war while bad-mouthing the paper-pushers who make it run, a standard cry from right-wing war cheerleaders who love the troops but hate the government - and Batman speaks to that. The system is bad. The people within the system are bad. There's only one man - a powerful figurehead leader - who can make a difference, and he makes it with the power of brute force. Privacy and due process are hinderances to Batman's mission, and The Dark Knight makes explicit in the character of Harvey Dent the idea that justice is completely corruptible.
But like, that's Batman. It's the appeal for people who find him appealing. It's kind of why I don't trust people who are super into Batman. Superman, on the other hand, is a Comet the Superhorse of another color. Cooper says:
I was reminded of this by Jor-El’s speech in “Man of Steel”: "You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders." How, though? Those watching him can’t fly, topple buildings or fire heat rays from their eyes. What else does Superman do other than these purely physical feats? The 1978 version of Jor-El warned: “It is forbidden for you to interfere with human history. Rather let your leadership stir others to.” Can you really inspire others with steel?
What Superman does, in the history of Superman anyway, is act selflessly and magnanimously. He could take over the world in a heartbeat, but he does not. He has gifts, and he uses those gifts not to put himself ahead but to aid others. It's a curious misunderstanding of the entirety of who Superman is to miss this point; we don't love Superman because he can bend steel, we love him because he bends steel to help others. We don't have to have Superman's gifts to understand that we have our own gifts, and we look to Superman's example for how to use them to make the world a better place.
If Cooper only knows Superman from Man of Steel his confusion makes sense. The film doesn't understand this aspect of Superman, and it presents him as a distanced figure who keeps his abilities to himself for years. This Superman couldn't possibly inspire anybody, even though he insists the S on his chest stands for 'Hope.' Man of Steel is a film far too concerned with the individual to make its hero actually heroic; funnily enough, the fact that Superman puts Kal-El first is actually what makes him not fascist, in a statist sense. He's far more of an Objectivist superhero (all superheroes are also, to an extent, Objectivist).
There's stuff to chew on with the Nolan superhero movies for sure, and I think a lot of it is on purpose. Yes, The Dark Knight Rises does take aim a bit at the Occupy movement... but it also equates Occupy with the French Revolution. There's a complexity that is, I believe, bungled, but it's there. Occupy was happening as the film was made, but the revolution and the subsequent Terror are pretty obviously the blueprint for Bane's takeover of Gotham (made meta-explicit by Anne Hathaway appearing as Catwoman and in Les Mis the same year). To be fair, I'm pretty sure Nolan's sympathies are not with Occupy - they're ghastly noisy, and they make one late for tea.
But Christopher Nolan isn't the only guy making superhero movies. One of the things I love about the Marvel Studios film is that they actually wrestle with a lot of the stuff that Cooper is complaining about. First of all it's pretty telling that he leaves out Captain America: The First Avenger, the only superhero movie where the hero explictly fights a fascist. That film posits the hero exists beyond physical ability - Steve Rogers is exactly as much of a hero when he's a weakling as he is after the Super Soldier Serum. That's vital to the character, and it's vital to understanding the way Marvel superhero stories wrestle with the necessity of force. There may be a world in which force will never need to be used, but we don't live in it, and neither do any superheroes. Cooper talks about how The Avengers and Man of Steel both have bloodless 9/11s*, but 9/11 was an event that showed even the most pacifistic of us that sometimes you have to hit a guy in the face. It's pointless to get caught up in debating Bush's illegal wars after 9/11, but some sort of action had to be taken against Al Qaeda in the days that followed, and that action wasn't ever going to be a nice discussion. You'd be an actual asshole if you thought that.
Captain America speaks to that. Cap reluctantly uses force to stop others from using force on the innocent. That first film has the advantage of being set in one of those wars it's hard to argue against (although some did at the time, to be fair), one of those wars where you feel like the guys we beat sort of had it coming to them.
That's a big fantasy, the idea that our enemies are worthy of our reluctant violence. The Marvel movies play with that in interesting ways; in the Thor films Loki is a tragic villain, one whose defeat makes Thor sad instead of triumphant. Thor would like nothing better than to talk it all out with his brother, but that's simply not happening. In Thor: The Dark World Thor has to wrestle with the idea of leadership and rejects the idea of being a central figure leading his people to war. Mussolini would disapprove. For Bruce Banner violence is absolutely the last resort, and is the thing he most fears. No matter how righteous his cause when acting as the Hulk, the damage he inflicts is beyond conscience.
The one Marvel hero that Cooper name-drops is Iron Man, lumping him in with Batman as examplars of hyper-capitalist paragons of the system.
Capitalism, of course, has an advantage over fascism: it has survived longer because it can incorporate criticism and pseudo-criticism. “Iron Man,” for instance, begins with the premise that high-tech weaponry is indeed a Bad Thing, but its solution is that the guy who built it should have a conscience. Then its use is just cool. Just as Superman’s triumph is due not to heroism but to his physical strength, the successes of Iron Man and Batman are due to their equipment.
That is an accurate critique of Iron Man. But it doesn't take into account the serialized nature of the series, which climaxes in Iron Man Three with Tony Stark getting rid of his equipment. As comic readers we know he'll get the suit back at some point, but the arc of the character extends over the course of four movies, not just the one. It's the story of a guy being awakened to sacrifice, heroism and the idea that what matters is the man, not the repulsor ray. He goes from a guy who makes weapons to a guy who stops making weapons to finally a guy who stops using weapons. There's no doubt that Stark is a capitalist hero - that's just what he is, period - but he exists in a universe that is filled with heroes who have other points of view. Captain America is much more the civil servant hero, a character who rejects capitalist gain and devotes his life to service (with fascism being a form of statism it's worth noting the only state-sponsored screen superhero is probably the one who would most agree with Cooper's thoughts that Batman is a jerk).
Of course Cooper would complain that Cap glorifies the military (his piece has the weirdest argument about Man of Steel glorfiying the military, utterly ignoring the scene he's describing has Superman trashing a drone sent to watch him). Thor glorifies royalty as well, I guess.
Cooper leaves all of these movies out because they speak not to superheroes as fascists but rather to America's sixty year struggle with being a superpower. It's telling that Batman and Superman predate WWII; they both come from an age when little guy America wanted to be seen as tough. The Marvel heroes, though, come from a time when America was trying to juggle its self-image as the underdog with the reality of being the biggest, toughest kid on the block. These heroes were created during the Vietnam War** - Iron Man's first origin is explicitly set in Vietnam - and they reflect the cognitive dissonance we feel as 'good guys' who could also wipe out the Earth at a moment's notice. If anything there's a discomfort with power and force inherent in the Marvel heroes that is anti-fascist. Also, none of the current Marvel screen heroes are 'crime fighters.' They're mostly people who do their thing and more often than not get attacked by outside forces***. These guys don't go on patrol.
Which leads us to the other big Marvel hero left out of Cooper's piece - Spider-Man. He does go on patrol, and like Batman, he does fight crime. But unlike Batman he's explicitly presented as a teen power fantasy, and that's where the character gets his pathos. Spider-Man is Peter Parker attempting to be better and cooler than he feels on a day to day basis, and he often does it through force. But all the great Spider-Man stories are not about force - Spidey is often weaker than his opponents - but are about involvement. Working class Peter Parker is a hero not because he can climb walls or punch but because he throws himself into situations he could otherwise ignore - except that the death of his Uncle Ben showed him there is no situation a good man can ignore.
Yeah, a lot of that does come out in punching. Like I said up top, there's something inherently fascist about the superhero, and that comes out of the fact that there's something inherently fascist about action stories. We love action stories, always have, always will. We like people fighting. As humans we have a weird sympathy for a lot of fascist ideals. But what Cooper is missing is that while all superheroes are, at the very center of the concept, violent power fantasies, the best ones confront that and struggle with it. "With great power comes great responsibility,' nobody said in The Amazing Spider-Man, but that's the core concept of all superheroes. That power is physical in the stories because, frankly, that makes for better stories. But the concept of being responsible for your power - whether it be physical, cosmic, economic or emotional - doesn't strike me as inherently fascist.
Cooper almost never ventures outside of the Nolan films, and with good reason - if he included the Marvel films his argument might fall to pieces. The X-Men movies are extraordinarily liberal and they fit Cooper's demands to a T:
Maybe one day we will see a superhero movie championing something other than fascist or hypercapitalist values: a superhero movie in which it isn’t physical superiority that saves the day. Maybe one day we will get the hero we need: one who challenges rather than reinforces the status quo.
We have the hated mutants working to change society's view of them, working to remove institutionalized racism and, at the same time, doing it peacefully. The X-Men come into conflict almost exclusively with their own kind, and that conflict is about stopping violence, even when that violence is a reaction to hate. And they're led by a guy who is so physically unsuperior he can't even fucking walk. It's like Cooper doesn't realize the X-Men are led by a parapalegic with mental powers (he's aware the films exist, as he cites them at the beginning of his piece). I'm not the world's biggest fan of the X-Men franchise, but it's exactly what Cooper is looking for, and it's about to release its seventh instalment. Maybe somebody should send him some Blu-rays and a couple of trade paperbacks. Let him catch up with the rest of the superhero fans who have been talking about this for decades, and this time he can leave his condescension at home.
* on 9/11 I went to a Brooklyn hospital to donate blood. I was turned away because they didn't need any - people either made it out of the Twin Towers or they died. 9/11 was strangely bloodless in real life, as the people who died were almost atomized, turned to ash just like Metropolis in Man of Steel. No real point, just an interesting way the clean violence of the movies eerily echoes the reality of my experience.
** Cap technically pre-dates our entry in WWII. The modern incarnation is largely based on the version of Cap reintroduced during Vietnam, though.
*** We could definitely have a good talk about how this vision of superheroes perfectly fits America's view of itself on either side of 9/11. Devoid of historical context, the 9/11 attacks feel like the Masters of Evil just showing up at Avengers Mansion and starting shit. With historical context the 9/11 attacks feel like the Joker showing up in Gotham as part of Batman's inherent escalation of violence in the city.Édouard Stern (October 18, 1954 - February 28, 2005) was a French banker. Born in Paris, he was son of the banker Antoine Jean Elie Stern and Christiane Laroche, and was a personal friend of French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Relatively unknown outside finance circles until his death, Stern shot to worldwide fame when he was found shot dead in his apartment in Geneva, Switzerland, after a sadomasochistic bondage session wearing a head-to-toe latex catsuit. Career Édouard Stern was 38th in a list of France's richest citizens. He was born in 1954 to one of France’s wealthiest families, the owners of a private investment house called Banque Stern, and was known for his abrasive personality. He studied at the Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales in Paris. Together with his uncle, his ousted his father at Banque Stern and then sold the family bank. He then became a partner at Lazard Frères before creating his own investment fund, IRR Capital (the initials stand for "Investments Real Return"). In 2004 he was part of a suit brought against the French company Rhodia, accusing the company of false accounting and other malfeasance. He was married to Béatrice David-Weil, who lived in New York with their three children. Béatrice David-Weil is a daughter of Michel David-Weill and a granddaughter of Pierre David-Weill, who were both partners in Lazard Frères. Death Édouard Stern was found shot to death on March 1, 2005 in Geneva. His body was found in his bedroom, clothed in a flesh-coloured head-to-toe latex catsuit with a dildo inserted in him, and shot four times; police initially thought the latex body suit may have been a ruse by the murderers to confuse the police, but it later became clear that Stern had been involved in a sadomasochistic bondage session. Swiss authorities arrested his long-time lover, Cécile Brossard, over the killing. Society columnist Taki Theodoracopulos has reported in The Spectator that Stern, in addition to having many girlfriends, was bisexual and had a boyfriend, and that he was a "rough trade" sex connoisseur. Brossard, 40, was convicted and on June 18, 2009 was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison. In addition, the Swiss court ordered Brossard to pay Stern's children one Swiss franc for "moral damage". The Wall Street Journal has reported that "[Stern's] family hopes people will stop talking about the case". Cécile Brossard was freed on parole in November 2010, after spending five years in detention (including four years while awaiting trial). Films The French film "Une Histoire d'Amour''. (titled in English 'Tied') is a direct telling of the story, although the ending there could imply death by dehydration during the Mistress' long plane flight rather than by (a blank) gunshot. The story of Édouard Stern is cited as the inspiration for Olivier Assayas' 2008 film Boarding Gate. The death of Édouard Stern was directly parodied on the FX animated series Archer in the third season episode "Lo Scandalo". Wikipedia.org Call girl jailed for eight years after shooting dead billionaire who called her a whore By Ian Sparks - DailyMail.co.uk June 19, 2009 A former prostitute who shot dead her billionaire lover after he called her a 'whore' during a bondage session has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years. Cecile Brossard shot banker Edouard Stern four times while he was tied to a chair wearing a latex bodysuit. A court ruled that she acted out of hatred and greed, and convicted her of murder rather than the lesser 'crime of passion'. The lovers had previously fallen out after Mr Stern took back $1million he had given her as a gift. Moments before he died, the 50-year-old taunted her with the words: 'A million dollars is a lot to pay for a whore.' Mr Stern came from a centuries-old French banking dynasty and was one of the country's richest men. The father of three was a friend of President Nicolas Sarkozy. Lawyers described his four-year affair with Brossard as 'passionate, and full of emotional blackmail'. His secret life of sadomasochistic sex was only exposed after he was killed with his own gun at his penthouse flat in Geneva in February 2005. The high court in |
erVirginia Woolf (1882-1941), English author, feminist, essayist, publisher, and critic wrote A Room of Ones Own (1929);
All I could do was to offer you an opinion upon one minor pointa woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction; and that, as you will see, leaves the great problem of the true nature of woman and the true nature of fiction unsolved.-Ch. 1
Now regarded as a classic feminist work, Woolf based her extended essay A Room on lectures she had given at womens colleges at Cambridge University. Using such female authors as Jane Austen and Emily and Charlotte Bronte, she examines women and their struggles as artists, their position in literary history and need for independence. She also invents a female counterpart of William Shakespeare, a sister named Judith to at times sarcastically get her point across. Woolf proved to be an innovative and influential 20th Century author. In some of her novels she moves away from the use of plot and structure to employ stream-of-consciousness to emphasise the psychological aspects of her characters. Themes in her works include gender relations, class hierarchy and the consequences of war. Woolf was among the founders of the Modernist movement which also includes T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, James Joyce, and Gertrude Stein.
The effects of bi-polar disorder at times caused Woolf protracted periods of convalescence, withdrawing from her busy social life, distressed that she could not focus long enough to read or write. She spent times in nursing homes for rest cures; frankly referred to herself as mad; said she heard voices and had visions. My own brain is to me the most unaccountable of machineryalways buzzing, humming, soaring roaring diving, and then buried in mud. And why? Whats this passion for? (from a letter dated 28 Dec. 1932). The subject of suicide enters her stories and essays at times and she disagreed with the perception that it is an act of cowardice and sin. When Virginia was not depressed she worked intensely for long hours at a time. She was vivacious, witty and ebullient company and a member of the Bloomsbury Group or Bloomsbury which had been started by her brother Thoby and his friends from Cambridge. It quickly grew to encompass many of Londons literary circle, who gathered to discuss art, literature, and politics. During her life and since her death she has been the subject of much debate and discussion surrounding the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her half-brother, her mental health issues and sexual orientation. Also, her pacifist political views in line with Bloomsbury caused controversy. From Three Guineas (1931);
Therefore if you insist upon fighting to protect me, or our country, let it be understood, soberly and rationally between us, that you are fighting to gratify a sex instinct which I cannot share; to procure benefits which I have not shared and probably will not share; but not to gratify my instincts, or to protect either myself or my country. For, the outsider will say, in fact, as a woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no country. As a woman my country is the whole world.-Ch. 3
Regardless of the polemic, or because of it, even into the 21st Century Woolfs prodigious output of diaries, letters, critical reviews, essays, short stories, and novels continue to be the source of much scholarly study. Adeline Virginia Stephen was born in London, England on 25 January 1882, daughter of Sir Leslie Stephen (1832-1904), literary critic and first editor of the Dictionary of National Biography. His first wife, daughter of William Makepeace Thackeray, Harriet Marion (b.1840) died in 1875. Virginias mother was his second wife, Julia Prinsep Jackson Duckworth (1846-1895) who inspired the character Mrs. Ramsay in To The Lighthouse (1927).
Virginia had two brothers, Thoby (1880-1906) and Adrian (1883-1948) who became a psychoanalyst. She was very close to her older sister Vanessa Nessa (1876-1961) who would become a painter and marry art critic Clive Bell. She also had four half-siblings; Laura Makepeace Stephen (1870-1945), and George (1868-1934), Gerald (1870-1937) [who would found Duckworth and Co. Publishing] and Stella (1869-1897) Duckworth.
A number of the Stephen relatives were friends of Scottish historian and author Thomas Carlyle. Many other successful Victorian authors of the time were regular visitors to their bustling home in Hyde Park including Henry James and George Eliot; Virginia would write an article about her for the Times Literary Supplement in 1919. Middlemarch, the magnificent book which with all its imperfections is one of the few English novels for grown-up people. (George Eliot). Their works and many others including Charles Dickenss and Thackerays were part of her home education. Her father had a massive library so she and her sister were not without material although Virginia would soon reject the values and morals of their generation.
The Stephens summered at Talland House in St. Ives, County Cornwall in the southwest of England along the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Virginia had vivid and fond memories of these times which often had an influence on her writing including visits to a nearby lighthouse. However they ended when her mother died; she was just thirteen years old and suffered the first major breakdown of many that would plague her off and on the rest of her life. The death of Stella, who had become like a mother to Virginia and the death of her father caused another period of profound depression. The beauty of the world... has two edges, one of laughter, one of anguish, cutting the heart asunder. (A Room of Ones Own). Vanessa then moved her sister and brothers to another neighborhood in London, Bloomsbury. Virginia was feeling better and by 1905 was writing in earnest articles and essays, and became a book reviewer for the Times Literary Supplement. She also taught teaching English and History at Morley College in London.
In 1906 Virginia, Vanessa and their brothers traveled to Europe, where Thoby contracted typhoid fever and died from in 1906. Back in England the Bloomsbury Group was flourishing, their home a meeting place for writers, scholars and artists including Clive Bell, artist and art critic, who Vanessa married 1907. They would not stay together for long. After his third proposal, Virginia finally married left-wing political journalist, author and editor Leonard Woolf (1880-1969) on 10 August 1912. They would have no children. In 1914 when World War I broke out they were living in Richmond and Woolf was working on her first novel The Voyage Out (1915) a satirical coming-of-age story;
As the streets that lead from the Strand to the Embankment are very narrow, it is better not to walk down them arm-in-arm. If you persist, lawyers clerks will have to make flying leaps into the mud; young lady typists will have to fidget behind you. In the streets of London where beauty goes unregarded, eccentricity must pay the penalty, and it is better not to be very tall, to wear a long blue cloak, or to beat the air with your left hand.-Ch. 1
Leonard and Virginia would themselves get into the publishing business, together founding the Hogarth Press in 1917. Works by T. S. Eliot and Katherine Mansfield would be among their many publications including Virginias. Night and Day (1919) was followed by her short story collection Monday or Tuesday (1921) and essays in The Common Reader (1925). Jacobs Room (1922) was followed by Mrs. Dalloway (1925) which inspired a film The Hours in 2002. To The Lighthouse (1927) was followed by Orlando: A Biography (1928);
Different though the sexes are, they inter-mix. In every human being a vacillation from one sex to the other takes place, and often it is only the clothes that keep the male or female likeness, while underneath the sex is very opposite of what it is above..Every secret of a writers soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works.-Ch. 4
One of her more popular novels, it was adapted to the screen in 1993. A roman à clef, Orlandos character is modeled after Vita Sackville West (1892-1962), friend and possible lover of Woolf; Princess Sasha based on her friend Violet Trefusis. Vitas husband Harold Nicolson also plays a part as Marmaduke. Their son Nigel referred to it as the longest and most charming love letter in literature. I was in a queer mood, thinking myself very old: but now I am a woman againas I always am when I write. (The Diary of Virginia Woolf, 31 May 1929.) The Waves (1931) is said to be Woolfs most experimental work. Flush: A Biography (1933) is told through the eyes of Elizabeth Barrett Brownings spaniel. The Second Common Reader (1933) her next collection of critical essays, was followed by The Years (1937) and Roger Fry: A Biography (1940).
With the outbreak of WWII the Woolfs were living at their country retreat, Monks House near the village of Rodmell in Lewes, Sussex, which is now preserved by the National Trust. In 1940 they received word that their London home had been destroyed. Fear of a German invasion loomed and Leonards Jewish heritage provoked the couple to make a suicide pact if the possibility of falling into German hands arose. Leonard as usual was ever vigilant to the onset of the next major depressive episode in his wife; she would get migraine headaches and lay sleepless at night. However, he and her doctor, who had seen her the day before, would never intuit that her next one was to be her last. Her letters to friends had been written in shaky handwriting and though she was actively working on her manuscript for what was to be the last publication before her death, Between the Acts (1941) she did express much disdain for its worth and wanted to scrap it.
The scullery maid....was cooling her cheeks by the lily pond. There had always been lilies there, self-sown from wind-dropped seed, floating red and white on the green plates of their leaves. Water, for hundreds of years, had silted down into the hollow, and lay there four or five feet deep over a black cushion of mud....fish swamgold, splashed with white....poised in the blue patch made by the sky....It was in that deep centre, in that black heart, that the lady had drowned herself.
Virginia Woolf died on 28 March 1941 when she drowned herself in the River Ouse near their home in Sussex, by putting rocks in her coat pockets. Her body was found later in April and she was then cremated, her ashes spread under two elms at Monks House. She had left two similar suicide notes, one possibly written a few days earlier before an unsuccessful attempt. The one addressed to Leonard read in part;
Dearest, I feel certain I am going mad again....And I shant recover this time.....I am doing what seems the best thing to do....I cant fight any longer....Everything has gone from me but the certainty of your goodness. I cant go on spoiling your life any longer....I dont think two people could have been happier than we have been. V.
After her death, Leonard set to the task of editing her vast collection of correspondence, journals, and unpublished works and also wrote an autobiography. He died in 1960. Posthumous publications include; The Death of the Moth and Other Essays (1942), A Haunted House and Other Short Stories (1944), and The Moment and Other Essays (1948). Virginias nephew, the late Professor Quentin Bell (1910-1996) wrote the award winning Virginia Woolf: A biography (2 vols, London: Hogarth Press, 1972).
Every season is likeable, and wet days and fine, red wine and white, company and solitude. Even sleep, that deplorable curtailment of the joy of life, can be full of dreams; and the most common actionsa walk, a talk, solitude in ones own orchardcan be enhanced and lit up by the association of the mind. Beauty is everywhere, and beauty is only two fingers-breadth from goodness. So, in the name of health and sanity, let us not dwell on the end of the journey. The Common Reader Montaigne-Ch. 6
Biography written by C. D. Merriman for Jalic Inc. Copyright Jalic Inc. 2007. All Rights Reserved.
The above biography is copyrighted. Do not republish it without permission.
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Forum Discussions on Virginia WoolfIn a lab beneath the University of Arizona's football stadium, researchers have reached a new milestone in their effort to build the world's largest ground-based telescope – the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), destined for a mountaintop in Chile's Atacama Desert.
On Friday, technicians at the Stewart Observatory Mirror Laboratory opened the lid of a large rotating furnace to reveal the third of seven mirrors, each 27 feet wide, that will operate as one mirror 80 feet across to gather light from the dawn of the universe.
The $880-million GMT is one of two projects currently underway to build a new generation of giant ground-based telescopes to explore the early universe, help identify potentially habitable planets in the sun's neighborhood, and help reveal the nature of dark energy, a mysterious force that is propelling the expansion of the universe at an ever increasing rate.
It's an ambitious agenda that has an additional component often overlooked, notes Wendy Freedman, an astronomer and chair of the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization's board of directors. New capabilities can lead to unimagined discoveries that can profoundly change humanity's view of the universe.
“Galileo had a 2-inch telescope that at the time was the most powerful telescope in the world. It revealed a whole host of things we didn't know about the universe,” says Dr. Freedman, who also heads the Carnegie Observatories. Galileo had no clue that he would discover moons orbiting Jupiter or craters on the moon.
“Nature continues to reveal a lot of secrets, and I think that's one of the things that really excites us about the GMT” and the enhanced capabilities it brings to the table, she says.
From its perch at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, the GMT will have a clear view of skies over the southern hemisphere.
A second group is moving ahead on a similar project – a telescope whose primary mirror is 98 feet across. Known as the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), this new eye on the cosmos will join other observatories already sitting atop Hawaii's Mauna Kea.
In April, Hawaii's Board of land and Natural Resources granted the project a permit to build the telescope at the site. In July, the project’s partners, which include research institutions from the US, Canada, Japan, China, and India, signed off on an agreement defining the observatory's goals as well as setting out the rights and responsibilities for each of the partners.
Between the two telescopes, astronomers will have access to skies in the northern and southern hemispheres with hardware of comparable capabilities.
Of the two, however, the GMT is farthest along. One mirror is finished, a second is being polished, the third just came out of the oven, glass for the fourth is in hand, and the GMT's board has given the OK to proceed on the fifth mirror.
In March, crews at Las Campanas leveled the summit that the GMT will occupy. Construction is set to begin in mid-2014. The goal is to begin science operations with four mirrors in 2020 and round out the full array by 2024, Freedman says.
The GMT's main mirrors represent the most technically demanding part of the project. In the past with smaller telescopes, a telescope's main light-gathering mirror would be cast as single piece and given its final concave, or parabolic, shape by slowly grinding away at the glass.
The GMT's primary mirror is too large to be cast as a single unit. So designers broke it into seven circular segments that form a reflective rosette.
The mirrors still must undergo a final grinding process – one that must smooth the surface of each mirror to within 1 millionth of an inch. But the six circular mirrors that form the petals must be shaped as parts of the overall parabola that the surfaces of all seven will form. That means that one edge of a “petal” may be as much as 0.55 inches thicker than the opposite edge – all the while ground to the same millionth-of-an-inch tolerance.
No one has designed a mirror array like this before.
“We finished polishing and testing the first mirror a little over a year ago, and that was the biggest technical challenge to the project,” Freedman says, noting simply that without a properly produced primary mirror, there would be no telescope. Now, mirrors are flowing through the process in assembly-line fashion.
Once mirrors are assembled, they will have to be controlled with remarkable precision so that the “virtual” 80-foot mirror retains its optimum shape. That, too presented a challenge that the GMT team feels it has met, Freedman says.
In addition, the team also is working on a technique that combines lasers with hardware that can rapidly deform small segments of the telescope's secondary mirror – also made of seven segments.
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The lasers provide information on the atmosphere's distortion. This information ultimately reaches actuators that subtly alter the shapes of the secondary-mirror segments in ways that compensate for the twinkle or distortions turbulence in the atmosphere imparts on light passing through it. It's the latest evolution of a technique known as adaptive optics.
Although in somewhat different form that of the TMT project, the GMT also represents an international collaboration. It includes universities and research institutions from the US, South Korea, and Australia and counts private foundations among its donors.An Egyptian soldier passed away today, 10 September, in a military hospital after being shot at the Israel-Egypt border three weeks ago. This raises the number of Egyptian soldiers who were killed in the Israeli cross border raid raid on Thursday, 18 August to six.
The soldier, Emad Abdel Malak, was shot while driving the car carrying the other soldiers killed by the Israeli forces. Israel claimed its forces were chasing militants that had attacked and killed Israelis on a bus in the area.
The Egyptian public was outraged and thousands of protesters demonstrated for days before the Israeli embassy, with one of their number succeeding in climbing up the front of the high-rise apartment building housing the Israeli embassy, and bringing down the Israeli flag. Protesters demanded that the Israeli Ambassador be sent out of Egypt and a joint investigation into the border incident launched.
Demonstrations against the Israeli embassy resumed Friday, as thousands collected around the building housing the embassy, dismantled a high concrete wall that had been erected around it a week before, the protest climaxing around midnight in a break in into one of the embassy's apartments, with the protesters seizing thousands of documents and hurling them out of the windows.
Fierce clashes between protesters and anti-riot squads ensured in which over a thousand protesters were injured and three killed.
Short link:PRINCETON — Queen Noor of Jordan is among Princeton University's Alumni Day speakers who will attend the school's 100th celebration on Saturday, the university said Thursday.
A member of the university's class of 1973, Queen Noor will receive the Woodrow Wilson Award and give a talk at 10:15 a.m. The award is bestowed annually by the university to undergraduate alumni whose careers relate to the public service Wilson described in his famous speech, "Princeton in the Nation's Service."
Martin Eakes, a community organizer and economic strategist, will give a lecture at 9 a.m. He earned a master's degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1980 and will receive the James Madison Medal, the university said.
The medal, established by the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni, is presented each year to celebrate a graduate alumnus who has had "a distinguished career, advanced the cause of graduate education or achieved an outstanding record of public service," the school said.
Alumni Day is not open to the general public. More than 1,000 alumni and guests are registered to participate in the campus anniversary event Friday and Saturday.
The event was designed to give alumni a glimpse of campus life when school is in session. This year's events will feature presentations by alumni, faculty and students, interactive enrichment sessions, networking opportunities and social activities.
A complete schedule and registration information is available on the Alumni Association website or by calling 609-258-1900.
Nicole Mulvaney may be reached at nmulvaney@njtimes.com. Follow her on Twitter @NicoleMulvaney. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.Australia claimed a third successive World Cup in Sydney
Netball World Cup 2015 Venue: Sydney Olympic Park, Australia Dates: 7-16 August Live updates, reports and reaction on BBC Sport website Results and fixtures
England beat Jamaica 66-44 to take bronze as hosts Australia retained the Netball World Cup in Sydney.
Tracey Neville's England, who finished third at the last tournament in Singapore in 2011, found themselves five goals adrift at the end of the first quarter on Sunday.
But the Roses produced a stunning turnaround to end the first half 28-23 ahead and saw the game out with ease.
Australia overcame rivals New Zealand 58-55 to win their 11th title.
The Silver Ferns had come into the final unbeaten after a shock win over Australia in the group stages, but a nine-goal deficit from the first quarter left New Zealand unable to catch the Commonwealth champions.
The final was played in front of a world-record netball crowd of 16,752 at the Olympic Park.
England avenge Commonwealth heartbreak
England have met Jamaica in the third-place play-off at the last five World Cups
England's defeat by Jamaica in the bronze medal match at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year prompted changes behind the scenes.
Neville was brought in as interim coach for the World Cup, replacing Anna Mayes, but she endured a tough start to the tournament after the death of her father before their opening win against Scotland.
Her team battled to a 54-50 win over Jamaica during the first pool stage in Sydney, but went on to lose to Australia in the second round and New Zealand in the semi-final.
England made a laborious start in the third-place play-off, but the introduction of experienced defender Sonia Mkoloma, playing in her fifth World Cup, helped settle the Roses.
And wing defence Serena Guthrie played a starring role in their second-quarter revival as they produced a 10-goal swing to go five points ahead.
England got stronger in the second-half with shooter Jo Harten dominating under the posts as they brushed their rivals aside to take the bronze in style.
Coach Neville told BBC Sport: "It was hard to get them motivated, but we got behind each other. They've always had my back, and I've always had their's. I think we showed that today.
"It clicked. They seemed to find that drive that they've been lacking. They did me proud."
Wales claim best finish since 1991
Wales ended the competition in seventh after winning their play-off 64-41 against Uganda to claim their best finish at a World Cup since 1991 - when it was also hosted in Sydney.
Scotland ended the tournament 12th after losing their 11th-place play-off 51-41 against Fiji.
South Africa narrowly beat Malawi 48-46 to secure fifth spot, while Trinidad and Tobago ended ninth after beating Samoa 64-51.
Meanwhile Barbados ended 13th with a 53-38 win over Zambia and Sri Lanka finished last after losing 59-32 to Singapore.Open a photograph album of Victorian London and you enter a strange twilight world. Clothes and objects are drained of colour, restricting life to a palette of bleached and muddy greys. And everywhere there is the same silence. The churning noise of the city is cancelled out by the click of the shutter. While modern historians might regret the loss of a soundtrack to the Victorian city, however, many residents of the time would not have agreed. For them the noise was unbearable. The low grumble of traffic, the sudden spikes of street music, the endless chattering crowds: it was little wonder that Thomas Carlyle retired to a soundproofed study.
The cries of street traders were especially penetrating. They had to be. In such a fiercely competitive environment, the jabbing emphasis of a cry such as "Water-creases!" was the aural equivalent of sharp elbows in a crowd. Like birdsong, what might have sounded charming at a distance was a way of advertising oneself and fighting off the competition. Nor were these traders content to stay in the shadows. In 1872, the writer Augustus Mayhew appeared before his local magistrates charged with assaulting a female pedlar, and defended himself by pointing out that sometimes "he had as many as 38 persons in one day" knocking at his door. Their cries of "Rag and bones", "Sixpence a peck, peas", "Crockery", "Fine young rabbits", and "Roots all a-blowing, all a-growing" had driven him to distraction. Presumably they thought he would be a soft touch. In the 1850s, he had assisted his brother Henry in conducting hundreds of interviews with "The London Street-Folk", which when published as London Labour and the London Poor had made their voices heard all over the country. With its dizzying tables of statistics and dazzling range of characters, it was both one of the most ambitious early attempts at sociology (a word coined in the 1840s) and the greatest Victorian novel never written. No work in the period is better at bringing alive what Mayhew's later magazine The Great World of London called "the riot, the struggle, and the scramble for a living".
London Labour and the London Poor was originally advertised as a "Cyclopoedia" of street life, implying that it was a compendium of facts for dipping into rather than a book to be read from cover to cover. In its final form, it was published in four volumes in 1861-2 – two million words – and there was scarcely a paragraph that did not contain startling information. The popularity of oysters in London meant that "in round numbers" there were 500 million shells to be disposed of every year. An old showman who travelled with performing animals "sometimes had trouble to get lodgings for the bear", even though "Bears is well-behaved enough if they ain't aggravated". While there were some strange omissions – Mayhew included nothing on servants, for example, who by the time of the 1851 census amounted to one in 18 of the population – for the most part he lived up to the billing he gave himself in the work's preface. Part-pioneer and part-anthropologist, he was a "traveller in the undiscovered country of the poor" who brought back stories about people "of whom the public has less knowledge than of the most distant tribes of the earth".
That was scarcely an exaggeration. Though many thousands of people earned their living in the streets by the middle of the century, in terms of cultural representation they were practically invisible. Their appearances in print were usually restricted to cartoons in Punch, which whittled away their lives to a set of comic catchphrases, or novels in which they provided little more than splashes of local colour, such as Dombey and Son's description of "the water-carts and the old-clothes men, and the people with geraniums, and the umbrella-mender, and the man who trilled the little bell of the Dutch clock as he went along". By contrast, Mayhew decided that what his interview subjects said would be the foundation of his work rather than a set of footnotes. The background was thrust into the foreground, and for many readers the effect was as astonishing as if pieces of theatre scenery had come to the front of the stage and introduced themselves to the audience.
London Labour and the London Poor would have been a remarkable achievement no matter who had written it. Coming from Mayhew it was close to being a miracle. Although reasonably well known as a writer before he started his research, he was spoken of by his contemporaries with an amused tolerance that bordered on contempt. Whether he was abandoning half-written works, or almost blowing up his house while trying to manufacture artificial diamonds, he was much better at coming up with ideas than seeing them through. From 1835 he edited the satirical journal Figaro in London; it collapsed in 1839. In 1841 he helped to found Punch, but was ousted as editor after a few months. He seemed doomed to be the nearly man of Victorian letters.
Then in September 1849 he was sent by the Morning Chronicle to report on a severe cholera outbreak in the Bermondsey slums. By October the Chronicle's editors had announced a new series of articles, aimed at providing "a full and detailed description of the moral, intellectual, material, and physical condition of the industrial poor throughout England", and Mayhew was to be the Metropolitan Correspondent, filing regular reports from areas of London that might as well have been on the moon for all the notice most people took of them. He set about interviewing the crossing-sweepers, Punch and Judy entertainers, sandwich-sellers, rag-gatherers, rat-killers, doll's-eye makers, thieves, prostitutes, beggars, and all the other pieces of human flotsam and jetsam that had washed up in the capital. However, it was only after he abandoned the Chronicle and started to publish his reports independently that the full scale of his ambition became clear.
The impact of his work was immediate. When it came to the saddest cases, he also raised money. Donations totalling £2 10s were forwarded to "the poor half-witted and very persecuted harp-player" whose handwritten sign explained that "from the delapedated [sic.] condition of my present instrument I only produce ridicule"; it was enough to buy him a new harp.
Mayhew's impact on writers lasted rather longer. Starting with Charles Kingsley's Alton Locke, which leaned heavily on his revelations about cheap tailors, his influence stretched as far as Philip Larkin's poem "Deceptions", which re-imagines his harrowing account of a young girl being drugged and raped, and a number of recent works, including Charles Palliser's The Quincunx and Michel Faber's The Crimson Petal and the White. What these writers recognise is that Mayhew was far more than a snooping reporter. He was also a skilled storyteller. Some of his techniques specifically echo other genres of writing. By tangling together biography and autobiography, for example, and removing his own questions from the printed version of his interviews, he came close to producing a prose version of the Victorian dramatic monologue. Far odder are the parallels between some of his subjects and Dickens's characters, as if he deliberately sought out people who had sprung off the page into real life. Yet Mayhew also had a style of his own, and it is this that makes London Labour and the London Poor something other than a documentary record. It is a creative reworking of the facts, a consistently surprising exercise in that hybrid form Joyce once described as "fict".
As Mayhew trawls the city streets, his attention is snagged by details – a walnut-seller's brown-stained fingers, or a beggar who displays himself in front of a shop's gas jets like an actor in the footlights – before they are lost again in the crowd. He is equally attracted by lists, such as the one recording the first items ever stolen by a group of young thieves: "Six rabbits, silk shawls from home, a pair of shoes, a Dutch cheese, a few shillings from home, a coat and trousers, a bullock's heart". These are not just stray objects, like the ones picked up by the bone-grubbers and mud-larks, but the props in a series of personal dramas.
Mayhew's statistics reveal much about his own obsessions. Sober tables of research are regularly interrupted by facts of the strange-but-true variety: "Total quantity of rain falling yearly in the metropolis, 10,686,132,230,400 cubic inches", or "The drainage of London is about equal in length to the diameter of the earth itself". Yet the further he goes to demonstrate painstaking accuracy, the more tempted he is to retreat into the consolations of romance. Not content with calculating the number of cigar-ends thrown away each week (30,000) and guessing at the proportion picked up by the cigar-end finders (a sixth), he continues by explaining how this "refuse tobacco" is made into new cigars; "or, in other words, they are worked up again to be again cast away, and again collected by the finders, and so on perhaps, till the millennium comes". It is a good example of what a contemporary reviewer meant by Mayhew's "wonderful series of revelations suddenly disclosed in our own country, existing as it were, under our very feet".
But while Mayhew was thrilled by statistics, he was more interested in the people behind his calculations and tables. Never was he happier than when distracting himself with the sort of quirky odds and ends that a more rigorous mind would have dismissed as insignificant, such as the people who "strengthen a sickly child's back" by rubbing it with snails, or the footman who considered enlisting in the army but "knew I should be rejected because I was getting bald".
Some of these characters are presented as timeless types. Mayhew's account of the cheap goods sold on street corners that carry "gaudy labels bearing sometimes the name of a well-known firm, but altered in spelling or otherwise" will be familiar to anyone who has been tempted to buy a "Louis Viton" handbag or "Guchi" watch, just as the swindler who poses as a "Decayed Gentleman" and sends out begging-letters will strike a chord with anyone stung by email spam. The vast majority of Mayhew's subjects are simply, magnificently themselves. Whenever his writing threatens to descend into the period's standard responses of disdain or whimsy, his ear catches the unique accent of an ordinary voice and elevates it to the dignity of print. There is the realism of the Italian showman who lost his monkey: "I did cry! – I cry because I have no money to go and buy anoder monkey!" Or the humour of the man who hawks fly-papers: "It ain't a purfession and it ain't a trade, I suppose it's a calling."
Open the pages of this extraordinary work, and once again the voices of Victorian London stir into life: "I ain't a child, and I shan't be a woman till I'm twenty, but I'm past eight, I am"; "Ain't it curious now, sir, that wot a man larns in his fingers he never forgets?" Once again the clamour of the streets rises into the air until, like the evening scene in Bleak House, "every noise is merged... into a distant ringing hum, as if the city were a vast glass, vibrating".My Grandma was 100 yesterday (3rd Jan 2013), she suffers with dementia and isn’t really aware of who I am, or who anyone is really. There are wee glimmers of a previous Granny sometimes, but they are fleeting.
My Granddad looked after my Grandma until he was 95, when she was eventually too much for him, and she was resettled in a care home.
After my Dad died, I vowed to get to know more about my Grandparents, and after my Grandma moved, I sat with Granddad North and talked all about their early years together.
A beautiful insight into my Granddad’s early life, a first date in Scarborough with Grandma…
If you still have your gramps around, go talk to them, not just about today, the weather and the usual tripe, really talk to em. Because on days like yesterday, I genuinely find myself grateful to look upon my Granny not as a 100 year old, but as a wee girl holding hands with my Granddad, strolling along the beach, wondering what life they had ahead of them.
And here I am decade up on decade later, grateful for that wee stroll that flowered love, that gave me my father, and now my own child.Search Continues for Missing Monkey in N.H.
Search Continues for Missing Monkey in N.H. See web page for video footage: http://www.whdh.com/news/local6.shtml DANVILLE, N.H. -- Roughly a dozen people, including Fire Chief David Kimball, say they recently saw a large monkey on the loose in this small town of 3,800 people in southern New Hampshire. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing," he said. Neither could his wife. "She told me I had flipped when I told her." Kimball said he was driving through town recently when the monkey jumped into the middle of the street, hopped a bit, then lunged away. On Sunday volunteers and animal control officers used bananas and oranges to try to attract the monkey. Experts hope to capture the monkey before it gets any cooler. They said otherwise the creature is unlikely to live past November. Kimball thinks he identified the monkey as a Humbolt's woolly monkey, which is native to the Amazon, after watching television programs on the Adventure Channel. "It would be quite tall, maybe about four feet, if it were standing straight up, but they walk on all fours, a bit hunched over," he said. He described the creature as very woolly and dark brown all over with a red hue. Kimball said he thinks |
the Wall Street Journal
FRANKFURT—The European Central Bank and Bank of England on Friday outlined options to reinvigorate the market for bundled bank loans, which was "tarnished" by the global financial crisis, saying a better-functioning market for asset-backed securities can help boost lending to the private sector, particularly small businesses. Improved harmonization of the rules applied to such packaged loans, the creation of principles to improve transparency and enhanced data on loans would help develop a deeper market for these types of securities, the banks said in a joint paper. More MoneyBeat: Mr. Draghi–Your Public Awaits "Looking ahead, the banking system is likely to need access to a wider range of funding sources," the ECB and BOE said. "The revival of the ABS market can therefore play a useful role in ensuring that there is not a renewed buildup of systemic risk, including from excessive reliance upon any single source of financing," they said. Friday's report adds details to a shorter paper released in April that flagged the importance of a more beefed-up market for bundled bank loans for the European economy. Regulators should consider setting "high-level principles" to help identify simpler and more transparent securities, "enabling investors to model risk with confidence and providing originators with incentives to behave responsibly," the central banks said. The discounts central banks apply to such securities to account for their riskiness when conducting lending operations to financial institutions, known as haircuts, "may also decrease commensurate with observable improvements in their risk characteristics," according to the paper. "Securitization markets may also benefit from some harmonization of standards across the (European Union) alongside improvements in data availability," the ECB and BOE said. The central banks are seeking comments on their recommendations by July 4.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/ecb-bank-of-england-outline-options-to-boost-asset-backed-securities-market-1401442646?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTWhatsNewsCollectionA new charitable organization allows you to automatically donate your money whenever President Donald Trump sends a tweet.
Whenever President Trump tweets — which you can definitely count on him to do — ChirpChange will automatically donate a certain amount of money to a charity of your choice, the starting amount being two cents. Considering he tweeted eleven times yesterday alone, that amount adds up.
ChirpChange was founded by Dr. Bret Levine in April. The charities it serves include Amnesty International, Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, and the ACLU. Users can set a monthly limit “just in case Trump goes wild.” According to the site, donors gave a total of $316.73 in June.
For his part, Dr. Levine is opposed to the recent GoFundMe campaign created by Valerie Wilson to to get Trump ousted from Twitter, which we covered last week. As he puts it, “Valerie and I are on the same page, but we’re going out about it in different ways. If she’s able to raise $1 billion dollars, she’d put me out of business.”
We’ve asked Valerie Wilson if she has any response for Dr. Levine. We’ll update if we receive a comment.
Read next: Assassin's Creed Origins' Steam forum is flooded by hate-spewing trollsEditorial note: The following was posted by NM member Tengeresz in the comments section of a previous post. It was well thought-out and made me weep so I decided to copy / paste it into a post to give it further exposure. Well done, sir!
It’s interesting to note the progression to a "1,3,3,4" narrative around here from the "1,2,2,3" narrative this time last year, and the "1a, 1b, 2a, 2b" some of our more enthusiastic commenters seemed to be talking about not too long ago.
Fact is: there are always, and only, enough players to put out four lines. What you call them is not really important, how they get used is.
A "Top Line" will see about 18-20 minutes a night. Usually in a scoring role.
That is the Sedins, plus almost certainly Vrbata, although they may well be used in all situations due to their elite puck possession being an effective defence against other teams top line.
A "Second Line will see more than 15 minutes a night, the fashion now as a shut down line that can counter attack, but could also be in a pure scoring line against weaker opposition.
That sounds to me like Burrows & Bonino, with Kassian/Jensen/Higgins depending on the role WD wants them to play. AMFB is the complete package and can be a triggerman or shut down guy, Bones has already been slated for the "Second" line, and both Kass and Jensen project to 2nd line. HIggy plays up and down the lineup very well, (Higgy and Kass are safer bets as they are already proven NHL players).
A "Third" line is going to see about 10-15 min a game, not give up bad goals, and wear down the other team’s secondary players while our top two lines catch their breaths. Sometimes called an "Energy" line. The Canucks are stacked at players that can do more than that. It could be that they earn more time according to their play on a game by game basis, relieving the pressure on the top two lines.
Which brings us to GMJB’s latest good signing, potential 3LC: Linden Vey..
If our "Third line" is Higgins, Vey, Hansen/Kassian/(or hot young prospect / UFA that impresses at camp a la Santorelli) then they can play MORE than 10 minutes a night, and do it in more situations, against better competition, with more scoring potential. I think it’s reasonable to hope for 15 minutes or so in defensive, or somewhat sheltered offensive, situations.
This is where you may say "2b" and even qualify it as "On a weaker team" because the Canucks are certainly lower half of the league from last year.
I wouldn’t go TOO far about the "Weaker team" thing because I think they will get at least SOME bounce back with WD and hungry new talent this year — not to mention relief from last season’s horrible puck luck; injuries; and (don’t fight me on this one Z man!) the Torts tough love "System" crashing and burning worse than the Hindenberg.
A prototypical "Fourth" line player is usually given about 5 minutes a night, (maximum 10 minutes) includes the type called face-puncher/enforcer and at least one spare part for the other lines or special teams. Some times even a seventh D man takes a spot when the coach doesn’t feel like there are better options during the regular season. The "Fourth" line may actually not play much together as a line, but the players can be used to fill in other lines or specialty team 2nd units.
Although their finish or proven NHL reliability may be questionable, all the options I see for the so-called "Fourth" line could be better than that. Richardson, Matthias, Dorsett, Lain, Gaunce, even Archibald are certainly ready for more than 5 minutes a night 60+ games a year, and many could start edging up into "Third line" minutes. Add in a few 9 game teasers from our plethora of recent top picks and there’s a lot in the mix there.
If Willy D can get over 15 minutes a night out of his "Middle six" and 10 minutes a night from his "Fourth line" then the "Top line" only has to play…
(takes of shoes, counts on fingers, toes, friends toes, beers in a case)
… less than 20 minutes a night. None on the PK.
That sounds about right to me.
Sure, this narrative has everyone lumped into a "middle six" role rather than having an elite 2nd line, but that’s a normal NHL team these days. Having a Patrice Bergeron eating minutes against all the top players in the league, with a sniper on his wing that can also counter-attack is a fine objective, but it’s much easier to demand that on a blog comment than make it actually happen with a real NHL team.
Don’t forget that all the hand-wringing about having "NO 2ND LINE CENTRE" is because we have been spoiled by having our dearly departed "Super star" Selke winning "2nd" line centre, who was the top line centre for his country in the Olympics, and possibly the most sought after (or at least talked-after) trade-bait in the last six months. Where did he come from? Oh, yeah, drafted by THIS team late in the first round, developed at a reasonable pace in Junior and AHL, and then brought along as a "3rd line energy/PK" guy.
IMHO, the cupboard is not bare, the sky is not falling, the team is fairly well constructed, and the Canucks will make the playoffs. They might even get out of the first round.
There are some areas with great potential. Guarantees? Not many but, possibilities? Plenty of exciting players and combinations.
Between the lockout and the boring, losing, style of play last year I had been getting less and less interested in watching games. I was often more interested in Game of Thrones, even though I’d read the books and knew the plot in advance. That’s the most damning thing anyone can say about an entrainment product like professional sports, where the suspense of an uncertain outcome is a major attraction. With the new management team, and some interesting new players I can’t wait to see the prospects in the pre-season and I believe there’s rational hope for the Canucks to climb into the top 1/3 of the league. I’ll be planning my weeknights around watching games again.
Heck, I’m even thinking of ending my one-man two-year boycott and buying a jersey. Not an official one for me, a cheap version for my rapidly growing son — but that’s a start.When Stevie Johnson proclaimed last week that the Buffalo Bills now boast the best receiving corps in the NFL, my initial reaction was that they would struggle to crack the top 10. Digging deeper, I found at least 15 teams that have a better pass-catching group than the Bills.
Below is Around The League's list of the NFL's top receiving corps, with tight ends included.
1. Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones, Roddy White, Harry Douglas,
Tony Gonzalez
It's the rare NFL team in possession of a cornerback capable of hanging with Jones in man coverage. If defenses opt for double coverage, White can feast on the lesser cornerback. Although Gonzalez no longer makes plays after the catch, he's among the league's most valuable security blankets on third downs and near the end zone. Douglas has been a mild disappointment as the fourth option in the passing game, showing little playmaking ability through four seasons.
2. Denver Broncos: Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, Jacob Tamme, Joel Dreessen, Julius Thomas
The Broncos' use of Thomas mirrors the Falcons' penchant for hitting Jones on screens and slants to take advantage of his run-after-catch prowess. According to Pro Football Focus, the wide receivers producing the league's two highest passer ratings from their quarterback last season were Thomas (126.2) and Decker (123.7). Throw in Welker as a premier slot receiver, and the Broncos have the best trio of wideouts in the game. Tamme and Dreessen aren't quite in Gonzalez's league, but Thomas makes for an interesting wild card as an athletic former hoopster who impressed in offseason practices.
3. Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Dwayne Harris, Terrance Williams, Jason Witten, James Hanna, Gavin Escobar
Bryant took advantage of a soft schedule and a bevy of shootouts down the stretch, but it's still impressive that his final eight games project to 1,758 yards and 20 touchdowns across a full season. He's here to stay as a No. 1 receiver. Austin can be one of the league's top second fiddles as long as he can put his hamstring issues behind him. Witten hasn't missed a game in nine years.
4. New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Rueben Randle, Brandon Myers
When healthy, Nicks is one of only a dozen NFL wide receivers capable of drawing and beating double coverage. Cruz is the only player in the NFL with at least 80 receptions, 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. Randle should be an upgrade on Domenik Hixon in the third receiver role.
5. Green Bay Packers: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones, Jermichael Finley
Rob Gronkowski is the only NFL player with a better touchdown-to-target ratio than Nelson and Jones over the past three seasons. Don't be surprised if Cobb leads the league in receptions this year. Finley has yet to live up to the lofty expectations set by the Packers a few years back.
6. New Orleans Saints: Marques Colston, Lance Moore, Joseph Morgan, Nick Toon, Jimmy Graham
Colston and Moore are perfect fits for Sean Payton's offensive scheme. Graham should be the best tight end in the league this season with the uncertainty surrounding Gronkowski's back. Morgan is an unproven commodity as the No. 3 receiver.
7. Seattle Seahawks: Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Zach Miller
Rice and Tate played well last season, but their numbers were depressed by the Seahawks' run-heavy offense. Harvin not only is one of the NFL's most dynamic playmakers, but he also allows offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell to get more creative with his tactics. Baldwin is a luxury as the fourth receiver.
8. Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, Andre Roberts, Rob Housler
The Cardinals' quarterback issues have exponentially diminished Fitzgerald's production, but he rightfully remains one of the NFL's most respected wide receivers. Floyd is a breakout candidate as a vertical threat, while Roberts offers run-after-catch ability as the third option.
9. Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener
After Wayne carried the passing game early in the season, Hilton matched his production over the final nine games. Heyward-Bey is an interesting bounce-back candidate as an upgrade on Donnie Avery. Allen is a probable Pro Bowl selection at tight end.
10. Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, Riley Cooper, Brent Celek, James Casey, Zach Ertz
Maclin and Jackson have speed to spare, but they fall just shy of No. 1 receiver status. Both players come with durability concerns. The additions of Casey and Ertz suggest versatile and athletic tight ends will be featured heavily in new coach Chip Kelly's offense.
Just Missed: Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans.
Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.Dear Reader, As you can imagine, more people are reading The Jerusalem Post than ever before. Nevertheless, traditional business models are no longer sustainable and high-quality publications, like ours, are being forced to look for new ways to keep going. Unlike many other news organizations, we have not put up a paywall. We want to keep our journalism open and accessible and be able to keep providing you with news and analysis from the frontlines of Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World.
Portugal is interested in contributing to efforts to bring peace and stability to the Middle East, because what happens in the Middle East affects the rest of the world and Europe in particular, Portuguese Foreign Minister Prof. Augusto Santos Silva told President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday.
Silva was on his second visit to Israel, having previously attended the funeral of Israel’s ninth president, Shimon Peres, at the end of September.
Peres was a very important statesman for Portugal, in that he supported the democratic transition of Portugal, Silva told Rivlin.Congratulating Silva on the election of former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres as the incoming United Nations secretary- general on January 1, when incumbent Ban Ki-moon concludes his second five-year term, Rivlin said that despite occasional disagreements, Israel had good relations with the outgoing secretary-general.He asked Silva to remind Guterres “that he has to take care of us,” because the majority of United Nations countries is not well disposed towards Israel. “We are part of the family of nations,” said Rivlin, by way of protest at UN attitudes toward Israel in comparison to the slack that it cuts for other members, such as Syria.Silva pointed out that, in the complex system of UN rules, a majority does not always apply.“Complexity is one of the ways to reach a good decision,” he said.As for Guterres, Silva who served as education minister in the former prime minister’s government and is also his personal friend, said that “he knows Israel and the complexities of the Middle East and the importance of the security of Israel to the whole of the Middle East.”As a member of NATO and the European Union, Portugal is among Israel’s allies, said Silva, adding “the stabilization of the Middle East is important to us, and it is not possible without guaranteeing the security of Israel.”Silva also noted that Portugal shares Israel’s principles of democracy and human rights, and that it is very important for Portugal to improve bilateral and trilateral cooperation. In the latter context, he included relations with Africa.As is the case in all of Rivlin’s meetings with foreign dignitaries, much of the conversation was taken up with the threat of terrorism from ISIS, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Iran, which Israel regards as the greatest sponsor of terrorism.“Hamas is a great threat to all of us, as is ISIS” Silva concurred. “In fact we are their target.”Portugal was among the territories occupied by the Moors more than 500 years ago, and is included in the ISIS plan to take over the Iberian Peninsula by 2020.“We have to maintain a dialogue with moderate forces in Islam,” said Silva, who is convinced that radical extremist elements can be defeated if the positions of moderate forces are strengthened.In discussing the revitalization of the peace process with the Palestinians, there was a minor battle of semantics between the president and his guest.Rivlin consistently refers to the status quo as a tragedy, whereas Silva referred to it as a conflict, explaining that conflicts can be resolved.Another consistent aspect of Rivlin’s discussions relating to the Palestinians is the crisis in confidence and the inability to resume peace negotiations until there is a mutual build-up of confidence.Silva considers the Palestinians to be among the moderates, and as he was scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas the following day, asked Rivlin what message he could convey to him.The very question illustrated the gap between Europe and the Middle East.Rivlin replied that he frequently talks to Abbas, and when they talk to each other, they are on first name terms.“He knows my ideas very well,” said Rivlin.
Join Jerusalem Post Premium Plus now for just $5 and upgrade your experience with an ads-free website and exclusive content. Click here>>Thanksgiving dinner seems to get more complicated every year, as guests bring a whole host of dietary restrictions, eating preferences and food issues to feasts across the country along with the customary bottle of wine or pumpkin pie. Vegetarians and vegans are perhaps the most common people hosts find themselves catering to nowadays, and finding ways to offer good meal options that don't include meat or animal-based products can be a difficult task.
But the good news is that with a little creativty, a meatless Thanksgiving doesn't have to be a joyless or flavorless one. Amateur cooks and chefs alike will find that side dishes, entrees and desserts that eschew meat in favor of vegetables, substitutes and other ingredients can sometimes be as good as, or superior to, their flesh-based counterparts.
This Thanksgiving, consult the list below for some fresh takes on old standards, as well as a few less traditional dishes that guests, whether vegan, vegetarian or omnivore, will enjoy. Some are healthy to boot, while others contain the fat, carbs and decadence so integral to any Thanksgiving smorgasbord:
1. Green bean casserole -- This dish goes with Thanksgiving like beans in a pod, but many traditional versions contain butter, milk, cheese and other non-vegan ingredients that will keep some of your guests wondering why a veggie dish was rendered off-limits to them. There are many options for vegan green bean dishes that will please guests of all stripes, so here are a few favorites. This recipe for roasted green beans with garlic, sage, rosemary and thyme is a great savory option. These roasted green bean "bundles" featuring Dijon mustard and red onion offer a unique presentation of the popular veggie. And even green bean casserole is not off-limits just because dairy and meat are no-no's for some guests, as this delectable vegan version of the classic dish featuring cashews, white mushrooms and vegetable stock proves.
2. Mashed potatoes -- The name of this standby suggests that it should be vegan, but the modern American interpretation renders it anything but, as cooks blend cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter and often even bacon into the mix. But the task of making a version of mashed potatoes that taste like they include some or all of the above while still adhering to vegan principles is not as difficult as one might think. This simple version featuring vegan butter, chives and roasted garlic is a good option. For the more adventurous, these unique mashed potatoes featuring hemp seeds, turmeric and optional tempeh bacon will please everyone and likely have guests asking for the recipe.
3. Stuffing -- On the first Thanksgiving, the pilgrims didn't share a box of fire-roasted Stove Top stuffing with the Native Americans, but it seems like Americans have been enjoying this favorite ever since. But stuffing is a tricky option for vegans, as bread often contains dairy, and varietals like oyster stuffing and bacon stuffing have made this a minefield for the non-meat-eaters of the nation. Luckily, there are some great stuffing recipes that will keep vegans and carnivores reaching for more. Here's a link to ten recipes worth checking out. The standout just may have to be this fruity version, which features cranberries, scallions and apricots.
4. Gravy -- One of the great joys of any Thanksgiving dinner is pouring way too much gravy over everything in recognition that it's all going to the same place anyway, as many mothers will be quick to point out. But gravy is typically a meat-centered indulgence -- it's even often identified as "chicken gravy" or "beef gravy," in case anyone was unsure. It's often made from the drippings of whatever cooked animal awaited its juicy goodness. But terrific vegan takes on gravy have been developed as well, and this mushroom gravy (ignore the stuffing recipe accompanying the gravy recipe) is a standout. It smothers as well as the meaty kind, and it will keep any area PETA protesters from picketing the family home.
5. Sweet potatoes -- Yams and sweet potato dishes are another vegetable-centric category that has been overdressed by the American palate. Americans love to load the healthy veggies with marshmallows, butter, cream and other ingredients that are off-limits to vegans. But tasty vegan versions of this critically important Thanksgiving side dish are luckily abound. One of the most interesting out there is this scrumptious vegan version of sweet potato gratin, which relies on coconut milk, molasses, pecans, curry, and cardamom to spice up the recipe in a way that will have no one complaining that there are no Jet-Puffed marshmallows in sight.
6. Stuffed pumpkins -- A successful and tasty entree is often the hardest thing to adapt for vegetarians and vegans on Thanksgiving, when turkey typically rules the roost. Stuffed pumpkins are a fun, autumnal way to solve that issue, and can easily be prepared in both vegan/vegetarian and meaty varietals to satisfy both sides of the culinary divide. As a pumpkin can be stuffed with nearly any ingredient, sausage or pulled turkey can be used in the omnivore versions, while tofu or vegetables can be substituted for the herbivores. Just be sure to remember which are which so no one's stuck eating something they can't stomach. Here's a great recipe for stuffed pumpkins with meat, and here's a vegan version featuring wild rice, mushrooms and spinach that everyone can enjoy.
7. Brussels sprouts -- For years, Brussels sprouts were some of the most hated veggies on Thanksgiving tables each year, because the preparation seemed eternally limited to boiling or steaming them with a bit of salt and pepper. But the past decade or so has seen a rennaissance for these green orbs of flavor, as they have been reinvigorated with everything from bacon and mustard to pancetta and curry. That innovation has not been limited to meaty versions, however, as this scrumptious version of fried Brussels sprouts with shallots, vingear and cilantro shows. Just be sure to hold the fish sauce or buy or make a vegan version.
8. Pumpkin pie -- No Thanksgiving would be complete without pumpkin pie a la mode to expand everyone's waistbands to bursting. The a la mode part is easy to convert for vegans, just buy a tub or two of dairy-free vanilla ice cream, or better yet, make some from scratch. But it can be difficult to find a solid recipe for pumpkin pie that doesn't rely on condensed milk, lard or other dairy ingredients. This stunning no-bake pumpkin pie recipe solves that problem for hosts, and it's so creamy there's no reason anyone other than the vegans will ever need to know that it doesn't contain any of the dairy generally associated with such indulgence.Still not got involved with the Metal Gear series on your latest console? How about you check out Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience?
Available right now on Xbox One (and PS4/PC if that’s your bag) for just £29.99, the Definitive Experience brings together Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Metal Gear Online and a whole host of DLC items, new missions and customisation content.
If you haven’t yet picked up Metal Gear Solid V and wish to experience both Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain, whilst getting your hands dirty with Metal Gear Online, then the Definitive Experience should be right at the top of your hit list. Make your way over to the Xbox Games Store now.
If you need a review to tempt you in, then you can find our full review of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain right here.
Game Description:
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE DEFINITIVE EXPERIENCE is the ultimate collection of the MGSV story which includes the critically acclaimed MGSV: THE PHANTOM PAIN, its prologue MGSV: GROUND ZEROES, multiplayer METAL GEAR ONLINE, and all their DLC content. • MGSV: GZ lets the players experience thrilling stealth action as never seen before, surrounded by enemies in a photorealistic world. • MGSV: TPP, which has claimed more than 60 industry accolades including a 10/10 from IGN and Gamespot, offers limitless possibilities for the players to infiltrate enemy outposts in a vast open world. The player to decide the route, tactics and timing that can lead to the success of the mission. • METAL GEAR ONLINE is built around a dedicated squad-based competitive multiplayer structure, which has been fully redesigned with the familiar gameplay and aesthetic styling of the MGS series • 36 DLC ITEMS AND ADDITIONAL CONTENT including 2 extra missions, additional weapons, and items used for customization."A perfect marriage of economics and food. Tyler Cowen is my newest guilty pleasure."— Rocco DiSpirito, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Now Eat This! "Tyler Cowen's latest book is a real treat, probably my favorite thing he's ever written. It does a fantastic job exploring the economics, culture, esthetics, and realities of food and delivers a mountain of compelling facts. Most of all, it's encouraging—not a screed, despite its occasionally serious arguments—and brings the fun back to eating. Delicious!"— Stephen J. Dubner, coauthor of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics "A gastronomic, economic, and philosophical feast from one of the world's most creative economists. Tyler Cowen offers the thinking person's guide to American food culture, and your relationships with food will be hugely enriched by the result."— Tim Harford, author of The Undercover Economist and Adapt "Part economic history... part guide to getting a better meal at home or a restaurant. Reconowned economist... Professor Cowen is an expert on the economics of culture and the arts."— The New York Times Dining Section
Enlightened consumerism, not ideology, is the surest path to tasty and responsible dining, argues this yummy gastronomic treatise. Economist and restaurant critic Cowen (The Great Stagnation) takes readers along as he eats, shops, and cooks in a diversity of spicy settings, including a Nicaraguan tamale stand, the greens aisle at the Great Wall supermarket chain, backwoods barbeque pits, and his own kitchen, where he wrestles with Mexican cuisine. He focuses on how the interplay between creative suppliers and demanding customers produces good, cheap food, an approach that yields offbeat insights into, for example, why the menu item that sounds the least appetizing usually tastes great and why you should never eat in a place filled with beautiful people having a great time (that restaurant’s specialty, he reasons, is the scene, not the food). Cowen also offers a telling contrarian critique of high-minded food orthodoxies that extols agribusiness, debunks the environmental benefits of locavorism, and toasts genetically modified organisms. Cowen writes like your favorite wised-up food maven, folding encyclopedic knowledge and piquant food porn—“the pork was a little chewy but flavorful, and the achiote sauce gave it a tanginess”—into a breezy, conversational style; the result is mouth-watering food for thought. (Apr. 12) Publishers Weekly
Part In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and part Roadfood, this is a culinary coming-out party for Cowen (economics, George Mason Univ.), who up to now has been known for more standard economic works like The Great Stagnation. This latest book combines economic and environmental messages, all written in a highly entertaining and informative style—often with a counterintuitive twist. The real story, though, is the author and his techniques for finding and eating delicious, inexpensive food from all over the world. Thus, we get tips on how to obtain good Chinese food from local, not-so-authentic places; which strip malls are likely to have the best restaurants (who knew they were in strip malls to begin with?); using Google to turn up unexpected restaurant gems; and why places filled with fun, laughing, drinking people often don't have good food. An entire chapter is devoted to barbecue, and another provides specific suggestions for eating well in numerous countries. VERDICT A fun and informative book that environmentalists, economists, and (most of all) foodies will enjoy. Recommended for all. [See Prepub Alert, 10/7/11.]—Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH Library JournalWhile Simon expressed an “amused contempt” for fans who walked “sideways” into the challenging show long after its five-season run had concluded, what he was really decrying was a certain website’s Wire-based bracket specifically, and the post-mortem dumbing down of the series in general. One imagines, then, that Simon would look kindly (to the extent that he can look kindly) upon “Style in The Wire,” a video from a Norwegian academic that breaks down the look and filmmaking techniques of the acclaimed series in painstaking detail. Even–or especially–a creative stickler of Simon’s caliber would surely appreciate the thoughtful homage to uncompromising creativity that the video represents.
Created by Erlend Lavik, who hails from the Department of Information Science and Media at the University of Bergen, Norway, “Style in The Wire” dissects the beloved show from the standpoint of visual style–the filmmaking philosophy and camera techniques used to tell the stories of Baltimore’s hardest men and women.
Lavik begins by making the point that though the TV show as an entertainment form has ascended in the cultural ranks and is now commonly dubbed “better than movies,” this rise in station has little to do with the visual style of the shows. When TV is good, in other words, it’s typically down to the medium’s particular capacity for narrative and character development.
And here he turns his attention to The Wire, a show he identifies as the “crown jewel” in the golden age of TV. Like anyone else, Lavik admits that The Wire’s greatest achievements were in dialog, character, and plot, but then goes on to make an argument that the show’s unusual and disciplined shooting style contributed, seamlessly, to the impact of the end product. The result of this style was a show that allowed viewers the satisfaction of discovering the beauty of a story, instead of having it explicitly and repeatedly pointed out to them.
“For several years now, I’ve had an interest in the potential that digital technology has to reinvigorate film and television criticism,” says Lavik of his labor-intensive project. “I had sought to explore this in a couple of academic articles, but realized that theoretical speculations only take you so far, and decided it was time to put my money where my mouth is. I chose The Wire partly because it is a series that I admire a lot, and partly because I’m writing a book on the show, so I had already done much of the research.” Lavik says the show’s visual style had been neglected by critics but the topic itself was a good vehicle for him to explore the video essay format. “Literary critics have always been able to do this, of course, and now finally film critics can do the same. It can be very awkward to write about film style without recourse to the visuals, so the video essay should enable us to analyze film and television’s artistic means of expression in more nuanced and accessible ways than before.”
The great thing about Lavik’s video is that it itemizes and demonstrates the creative decisions–imperceptible to the “average viewer”–that made the show excellent. But it also provides a powerful demonstration of the monumental effect that those seemingly small creative decisions have on any creative end product.Imagine a young couple in one of the small towns along the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border planning a weekend outing. On a Saturday afternoon, the two head for a movie theatre. En route, they realise that half the cash they are carrying is in the now-demonetised Rs500 bills. The ATMs in the neighbourhood either have no money or are servicing long snaking lines of people.
With their budget slashed by half, the couple bins the movie plan. There are no good pubs and bars to spend time in as the state governments have declared total prohibition. The few functional watering holes serve only foreign tourists. So the lovebirds settle for a good Chinese restaurant where they order prawns for starters, and Manchurian chicken and fried rice for the maincourse. The portions served are so small—the Indian government doesn’t want food wasted—that neither is satiated.
As the couple heads back home, its furtive rendezvous ruined and appetite unmet, it is confronted by some cops and Anti-Romeo Squad thugs who beat them up badly for the “immoral behaviour” of just being together in public.
“Joyless India?” did you just say?
If the measures—some planned, some implemented—of the central and various state governments are any indication, “joyless” would be a mild term to use.
India has a long history of bans: From books to alcohol, various governments have used bans almost whimsically. However, in recent times these have gained a certain urgency and, perhaps, idiocy. Here’s a list:
All out of cash
The ball was set rolling with the demonetisation of the Rs500 and Rs1,000 bills in November 2016.
The cash crunch that followed left many commoners struggling and even resulted in a long trail of deaths. Months after the disruption, long queues could be seen outside the Reserve Bank of India branches across the country even till recently—months after the disruption. In the wake of demonetisation, weddings were postponed and hospitals even denied treatment to patients with the wrong currency notes. The move is said to have fuelled suicides and murders, too.
While some believe demonetisation will elevate India’s long-term economic prospects by weeding out corruption and accelerating the advent of the digital economy, others see only political motives and mere populist impulses.
No more getting tipsy
For years, the state of Gujarat has been alcohol-free, i.e., only officially. The district of Wardha in Maharashtra, too, has had prohibition in place—again, not entirely successfully.
Yet, in the past few months, a number of states have joined the quixotic bandwagon. Bihar in the north, for instance, imposed a state-wide prohibition last year. Madhya Pradesh in central India recently called for the phasing out of alcohol, citing its ill-effects on health. Chhattisgarh, too, has made its intentions clear in this regard. In 2015, south India’s Kerala state received the supreme court’s (SC) nod to restrict the serving of alcohol to five-star hotels.
To top it all, in line with the SC’s ruling, liquor shops and bars within 500 meters of national highways were shut down, hurting a third of all liquor stores in the country and leading to a loss of Rs20,000 crore. Even restaurants can no longer serve alcoholic drinks in such areas.
Pushing policing
Women’s safety is a major concern in India. Crimes related to women—rape, sexual harassment, murder—have strongly influenced electoral verdicts and public opinion over the past few years.
However, what the new government in UP did last month simply went overboard: It permitted the police to form Anti-Romeo Squads—a mostly volunteer-led quasi army. While their mandate is to ensure women’s safety in public spaces, reports of harassment and brutal thrashing of young couples began pouring in. The groups took to humiliating couples in parks, restaurants, and other public places. What’s worse, cops themselves are seen aiding such illegal acts. There are also fears of a religious bias wherein Muslim men are the targets.
UP’s neighbouring state of Uttarakhand is now seeing demands being raised for such squads.
While moral policing is not new to India, what |
about Jeremy being a threat further down the road, but after the guys were disrespectful towards Jaclyn, the young lovebirds put their ball firmly in Jeremy’s court, helping his alliance to vote out Josh.
With Josh now sitting on the jury, Jeremy and his allies seemed to be holding all the power going into the next reward challenge, which once again saw the tribe split into teams. Natalie was on the winning Yellow Team, but she made a bold move to give up her place on the yacht reward to Jon as thanks for his loyalty to her alliance; prompting Jeremy to do the same for Jaclyn. In return, the couple thanked Jeremy by Exiling him to look for the idol. It was only after their reward that Jon realized a big problem with the plan–there was no idol for Jeremy to find on Exile Island because Jon already had it.
While Jeremy searched in vain for an idol that wasn’t there, Keith and Wes tried to make use of one that Keith had already had from his time on Hunahpu by figuring out who Natalie and her allies would target next. While they wanted to use the idol together, their onetime ally Reed was out for himself. When he lost immunity to Baylor, Reed pulled out all the stops to save himself without the aid of his boyfriend, and found the Hidden Immunity Idol clues and instructions in Keith’s bag. He revealed this to Jaclyn and Missy, and promised he would vote alongside them if they wanted to split the votes against Keith. Unfortunately for Reed, the other half of the vote split was going to be him!
Keith’s idol wasn’t the only one that had people paranoid and scrambling. After being unable to find the idol on Exile Island, Jeremy tried to weasel an answer out of Jon, upset that Jon hadn’t returned the trust that Jeremy and Natalie showed him. Worried that Jeremy was on to him, Jon went to everyone’s Island Mom, Missy, and asked her to turn on her Day 1 alliance to take Jeremy out before the firefighter could use Jon’s idol against him. At Tribal Council, Jon and Jaclyn’s loyalties seemed clear after they got into a heated argument with Keith and Wes over their treatment of the women, but the latter two, along with Alec, made a move to save themselves by voting against Reed. It ended up being for naught, however–everyone was #blindsided when Missy granted Jon his wish as the two of them, their respective partners, and outsider Reed banded together and sent Jeremy to the jury. Nine remain… who will be the next to go?
A CLOSER LOOK
THEY KNOW WE’RE WATCHING
Last season in Survivor: Cagayan, I felt unbelievably certain in a number of my predictions, and they were all based on how Survivor has unfolded in the past. When Spencer was voted out, the rest of the season seemed crystal clear. Tony had been tempting fate all season with his erratic, balls-to-the-wall playstyle, and there were a thousand and one moments foreshadowing the moment when his luck would inevitably run out. Kass was playing one of the worst social games ever seen, and the editors were making damn sure we couldn’t be more excited to see her eviscerated by the jury. Woo was dumb but sweet, and he was about stumble ass-backwards into the title of Sole Survivor by unknowingly taking advantage of Kass and Tony’s weaknesses.
Except that’s not what happened. Instead, Tony took advantage of Woo, and at the same time, the editors took advantage of our expectations as viewers. It made the outcome a surprise for the first time in ages, and now that the Survivor Storytellers have done it again in San Juan del Sur, it makes me feel all the more certain that it’s extremely deliberate.
Josh and Jeremy’s rivalry was being built up in such a way that it would obviously not have lasted for long–eventually, they would have to resolve things, and one of the power players would come out over the other. I never thought Jeremy was going to win–from my vantage point, he always struck me as a distraction–but I still was operating under the assumption that with Josh gone, he would take the same role as many a consistent season-long strategy narrator. Instead, he just got taken out.
The sneak attack of his blindside from an editing perspective may not have seemed like a fitting ending to one of the main character’s storylines, but at the end, it seems that Jeremy’s story was there entirely for the purpose of creating this moment. The editors unquestionably toyed with our expectations, and that creates a sense that going forward, we could be in uncharted waters as Survivor fans. They editors are being careful to create intrigue in a show that, for as many seasons as it has, can become repetitive. The lack of certainty ahead opens up all sorts of interesting storytelling possibilities, especially if we take in to account that the Blood vs Water format also creates dynamics that have until now been unseen.
PASSING THE TORCH
One of these potential story possibilities I feel it’s important to touch on is the idea that two players can effectively share an edit and a story–what’s good for one is good for both. If as viewers, we see two characters as intrinsically intertwined, do we need to see both of them? For example, do we need to hear from Jaclyn when Jon is going to say the same things and do so with his trademark goofy charm? If the editors get us to pull for Jon, do they get us to pull for Jaclyn through sheer association?
The jury is still out, quite frankly. Again, this is just something that has the potential to be there; a blind guess in the dark based on the unorthodox presentation of the characters until this point. If someone were to benefit from this phenomenon, I don’t know that it would be Jaclyn, necessarily. The first person who comes to mind is someone who has seemed to be written out of this story within its earliest chapters. If the editors want to toy with our expectations, the most effective way to do that would be to hide the winner in the background, tucking them safely behind their partner up until their partner’s exit. If you haven’t picked it up yet, I’m talking about none other than the Amazing Spiderman himself, Reed.
I don’t think it’s a particularly likely outcome, but the moment that Josh was voted out, Reed came swinging into the foreground. Kitty has claws, and he showed he was willing to do whatever it took to keep himself in the game, including dropping his old allies like yesterday’s news and going through their belongings so he could sell them out to the new power players. When it came to Josh and Jeremy individually, I think the narrative absolutely intended for us to be pulling for Josh over Jeremy by highlighting Jeremy’s near-constant state of dissatisfaction. If Reed is playing all-out for revenge, his story wouldn’t be able to start until he was given someone to avenge.
Again, this is all conjecture, and I think it’s extremely unlikely. But we’ve seen weirder things happen this season alone. In the more likely outcome that Reed isn’t the winner, we’ve still been given reason to watch him. Characters who suffer from chronic invisibility tend to only burst out of the background when their ticket is up and it’s time for them to go–a day in the limelight to explain why this otherwise nobody is now going to be sent packing. Reed survived his breakout, which makes me believe that regardless of how it ends, his story was late to start and hasn’t wrapped up just yet.
WHAT THE FUCK, MISSY?
While Reed is just stepping on stage, there are still a large handful of players who have been present much longer who are having a much greater impact on the game and story. In case you couldn’t tell by the section header, a big one is the Godmother herself, Missy Payne, taking out hits left and right. On the NuCoyopa, we saw that Jon ran all of his decisions by Missy. In “Getting to Crunch Time,” he called on her to make a big move in his defense by turning on Jeremy, and Missy granted that wish. Jon may have come up with the idea, but Missy is the one who puts it into action. She brings the season’s running undercurrent of women empowering themselves over men to the forefront–as the obvious male power players are taken out, it’s easier to see Missy standing behind all of them.
If the editors are indeed toying with expectations and going unorthodox, this could bode well for Missy. She hasn’t exactly gotten the nicest of edits, considering that older women, especially mothers, are quick to be vilified by our broader cultural narrative when they behave in ways that are “unladlylike” or not “fitting” of a caretaker–such as being a “phony” (her own words), a cutthroat game player with little regard for others. The jury could begrudgingly respect her–but as unorthodox as the storytelling is in San Juan del Sur, I don’t think the mindsets of the players or the larger audience could at all be considered radically different. Older women behaving badly are still going to be seen as behaving badly–I don’t think Missy will be able to shake the negative perception surrounding her.
That being said, I think it’s still clear that Missy is in charge, which lines up with the idea that she and Baylor, as a unit, will be going far in the game–most likely to the end. If Missy and Baylor indeed are a pair of losing finalists, then they are also the kingmakers. Missy’s massive amount of influence effectively means that she now becomes the player to watch. The person she picks as the third finalist will be the winner. But who could that player be? Let’s examine.
THE CASE FOR DADDY DEAREST
Missy is the Mom and Keith is the Dad. This has been brought up time and time again. The two of them have absolutely been shown to be connected to one another–Keith himself points it out during his argument at Tribal Council with Jon and Jaclyn. When it’s brought up that Keith never interacts with the women of the tribe, he counters that he does talk with Missy. Despite that he’s said for episodes now that he’s done with Missy, he still calls her out for lying to him at the episode’s start in the aftermath of Josh’s ouster. Mom and Dad sure do fight a lot–but maybe a woman who has been divorced three times has finally had enough experience to smooth out the bumpy road ahead. With Wes and Alec as much more typical representatives of Immunity Threats (though Keith is the only one of the three to have actually won immunity thusfar), it wouldn’t be impossible for Keith to be the last man standing from his alliance–which as we’ve seen in seasons past is one of the best positions you can have in the game. Missy could decide that he’s the perfect goat for her and her daughter–a rude old man who is always lagging behind the group when it comes to strategy and understanding the game. Once their up against him, his true-to-himself, backwoods, folksy charm will give him the edge in front of the jury over the “phony” stage mom and her most-prized possession, a daughter who never had to perform.
PROS
He’s a highly visible character despite his miniscule impact on the game as a player. We’re often given Keith’s insight when it’s of little to-no consequence. He is the voice of the trailing alliance–if any of them are to make a comeback, it’s going to be Keith.
He has a lot of moments that establish his character: a well meaning, goofy old man who is likeable in spite of (perhaps even because of) some of his more outdated worldviews; and as a player who doesn’t really understand the game but never stops trying his hardest to play.
He is connected to Missy, a character who is reinforced time and time again by the edit as being important and in control.
CONS
Keith has been frequently portrayed as a highly ineffective and out-of-the loop player who couldn’t strategize his way out of a paper bag. A jury could see Keith as a benefactor of luck and not respect his journey to the end.
If the ultimate storyline is about female empowerment, Keith doesn’t meet the criteria–he’s not only a man; but is one of the men who has been fingered as not showing the appropriate amount of respect to women.
Given that Josh and Jeremy were taken out back to back, is Keith getting attention from the story a good thing?
THE CASE FOR THING 2
When Josh was ousted, Reed stepped forward as his partner. With Val and Nadiya both out of the game in the first two tribal councils, the narrative was quick to hammer home for us that Jeremy and Natalie became partners in the absence of their actual loved ones. Jeremy is gone now. Much like Reed, this is now Natalie’s time to step forward and make a revenge-killing spree all the way to the endgame. But unlike Reed, Natalie has been in this story from the start–she was dragged into it the moment her beloved twinnie became the first casualty of the game. Natalie’s twins keep getting taken out, and she’s not the type to take it lightly. This is bad news for everyone else, because the story has shown us Natalie is here to play. Just as on The Amazing Race, she is constantly looking for opportunities to manipulate the structure of the game itself to her benefit, and she’s at her most important to the story when she’s doing so. Weeks ago, she volunteered for Exile in order to ingratiate Missy and Baylor to her. In “Getting to Crunch Time,” she surrenders her reward to Jon for the same reasons. Obviously, trading the reward didn’t work, but the outcome isn’t as important as the resume building–it’s one more example of playing for the “W” that Natalie can now bring before a jury.
PROS
She has a great story set up for her as the narrative moves towards the endgame, given that’s she’s lost both her sister and her closest ally; the latter of whom was a highly visible and popular character. It doesn’t hurt that her visible, popular ally was one of the biggest threats to beat her and that he’s no longer around.
We see her making big moves consistently–we know she is playing her ovaries off out there.
She is a woman in a season that has had a consistent theme of women proving themselves and not needing men. Having a breakout in the absence of her big-name male ally could give her the opportunity to see this story to fruition.
She is connected to Missy, a character who is reinforced time and time again by the edit as being important and in control.
CONS
She has been ignored pretty repeatedly in earlier episodes; often in favor of letting Jeremy do the talking for their alliance. Would the storytellers deliberately avoid showing how the winner is playing the game in favor of a different castaway?
There’s always a matter of getting to the end–with Jeremy taken down, does Natalie now inherit his target?
THE CASE FOR TRU WUV
If you’ve been following my analyses across the season, then you’ll know I’ve had an eye on Jon from the get-go–he stood out to me as more important to keep an eye on than Josh or Jeremy from the first episode, and as the season has progressed, Jaclyn has become swept up in his narrative and become tangled in it. In a lot of ways, Jon is similar to Keith–we can routinely expect to see his perspective of the game regardless of his position in it. He’s also like Keith in that Jon isn’t always portrayed in the most flattering light when it comes to his ability as a Survivor player. He was fooled by Dale’s fake idol and is shown to be under the thumb of other players, namely Missy. His biggest blunder is hard to ignore–a lack of foresight leads to him targeting Jeremy because he himself handed Jeremy the circumstances to discover Jon’s idol on a silver platter. This damage control came right on the heels of Jeremy sacrificing reward to Jon and spending two hard days on Exile Island for it. It’s hard to take a reward, backstab the person who gave it to you, and then come out the other end looking like an upstanding citizen. Jon showed that he has a lot of worry about if he is playing the game or if he is just lying to people. With six votes remaining until Finals, there is plenty of time for the pressure of being the swing vote to make Jon crack.
PROS
Jon is a highly visible character, regardless of whether or not he is impacting the game. We see multiple dimensions to him as a person–he’s a dumb jock on the surface, but has hidden struggles, depths, and is more focused on the game than it immediately appears. We get a lot of moments that establish his character.
In addition to being a main character, Jon’s importance to the story is highlighted via his entirely unsubtle connection to an animal motif in the howler monkey. He’s the only character to have this level of symbolism attached to him, and it’s hard to brush it aside as unimportant or unintentional.
If the ultimate storyline is one of female empowerment, Jaclyn is one of the only women who could carry that theme to the end. She is also the only former Coyopa member who has a shot, which could fit in to a larger narrative about Hunahpu being “unworthy” of winning.
If the ultimate storyline is one of female empowerment, Jon is the only man who could win within that narrative structure because he treats Jaclyn as his equal in their relationship.
They are connected to Missy, a character who is reinforced time and time again by the edit as being important and in control. If either one is to make the end, they need Missy’s help to do it.
CONS
Jon is not always portrayed as the smartest player; and Jaclyn is not always portrayed as the most independent. He makes a lot of mistakes and the story doesn’t shy away from showing them. She is often ignored by the story completely.
They have been swing votes for nearly half the game, and have not always swung with the same side of the numbers. Either one could end the game with too much blood on their hands for the jury to stomach.
They are focused on as a unit. They could be seen as too symbiotic and reliant on each other for the jury’s liking. Either one could reasonably be argued as having been the other’s “plus one” instead of an autonomous castaway who was playing to win.
They are connected to Baylor, a character who is reinforced time and time again by the edit as being important and untrustworthy; a bad decision just waiting to rear its ugly consequences. If Jon and Jaclyn did indeed make the wrong choice by putting their eggs in Baylor and Missy’s basket, then that story should be expected to come to a head at the expense of one, if not both of them.
NEXT TIME
Call Natalie “The Bride” because she’s out for revenge, ready to mow down the opposition with a Hattori Hanzo sword, the Pussy Wagon, and, if all goes her way, a Hidden Immunity Idol. The target for her (and everyone) appears to be Dear Jon, now in hot water for all of his double dealings. Ruh roh! Fortunately for him, the game is rife with #Chaos.
AdvertisementsThis morning just before 8:00 a.m. EST, cell phones throughout New York City’s five boroughs and the surrounding areas started making a very grating sound.
It was immediately recognizable as the sort of noise that usually indicates an AMBER Alert has been issued or maybe really severe weather is on the way, but when New Yorkers picked up their phones to see what the fuss was about, they saw a new kind of message. What was written on the home screen of every cell phone in the city was unprecedented. For the first time ever, the government used an emergency alert to tell the public about a possibly armed suspect on the run. That suspect, Ahmad Khan Rahami, was wanted for questioning about the explosions that took place over the weekend.
“See media for pic. Call 9-1-1 if seen.” pic.twitter.com/A8sX1W3yY6 — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 19, 2016
It had the intended sobering effect…
Chilling moment in packed subway car when everyone’s phone buzzed w alert about bombing suspect at the same second. — James Bennet (@JBennet) September 19, 2016
An uneasy milestone: the moment we were eating breakfast and our phones shrieked with the name of a bombing suspect. — jodikantor (@jodikantor) September 19, 2016
Everybody on my delayed @JetBlue plane at JFK just got the blaring Apple alert re: Ahmad Khan Rahami, sought for NYC bombing on Sat. — Gordon Deal (@GordonDeal) September 19, 2016
Just got an emergency alert on my phone about the suspect in the NYC bombings. Never seen that before. #NYCExplosion — Mike Feldman (@feldmike) September 19, 2016
On the subway, everyone’s phones went off simultaneously w/emergency alert about Ahmad Khan Rahami. Like something out of a dystopian movie — Pamela Engel (@PamEngel12) September 19, 2016
Reading tweets about simultaneous #emergencyalert all of #NYC got this morning reminds me of “The Giver.” #ChelseaExplosion #ChelseaNYC — Jennifer E. Landers (@officialjels) September 19, 2016
…but a lot of people were not happy to have their phones used like that. There was immediate outcry over the lack of details in the notification. It only included the suspect’s name. There was no license plate number, there was no picture, and there was no identifying information beyond his name, which only hints at his ethnic origins. There was concern that innocent men who look like they have a similar background could be targeted.
give the state direct access to your phone and it’ll deputize you to hunt muslims https://t.co/RtYsQedwGQ pic.twitter.com/WyEZdtlcsz — Max Read (@max_read) September 19, 2016
Couple thoughts on this AM’s Emergency Alert: First, it was incomplete and lazy. Person of interest? Suspect? Photo? No idea. Google it NYC. — Meaghan Wagner (@maegahan) September 19, 2016
Hey news outlets, want a quote from a Real New Yorker? The iPhone alert I got about the bomb suspect scares me way more than the bomb. — Victoria McNally (@vqnerdballs) September 19, 2016
A compulsory alert sent to every New Yorker’s iPhone at 8 am is definitely *not* the kind of thing that adds to disproportionate hysteria — Suzanne Highland (@emotingsweater) September 19, 2016
Some people just made jokes. There will always be those who just make jokes.
Sending out an emergency alert to people’s phones before 8 am is a form of terrorism. — Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) September 19, 2016
Rahami was caught this morning in New Jersey. Whether it had anything to do with the terrifying alert remains to be seen.
[image via screengrab]
Lindsey: Twitter. Facebook.
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.comA version of this testimony was first printed in the Lamoni Chronicle, December 8, 2011 edition, in the section”Everyday Blessings.”
In 2007, my family and I left home for Thanksgiving. We were living in Chicago. We were traveling to Michigan to have the holiday with my family. Margo, my wife, was a Chicago public school teacher and having a stressful year. She wasn’t feeling well that day, but we hoped that some rest would be good and help her feel better. The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Katy and Kenzlee (my daughters) piled in the car with Margo and I, and we left for a three-hour drive along Lake Michigan’s coast to grandma’s in Grand Rapids.
We arrived safely at my mother’s home. The day of Thanksgiving, Margo still wasn’t feeling well. She slept through most of Thanksgiving. Friday evening, her headache and stomach pain worsened. On the way to the bathroom that evening, she collapsed to the floor. A friend and I immediately took Margo to the closest emergency room.
Within an hour, our family’s life changed. We learned that Margo had a dangerous and rare blood disorder. She was admitted to the hospital. I didn’t know it, but I began thirty of the most grueling days of my life that day away from home and in an out-of-state hospital.
Unfortunately, Margo didn’t respond to standard treatment for her disease and she ended up being unconscious for over two weeks. During those weeks, I lived on a 36-hour cycle of staying up with her at the hospital for twenty-four hours and going to my mother’s to sleep for twelve. The entire time, no one knew the outcome of our hospital stay. I was learning through chatting with survivors of her rare disease on the internet that the disease was unpredictable. Both survivors and Margo’s specialists assured me things would be OK, but day after day her blood work did not improve. The feeling of the doctors and nurses went from serious to somber.
With two daughters and my wife’s prognosis unsure, I turned more and more to others for support and prayer. Physically and emotionally, I felt indescribable stress. I was without any control, helpless to do anything except watch the doctors hook her up to machines and wait for her blood work each day. I talked to Margo and prayed with her, even though she was unresponsive. I tried to calm her to keep her from seizures, which seemed to help. I cried with her and prayed for her.
Before she went to ICU for the second time, one morning at 5:00am, I turned my face to Michigan’s gray sky and began to pray. I felt as if I was going to break. I turned to God in prayer desperate for direction and help. During my prayer, something happened that I can only describe as a vision. It forever changed the way I think about prayer and Christ’s church.
Eyes closed and deep in prayer, I wearily watch the sky open to behold a cathedral. The inside of the cathedral was tall and immense. I stood in the cathedral and saw the faces of people, some I knew and some I didn’t know, pass through the sanctuary’s open space. I saw each one in their various settings. I saw a woman praying for our family over her morning coffee. I saw a man offering prayer as he was driving to work. I saw a woman in a congregation standing in prayer, and a parent pushing a stroller silently holding a loved one before God in her thoughts.
The scenes of people praying and their faces continued to pass through the sanctuary several at once. Somehow, I knew these images passing through the sanctuary were coming from all over the world. It filled the space with the feeling of worship. Somehow, I also knew that God was being glorified in each prayer, and what I was witnessing was God’s church in its invisible spiritual reality.
Later, I learned that prayer requests for Margo had spread through our church to Asia and Australia. Friends and members were praying from far reaches of the globe. One of our Jewish neighbors in Chicago also had her synagogue praying for our family down the street from our home. Some of our non-religious neighbors were praying for us from the living rooms.
In that moment, I knew God was near me and that God was hearing not only my prayers, but the prayers of others. The vision did not give me answers to my questions about the outcome of Margo’s hospital stay. My terrible fear of the unknown and the incredible stress of our situation did not come to an end. But, at some level, I received an indescribable peace knowing that God was present with me in my darkness and unknowing. Somehow, I knew I was in God’s hands, buoyed up by the prayers of others.
I learned in the moments of that vision that God’s church exists far beyond our perception. I learned that the church is spiritually gathered whenever and wherever we come to God and pray.
The persons and faces continued to pass through the sanctuary of that cathedral. The earnest prayers of all who passed through its space made it holy. As the vision closed and my prayer came to an end, I had the feeling of just being in worship.
Margo, my girls, and I went home near the end of December. Margo was released to outpatient services in Chicago. We fought the disease at home for another few months. Today, Margo is living with her blood disorder and is doing well. She experienced another episode in May of this year. This time, she was not unconscious. We came through it, again, together after a few months.
Life is uncertain, yet I remain changed by the vision I received that day in prayer in the hospital. I know God hears our prayers and the prayers of others. I know prayers are answered, not by receiving whatever we ask for, but by sustaining in God’s presence and promise. I also know Christ’s church is gathered whenever and wherever, across the world, people turn to God and pray. The spiritual reality of God’s church goes far beyond its physical presence and our worship goes beyond ourselves and the assurances of our five senses. There is a spiritual reality in which God draws near to us whenever we draw near to God, who gives life-sustaining peace.
AdvertisementsThe busy corner of Interstates 70 and 25 will be the site of a new residential, retail and office campus that developers hope will remake the image of an intersection known as the traffic-jamming Mousetrap.
The $100 million project, on the grounds of the former Denver Post printing plant, is driven by high design — from its architect, the internationally renowned Brad Cloepfil, who created Denver’s sleek Clyfford Still Museum, to its featured tenants, commercial and residential designers who will locate their showrooms in the main building.
But if all of Denver-based Ascendant Development’s plans are realized, the 41-acre parcel also will include multi-family housing and a newly constructed building that will host collaborative office space for small, creative-sector businesses.
“This will cross over into art, fashion, food,” said Ascendant partner Graham Benes. “We are developing a whole design neighborhood.”
The area has been primed for renewal lately. Highway improvements have eliminated the once-notorious rush hour congestion. More important, the imminent expansion of RTD’s light rail line northward will deliver a stop at 41st and Fox streets, just two blocks from the project.
Still, rebranding the site, which remains in a neighborhood of manufacturing plants and warehouses, required a bold move, and that’s where the big-name designer came in.
“We knew we’d really have to up our game if we were trying to say we are a regional destination,” said Benes.
In addition to the 16-month-old Still Museum, Cloepfil’s Allied Works Architecture is responsible for the 2007 expansion to the Seattle Art Museum and the 2008 renovation of the Museum of Arts and Design on Columbus Circle, across from New York’s Central Park. The firm has completed several commercial rehabs of older buildings as well.
Cloepfil said Tuesday that he was drawn to the 25/70 project because the idea of a whole design campus was something that hasn’t been successfully explored.
“The site is spectacular,” he said. “And it’s always fun to do something new and challenging.”
The design scheme is still in the works, but Cloepfil said one objective is to “weave the outdoors” into the giant, block building that has few windows by incorporating “air, courtyards, light and alleys.”
“We are carving it and cutting it up.” he said.
The project reunites the architect with Saunders Construction, the local firm that helped his vision of giant, single-pour concrete walls become a reality at the Still Museum.
The project’s first phase is a $75 million renovation of the existing former printing facility into the design center, said Benes. That will require adding 65,00 square feet of mezzanine space to the existing 320,000-square-foot structure.
Ascendant purchased the building in 2008 from the Denver Newspaper Agency for $17 million after the agency moved to printing operations to 5990 N. Washington St.
Benes said the site would also include retail and restaurant space to create a multi-dimensional facility for design professionals that “has energy and is an experience for their clients, not a place that’s boring and dark.” The addition of offices for architects and interior designers would allow a synthesis between professionals with overlapping services and customers.
The project’s second phase would add a residential component on 10 acres of the site within the next few years. Between 250 and 500 units will go up, Benes said.
The third phase will be a new, 90,000-square-foot building with flexible work areas, leased to tenants who would share common areas, office equipment and links to technology.
Ascendant, which is completing the project with private, borrowed financing, has worked with local design firms on its other projects. The national search that ended with Cloepfil’s firm “took longer and was a lot more expensive” than other efforts, Benes said. But Cloepfil brings a certain panache to 25/70.
And those costs were balanced by the affordable real estate in an emerging section of the city.
“It’s still affordable compared to across the way in Highlands,” said Benes. “The growth has to come out this way and we’re still in the beltway area.”
Ray Mark Rinaldi: 303-954-1540, rrinaldi@denverpost.com or twitter.com/rayrinaldiALLEN PARK -- The previous coaching staff believed in Chris Greenwood. They took a chance on the little-known cornerback from Albion. They kept him around even when injuries prevented him from seeing the field. And now they are gone. That means Greenwood has to prove himself all over again to a new set of coaches. Yet again he finds himself limited by injury. He has sat out most of this offseason after undergoing surgery for another hernia. He originally suffered the injury as a rookie in 2012, then aggravated it sometime in the last two games of last season. "(It was a) freak accident," Greenwood told MLive this week. "I'm not even sure about any specific play. I just felt it and turned out to be the same thing. "Can't really control it. All I can control is me working as hard as I can to get back in and get healthy." Greenwood sat out voluntary minicamp and the first two rounds of OTAs before finally debuting this week during the final batch of OTAs. He was limited to mostly individual drills, but it's a sign he should be available for the start of training camp. "It felt good to get back out there. I didn't do too much -- still limited -- but working to get back and get a full-go," Greenwood said. It's important for Greenwood to get healthy so that he can make a full bid for a roster spot. The Lions return top corners Chris Houston, Rashean Mathis, Darius Slay and Bill Bentley, and have added fourth-round draft pick Nevin Lawson. That leaves Greenwood battling with Jonte Green and free-agent acquisition Cassius Vaughn for probably one roster spot. What does he have to do to earn that job? "I just feel like it's going to be the same as everyone else. Just a matter of how fast I can get back and go show the new staff what I can do," he said. Greenwood hails from Division III Albion, but his 6-foot-1 frame and 4.34 speed -- faster than any corner at this year's combine -- enticed the Lions to select him as a developmental player in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. But an assortment of injuries have prevented him from developing into a regular player. He's appeared in just three career games, and just two on defense. Those came at the end of last season, when Greenwood showed some signs of progress. He was particularly impressive against Eli Manning and the New York Giants. And now he's back on the mend.‘Separate But Equal’: Black Harvard Students to Hold Blacks ONLY Commencement Ceremony
Black race-baiting Harvard students have organized an event called “Black Commencement 2017”, which is the first “university-wide” ceremony for black students only to walk in.
Unbelievably exclusionary and racist, the black students of Harvard apparently are so marginalized and hated that they need to create a special safe-space wherein they can “celebrate their unique struggles and achievements”. It’s not like they’re students at one of the most exclusive universities in the world or anything...
This type of event is disgusting and arrogant, but this isn’t new and shouldn’t be shocking to anyone.
“Ethnic minority groups” love to tell everyone just how D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-T they are when it suits their needs and they resort to holding exclusive events, but when they are excluded from something, they feel the need to riot, loot, and vandalize to show just how much they DESERVE to be included – all under the guise of groups of like #BlackLivesMatter.
The black community was rightfully angry when we lived in a country where things were “separate but equal”, but in today’s society, everything must be separated for them to “celebrate their unique struggles” and the “white” students have to watch and be made aware of “black excellence”.
The Boston Globe reported on this story (in the most leftist way possible), the following is a quote from a student named Courtney Woods who is going to participate in the event:
“I can only imagine how special I will feel when I walk across that stage and be able to honor my identity and my struggle at Harvard,” said Woods, who is completing a master’s degree at the Graduate School of Education. “I know this is exactly what students like me need to be inspired as we leave this place as emerging global leaders.”... “The primary reason we wanted to do this is we really wanted to come together to celebrate Harvard black excellence and brilliance,” said Huggins, who is graduating from the Kennedy School. “This is really an opportunity for students to build fellowship and build a community.”
So special.
The event can be attended by students of other races, but only black students are allowed to participate. This is an embarrassing moment for a once great institution.A conspiracy theory fast gaining traction online makes the astounding claim that NASA’s Curiosity and Opportunity rovers never traveled to Mars and that the images of the Martian environment being uploaded to NASA websites were actually taken on a remote island called Devon Island in Canada, the largest uninhabited island on Earth.
According to the rumors making the rounds in the conspiracy theory blogosphere, the pictures |
’s notion of masculinity was so antiquated as to make the mafia seem enlightened. It was fine to drink 48 pints and punch your wife or get done for drink-driving, but woe betide a single man seen having fun with an attractive single woman in a nightclub. The Spice Boys were, for richer and poorer, very much of their time. It was football that was living in the past.
The situation prompted an unwittingly hilarious interview with Redknapp. “Don’t get me wrong, the Liverpool fans are the best in the world, but there are always one or two who get on your back,” he said. “They usually wait for it to go quiet then they shout some horrible abuse at you. When you look at them they are usually the ugliest people in the whole of the ground. I’m sensible enough to know that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea but I sometimes think the way I look is my biggest problem. I reckon people find it easier to have a dig at a player with loDonald Trump's presidency has veered onto a road with no centerlines or guardrails.
The president's accusation Saturday that his predecessor, Barack Obama, had tapped his phone "during the very sacred election process" escalated on Sunday into the White House's call for a congressional investigation of that evidence-free claim.
The audacious tactic was a familiar one for Trump, who has little regard for norms and conventions. When he wants to change a subject, he often does it by touching a match to the dry tinder of a sketchy conspiracy theory.
But the stakes have gotten higher, and the consequences more real and serious, as questions mount over Moscow's reported attempts to interfere with last year's presidential election.
Trump's response also has deepened doubts about his own judgment, not just in the face of the first crisis to confront his young presidency but in dealing with the challenges that lie ahead for the chief executive of the world's most powerful nation.
His tweets may have been an effort to distract from revelations that his aides and associates had contact with Russian officials during the election and transition, as well as to deflect criticism onto Obama.
But instead, the president has invited more scrutiny to the larger controversy over Russian interference. The issue shows no signs of fading.
So explosive was Trump's unsubstantiated wiretap accusation that FBI Director James Comey asked the Justice Department to take the extraordinary step of issuing a statement rebutting it, a U.S. official said, confirming a report Sunday in the New York Times.
The process of obtaining permission to conduct a wiretap on an American in a foreign intelligence investigation is an arduous one. If it turns out that a government agency put one on Trump or individuals around him, an obvious question would be what evidence was used to justify the action.
Trump's tweetstorm early Saturday made his disciplined, well-received speech to Congress four days before seem less a turning point than an aberration.
"Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!" Trump fired out, in the first of four tweets on the subject.
The charge was reminiscent of the early days of his political ascendancy, when he built a political base by pandering to the fringes with false stories about Obama's birthplace. After he was elected with less than a popular majority, Trump made the groundless claim that millions of people had voted illegally.
But the voice of a U.S. commander in chief carries far greater weight than that of just about anyone else on the planet. Trump's detractors say the way he uses that platform has worrisome implications that go far beyond the sensation he creates on social media and his ability to dominate the news.
"We have as president a man who is erratic, vindictive, volatile, obsessive, a chronic liar, and prone to believe in conspiracy theories," said conservative commentator Peter Wehner, who was the top policy strategist in George W. Bush's White House. "And you can count on the fact that there will be more to come, since when people like Donald Trump gain power they become less, not more, restrained."
Nor does Trump appear to have a governing apparatus around him that can temper and channel his impulses.
"When the president goes off and does what he did within the last few days, of just going ahead and tweeting without checking on things, there's something wrong. There's something wrong in terms of the discipline within the White House and how you operate," Leon Panetta, a White House chief of staff for Bill Clinton and CIA director during the Obama administration, said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation."
Trump and his allies, however, say that the criticism is misdirected.
In their view, the concern over Russian interference in the election has been overblown by Democrats looking for an excuse for Hillary Clinton's defeat last November.
They also say that more focus should be concentrated on the people within the government who are leaking sensitive information to the news media.
Within a government bureaucracy that tilts Democratic, "there is an active 'deep state' opposition to a populist disruptive reformer. Many believe it is their duty to break the law and lie," said former House speaker Newt Gingrich. "For Trump to succeed, there will have to be profound overhaul of the bureaucracy. To be normal in this environment is to fail."
Still, Republicans on Capitol Hill have been unsettled by Trump's latest claims, which come amid investigations by the House and Senate intelligence committees and calls by some for more drastic measures, including a select committee, independent commission or special prosecutor.
"It would be more helpful if he turned over to the Intelligence Committee any evidence that he has," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, a member of that panel, said on "Face the Nation." "It would probably be helpful if he gave more information, but it also might be helpful if he just didn't comment further and allowed us to do our work."
Some note that Trump now sits in the Oval Office in large part because voters did not want another conventional politician in the job.
"A lot of this outrage that's out there is because Donald Trump is doing what Donald Trump said he was going to do if he was elected," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who ran against Trump for the GOP presidential nomination, said on "Meet the Press."
Yet Trump's accusations may well inflame - rather than calm - another sentiment that abounds in the country.
"This is exceedingly problematic. We were already in a huge deficit as to what the country trusted out of Washington and our leaders," said Matthew Dowd, who has been a strategist for both Democratic and Republican politicians.
"This only adds to it," Dowd said. "We're in a surreal world."What is this mystery tool?
I came across this contraption in my dad’s tool collection after he passed away. He was an electrical engineer/computer science guy, so I’m pretty sure it had nothing to do with his work. Any ideas?
Large image 1
Large image 2
It has a variety of adjustments and appears to clamp on to a shaft or housing around 3″ in diameter and is approximately 14″ x 9″ overall. It’s made of cast aluminum with a few steel shafts and plastic handles. The back has some numbers cast in to it, (shown in second image), but no manufacturer or other identifying marks.
The “Bonus” label is for when I use it as an extra credit for my technical theatre stagecraft class tool quiz. So far no one has any idea. (Although I give extra credit for creative or entertaining answers.)
-- Bill PotterThe NBA may appear to have lost the need that it had in years prior for dominant forces in the paint, but that does not take away from the greatness and impact that NBA centers have had on the game's history. From George Mikan to Shaquille O’Neal, centers have the unique ability to influence and dominate a game on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
And while the prevailing sentiment in the NBA has treaded away from franchise big men in favor of guards and small forwards, three of the four teams left in the 2013 Eastern conference finals have game-changing centers: Marc Gasol, Roy Hibbert, and Tim Duncan (who can play either PF or C).
With that in mind, here are the top-10 greatest NBA centers of all time:
10. Willis Reed
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 18.7 12.9 1.8 N/A N/A.476.747
Reed spent his entire career in the 60s and 70s as a member of the New York Knicks. His legendary performance in the 1970 NBA Finals against another all-time great, Wilt Chamberlain, immortalized him in NBA history. Fighting through injury that series, he was crowned an NBA champion (and Finals MVP) for the first time to complement his regular season MVP honors.
9. Patrick Ewing
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 21.0 9.8 1.9 1.0 2.4.504.740
not accomplish: that evasive NBA championship title. Nonetheless, he was compared to great NBA centers before he was even drafted. Pat O’Brien Another Knicks superstar, Ewing is probably most remembered for what he didaccomplish: that evasive NBA championship title. Nonetheless, he was compared to great NBA centers before he was even drafted. Pat O’Brien declared before Ewing was in the NBA that “we’ve had the Mikan era, the Russell era, the Kareem era…now we’ll have the Ewing era.” Even though he has since been bombarded with criticism and the notorious Ewing Theory emergence, Michael Jordan obviously thought very highly of the 11-time NBA All-Star when he said that Ewing “has a heart of a champion. When you thought about New York, you thought of Patrick Ewing. He came and gave life back into the city.”
8. David Robinson
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks
FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 21.1 10.6 2.5 1.4 3.0.518.736
The Admiral served the length of his entire NBA career as a member of the San Antonio Spurs and was best known for being half of the “Twin Towers” with current Spurs forward/center, Tim Duncan. Robinson could do it all, not only was he an MVP winner and NBA champion, but he also took home Defensive Player of the Year honors (1992) and was an NBA scoring champion (1994). His most memorable offensive outpouring was on April 24, 1994 when he dropped 26 of 41 from the field en route to a 71-point performance.
7. Moses Malone
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 20.6 12.3 1.3 0.8 1.3.495.760
In a career that spanned 21 seasons and three decades (70s, 80s, and 90s), Malone was one of the first players to successfully transition from high school to the pros (ABA). His three MVPs and NBA championship title only begin to tell the story of his impressive résumé which includes top-10 rankings all-time in points, rebounds, free throws, minutes, and games played. In 2001, he was appropriately enshrined in the NBA Hall of Fame.
6. George Mikan
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 23.1 13.4 2.8 N/A N/A.404.782 7* N/A N/A
Includes BAA and NBL championships.
Mikan may not be exactly a household name but he single-handedly revitalized the NBA in the 40s and 50s. Prior to that time period, the NBA was “considered a sport better suited to shorter men” (per NBA.com ). Not only that, but Mikan’s presence forced the NBA to implement several rule changes, including the aptly-named “Mikan Rule” which is more commonly known today as the three-second rule.
5. Hakeem Olajuwon
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 21.8 11.1 2.5 1.7 3.1.512.712
Often coveted to train with by today’s NBA big men (most recently by Amaré Stoudemire ), Hakeem Olajuwon had arguably the best repertoire of post moves. Collectively known as the “Dream Shake,” Shaquille O’Neal said it best after being dominated and swept by Hakeem in the 1995 NBA Finals: “He’s got about five moves, then four countermoves…that gives him 20 moves.” Two-time winner of the NBA Finals, Finals MVP, and Defensive Player of the Year, Hakeem is undoubtedly also one of the greatest NBA players of all time
4. Shaquille O’Neal
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 23.7 10.9 2.5 0.6 2.3.582.527
TNT). At 7’1” and 325 pounds, Shaq absolutely overpowered opponents during his NBA career. Although his feud with Kobe Bryant led to his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004, the dynamic Kobe-Shaq duo won three consecutive NBA titles at the beginning of the new millennium. O’Neal is also known for a host of off-court endeavors (including music, law enforcement, MMA, and of course his NBA analysis on
3. Bill Russell
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 15.1 22.5 4.3 N/A N/A.440.561 11 N/A
Bill Russell and the three best centers of all time are difficult to place considering Russell was the epitome of a champion but was not very impressive offensively, Kareem had greatness in stats and a championship résumé, and Wilt Chamberlain had jaw-dropping stats but a less than impressive winning record when compared to Russell and Abdul-Jabbar. Russell lands the three spot because he doesn’t stack up very well against the other two in terms of offensive output and Chamberlain actually hauled down more rebounds per game than the NBA’s greatest champion. I have a hard time seeing Russell with the same insane success in the Magic-Bird, Jordan, Kobe, and LeBron eras of basketball…especially considering Russell is barely taller than LeBron.
and coach from 1966 to 1969. With all of that said, Russell and the Celtics dominated the NBA during the 60s, winning it every year during that decade except for 1967. That success that has never been repeated by another franchise—and most likely will never be in the future, either. Russell even had the unique distinction of being a playercoach from 1966 to 1969.
2. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 24.6 11.2 3.6 0.9 2.6.559.721
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s six MVP awards are an all-time record and prove that he (like Chamberlain and Russell) not only had more impressive peaks than other centers but were also able to sustain those peaks for an extended duration of time. At his retirement, Abdul-Jabbar owned NBA records for points scored, shots blocked, All-Star appearances, seasons played (20), in addition to the six MVPs. His trademark skyhook was simply unstoppable and is something he is sharing with WNBA rookie, Brittney Griner. Pat Riley went so far as to say that the Lakers Hall of Famer is the “greatest player ever.”
1. Wilt Chamberlain
Points Rebounds Assists Steals Blocks FG % FT % Titles MVPs Finals MVPs 30.1 22.9 4.4 N/A N/A.540.511
A Tribute to Wilt Chamberlain help provide a glimpse into his larger than life game-play: For a position so strongly associated with dominating the floor, Wilt Chamberlain owned it on a nightly basis like no other player (save maybe Michael Jordan). 100 points in a game, 18 consecutive FGs made, 55 rebounds in a game, four MVPs, and innumerable other records are what slot Wilt the Stilt at the No. 1 spot for greatest center of all time. Chamberlain possessed incredible size and ability, something not hard to believe considering he towered over opponents at seven feet and peaked in weight at over 300 pounds. Some quotes fromhelp provide a glimpse into his larger than life game-play:
“We’d go into a dressing room and see a box score from the night before where Wilt had 55 or 60 points. No one would think twice about it. Getting 50-some points, or even 60-some, wasn’t news when Wilt did it.” – Kevin Loughery
“The first time I guarded Wilt, I stood behind him and he was so wide that I couldn’t see the rest of the game. Then I saw him dunk a ball so hard that it hit the court and bounced straight up back through the rim again.” – Bob Ferry
“One-on-one he would’ve murdered Russell and everyone.” – Red Holzman
“Double-teaming defenses used today wouldn’t bother him.” – Wayne Embry
“He can score anything he wants. There is no way to stop him. How can you defend him? The only way I know is to lock the door to the dressing room before he comes out.” – Ed MacAuleyIF HIS first five all-action displays in a Worcester City shirt are anything to go by, Shaun Donnellan has got a bright future in football.
The West Bromwich Albion loanee’s eye-catching ability to get from one box to the other and show composure in both areas of the field have led to rave reviews.
But while the 19-year-old, who idolises former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, seems destined for bigger and better things he recognises how important his “wake-up call” at Worcester has been for his development.
“With the way I was playing, I felt I deserved to play at a Football League club,” said Donnellan, who captains Baggies’ under 21s side.
“However I didn’t get that, so the next level was National League or National League North and as Darren (Moore) knew Matt (Gardiner) he said go to Worcester and play some real football.
“I thought it would be a walk in the park at first but after five minutes into my first match I knew I was in for a game.”
Alongside his West Brom teammate George Cleet, Donnellan helped City secure a battling goalless draw against Brackley Town on his debut.
Two more appearances at centre-back followed before his driving runs from deep and his stunning strike against Corby Town earned him a place in midfield.
“People keep asking me whether I am a centre-half or a midfielder and I am not really sure,” he said.
“West Brom see me as a ball-playing centre half, so I can drive out from the back, but I used to play in midfield.
“I used to score a few goals as well as I don’t like to just sit there.
“I want to be a box-to-box midfielder that makes late runs into the area and Carl (Heeley) and Matt have encouraged me to do that here at Worcester.”
With the number eight on his back against North Ferriby United, the Ireland under 19 international took the game by the scruff of the neck.
He demonstrated awareness, commitment and a knack of popping up in the right place at the right time as he scored twice in the first half to send City on their way to a 2-0 triumph.
But Donnellan admitted he had not been allowed to gloat about his brace since returning to the Premier League club.
“The first team are a really good bunch of lads (at West Brom) and they are always asking me how I am getting on,” he said.
“When I trained with them recently, they knew I had scored two goals and told me to get that smile off my face.
“But when I speak to the first-team coaches, they say they don’t want to me to play for the under 21s.
“They want me to stay at Worcester and play games because they feel it is a better level. It is proper men’s football.”
The talented teen, who is the son of former Fulham and Chelsea midfielder Leo Donnellan, says he is unsure whether he will follow young Baggies keeper Ethan Ross in remaining at City until the end of the season.
But, after signing an extension for the rest of this month, the Barnet-born player said he was determined to keep making his mark as he continues his dream of one day reaching the heights of Gerrard. Donnellan added: “A scout from West Brom comes to every one of my games, so if I can keep impressing them hopefully it gets back to the gaffer (Tony Pulis).
“I just want to get that opportunity (in the first team) and when it comes hopefully I will take it.
“My mum is a Liverpudlian and my family are Scousers, so I idolised Steven Gerrard growing up.
“He was my childhood hero, so if I had half the career he had I would be buzzing.”The German, French, Spanish and Swedish intelligence services have all developed methods of mass surveillance of internet and phone traffic over the past five years in close partnership with Britain's GCHQ eavesdropping agency.
The bulk monitoring is carried out through direct taps into fibre optic cables and the development of covert relationships with telecommunications companies. A loose but growing eavesdropping alliance has allowed intelligence agencies from one country to cultivate ties with corporations from another to facilitate the trawling of the web, according to GCHQ documents leaked by the former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
The files also make clear that GCHQ played a leading role in advising its European counterparts how to work around national laws intended to restrict the surveillance power of intelligence agencies.
The German, French and Spanish governments have reacted angrily to reports based on National Security Agency (NSA) files leaked by Snowden since June, revealing the interception of communications by tens of millions of their citizens each month. US intelligence officials have insisted the mass monitoring was carried out by the security agencies in the countries involved and shared with the US.
The US director of national intelligence, James Clapper, suggested to Congress on Tuesday that European governments' professed outrage at the reports was at least partly hypocritical. "Some of this reminds me of the classic movie Casablanca: 'My God, there's gambling going on here,' " he said.
Sweden, which passed a law in 2008 allowing its intelligence agency to monitor cross-border email and phone communications without a court order, has been relatively muted in its response.
The German government, however, has expressed disbelief and fury at the revelations from the Snowden documents, including the fact that the NSA monitored Angela Merkel's mobile phone calls.
After the Guardian revealed the existence of GCHQ's Tempora programme, in which the electronic intelligence agency tapped directly into the transatlantic fibre optic cables to carry out bulk surveillance, the German justice minister, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, said it sounded "like a Hollywood nightmare", and warned the UK government that free and democratic societies could not flourish when states shielded their actions in "a veil of secrecy".
'Huge potential'
However, in a country-by-country survey of its European partners, GCHQ officials expressed admiration for the technical capabilities of German intelligence to do the same thing. The survey in 2008, when Tempora was being tested, said the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), had "huge technological potential and good access to the heart of the internet – they are already seeing some bearers running at 40Gbps and 100Gbps".
Bearers is the GCHQ term for the fibre optic cables, and gigabits per second (Gbps) measures the speed at which data runs through them. Four years after that report, GCHQ was still only able to monitor 10 Gbps cables, but looked forward to tap new 100 Gbps bearers eventually. Hence the admiration for the BND.
The document also makes clear that British intelligence agencies were helping their German counterparts change or bypass laws that restricted their ability to use their advanced surveillance technology. "We have been assisting the BND (along with SIS [Secret Intelligence Service] and Security Service) in making the case for reform or reinterpretation of the very restrictive interception legislation in Germany," it says.
The country-by-country survey, which in places reads somewhat like a school report, also hands out high marks to the GCHQ's French partner, the General Directorate for External Security (DGSE). But in this case it is suggested that the DGSE's comparative advantage is its relationship with an unnamed telecommunications company, a relationship GCHQ hoped to leverage for its own operations.
"DGSE are a highly motivated, technically competent partner, who have shown great willingness to engage on IP [internet protocol] issues, and to work with GCHQ on a "cooperate and share" basis."
Noting that the Cheltenham-based electronic intelligence agency had trained DGSE technicians on "multi-disciplinary internet operations", the document says: "We have made contact with the DGSE's main industry partner, who has some innovative approaches to some internet challenges, raising the potential for GCHQ to make use of this company in the protocol development arena."
GCHQ went on to host a major conference with its French partner on joint internet-monitoring initiatives in March 2009 and four months later reported on shared efforts on what had become by then GCHQ's biggest challenge – continuing to carry out bulk surveillance, despite the spread of commercial online encryption, by breaking that encryption.
"Very friendly crypt meeting with DGSE in July," British officials reported. The French were "clearly very keen to provide presentations on their work which included cipher detection in high-speed bearers. [GCHQ's] challenge is to ensure that we have enough UK capability to support a longer term crypt relationship."
Fresh opportunities
In the case of the Spanish intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Centre (CNI), the key to mass internet surveillance, at least back in 2008, was the Spaniards' ties to a British telecommunications company (again unnamed. Corporate relations are among the most strictly guarded secrets in the intelligence community). That was giving them "fresh opportunities and uncovering some surprising results.
"GCHQ has not yet engaged with CNI formally on IP exploitation, but the CNI have been making great strides through their relationship with a UK commercial partner. GCHQ and the commercial partner have been able to coordinate their approach. The commercial partner has provided the CNI some equipment whilst keeping us informed, enabling us to invite the CNI across for IP-focused discussions this autumn," the report said. It concluded that GCHQ "have found a very capable counterpart in CNI, particularly in the field of Covert Internet Ops".
GCHQ was clearly delighted in 2008 when the Swedish parliament passed a bitterly contested law allowing the country's National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) to conduct Tempora-like operations on fibre optic cables. The British agency also claimed some credit for the success.
"FRA have obtained a … probe to use as a test-bed and we expect them to make rapid progress in IP exploitation following the law change," the country assessment said. "GCHQ has already provided a lot of advice and guidance on these issues and we are standing by to assist the FRA further once they have developed a plan for taking the work forwards."
The following year, GCHQ held a conference with its Swedish counterpart "for discussions on the implications of the new legislation being rolled out" and hailed as "a success in Sweden" the news that FRA "have finally found a pragmatic solution to enable release of intelligence to SAEPO [the internal Swedish security service.]"
GCHQ also maintains strong relations with the two main Dutch intelligence agencies, the external MIVD and the internal security service, the AIVD.
"Both agencies are small, by UK standards, but are technically competent and highly motivated," British officials reported. Once again, GCHQ was on hand in 2008 for help in dealing with legal constraints. "The AIVD have just completed a review of how they intend to tackle the challenges posed by the internet – GCHQ has provided input and advice to this report," the country assessment said.
"The Dutch have some legislative issues that they need to work through before their legal environment would allow them to operate in the way that GCHQ does. We are providing legal advice on how we have tackled some of these issues to Dutch lawyers."
European allies
In the score-card of European allies, it appears to be the Italians who come off the worse. GCHQ expresses frustration with the internal friction between Italian agencies and the legal limits on their activities.
"GCHQ has had some CT [counter-terrorism] and internet-focused discussions with both the foreign intelligence agency (AISE) and the security service (AISI), but has found the Italian intelligence community to be fractured and unable/unwilling to cooperate with one another," the report said.
A follow-up bulletin six months later noted that GCHQ was "awaiting a response from AISI on a recent proposal for cooperation – the Italians had seemed keen, but legal obstacles may have been hindering their ability to commit."
It is clear from the Snowden documents that GCHQ has become Europe's intelligence hub in the internet age, and not just because of its success in creating a legally permissive environment for its operations. Britain's location as the European gateway for many transatlantic cables, and its privileged relationship with the NSA has made GCHQ an essential partner for European agencies. The documents show British officials frequently lobbying the NSA on sharing of data with the Europeans and haggling over its security classification so it can be more widely disseminated. In the intelligence world, far more than it managed in diplomacy, Britain has made itself an indispensable bridge between America and Europe's spies.Photo: Getty
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fatah el-Sissi on Sunday to discuss, naturally, the looming possibility of a Donald Trump presidency. Graham was in Egypt as part of a Republican congressional delegation touring the Middle East, a region his party’s presidential frontrunner believes would be better served if Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi were still around. Speaking to reporters after his meeting with el-Sissi, Graham said he reassured the Egyptian president that even if Trump won the presidency, the Egyptian people have nothing to worry about.
“The Congress is going to be around no matter who is president,” Graham told reporters after the meeting. “All of us, regardless of what Mr. Trump says or does, we are going to keep being who we are, so don’t let the political scenes at home get you too upset.”
Lindsey Graham, a failed presidential candidate himself, has put his support behind Ted Cruz in this election in a plan to block Trump’s surging campaign. (Cruz is, by Graham’s own admission, not an ideal choice, but he at least hasn’t posted Graham’s phone number on the internet.) Graham told The Hill that he’s not so sure this plan will work. Still, Egypt, which is the second-largest recipient of U.S. military aid and is under increasing scrutiny for human rights violations, should not be afraid of a Donald Trump presidency. Nobody should. Everything is totally fine.Senior Japanese and U.S. government officials joined Lockheed Martin to celebrate the roll out of the first Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II, marking a major milestone in Japan’s enhanced national defense and strengthening the future of the U.S-Japan security alliance.
The ceremony was attended by more than 400 guests from both governments, military and defense industries. Among the more distinguished guests attending were: Dr. Hideaki Watanabe, commissioner of Japan’s Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, Frank Kendall, undersecretary of defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, and Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin chairman, president and CEO.
Kenji Wakamiya, Japan’s State Minister of Defense spoke at the event:
“The F-35A is expected to fulfill an important central role in Japan’s air defense system. Given that the United States Government has designated Japan as a regional depot in the Asia-Pacific area, introduction of F-35A to Japan is a perfect example, enhancing the Japan-US alliance.”
Japan’s F-35 program includes 42 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing aircraft, acquired through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program. The first four aircraft are built in Fort Worth and the remaining 38 aircraft will be built at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Final Assembly & Check-Out facility in Nagoya, Japan, where aircraft assembly is underway. Maintenance training for the first JASDF F-35A technicians is underway at Eglin AFB, Florida, and the first JASDF F-35A pilots are scheduled to begin training at Luke AFB, Arizona, in November.I think it's starting to sink in those thick skulls that a lot of people are very, very angry with the corporate elite:
Left-wing activists claimed responsibility for a minor explosion on Thursday at a hotel in Davos, close to where top executives and world leaders were meeting, but nobody was hurt. Devin Wenig, CEO of Thomson Reuters' Markets division, was in a breakfast meeting of senior executives at the hotel when the explosion happened. "A huge boom went off. The whole ceiling lifted. Everyone was convinced it was a bomb," he said. "It took a half hour to reassemble the meeting." Participants were later told that a boiler had exploded, he added. The Forum's main programme was not disrupted. [...] A group calling itself Revolutionary Perspective said in a statement on an activist website it had targeted the luxury Posthotel with a firebomb and said Swiss ministers and representatives of top bank UBS were staying there. "Our fight against the dictatorship of capital is focused on the social alternative to capitalism: communism," the group said in the statement.
Someone noted yesterday that the makeup of the Egyptian demonstrators had changed -- that the middle class had broken through the "fear barrier" and had now taken to the streets. Think about that, because all over the world, the fear barriers are starting to fall and this is a huge threat to the global establishment, the very people who flock to Davos each year for the World Economic Forum:Top academic economists say the Republican tax plan would not substantially boost economic growth but would add to the federal debt, according to a new survey released Tuesday.
Fifty-two percent of the economists surveyed by the University of Chicago's IGM Forum responded that the GOP tax plan would not substantially increase the size of the economy. Another 36 percent were uncertain. Only one, Stanford University's Darrell Duffie, said the plan is likely to increase the gross domestic product.
"Aside from the redistribution of wealth, hard to see this changing much," said the University of Chicago's Richard Thaler, the most recent winner of the Nobel Prize in economics.
All but one of the respondents said the plan would increase the federal debt, with the lone exception indicating that he was uncertain. The Trump administration has maintained that the tax cut, totaling $1.5 trillion over a decade, would increase economic growth enough to pay for itself.
The survey is not a comprehensive poll of academics, but rather a question posed to select prominent ones. The IGM Forum regularly asks the economists about different topics. In Tuesday's question, they were asked about a plan similar to the tax bill passed by the House last week and to the bill advanced by the Senate Finance Committee.Emergency Drones
Drones are showing up in such a wide variety of fields as of late, with its uses ranging from farming to package deliveries; it seems that people keep on finding new ways to utilize this new technology. Now, they can also save lives.
Researchers from the University of Toronto have found a new use for these drones in the medical field. Their idea is to have drones deliver automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) directly to people who have just suffered a heart attack. If it seems familiar, it’s because that it has been done before and their inspiration comes from another drone that does a similar thing in the Netherlands.
Justin Boutilier, together with Professor Timothy Chan, Director of the Centre for Healthcare Engineering at U of T, and Professor Angela Schoellig aim to use these drones to save lives by delivering these AEDs directly to people’s homes.
Arresting Cardiac Arrest
This project came about due to research conducted by Chan that shows how 85 percent of cardiac arrests happen outside hospitals and the AEDs are hard to reach by people during off-hours. According to Boutilier, “For those arrests, the public AEDs are not useful because it’s hard to get to them in time. It’s also not cost effective to put AEDs everywhere in the suburbs.”The latest Wisconsin recall drive could apparently be named “Anybody but Walker.”
Democrats have not yet found a candidate to oppose Gov. Scott Walker (R), but they are pressing ahead with their campaign to recall him. A petition drive begins Tuesday. The campaign marks the continued fallout from the controversial 2011 bill that stripped most public employee unions of their collective-bargaining rights.
The recall drive could be fraught with difficulties for both sides. Democrats will have to be wary of blaming Governor Walker for the troubled economy, given that they will have to defend President Obama against the same charge.
Meanwhile, Walker must attempt to head off any perception that he is a lame-duck governor, or momentum against him could build, says Paul Maslin, a Democratic pollster who worked for former California Gov. Gray Davis (D), who was recalled in 2003.
The recall effort launches a week after voters in Ohio repealed a similar but harsher collective-bargaining law. The repeal has galvanized anti-Walker forces in Wisconsin, which has long been seen as ground zero for the broader Republican push to curtail union rights as a way to trim state budgets.
In a preview of the campaign against Walker, state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate wrote in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Walker’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign was deceptive.
Once in office, he said, Walker violated “the public’s trust by ramming through legislation that degrades the state’s standards and traditions, shows increasingly bad management skills and panders to special interests at the expense of the people.”
Walker became eligible for a recall this month because it marks the beginning of Walker’s second year in office, and Wisconsin law bans recalling governors during their first year. To get a recall election on the ballot, opponents need 540,208 signatures – or one-quarter of the 2 |
conversation [with Bush] any time soon," he said. "I don't need to ask forgiveness from him. My comments are sincere and honest and absolutely the truth from my perspective."
Speaking with Cooper, McClellan responded to one of the harshest criticisms he faced this week, from former senator and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole.
Dole reportedly sent McClellan an e-mail saying every presidential administration has "miserable creatures like you... who don't have the guts to speak up or quit if there are disagreements with the boss or colleagues."
The message accuses McClellan of reveling in the attention he received at the White House then cashing in with his book.
"I have great respect for Sen. Dole -- he's a great public servant and someone who has served in the military as well and someone who actually did try to work across the aisle with Democratic leaders at times, back before things got so bitterly partisan in Washington, D.C.," McClellan said.
"But I would encourage him to see what I say in the book before he makes those comments."
McClellan told CNN that reports the publisher of his book doesn't pay higher than six-figure advances to its authors is "an accurate account of things" but wouldn't say exactly how much of an advance he was paid.
"When people say, 'He's out there to make a profit,' one, they don't know me or my upbringing and my reasoning. They haven't had a chance to read the book," he said. "Two, they don't know ["What Happened" publisher] Public Affairs and the kind of publisher that they are."
CNN's Ed Hornick, Rebecca Sinderbrand and Alexander Mooney contributed to this report.
All About Scott McClellan • The White HouseHow many mornings have you woken up somewhere south of 1 p.m., last night’s booze still oozing through your pores, and opened your Instagram only to be shamed by image after image of people’s early morning 12-mile training runs? How many Turkey Trots, charity 5K’s, triathlons, and company runs have you beheld? And what about all the offensively long-winded posts and tweets about #fitspo and motivation and personal records that you’ve dutifully read and then left a rah-rah, supportive comment on, when all you were really thinking was Please stop, please but also What does this level of commitment and hard work feel like?
Well, here we are, staring down peak “talking about running” time: the eve of the New York Marathon. This year, instead of being left out, maybe it’s time to get a return on all those years of secretly bitter goodwill gestures. Don’t worry, I am not suggesting you actually run. I am suggesting you weave an elaborate web of lies to deceive your loved ones and thereby get all the perks, adoration, and admiration that come with running without having to run.
And yes, while we could just fake some 5K, with the New York City Marathon happening this Sunday, it seems like the perfect time to make a commitment, push ourselves, take it to the limit, and go big or go home.
Thursday:
1. Send out a reminder email to a select group of friends. The idea is not to fool everyone you know, just enough people that it will spread around convincingly. Make this reminder email seem like just one of several marathon-related emails you’ve sent in the past couple of months — people will assume they’ve ignored you for months or perhaps thought about donating and then forgot. They will open this last email because they feel slightly guilty, but not guilty enough to want to give money or show up at the finish line.
Here’s a template:
Subject: Reminder: NY Marathon! :)
Hey guys! Sorry for another mass email! I just wanted to remind you that I’m running the NYC marathon this Sunday, November 1. I’ve committed to running 26.2 miles because I want to support an organization near and dear to my heart. This seemed like a great opportunity to raise some money for them, get in shape, and eat a lot of carbs.
Thanks to all those who donated! And for the rest of you bums, I hope your drunken Halloween festivities don’t keep you from waking up bright and early to cheer me on. If your hangover doesn’t permit you to be a good friend (LOL! JK) come to [INSERT YOUR FAVORITE BAR AND GRILL] at 7 p.m. — and help me celebrate.
Thank you so much for your support!
It is crucial to use BCC. And do not include an actual donation link; we’re just trying to lie convincingly, not steal people’s money.
2. Start turning down all workout invitations: spin class, acro-yoga, water ballet with a “Sorry, I’m tapering! Running the marathon.”
3. Turn down all invitations to eat non-carb food by saying “I’m carbo-loading!” or “Can’t meet for Ethiopian, don’t want to mess with my stomach so close to the race!” Or “Sorry I can’t come to your macrobiotic, gluten-free vegan dinner party! Don’t want to crap my pants on Sunday! Running the marathon.”
Friday:
1. Continue to turn down all non-running workouts, all late-night events (“Sorry, can’t hang. Need lots of rest! Running the marathon, did I mention?”), and dinners at restaurants that aren’t pasta-heavy. (“Sorry! Gotta carbo-load! Running the marathon, didn’t you see my email?)
2. If you haven’t already, start posting things on social media about how grueling your training has been and how thrilled you are to be “this close to the finish line (pun intended!).” Go long, really long. Longer than a divorce rant but not as long as a racist diatribe — the longer it is the less likely people are to read it.
Alternately, just tweet or Instagram some really moving fitspo photos with motivational quotes, e.g.:
Photo-Illustration: Corbis
3. If you lack advanced Photoshop skills, hire a TaskTabbit to Photoshop your head onto the body of a marathon runner from last year. Note: They do change the image so try and make sure the bib is obscured or the runner is bent over in exhaustion — that looks cooler anyway. It might seem extreme, but I promise this will pay off later.
4. Eat some carbs. Lots of carbs. Make sure people know how many carbs you are eating. Carbs.
Saturday:
1. Wake up. Post a long Facebook message about pre-race-day jitters and taking a day off of running for “the first time in so long.” Hashtag everything #nycmarathon #nymarathon #runlife #runner.
2. Ask a friend to spend the day with you. Go for a big pancake breakfast and take her to REI to watch you stock up on Clif Gel, BodyGlide, blister treatments, compression socks, Epsom salts, and maybe some new workout leggings as a post-race treat. The whole day, say things like: “I really just want to finish. If I’m feeling good, maybe I’ll go for a PR.” Ask her if she wants to see all the Nike Runs you’ve clocked. She will not.
Saturday Night:
1. Make yourself an entire lasagna with a side of garlic bread and a pan of brownies for dessert. Commit: Instagram it, brag about it, eat it all, and enjoy it. #Carboloading #bigdayprep #marathon #runlife.
2. It’s Halloween, so make sure that while your friends are getting turnt up, you’re very publicly turning down. Send some sad “OMG FOMO” texts, but stop at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday
1. Wake up early. Put on all your workout clothes. Make sure you are wearing an appropriate assortment of gear. (See: slideshow for proper attire.) Extra points for Marathon-themed nail art and eye-catching hair accessories because you want your friends to be able to spot you. Make sure you post an Instagram by 8 a.m. Use the caption: “I had my coffee and I’m ready to go! [poop-emoji]. Good-luck ritual! [winky-face emoji]”
2. Now that the evidence is planted, do all the normal activities you would while in your workout clothes: Go eat some free samples at the Trader Joe’s, get a bacon, egg, and cheese, see a matinee. Assuming you’re in Wave 4, your start time is 11 a.m. You’ve got some time before you’re expected to end the race and I hear Burnt is quite delightful.
3. Five hours and 23 minutes later, post your commissioned Photoshop job to all social-media platforms with the caption “VICTORY!!!!! So proud of myself! Can’t believe I accomplished this. I’m hurting today! The pain will fade, but the feeling of accomplishment I have right now won’t. I can’t believe I did it!” (Continue to post it randomly for Throwback Thursdays over the next year.)
“No pain, no gain!!” Photo-Illustration: Corbis, Courtesy of Allison Davis
4. Attend your post-victory party! Don’t forget to sell the pain to your friends: Do not bend your knees under any circumstances, grimace when you lower yourself into any chair, walk like a penguin. Ideally, you’ll have scoured Twitter for other people’s marathon experiences to repurpose as your own, but if not just say things like: “I knew I had it in me, I just needed to have a good day” (i.e., the right weather, precise amount of carbs the day before) or “I didn’t PR but I still finished and got a medal — there’ll be another one!” or “I didn’t get a negative split like I’d hoped, I totally bonked!”
Mention your bloody blisters. A lot.
5. Bask in the glow of a job well done.
Running Shoes
Ahem, not “sneakers.” The most important item for passing. Marathoners love Asics; these will instantly make you look credible.
Non-Cotton Socks
Second-most important: the other thing that goes on your feet. No marathoner would dare wear cotton for fear of blisters.
Pants With Storage
This pair has a three-pocket waistband and two side pockets to hold all of your snacks…err, energy gels.
Dark Wicking T-shirt
The perfect color for hiding sweat, and the small detail that you are not sweaty.
GPS Watch
Garmin is the gold standard in GPS watches. And, yes, you know there are clocks on the course but you want to clock your mile splits like you did in training.
Hat
Your hair is sooo gross and sweaty under this hat.
Running Belt
Armbands can chafe your pits but this belt will hold your phone securely around your hips. Bonus points for mounting a vigorous defense that it is not a fanny pack.
Handheld Water Bottle
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.The Dalai Lama has some very insightful verses. I’ve gathered my favorite quotes from the Tibetan leader about a variety of topics such as love, compassion, peace, humanity, violence, and the environment. It’s a very interesting read. Enjoy 😉 :
1- Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.
2- If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them.
3- If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
4- My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.
5- Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
6- The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s own reason and critical analysis.
7- We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.
8- We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
9- Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
10- If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.
11- If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love others. You will not be able to love others. If you have no compassion for yourself then you are not able of developing compassion for others.
12- Human potential is the same for all. Your feeling, “I am of no value”, is wrong. Absolutely wrong. You are deceiving yourself. We all have the power of thought – so what are you lacking? If you have willpower, then you can change anything. It is usually said that you are your own master.
13- We must recognize that the suffering of one person or one nation is the suffering of humanity. That the happiness of one person or nation is the happiness of humanity.
14- Through violence, you may ‘solve’ one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.
15- As people alive today, we must consider future generations: a clean environment is a human right like any other. It is therefore part of our responsibility toward others to ensure that the world we pass on is as healthy, if not healthier, than we found it.
16- To conquer oneself is a greater victory than to conquer thousands in a battle.
17- There is a saying in Tibetan, “Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.”
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.
18- The creatures that inhabit this earth-be they human beings or animals-are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.
19- A spoon cannot taste of the food it carries. Likewise, a foolish man cannot understand the wise man´s wisdom even if he associates with a sage.
20- In our struggle for freedom, truth is the only weapon we possess.
You may also be interested in this quick post I wrote a while back about a few verses from the Dalai Lama: Verses For Training The MindOver the past several weeks we’ve been hearing nothing but heat from the lyricists known as Madchild. Today the wordsmith returns, again with his uncanny and impressive talents behind the mic, providing something you shouldn’t be sleeping on. Madchild’s latest is called “Meat Knife” which finds the wordsmith doing his thing over top of some impressive production from C-Lance.
Driven by some intense and catching drum work, the percussion is matched flawlessly with some slick melodies. The track comes together to make a nice home for Madchild to do his thing, and as expected he doesn’t disappoint. Check out the new track in the stream below and let us know your thoughts in the comments. Look for Madchild’s new album ‘The Darkest Hour’ to drop on July 28th and pre-order now on iTunes!
New Music, Madchild, Meat KnifeWhat a nice boy. After stealing a Porsche Cayman and more than $200,000 in cash from a Florida man with his friends, a Fort Lauderdale teen used the money to buy his mother a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, he told police.
15-year-old Jeremiah Laplace and five other teenagers snuck into a house in a well-to-do part of North Hutchinson Island near Vero Beach before dawn on April 27th, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office said according to the Miami Herald, driving up in a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe and knocking on doors until they found an empty house. Once inside, the teens made off with a safe filled with cash, multiple firearms, and the white 2014 Porsche Cayman found at the home, police said.
In the following days, Laplace used the money to buy a Hellcat for his mother, as well as give her $40,000 in cash, he told authorities. But the teenager also treated himself to a Mercedes-Benz C300, a gold bracelet, a gold chain, and a set of permanent gold teeth, Laplace told the cops.
The Porsche was found in Delray Beach a few days after the robbery with the keys inside, according to the Herald.
Five of the six teens involved confessed their involvement in the robbery after being picked up by authorities in connection with other crimes, the Herald reported. Police said the group had committed similar crimes in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.Janine Jackson interviewed Phyllis Bennis about Trump’s Jerusalem move for the December 15, 2017, episode of CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript.
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Janine Jackson: Donald Trump’s decision to officially “recognize” Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, including possibly moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv, was widely reported as a surprising break with previous US policy. Not surprising in that overturning previous policy is Trump’s favorite thing, but perhaps in its potential to stir up questions that US policy and media often artfully avoid.
Here to help us with some context for this recent move is Phyllis Bennis. She directs the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies; author of many titles, including Understanding the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, now in its sixth, updated edition. She joins us by phone from Washington, DC. Welcome back to CounterSpin, Phyllis Bennis.
Phyllis Bennis: Good to be with you.
JJ: We know Trump hates to do what previous presidents have done, but previous administrations have managed to maintain utter fealty to Israel, while still avoiding this particular tinderbox, as they say. So why do you think, in general terms, Trump is making this move?
PB: I think, first of all, we should recognize that so far, despite the very provocative announcement about the intention of moving the embassy in the future, and right now recognizing Jerusalem, it didn’t actually change anything on the ground.
Despite US claims that settlements in Jerusalem, for instance, are an obstacle to peace, something like that, the US has done nothing over the years to prevent settlement construction in Jerusalem, to protect Palestinians living in Jerusalem, who, of course, are not considered citizens of Israel. They can vote only in municipal elections, not in national elections; they don’t have the rights of citizenship.
So it’s not as much of a diversion from earlier US policy as one might think. It is, of course, very provocative, and I think the immediate reason for it had to do with the deadline that came up last week. Every six months, by law, the US president is required to either move the embassy, or certify to Congress that they are not moving the embassy because it’s not in the US national interest. When Congress passed the law back in 1995, they basically gave the president an out, because even these hard-core Israel supporters in the US Congress recognized that this was a really stupid thing to do.
JJ: Right.
PB: It would be really provocative in the region, in the world, it would isolate the US, all those reasons. So they wrote into the law a way out. They wrote in a waiver that every six months, the president can simply sign off and say, I support this, this is great, but I’m not going to do it, because it’s not good for US national security.
JJ: Right.
PB: Trump did that six months ago, signed the waiver. And in fact, this time around he did also, saying that it will take years to build a new, great embassy, an embassy that’s going to make us great again. Right? So in that context, it wasn’t such a huge deal, but he had to do something that week. That was the deadline.
And that’s where you get to the question of his relationship to his base, which includes a very big component of right-wing Christian Zionists, Evangelical Christian Zionists, who have been pushing for a long time for this symbolic claim, for the US to give Jerusalem to Israel, or as the Evangelicals would see it, give Jerusalem to the Jews. That was really what was at stake here for Trump, was that part of his political base.
And there was always the matter of Sheldon Adelson, his top funder, top supporter, a longtime supporter of Israel, very supportive of the right wing within Israel, supportive of the settler movement, and he was also getting very impatient with Trump, and putting the squeeze on and saying, when are you going to do this? You promised to do this, you said in your campaign you’re going to do this; it’s about time, you should do this.
JJ: Right.
PB: So all of that was in play when this deadline came up. It took place, though—and this is what I think is a little trickier, Janine, because there’s a part of it that is kind of counterintuitive. It took place in a moment when there was this regional realignment going on, and that’s what makes this a little bit harder to figure out, a little bit harder to understand, unless we take the position, as many do, that there is no strategic approach in this White House, and they’re just lashing out and taking positions without much consideration of the aftermath, which may well be the case.
JJ: Right.
PB: Because what we’re looking at in the region is this situation where the US interest, led by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Trump, who’s been leading this so-called Middle East initiative, his big regional initiative is to build a coalition against Iran, and his co-conspirator in that effort is the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, who’s widely known as MBS. So the two crown princes, if you will, they’ve established this little bromance. Jared’s been running off to Saudi Arabia several times, he’s been there I think four times in the last few months, spending a lot of time with the prince. They’ve closeted themselves out in some ranch to talk until four in the morning, figuring out strategy, and what they’re trying to do is figure out a way to bring Saudi Arabia and Israel together to lead this anti-Iran coalition.
That would be really hard for Saudi Arabia, because they’ve kind of claimed their political legitimacy partly by opposing Israel. So it’s never been real, the government in Saudi Arabia has wanted for a long time to normalize relations with Tel Aviv, but they couldn’t ever be public about it. So the goal, part of the reason they wanted to have an Israeli/Palestinian peace process underway, was precisely so they could tell the population of Saudi Arabia: You see, everything’s OK now. The Palestinians aren’t being oppressed anymore, we don’t have to worry about the Palestinians now, they’re all OK, we can go on to the big target, which is Iran. And we’ll get Israel in there with us.
By taking this position on Jerusalem, they made that much, much harder. It’s going to be almost impossible, right now at least, for the government in Saudi Arabia to convince its population that there’s a peace process underway that’s serious, that the Palestinians are doing fine, that the Palestinians support this. It’s going to make that almost impossible. So that’s the part that doesn’t have a real answer, about how did the timing of this play out.
JJ: Right.
PB: It’s become much more complicated than it might have been.
JJ: It’s also hard to understand, just from the perspective of citizen media-consumer, because there are so many kind of scrims of reality.
PB: Exactly.
JJ: There are things that we say we’re doing, but we’re not really doing. Well, one thing, in terms of just the way media construct the story, you and others have suggested that if this, minimally, does in the idea of the US as the “honest broker,” that that might be not for the worst.
PB: Yeah, that’s an interesting part of it. You do hear this all the time, even from commentators and journalists who absolutely know better, but they fall into this trap somehow of saying, “Well, this is the end of the US role as the honest broker.” You want to shake them and say, when was the US ever an honest broker?
I mean—and this isn’t just my opinion, as a critic of US foreign policy or a critic of Israel. Aaron David Miller, one of the long-time negotiators from the State Department, who was part of these various failed negotiation processes for 25 years, who’s basically—his credential now, he’s on TV all the time, his credential is, I’ve been part of these negotiations for 25 years. You want to say well, yeah, but you failed for 25 years, why are you still talking?
JJ: Right.
PB: But he wrote in his book about how the US team always acted as, quote, “Israel’s lawyers.”
That was his words, not mine.
JJ: Right.
PB: So — and that’s not exactly secret, he’s one of the most popular, sought-after pundits in DC. So what does it mean that people still keep saying, “The US is an honest broker, but this puts that at risk”? Well, the US wasn’t an honest broker, so there’s nothing at risk here. And you’re right that if this leads to a recognition among parts of the press that were never willing to acknowledge it before that, no, the US is not an honest broker, that’s not a bad thing for people to start recognizing.
I think, unfortunately, there are an awful lot of people in this country who kind of equate the idea that the US calls the meetings, the US decides who to invite, who gets to sit at the table, the shape of the table, all those things. That gets equated with being a, quote, “honest broker,” which people somehow seem to think means being evenhanded, supporting equality between the two sides. And it doesn’t.
I mean, on one level you can say, yeah, the US is an honest broker, the way a real estate broker is an honest broker working for one side.
JJ: Right.
PB: They may be honest, but they’re working for one side, just like the US.
JJ: We’ve been speaking with Phyllis Bennis. She directs the New Internationalism Project at the Institute for Policy Studies. Her article, “The Far-Reaching Risks of Trump’s Jerusalem Decision,” can be found on Common Dreams. Phyllis Bennis, thank you so much for joining us this week on CounterSpin.
PB: Thank you, Janine. It’s been a pleasure.Yale's dinosaurs to get straightend out A switch to 'dynamic' poses, officials say
The dinosaur hall at the Peabody Museum in New Haven will be shut down for two years for renovations beginning in January 2014, when mounts like the Apatosaurus will be repositioned to have their tails in the air, reflecting the current scientific consensus. less The dinosaur hall at the Peabody Museum in New Haven will be shut down for two years for renovations beginning in January 2014, when mounts like the Apatosaurus will be repositioned to have their tails in the... more Photo: Brian A. Pounds Buy photo Photo: Brian A. Pounds Image 1 of / 8 Caption Close Yale's dinosaurs to get straightend out 1 / 8 Back to Gallery
NEW HAVEN -- Dinosaurs have been slouching about and walking the wrong way in Connecticut since at least 1946.
But their posture is about to change. The Yale Peabody Museum's Great Hall of Dinosaurs is going to close for two years for a $30 million renovation that includes remounting all of its fossil skeletons in more life-like poses -- the way scientists now believe thunder lizards roamed and even scampered over the earth.
No longer will the prehistoric monsters be lumbering "tail draggers." Instead, their bones will convey a sinuous sense of life and movement.
"The Great Hall is pretty much the same as it was in 1946," said Peabody Director Derek E.G. Briggs. "The poses of the dinosaurs are now very static -- not very dynamic -- so we want to make them appear much more active."
The changes include the realignment of the huge Apatosaurus bones so its massive ladder-like tail trails erect behind the creature, rather than flopping on the floor.
Other large dinosaurs in the hall will receive similar back and bone treatments. Some might appear to be guarding a clutch of eggs, Briggs said. Others will be under attack by predators.
Gone will be the robust I-beams and plumbing pipe that now support the more massive bones.
"That's how they did things back in the 1940s," when the dinosaurs were assembled in the Great Hall, Briggs said.
In addition, floors will be shored up and upper-level walkways will be constructed so visitors will have a better perspective on the collections, he said.
"It was in the 1970s, thanks to the work of Yale's John Ostrom, that paleontologists began thinking differently about how dinosaurs appeared in life," said Gina Gould, curator of science at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, where the "Chianasaurs: Dinosaurs from China" exhibit will be on display until April 21. That exhibit includes replicas of giant dinosaur skeletons in the now accepted and more realistic poses.
The Great Hall, built in 1925, has delighted countless children, adults and teachers alike over the decades. But its skeleton mounts have long been thought to be inaccurate because it's now known that large plant-eating sauropods like the Apatosaurus typically held their tails aloft while walking.
Hundreds of new fossils, most already in the Peabody's collection, will be added to the two rooms, too, Briggs said.
The stegosaurus will be moved to the front of the hall, but this time it'll be under attack from a small carnivorous dinosaur.
"All of our mounts are actual fossils -- not reproductions -- and I suspect that not everyone knows that," Briggs said.
The Great Hall is also home to scores of other fossils, too, including Stegosaurus, the mammal-like reptile Edaphosaurus and the huge sea turtle Archelon.
Along the far wall are the small but still terrifying Deinonychus, or "terrible claw" dinosaurs, that used to hunt in packs and appeared as the vicious, meat-eating "velociraptors" in the movie "Jurassic Park."
There are also displays of long-extinct fish and amphibians.
The Apatosaurus used to be more popularly known as a "Brontosaurus" until it was renamed in the 1980s, reflecting current thinking on the naming of the species. They grew up to 75 feet in length, and weighed in at 35 tons.
Museum officials expect that the work, which starts in 2014, will be completed in time for the Peabody's 150th anniversary in 2016. About 150,000 people visit the museum every year, and just about all of them head straight for the Great Hall.
"But all of this is contingent on raising the money," said Briggs, adding that prospective donors will find a way to give on the Peabody's website.
The room is also famous for Rudolph F. Zallinger's Pulitzer prize-winning, 110-foot mural, "The Age of Reptiles," which depicts the evolution of terrestrial vertebrates and plants on a panoramic timeline of 350 million years, from the Devonian to the Cretaceous, with large trees separating the geologic periods. The mural, completed in 1946, took more than four years to complete. It has even been featured on U.S. postage stamps and made the cover of Life on Sept. 7, 1953.
Gould said that Ostrom and other paleontologists rewrote the book on dinosaurs over the last 40 years as the slow-moving, stomping picture of the animals was questioned.
A number of other museums have already restructured their dinosaur mounts to reflect thinking that abandons the tail-dragger model. The American Museum of Natural History, for example, remounted some, but not all, of its skeletons for its Hall of Ornithischian Dinosaurs and the Hall of Saurichian Dinosaurs, a project that was completed in 1995.
The change was needed because the evidence was incontrovertible.
"They started finding more well-preserved dinosaurs with rope-like tendons that ran from the back to the tail, which would have made the tail completely erect," Gould said.
She also noted that the bones themselves, whose shapes offer a road map of how the tendons, muscles and ligaments were attached, also support a more dynamic posture.
Furthermore, modern birds offer evidence of how some dinosaurs were put together, as birds are the direct descendants of dinosaurs.
Gould notes that mounting an actual large dinosaur fossil is difficult, exacting work, owing to the sheer mass of the fossilized bones, which are, in essence, rock. This rock is also quite fragile.
"Rock doesn't bend," she wrily notes.
This is why the traveling Chinasaur exhibit does not have actual fossils, but rather is made of cast polymer reproductions.
"If they were the real thing, we'd have to shore up our floor -- it would be like parking four cars in there," she said. "A fossilized T-Rex head would be a thousand pounds."
jburgeson@ctpost.com; 203-330-6403; http://twitter.com/johnburgesonDon Marquis and Michael Tooley
Don Marquis (left) and Michael Tooley (right) on abortion and personhood.
According to Tooley, abortion is morally permissible: a fetus is not a person, so it cannot have a right to continued existence. To support his view, he defends a neo-Lockean account of personhood grounded in psychological continuity. Against Tooley, Marquis defends an animalistic view of personhood, and argues that most instances of abortion are wrong for the same reason that killing you or me would be wrong: an abortion deprives a fetus of a future of value.
Related works
by Marquis:
“Abortion and the Beginning and End of Human Life” (2006)
“A Defense of the Potential Future of Value Theory” (2002)
“Why Abortion is Immoral” (1989)
by Tooley:
Abortion: Three Perspectives (2009)
“Abortion and Infanticide” (1972)
See also:
Christopher Kaczor, The Ethics of Abortion (2010)
David Boonin, A Defense of Abortion (2002)
Baird and Rosenbaum (eds.), The Ethics of Abortion (2001)
Frances Kamm, Creation and Abortion (1992)
Alastair Norcross, “Killing, Abortion, and Contraception: A Reply to Marquis” (1990)
Judith Thomson, “A Defense of Abortion” (1971)This is the Veyron of aeroplanes. It’s 900bhp, 500mph racing-thing, designed by Ettore Bugatti back in the Thirties, and it’s about to fly for the very first time.
See, the eponymous Bugatti founder penned the 100P to compete in then-famous plane race, the Deutsch de la Merthe Cup (a sort of aeronautical speedway race around Paris), planning to fit it with two 4.9-litre, straight-eight engines with 450 horsepower each. Good, Ettore thought, for 500mph.
Then, in June 1940, World War Two got in the way and Ettore stopped work on the 100P, hiding it from the German military. Though it survived the war, it wasn’t fit for flight and never reached the sky.
Until 2009, when Californians John Lawson and Simon Birney decided to build an exact replica, incorporating elements of the five patents that Bugatti was originally awarded for the 100P. And now the plane is ready for its inaugural voyage, planned for March 25 in Oxnard, California.
Even if you’re not a plane nerd you’ll notice that it looks properly futuristic for, well, anything from the gramophone age. There’s the two counter-rotating props mounted in tandem, V-shaped tail, forward-pitched wings and it has a zero-drag cooling system. Only James May can explain what this actually means, but very impressive nonetheless.
Want to see VeyronPlane up close? Go to the Art of Bugatti exhibition at the Mullin Automotive Museum, California, opening March this year.The growth of these sites has been phenomenal. Shortly after its purchase by Amazon in the spring of last year, Goodreads announced it had 20 million users. Whether this is an amelioration or a reflection of an increasingly atomized culture is a question that can be filed in the same drawer as Facebook friending or dating on Match.com. Certainly the range of collective knowledge in pools of this size is incontestable. But it derives from self-selecting volunteers whose authority is hard to gauge. And though the overall network is vast, recommendations are generally exchanged within tight circles of friends. This results in another typical Internet characteristic: the “mirroring” of existing tastes at the expense of discovering anything new.
THERE are many who will not mourn the displacement of literary culture’s traditional elite, dominated as it was by white, middle-aged men of comfortable means and conservative taste. Jeff Bezos, the C.E.O. of Amazon, aimed to exploit such disillusion with the old ways when announcing the launch of Kindle Direct. The self-publishing e-book program would, he claimed, produce “a more diverse book culture” with “no expert gatekeepers saying ‘sorry, that will never work.’ ” But to express discomfort at the attrition of expert opinion is not to defend the previous order’s prerogatives. Nor is it elitist to suggest that making the values and personnel of such professional hierarchies more representative is preferable to dispensing with them.
On the desolate beach that is the lot of the contemporary book reader, the footprints of one companion can still be found. They belong to the writer, who needs the reader not just to pay her or his wages but also to give meaning to their words. As John Cheever put it: “I can’t write without a reader. It’s precisely like a kiss — you can’t do it alone.”
The troubling thought occurs, however, that this last remaining cohabitant may also be about to depart the island. With falling advances, writing is evermore dominated by people who don’t need it to earn a living: Tenured academics and celebrities spring to mind. For these groups, burnishing a résumé or marketing a brand is often as important as satisfying the reader.
And then there are the hobbyists, those for whom writing is primarily an act of self-expression. This past November, National Novel Writing Month |
me for over 90 minutes and went over technique.”
Minoru Suzuki Likes to Hurt People
Suzuki’s love of hurting people hasn’t slowed any since he retired from MMA to focus more on pro-wrestling. As Don Callis would attest on his podcast this week, he is legitimately scared of getting hurt by Suzuki while commentating.
“I avoid eye contact. Also in the back, I avoid eye contact. The last time I saw him he gave me the stare and I just went ‘oh god” and then he just started laughing at me. I have seen him thrust kick the Japanese ring announcer out of his chair for absolutely no reason. He just sees the guy and boom he kicks him and the guy’s like in the 3rd row. So I have no doubt that if he was in a bad mood or thought it would be something fun or interesting to do that he would do that or much worse to me.”
As of this writing, Suzuki has not managed to get Callis just yet. Suzuki normally takes out his aggression on the young lions, but a few innocent bystanders tend to get hurt from time to time.
Minoru Suzuki vs. Cody
Minoru Suzuki is by far the greatest threat Cody has faced for his ROH world championship. No offense to Christopher Daniels, but Minoru Suzuki has the ability to stretch Cody to where he ends up a foot taller after.
Even if Cody walks away still the champion, he won’t walk away injury free.
Cody vs. Minoru Suzuki for the ROH World championship headlines Death Before Dishonor XV Friday night from Las Vegas. The show will be available via IPPV on the FITE App.Harrison County Sheriff’s Dept. car (Photo: File photo )
PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. — A Pass Christian man is in the hospital after being shot in the face.
Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson tells media outlets that the victim, whose identity has not been released, was driving his vehicle in Pass Christian and was sideswiped by another car Saturday night. The victim then turned his car around and followed the vehicle that hit him.
Peterson says the two cars came to a stop at an intersection before the suspect got out of his vehicle and shot the victim in the face.
The victim was taken to a hospital.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Harrison County Sheriff's Department.
Read or Share this story: http://on.thec-l.com/2167LRPKim Kallstrom thinks his experience can help Arsenal achieve their targets this season.
The Swede made his first start for the club in Tuesday's 3-1 win over West Ham and proved to be a calming influence alongside Mikel Arteta in the Gunners' midfield.
Arsene Wenger described Kallstrom as an "intelligent player" when he joined Arsenal on loan from Spartak Moscow and the 31-year-old is keen to repay the faith Wenger has shown in him.
"When I stepped on the pitch I felt quite comfortable"
"I think that my experience is one of the reasons why he bought me here," Kallstrom said. "I have some experience and I felt quite comfortable going into my first game.
"I was waiting for this moment for quite some time. I had some time to prepare physically to be ready for the Premier League. It's nice to complete a game, it's a long time since I played so it was a nice moment for me.
"We got the win that we really needed to get back in a new pace for the final four games."
Kallstrom spent two months on the sidelines with a back injury before making his debut against Swansea City in March. The midfielder says it was frustrating to be out for a lengthy period but admits it allowed him to settle into his new surroundings.
"Obviously I came here and I was injured so I had quite some time to get to know the players," he said. "
"When I stepped on the pitch I felt quite comfortable. Even though I haven't played a lot with the other players, I have seen them in the dressing room and I have been speaking with them a lot so I was confident.
"There's always pressure on us and it doesn't matter if you are the only signing. That's part of the game and in top sport nowadays, the pressure is great and you have to be performing.
"I've been working hard, I felt I was well prepared for the game so I didn't feel I had much to lose."When I began my medical career more than two decades ago, people were already very concerned about the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. However, as much as everyone knew medical costs were high, no one in my profession seemed to know why. None of my colleagues could answer even simple questions about what, specifically, was costing so much. This seemed to be a real problem: how could we begin to control these costs, if even the people in the field didn’t know what they were?
Why didn’t we know? To start with, unlike any other business in America, almost all of the financial transactions in healthcare are hidden from the providers as well as the patients. We order tests, procedures and medications to manage our patients, but very few doctors, or other healthcare providers, have any idea how much any of those things cost. Patients only rarely pay directly for these services and payment for any service varies substantially from different payers. Hospitals have separate billing departments that are far removed from anyone ordering or performing tests or procedures. No one directly involved with patient care has any notion of the charge or reimbursement for their service. Even most private doctor’s offices contract billing companies, who just send them a check each month from the total amount collected, leaving them no notion of the actual charge or reimbursement for an individual service they provided.What do student loans, the 2008 bank bailout and credit card debt have in common? They all have cost Americans dearly. What are their differences? In America, if you are a banker on Wall Street that crashes the global economy or a person who cannot pay off their credit card bill, we’ll bail you out and forgive you for your sins. If, however, you are a college graduate with student loan debt:
2008 Wall Street Bailout
During the most recent financial crisis there were a number of players involved. This was the perfect storm where willful ignorance and overconfidence that the fast rising market would never crash, combined with good old fashioned American greed to create one of the worst financial crises in history. There were warnings of a storm off the horizon, and much like a hurricane, those who heard the warnings could have prevented catastrophic loss by boarding up their financial “windows.” Instead, they looked to the sky and thought about how it had not rained on Wall Street for over a decade, and it was unlikely to ever rain again.
In 2008, our government approved a tax-payer-financed-bailout plan to save huge, unregulated banks that gutted private and public sector retirement accounts and made speculative bets against everyday Americans’ ability to pay their mortgages just to make a profit. By the time all relief programs had been rolled out by the federal government, the total estimated cost of the Wall Street bailout was $14.4 trillion. And although most banks who took bailout money have paid back the government back, those payments are merely a drop in the bucket.
What exactly did Wall Street do that almost tanked the global financial markets? The answer is relatively complex, but not impossible, so I will attempt to break it down here.
First, America was in a pattern of stable growth and low interest rates. This seems to have caused the old white guys on Wall Street to have a false sense of security and banks began handing out mortgages to millions of people who would not otherwise qualify for the amount borrowed. In other words, if you make $50,000/year, you probably cannot afford a $300,000 house. During this time, though, variable interest rates on mortgages were at an all-time low. But the problem with variable interest rates is that they vary! As interest rates rose, more and more people could not afford the mortgage payment that they never should have been approved for in the first place.
Next, in an effort to continue the American tradition of making something out of nothing, financial experts began “pooling” these bad mortgages together with other mortgages. It was like a Goldie Locks-type of arrangement. The pools of mortgages were then used to secure collateralized debt obligations (the details of which are not important for our discussion) and divided into tranches of (1) the risk and the likelihood of default is too high; a.k.a. the soup is too hot; (2) the risk is a little lower, but the return is not expected to be high enough, a.k.a. the soup is too cold; and (3) the risk of default looks low, but the returns look high, a.k.a. the soup is just right.
What happened, though, was that although these tranches looked “just right,” nobody actually tasted the soup to see if that was true. Rather, they relied on a credit rating agency to tell them what kind of soup they were eating and if the temperature was appropriate. So, Wall Street, instead of trying the soup, opted to have it fed through a tube in their stomachs. They had no idea how hot or cold the soup was that was being pumped into their system. When they recommended the soup to other investors, the investors assumed that Wall Street had tested their soup. They themselves did not taste the soup; rather, more feeding tubes were inserted as the soup was passed around the market. This pattern flooded our markets and eventually, it turned out that the soup was not worth the ingredients used to make it. The soup was toxic.
As all of our soup connoisseurs began to realize that their soup was not worth a thing, they began taking out insurance policies to protect the value of their soup stockpiles called credit default swaps. Enter AIG. When it was discovered that the soup was worthless, AIG could not afford to pay all of the insurance accounts that now had a claim. There were too many people with spoiled soup. AIG did not have enough money to cover the tab. “In effect they had bet on themselves with borrowed money, a gamble that had paid off in good times but proved catastrophic in bad.”
This is not where our story ends, though. Uncle Sam rode in on a white horse and promised billions of tax payer dollars. Uncle Sam exclaimed,
“Old white men of Wall Street, it doesn’t matter what you do. We’ll bail you out, we’ll figure it out. We don’t care about all those you screwed. You’re too big to fail and we need you too much. We’ll front you some money to use as a crutch. The tax payers have your back, and we know they’ll agree, America: where white men can steal and get off scot-free.” ~Lindsey Mears, 2015
Crash the global economy with your greed? Forgiven.
Credit Card Debt in America
Credit card debt in the United States is valued at approximately $60 billion. What happens to ordinary American people who spend too much money on their credit cards and cannot pay it back? If you spend recklessly (or out of necessity) on your credit card, there are a variety of programs available in order to lower, and even absolve, your debt. You can renegotiate your interest rates, stop making monthly payments until the credit card company deems your account to be “uncollectible,” offer a settlement to your credit card company or collections agency, or file for bankruptcy and have your debt eliminated entirely. Sure, if you file for bankruptcy, your credit will be ruined for seven years and this is not something to take lightly. Compared to 25 years, however, it seems like a walk in the park.
Can’t afford your credit card payments? Forgiven.
The Hand That Holds Us Down
Federal student loan debt, on the other hand, can only be forgiven in four practical ways. I will cover the details of the various repayment options on student loans in a later post but the four following options have the most practical applicability for most students wanting to have their student loan debt forgiven.
1. Student loans may be forgiven after 10 years of public service work. Some of the jobs that qualify for this program are public school teachers, police officers, public defenders, etc.
2. Die. Death will absolve federal student loans (assuming your parents did not cosign).
3. A student can attempt to have her loans eliminated through the bankruptcy process. But unlike credit card debt, it is extremely difficult to have your student loan debt forgiven through bankruptcy. Unlike a bankruptcy proceeding involving credit card debt, however, in addition to filing for bankruptcy, a student must undertake another separate process for the discharge of her student loans. This increases the cost of the bankruptcy proceeding. Then, to make matters worse, the student must then show “undue hardship” to have their loans forgiven. Three factors are considered to show undue hardship.
If you are forced to repay the loan, you would not be able to maintain a minimal standard of living. There is evidence that this hardship will continue for a significant portion of the loan repayment period. You made good-faith efforts to repay the loan before filing bankruptcy (usually this means you have been in repayment for a minimum of five years).
The problems with this test are readily apparent. What is a “minimal standard of living,” who gets to decide what is minimally acceptable? What evidence can a person present that hardship will continue for a “significant portion of the loan repayment period”? What is significant and insignificant? Are we not just asking students to predict their own future? Finally, did you make a “good-faith effort” to repay your loan—for at least five years—before you filed for bankruptcy? Does that mean all of the payments have to be on time? Or, does that mean that you just really tried to make those payments for five years even if you never succeeded?
Each judge presented with these factors attempts to apply them with the best of their ability, but inconsistency is rampant in this area of the law. And some brave judges are writing new rules of their own. Unfortunately, it is still the rare exception and not the rule.
4. A student may switch to an income based repayment plan that forgives the remaining debt balance at the end of a 20-25 year repayment period. Even though these new repayment options have been touted by the Obama administration, this law does not do what you think.
If you still have a balance on your loans at the end of that term, you are taxed on the remaining balance, plus your income. Here is a great explanation of this phenomenon by Jantz Hoffman of Advantage Group, “Let’s say your debt has grown to $180,000 over 20 years, and by that point, you’re making $120,000[.] If $180,000 is being forgiven, then you are looking at paying taxes on $300,000 in total income in one year. At that point, you’re over the $250,000 income category, my friend.”
By using current tax rates, a single student who makes $120,000/year and has a remaining student loan balance of $180,000, that student’s out-of-pocket tax liability would be approximately $33,166. I married student’s tax burden would be approximately $39,710.
Remember, that on your $120,000 salary, you are having taxes withheld from your paycheck and most people do not owe more taxes in April. Instead, most Americans look forward to their tax refund every year. Thus, in addition to the taxes you have withheld every pay check, you would owe an additional $35,000+ in taxes the year that your student loans are finally “forgiven.” Who has that kind of cash lying around?
There is literally no escaping this debt for the majority of students. We came out of school in debt because we could not afford our tuition. If we cannot afford to pay off our loans we may have our balance “forgiven” so long as we follow the strict rules in place to achieve this goal. In the meantime, we will hope that we stay healthy, that we can continue to work. We will abstain from taking vacation and will work ourselves to the bone trying to make ends meet.
Then, if we can make it 20-25 years in this pattern without keeling over, the U.S. government will finally “forgive” our ballooned student loan balance. Then, to add insult to injury, the federal government will tax our forgiven balance as income.
The structure of this program tells you everything you need to know about the higher education crisis in America. A remaining student loan balance at the end of a 25-year repayment term–a quarter of a century–is a product of financial distress over a 20-25 year period. We have millions of college students that will still be paying their student loans off well into their forties and fifties. How can we expect them to ever save for retirement, raise children, invest in real estate and purchase more than bare essentials?
If we finally get desperate enough and file for bankruptcy, we run the risk of ruining our credit scores and walking out of the court room with an unchanged student loan balance. Where else do you go if you have already been through the arduous process of bankruptcy to find relief? A judge has decided you are not suffering quite enough yet to be forgiven for your crime of seeking an education. Don’t let the door hit ya’ where the good Lord split ya’.
How Big is this Problem?
Student loan debt in America is estimated to exceed $1.2 trillion and the cost of college tuition is still rising at an alarming rate. To illustrate how obscene that number is, credit card debt in this country is equal to 5% of $1.2 trillion. If we invested in bailing out all Americans with student loans, it would cost approximately 8% of the total price of the Wall Street bailout.
They may not be able to put you in jail for defaulting on your student loans, but in America needing help to pay for a college education is an offense punishable by a lifetime of insurmountable debt. College students have committed no crime by seeking an education. Unlike Wall Street, we have done nothing that warrants punitive consequences.
It is time to send a message. WE are too big to fail.
AdvertisementsThe HERE Maps app is changing. Starting today with the latest Android and iOS updates, the app is renamed HERE WeGo. This major revision includes improvements to its functionality and design, all geared towards the #1 way people use our app – working out the best way to get to where they want to go.
The first change is a simple one, but it’ll save you time and it helps people get straight to the primary function of the app.
When you open HERE WeGo, the ‘Where to?’ instruction in the search box invites you to enter a destination. Input this, and you’re taken straight to choosing between different modes of transport to get to where you want to go – without that extra click on the ‘find a route’ icon that used to be at the bottom of the screen. Bam!
The new Route Comparison screen is where you’ll see additional information in HERE WeGo, and also the most design changes.
Starting today we are beginning to roll out new transport options. In the many major cities in which it operates, alongside the existing car, public transit, cycling and pedestrian options, you’ll find new options from car-sharing firm Car2Go. This will show you where the nearest available cars are on the map, with the estimated cost of using the rented car to get to your destination, the fuel level and more details about the car. You can even just press a button to launch the Car2Go app and reserve a car on the spot.
In addition, in many cities*, you can get taxi information for your route – the latter including approximate fare, wait time and a call button.
We will be adding taxi information for more cities and more car sharing services over coming months.
Last, but by no means least, bicycle routing is once again improved – now with elevation profiles – so you can judge available routes by the effort required, as well as updates on what’s coming next.
Because there’s more information on the screen, we’ve changed it to a lighter coloured background which aids readability and also lets the new icons shine a little more.
Most of our new features for HERE WeGo will also be available on our web app – soon now available through wego.here.com – which will become the default web address. Again, there’s a new focus on getting to places, rather than just looking around, and new transport providers in the mix.
Why WeGo
On the name change. ‘HERE Maps’ was a bit too generic, we think. Too similar to a bunch of other, lesser apps. And the truth is that very few regular users open our app to look at a map – they want to get somewhere and find the fastest way to do that.
Putting its main use – getting to places – front and centre, and into the name, is intended to help people understand what the app is for, what to expect from it and how to use it.
Patrick Weissert, Director of Consumer Experiences at HERE, explains the change of emphasis in the app:
“We’re in the midst of a massive change – a mobility revolution – and the new app reflects this.”
“The first two urban mobility revolutions came with the railways and then cars. They gave birth to large cities and then the suburbs.
“Now we’re changing again. Urban mobility is becoming an on-demand service. Increasingly, in metropolitan areas, people don’t need to own a car any more. Instead, there’s a fast-moving, emerging landscape of car-sharing, bike-sharing, scooter-sharing, car pooling, peer-to-peer rental and ride-hailing services, there are even providers now offering flight sharing!”
But all these different services – great as they are – come with an overhead. People might need to switch between 5-10 apps to assess all the different options for any trip. In practice, they’ll probably stick to the same 1-2, and thus never consider what might be better options from other providers.
HERE WeGo aims to cut out that app duplication and overload and give people as many choices as possible, as quickly as possible, under a single banner.
HERE WeGo is available today for Android and the new functionality is also available in the latest iOS update – your next app update will replace the HERE Maps app with HERE WeGo.
We hope you agree that these are all really positive changes, and look forward to hearing your reactions.
*Taxi fare information will be available in the following cities/areas at launch:
Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Greater San Francisco Bay Area, Hamburg, London, Madrid, Melbourne, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Stuttgart and Toronto.Bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), denizens of Arctic seas, are known to live more than 200 years, yet they show few signs of the age-related ailments that plague other animals, including humans. Even the bowhead’s closest cetacean relative, the much smaller minke whale, lives only 50 years. That suggests the larger whales (which have more than 1000 times as many cells as humans) have evolved some special natural mechanisms that protect them against cancer and aging. Now, in an effort to uncover the massive cetaceans’ longevity secrets, a team of scientists has mapped the bowhead’s genome. This is the first time that the genome of a large cetacean has been sequenced. The researchers compared the whale’s genome with that of nine mammals, including other cetaceans, cows, rats, and humans, they report online today in Cell Reports. Their comparative analysis uncovered mutations in two genes, one that is thought to confer resistance to cancer and is also linked to aging and DNA repair; the other is involved with DNA repair only. The scientists next intend to insert these genes into laboratory mice to see if they increase their longevity and resistance to disease.Image caption Injured climbers were flown to safety by helicopter
At least nine people have been killed and several are missing in Nepal after an avalanche hit climbers and guides at a camp on a Himalayan peak.
The bodies of a German and a Nepalese guide have been recovered from the slopes of Mount Manaslu, police say.
A further seven bodies have been sighted by rescue pilots. Spanish foreign ministry officials say one of the dead is a Spanish national.
The avalanche struck a base camp near the summit on Saturday, police said.
It is thought at least three other climbers are missing in the avalanche, but officials are trying to determine exactly how many people were in the climbing party.
At least five climbers were said by police officials to have survived and been rescued and flown to hospitals by rescue helicopters.
Four of the dead and three of the missing were French, the vice-president of the French mountain guides' union Christian Trommsdorff told the AFP news agency.
Two of those rescued were also French nationals, according to Mr Trommsdorff.
'Flood of snow'
Deteriorating weather conditions meant it was impossible to continue air searches of the mountain on Sunday, police official Basanta Bahadur Kuwar told the Associated Press.
The climbers were caught at 7,000m (22,960ft) as they were preparing to head toward the summit, which is 8,156m high.
"The avalanche hit camp three of the Manaslu peak... resulting in a flood of snow," said Laxmi Dhakal, head of the Nepalese home ministry's disaster response division.
Hundreds of foreign climbers head every year for the Himalayas in Nepal, which has eight of the world's 14 highest mountains, including Mount Everest.
Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world, is considered one of the most dangerous, with dozens of deaths in recent years.
The autumn climbing season began this month.We’d actually been planning to run a cover story about Cleveland’s bike infrastructure before the events of last weekend. But when a team of “renegade bike enthusiasts,” or “guerilla stripers” — so dubbed by the PD’s Steven Litt — installed an unauthorized bike lane on Detroit Ave. from W. 29th to W.32nd, (a distance of about 1,000 feet) we were especially delighted to contribute to this ongoing conversation.
Our feature by Lee Chilcote paints a broad picture of commuter cyclists frustrated with the city’s sluggishness when it comes to creating and improving bike facilities. The city lays out roughly 6 miles of new bike lanes per year. That figure invites an involuntary “pssshhaw” from those even remotely acquainted with urban progress, and is in fact substantially fewer than even impoverished cities like Memphis and Detroit).
Detroit Ave. — not the city — is a striking example of the ineptitude: At a community meeting many moons ago, concerned Cleveland cyclists were assured that the 1.7 mile bike lane on Detroit from W. 29th to Lake Road would be installed by the fall of 2012. Spring of 2013 was considered the absolute latest it might appear, given the obstacles represented by foul weather and the filming of Captain America.
But as of last weekend, the bike lane still wasn’t there. Guerilla stripers used duct tape and spray chalk to send a message: We’re tired of waiting.
With predictably ironic expediency, a Cleveland work crew removed the guerillas’ handiwork in a matter of days. Maureen Harper, Cleveland’s Director of Communications, told Steven Litt that the city was worried about safety.
Scene was looking for more than canned remarks. And because we’re staffed with young indie upstarts who have neighborhood (if not necessarily romantic) ties to militant transportation advocates, we managed to secure an interview with the guerilla stripers themselves.
The renegades agreed to reveal their tactics under the condition of total anonymity. Here is what they said:
“It took us an hour and cost us sixty dollars,” said one guerilla.
“I think we should be known as the bike lane bandits,” said another. “It was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done in my life.”
“A cop drove by while we were doing it and he didn’t give a hoot,” said a guerilla striper whilst daintily gesticulating.
“I don’t use this word lightly, but I’d say it’s bordering on pathetic that we’re still waiting for it,” said one pissed-off guerilla.
There were five guerilla stripers in all — four who’d planned the striping and one who just sort of happened upon them and joined in — and they’d always interpreted their actions as political.
“It wasn’t like an art piece, but we never intended for it to be permanent,” said a guerilla striper who also mentioned that, had it not been power washed away, the spray chalk would have lasted no longer than 30 days. “It was meant to draw attention to the fact that the city has done jackshit. And we’re just fed up with the lack of action. They’re moving at a glacial pace.”
“And I don’t buy the safety argument,” said another guerilla, emerging from what sure looked like a deep thought. “It’s widely accepted that the more cyclists you have on the road, the safer it is for everybody. And having a bike lane is really encouraging to those who may be teetering on the edge of using their bikes more.”
The guerilla stripers described themselves as “urban enthusiasts,” a group of engaged residents who embrace and are interested in improving life in the city. In this instance, all it meant was crafting a “sharrow” stencil from a yoga mat, and laying down duct tape a few feet from the Detroit Ave. curb.
“The lane wasn’t super straight, but it’s essentially what the city would do,” said a guerilla striper. “I mean it’s almost identical.”
The guerilla stripers were quick to point out, though, that they view this as a justice issue.
“It wasn’t a selfish thing,” said one. “Cleveland.com commenters would like to think that everyone who bikes is either wearing spandex or a hipster. It’s even been a thing where some east side councilman have opposed bike infrastructure because they perceive it as a white person thing, but if you look, for every one hipster there are five homeless or low income guys riding beater bikes up and down the street.”
Another guerilla nodded. “There’s just a massive imbalance in how we spend our transportation dollars. And it’s really important to be investing in bike infrastructure when 36 percent of Cleveland doesn’t drive.”
In Steven Litt’s article about the stripers, Jacob Van Sickle, President of Bike Cleveland, said that city officials have indicated that the estimated $72,000 project has been funded and has received bids.
According to Maureen Harper, there’s a pre-bid meeting scheduled for next week, but bids won’t be opened until September 20.
After that time, it could take three weeks to three months for the project to be completed, according to councilman Joe Cimperman. In the meantime, he'll remain a fan of the guerilla stripers.
“This is huge,” he said in a phone interview. “Yesterday, we celebrated one of the greatest acts of civil disobedience ever. And I’m a big believer in civic disobedience. The guerilla stripers are taking things into their own hands and that should be applauded. This is the opposite of Seymour Avenue; this is when people refuse to look the other way. I think it’s fantastic.”
Cimperman said that he shares in the stripers’ urgency and is glad that their actions are instigating issue-driven conversations.
“It’s working toward a greater good,” he said.
The guerilla stripers have certainly entertained the idea of doing more “strategic interventions” when and if they deem them appropriate — a stretch of E. 93rd in Glenville might be the next target — but Detroit Ave. was important, said one striper, because it was so visible.
“Honestly, it was more of a statement than anything. And Detroit was really kind of in-your-face. But when I was riding it the next day, it was like, this really gives you the feeling of being welcome.”Day One: Kissing You
She was meticulous about everything, naturally, but penmanship was something distinct.
Papa told her once that you could tell a lot about a person from their words. The elegant curve of an S, the proud arc of a C, or the playful tail of a J — they all said something. She looked at her words, her diligently crafted letters, and wondered what they said about her. Not a single letter out of place, not a stroke too wide or too thin, the spacing just right. Perfect.
She was anything but.
But Anna’s words said a lot, sometimes too much, even when they were short.
She heard the telltale footsteps before the knocking.
Rata-tap-tap, tap.
Pushing her chair out from under her, Elsa rose and half-turned, one gloved hand still over her letters. Her eyes honed in on the gap beneath the frame, where a single slip of parchment slid through. Elsa clutched her quill and held her breath. There was a shuffle behind the door, a murmur she strained her ears to comprehend, and then Anna was gone.
Elsa waited a hair’s breadth before moving, gliding over to the door and picking up the letter. She raised her eyes to the ceiling and blinked several times, then read it.
She devoured the words. She held it to her chest, finding her breathing more unsteady.
Elsa swiftly crossed to the adjacent wall of her room, to the long dresser beneath a tall painting. She set the letter on top and bowed to reach the fourth drawer on the left. She opened it and pushed aside satin and silk, until her fingertips brushed parchment. She grasped the newest one and folded it carefully, into pristine edges that hid Anna’s words, to hide them at the bottom of her drawer.
She bid it goodbye with a kiss. Always, each one.For the past three weeks, Sea Shepherd has been secretly patrolling the waters of the Republic of Liberia in West Africa in a covert operation to tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Working in partnership with the Liberian Ministry of National Defense under the coordination of the Honorable Minister Brownie Samukai, the MY Bob Barkeris patrolling Liberia’s coastline with 20 crew under the command of Captain Fraser Hall, ten Liberian Coast Guard sailors with the authority to board, inspect and arrest ships violating Liberian law, and two Israeli maritime advisors and conservationists providing training assistance.
Named Operation Sola Stella, the campaign has already resulted in the arrest of three IUU fishing vessels in the first three weeks. They are currently being held in detention at the Liberian Coast Guard base in Monrovia.Hundreds of millions of iPhone owners may be up a creek next month, at least according to a hacker group that claims to have unprecedented access to the devices and is threatening to remotely wipe them clean if Apple doesn’t pay up.
Motherboard reports that the group of hackers — known as the Turkish Crime Family — allegedly gained access to a list of between 300 million and 559 million iCloud and Apple email accounts and plan to delete the associated devices on April 7.
That is unless Apple pays it $75,000 in crypto-currency or $100,000 worth of iTunes gift cards. If that happens, the hackers say they will simply delete the list.
An exchange between the group of hackers and Apple security team members has been ongoing for at least a week, Motherboard reports, citing screenshots of emails between the two parties.
In one email a security team member asks for a sample of the hacker’s list. In another, the hackers claim they have 300 million emails, while yet another claims the list contains 559 accounts.
The hackers also uploaded a video to YouTube showing they had accessed a woman’s iCloud account and could wipe her device remotely, Motherboard reports.
Apple responded in an email — a screenshot of which was seen by Motherboard — asking the hackers to remove the video as it was “seeking unwanted attention.”
The security team member also noted that the company does not reward cyber criminals for breaking the law and that the communications between the parties will be sent to authorities.Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings.
Aug. 15, 2016, 3:05 AM GMT / Updated Aug. 15, 2016, 9:53 AM GMT By Alex Johnson and Jonathan Dienst
Multiple emergency agencies rushed to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport in response to a report Sunday night that shots had been fired, but there was no gunfire, authorities said.
Police declared early Monday that the two terminals where reports emerged had been searched and cleared. An official told NBC News that cheering, clapping and banging from people watching the Olympic Games may have been misinterpreted as a fight and gunshots.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said JFK's Terminal 8 was evacuated "as a precaution" after the report, which came in about 9:30 p.m. ET. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a brief ground stop at the airport for an unspecified security incident.
About 45 minutes later, a second call came in reporting that shots had been fired in Terminal 1, the Port Authority said.
Officers patrol Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Sunday night. Jordan Carson
A senior law enforcement official told NBC News that the concern started when a woman coming off a plane said she thought she'd heard gunfire. Two other law enforcement officials also said at least one person reported having heard gunfire.
The initial alarm spread through Terminal 8 and to Terminal 1, one of the officials said.
"There are no reported injuries or arrests at this time," the agency said. "Preliminary investigation does not indicate shots were fired at JFK."
The New York Fire Department told NBC News that it had crews on scene to lend assistance if needed. Port Authority and New York police were investigating.C compilation steps explained
Bandi Sandeep Blocked Unblock Follow Following Jun 14, 2017
It’s been almost four years since I worked with C. As I wanted to revisit C and brush up on my basics. I started with C compilation. This is one important concept that always fascinated me as it converts the human readable instructions to machine understandable instructions.
In C we do this via compilation. There are four steps involved for human written intruction to get converted into binary(Language used by machines).
To understand the steps in converting source code to binary format. we can use the clang complier’s options for each stage and see their output.
I wrote a simple program(hello.c) for the purpose of demonstration.
#include<stdio.h>
int main(void){
printf(“Hi there
”);
}
Any program will go through the below 4 phases for compilation:
Preprocessing: This is the phase where all the comments are removed and macros are expanded. However the output is still in human readable format. Output can be found here
% clang -E hello.c
2. Compilation: This is the phase where we convert the code into Assembly instructions.(These instructions |
23, 2016
His blog post began: “When Maddy Ralston came into this world almost 21 years ago, it was love at first sight. I cradled her in my arms, my adopted miracle, and couldn’t stop crying. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.”
It ended: “When I get home later this week, I will see someone officially named Jake Ralston for the first time. And one thing I know for certain: It will be love at first sight.”
The point is simple: love is love. Jake is Jon’s child. That’s all that matters. The post took off online.
“The outpouring has been absolutely overwhelming,” Jon said. “I think it has less to do with the transgender issue as trying to show people that these kids are just like any other kids. I think that’s what’s resonating the most.”
Jon Ralston, a political reporter and analyst in Nevada, wrote an emotional blog post about his transgender son. (Photo courtesy of Jon Ralston)
Which isn’t to say it’s been easy for the two, as Jon’s blog post, and Jake’s own telling, illustrate. On the phone, reflecting on the 15-year-long journey that brought him to that courthouse Monday, Jake said, “Every major moment in history has begun with conflict.”
He was referring to the current conflict in this country, which has manifested itself in heated debates over who can use which bathrooms.
But an internal conflict took hold of Jake at the age of 5.
“I was 5 when I realized I wasn’t like every other little girl,” Jake said. “I walked around the playground telling people ‘I’m going to be a boy.’ ”
He was always active, playing sports on the playground — “If you sent me to school in a white shirt, I’d come home in a brown shirt.” — and skipping dolls for weekend fishing trips with his dad. He only liked wearing dresses if he could fashion them around his neck and down his back, like a superhero’s cape. “We went shopping for clothes, and she would never go into the girls’ section. Always the boys. It wasn’t even a question,” Jon wrote.
Finally, Jake remembered “sitting on the toilet and trying to push hard enough, realizing I wasn’t going to grow anything” and trying to decide if it was a phase or something more.
“My dad was always so accepting,” Jake said. He spoke to him about everything. Still, the two didn’t know what was happening.
“The father-daughter bond was growing ever-stronger,” Jon wrote. “We did everything together. I rarely missed a game, be it soccer or basketball or volleyball or flag football. We went to Europe three times, reveling in each other’s company. I loved making occasional allusions to her in my writing, calling her ‘The Teen.’ ”
But things became harder in high school. Jake was bullied and confused. In junior year, Jake found a boyfriend, but he didn’t take — “It wasn’t me. I found him as someone I could sit down and play video games with, rather than someone I could be with.” Maybe Jake was gay. He told his dad, who responded without blinking, “Okay, now let’s get back to your homework.” But a girlfriend didn’t feel right either. Closer, but not right.
“I didn’t care. She was my Maddy. That’s all that mattered,” Jon wrote in his blog post.
[Truth and Transgender at Age 70]
Then, came a lightning bolt later that year: Jake remembered sitting on the edge of his then girlfriend’s bed, Googling like a madman in a frantic search for something, anything, that could explain what he felt, “to see if I was an abomination or not,” to use Jake’s words, to use a word Jake has been called by his peers. On the seventh page of an innocuous Google search appeared a link to an old Wikipedia page about “transgender.”
“We’re looking at it, and I say, ‘this word seems to fit,'” Jake said.
Jon and Jake Ralston. (Photo courtesy of Jon Ralston)
Before lawmakers in North Carolina decided transgender people couldn’t use the bathrooms matching their gender identity and Bruce Springsteen and Target made the fight against those lawmakers a national cause, many people weren’t even aware of the term “transgender.”
[Video: Boycotting trans-friendly businesses? You’ll have to avoid more than just Target]
Jake — then known as Maddy — had never heard it. Neither had Jon.
“I always thought I was completely by myself,” Jake said. “I never realized I could be anything else than what my body was. I looked at [my girlfriend] and said, ‘This is what I am.’ ”
He told his dad.
But, as Jon wrote in his post, “I don’t think I even listened very well when Maddy told me a few years ago she was really a male inside, that she was transgender. Sure, you are, I thought. It’s just a phase, I was certain. After all, the kid has been through a lot. Her mother had died. She had to switch schools. She had no idea who she was. But the truth was I had no idea. Or I was in denial.”
But Jake knew. Soon, Jon would too. But he was scared. “My first instinct, as ever, has been to protect my child, to make sure Maddy is safe and happy,” he wrote. “That’s all most parents ever want for their children. Life is difficult as it is. But with so much ignorance out there breeding so much fear, so much visceral recoiling from the concept of transgenderism, I fear this will make Maddy’s life that much harder.”
Since that day, the country has come to know the term “transgender,” one it uses almost offhandedly to discuss political points of view and to debate public policy. Jake notices that some people seem to understand him better and others, ironically, understand him less. “Since ‘transgender’ is a word on the national spectrum, I now have to be more aware for who I am around,” he said.
As for Jon, “Slowly but surely, I have come to not just accept it but to embrace it,” he wrote. “I have learned a lot about transgender issues through my job. I have read a bit.”
[Trans punk rocker burns birth certificate at N.C. protest concert]
But Monday was not a day for political debate for Jon or Jake. Wrote Jon,” I don’t want to talk about bathrooms or locker rooms. I don’t want to debate the public policy issues in North Carolina or whether the president was right to sue. There will be plenty of time for that.” No, the day was about a father, a son and the love they share.
“I hope more people realize this is really just about love, that these kids are just kids,” Jon told The Post. “If that can help people … then that’s great. I wrote this for my son and to express how I feel about him.”
Though Jake has strong political feelings — “Unless you start looking at people as people, they’re always going to be a number,” he said of the North Carolina debate becoming a national circus — on Monday, he was just proud. Of himself, and of his father for using his considerable platform to maybe help someone else sitting on the edge of a bed, confused about who he or she is, feel a little less alone.
“This is not only something that would be good for us as a family, but this is something that would be good for everyone out there who might think they are alone in this,” Jake said of his father’s blog post. “He has not only stood up for our family, but he’s stood up for thousands of families like us.”
“I’ve never been more proud of him,” Jake said.
Read Jon Ralston’s entire post.Ready to fight back? Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nation’s journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week.
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There is a fevered media narrative about Brazil currently swamping the airwaves: a narrative with two stories existing in the same space, yet being told as parallel dramas. One is about the state-oil corruption fracas, known as the Petrobras/Operation Car Wash Scandal. This investigation, alongside an inquiry into illegal budget manipulation, threatens to bring down President Dilma Rousseff and the Workers’ Party (PT) government that has ruled South America’s largest nation for the last 12 years. Even though there is evidence of hundreds of millions in bribes, touching every corner of the political establishment, the media and investigative focus has been lasered in on the PT. Ad Policy
The other narrative involves hand-wringing over how in the world Rio de Janeiro is going to host the Olympics, given this level of turmoil, not to mention how the city will possibly handle the unbuilt Olympic construction projects, fetid water, and fears over the Zika virus.
Yet the story we may be missing could be how these narratives might connect to build support for what Rio-based journalist Glenn Greenwald has called “a judicial coup”—organized by a thoroughly corrupt ruling class—that would depose the Workers’ Party and install a new, right-wing government into power. The real story could be about how the investigation has focused intensely on the car-wash/bribery scandals and not the Olympics, even though both are linked to the same venal construction monopolies. This could be because any investigation into Olympic corruption would be centered upon a different political party, now waiting in the wings to take power. That party would be the centrist Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) of Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes and Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão. They run Rio. As Theresa Williamson, director of the NGO Catalytic Communities, said to me, “The Olympics has been organized by a local/state coalition that barely includes the PT.”
To understand why this is happening now, why the right wing feels so confident, and how the Workers’ Party opened the door to its enemies, start with the eight-year presidency of a once-penniless youth and factory worker, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In 2011, Lula left office after two terms, in the words of President Obama, as “the most popular politician on earth.” His approval ratings were driven by a Brazilian economy that was experiencing 10 percent annual growth, due to massive investment of international capital in the Brazilian stock market, Lula’s seizing of peasant and native lands for development, and the expansion of oil drilling. This neoliberal model carried by a left-wing folk hero inspired economists to call Lula “the IMF’s favorite president.” The Financial Times was so besotted with him that it suggested he be named to head up the World Bank. This was difficult for many of his supporters to swallow, particularly the thousands who were expelled from the Workers’ Party for agitating against this agenda. Yet Lula maintained a powerful base of support by investing the nation’s stock-market windfalls into antipoverty programs and increases in the minimum wage, which made real dents in Brazil’s staggering levels of destitution and economic inequality. Lula also leveraged his status to pass laws empowering the judiciary to root out endemic and long-standing corruption in Brazil’s political and ruling class—laws that are used today against the Workers’ Party.
The cherry on the sundae of Lula’s Brazilian Miracle was the securing of both the World Cup and the Olympics, to be hosted back to back in 2014 and 2016. The Olympics in particular was treated like a brass ring finally reached for a country that had long felt disrespected in the international arena. Upon landing the games, Lula said, “Today I have felt prouder of being a Brazilian than on any other day. Today is the day that Brazil gained its international citizenship. Today is the day that we have overcome the last vestiges of prejudice against us. I think this is the day to celebrate because Brazil has left behind the level of second-class countries and entered the ranks of first-class countries. Today we earned respect. The world has finally recognized that this is Brazil’s time.”
Fast-forward to today, and these words have the air of the tragic. The World Cup was met with widespread protests, rooted in people seeing the rapid construction of unneeded stadiums while basic needs like healthcare and education were ignored, all while the economy stagnated. These demonstrations ran the gamut politically, depending on the region: Some were right wing, with open calls for military coups; others had left with socialists and expelled Workers’ Party members leading the charge. Overwhelmingly, their primary character was young and fed up. Yet today, with oil prices at an international low and Brazil’s economy in free-fall, shrinking at 4 percent already this year, the right-wing political forces and Big Capital are seeing this as the time to strike, seizing Lula in his own home and frog-marching him down to police headquarters for questioning. The Brazilian stock market actually rose upon news of his detention; his status as the IMF’s favorite leader is clearly something in the past.
São Paolo–based socialist activist Dylan Stillwood summed it up:
Dilma has spent her entire second term desperately trying to appease every faction of the ruling class and the institutional right. This effort at an alliance has failed. The PT government has long consisted of a pact where investors profited mightily and the streets were quiet thanks to progressive reforms and the general sense that the left was in power, and this model was a smashing success for a decade. Domestically, their biggest partners in crime were state-centered heavy industry, especially the four construction giants—Odebrecht, OAS, Camargo Corrêa, and Andrade Gutierrez—and privatized or semi-privatized titans like Petrobras. They showed off their babies: big projects like the Belo Monte Dam and the redirection of São Francisco River, and the crowning glory on the world stage was supposed to be the World Cup and the Olympics. All this lies in ruins and the pact is over. The system is in crisis, economically and politically, and the PT no longer serves a purpose for capital, and scapegoating them is a convenient rallying cry for a new right-wing movement. LIKE THIS? GET MORE OF OUR BEST REPORTING AND ANALYSIS
The Workers’ Party is not drawing millions of defenders into the streets, partly because there is mass dissatisfaction with the status quo, and partly because the World Cup and the Olympics have exacerbated the hard times and symbolized a government woefully out of touch. Yet most critical to the Workers’ Party’s absence of engaged mass support has been the inability of Rousseff to follow through on her campaign promises to expand social spending and civil liberties. Instead, as Sean Purdy, a professor at the University of São Paolo, wrote in Jacobin, Rousseff has backtracked, instead pushing through “massive cuts to health care, education, social welfare, and pension rights have been coupled with a government-sponsored anti-terrorist bill which may criminalize dissent and social movements.”
The result is that now 68 percent of the country wants Rousseff to be impeached or to resign. But what’s waiting in the wings is very dark, very frightening, and getting organized. Yes, the very anticorruption laws signed by Lula are being used against the PT, and may end with Lula’s imprisonment, and, yes, the man is miles from being the saint of his dwindling supporters’ dreams. Yet this is just one prong of attack. The investigation has been conjoined with a coordinated media offensive by the country’s largest outlet, the right-wing idea engine Globo, and mass demonstrations egged on by this Fox News-on-steroids media giant. These protests staged last weekend brought several million people into the street. NBC’s Chuck Todd tweeted a photo of this under the caption, “The People Vs. The President.” But what people? The demonstrations have had a decidedly right-wing, militaristic character. Yes, many in the streets are just fed up with corruption in politics. But many more are openly calling for a military coup. In a country where that was a reality just a few short decades ago, it is a threat with teeth.
The right is attempting to take advantage of this climate to create a kind of state with more in common economically with Pinochet’s neoliberal fever dream in Chile than the current welfare state, however flawed. This is seen in one of the organizations at the heart of the protests, the Free Brazil Movement. As Rio-based freelance journalist Catherine Osborn reported, this group was “founded by members and alums of another group that’s been spreading fast in this country: Estudantes Pela Liberdade, ‘Students for Liberty.’” Students for Liberty is for “cutting government spending, privatizing state companies, and reducing regulation.” It has received funding from US right-wing billionaire Charles Koch. This Koch vibe on the protests has been exemplified in one viral photo of two demonstrators—a white woman and man marching with their purebred dog, while their nanny—black—pushed their baby behind them. The role of the Olympics in the politics of impeachment is critical. First and foremost, there are enough lurid tales of kickbacks, bribery, and forced displacement swirling around these Olympic Games to keep the Brazilian judiciary busy for the next decade. Construction magnate Marcelo Odebrecht, whose family’s eponymous company helped build many of the World Cup and Olympic facilities, was sentenced to 19 years in prison. Yet this conviction was for his role in the Petrobras scandal, and the case did not touch the Olympics side of Odebrecht’s criminality and corruption.
Williamson of Catalytic Communities told me, “The Olympics fit like a glove in Rio because of the propensity for corruption combined with the centrality of real estate and construction interests—those most set to gain from the Games. We all knew from early on that Rio would ‘pull off’ the Games, that they would just leave works to the last hour so they could get away with hyping up costs. The fact Odebrecht has been implicated in the corruption at the national level and is also building the Olympic Park is reflective of just how extensive their tentacles are, how widespread the corruption is, that it is all linked.”
Could anyone really believe that Odebrecht acted in a corrupt manner with regards to oil but was squeaky clean on the Olympics? The only difference between Petrobras and the Olympics is that the Petrobras bribery and money laundering took place primarily under the eye of the PT, while the Olympic bids were organized by the centrist PMDB. Or as Williamson said, “The Olympics has been organized by a local/state coalition that barely includes the PT.”
Paes and Pezão of the PMDB oversaw a process where Olympic facilities were bid upon by “consortiums” of real estate firms, like the Rio Mais (More Rio) syndicate, which included Odebrecht as well as the companies Andrade Gutierrez and Carvalho Hosken. Paes and Pezão ignored the Rio-based left-wing organizations and NGOs agitating against these kinds of consortiums. They demonstrated, argued, and even designed alternative Olympic plans to combat these syndicates, which they maintained were both artificially inflating costs because of the absence of competitive bidding and colluding in transparent efforts to displace people in an effort to grab more of Rio’s valuable real estate. As Chris Gaffney, for years a Rio-based activist/journalist, said to me, “The Construction Industrial Complex of Brazil is similar to the military Industrial complex of the USA. Instead of Halliburton and the Carlyle Group, Brazil has Odebrecht and all the rest.” The police chief of Curitiba, Igor Romário de Paula, told Reuters Brazil in November that the car-wash investigations “would reach Olympics contracts,” but there has been zero evidence of anyone in the judiciary making that obvious leap.
Numerous sources have also said to me there is widespread belief that if Rousseff is impeached and deposed, especially if it takes place before the summer, then any investigations—no matter how shallow—into Olympics contracts would magically evaporate. And guess who would be installed in power if the Workers’ Party takes the fall for Petrobras and budget manipulation? Cue dramatic music: It would be the PMDB, and perhaps Eduardo Paes himself. The PMDB is the biggest party in Brazil and has been part of the coalition of every government after the dictatorship, whether left wing or right. Lula campaigned for Pezão and Paes. Rousseff’s vice president, Michel Temer, is a PMDB member. As Stillwood said to me, “This is the most dramatic example of PT’s cynical alliances coming back to bite them hard in the ass.”
And here is how the Olympics could lead to a judicial coup in Brazil. If Rousseff’s government falls and the Games go smoothly, it could contribute to the utterly undeserved image that Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes is trying to cultivate as a competent, pro-business manager who makes the trains run on time. This narrative ignores how the Olympics have been organized on the backs of the poor. It ignores the brutal debt, displacement, and militarization that have surrounded the Games. These facts will be forgotten to create a counter-narrative of a country cleansing itself through the successful staging of Olympics glory. This is a narrative that will thrill audiences, stoke Brazilian nationalism, please international investors, and make the Koch brothers light their cigars. Ignored will be the ways that the lighting of the Olympic torch could also facilitate the lighting aflame of Brazil’s fragile democracy.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this piece stated that Lula left office after being diagnosed with throat cancer before the end of his second term. It has been changed to correct this mistake.Advertisement
A legion of foreign fighters who bravely joined the Kurdish forces battling militants loyal to the Islamic State have posed for photographs in Syria.
Showing off their tattoos, play fighting with one another and relaxing in a camp, the international fighting force appear incredibly relaxed - despite fighting on the frontline against the terror group.
Dozens of fighters - many of them ex-soldiers in the British and America armies - have volunteered to join Kurdish troops battling ISIS in Iraq and Syria in recent months. As many of the Kurdish fighters do not speak English, the foreign soldiers usually form new English-language regiments.
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Legion: A group of international fighters pose for a photo in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr earlier this week
A 67-year old man from Canada (left) nick-named Hewal Zinar by Kurdish fighters play fights with a 40-year old from the UK called Hewal Cudi
Practise: In one shot the 67-year-old Canadian fighter who goes by the name Heval Zinar and a 40-year-old British man nicknamed Heval Cudi are seen sparring and play fighting with one another under the blazing northern Syrian sun
Experience: Despite being 67, Heval Zinar appears incredibly fit and as he stands in full combat gear with an assault rifle in his hands, it is clear the Canadian national boasts the kind of physique a man a third of his age would be proud of
Waiting: In a shot reminiscent of something from the First World War, a 21-year old from the UK known as Hewal Sores (left) and a American calling himself Hewal Agir (right) are seen sitting in a muddy trench with their rifles in the hands as they guard a military checkpoint
Hewal Cudi (left) and Hewal Sores check maps in the outskirts of the north-west Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh earlier this week
A 26-year old foreign fighter from the US (right) nick-named Hewal Dilsad by Kurdish fighters, points his sniper gun during clashes with ISIS
The majority of the Western fighters travelling to Middle East to battle ISIS have joined the YPG, or People's Protection Units, a Kurdish militia who are based in northern Syria.
Perhaps the most famous of the YPG-affiliated foreign legions are the so-called 'Lions of Rojava', whose flag Western soldiers such as Britons Jamie Read and James Hughes, and Americans Jordan Matson and Joshua Bell, are believed to have fought under.
The men in the most recent pictures are all members of the YPG, although other Westerners are known to have joined the Peshmerga forces fighting ISIS over the border in northern Iraq.
To protect their identities and build loyalty among the group, the Westerners all adopt Kurdish nom de guerres while fighting alongside local forces.
These pseudonyms typically include the word 'Heval' which means friend in the Kurdish langauge.
There is often confusion in the West about the Kurdish fighters battling ISIS, not least because the Kurdish word for a military force is 'peshmerga', which translates as 'those who confront death'.
While the YPG in Syria are therefore technically peshmerga, the Kurdish military in neighbouring Iraq are actually called Peshmerga and led by the President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Masoud Barzani.
A 28-year old foreign fighter from the UK - nick-named Hewal Baran by Kurdish fighters but also known as Baran Macer - poses for a photo
A 24-year old fighter and former U.S. marine points his sniper rifle during clashes with ISIS. Kurdish fighters have nicknamed him Hewal Agit
To protect their identities and build loyalty among the group, the Westerners all adopt Kurdish nom de guerres while fighting alongside local forces. This U.S. national is known to his colleagues as Hewal Cudi
The Westerners' pseudonyms typically include the word 'Heval' which means friend in the Kurdish language. This image shows a 23-year old fighter and former US marine known as Hewal Agir
A 23-year old fighter and former US marine known as Hewal Agir guards a building with his assault rifle during clashes with ISIS militants
Fearless: Former US marines Hewal Agir (right) and Hewal Agit (left) - aged 23 and 24 respectively - guard a position during clashes with ISIS
A 33-year old fighter from New Zealand, nick-named Hewal Welat by his Kurdish colleagues, brushes his teeth at a makeshift base camp
In the latest photos released by the foreign fighters who have joined the YPG, dozens of men from all manner of background are seen going about their daily business and posing for photographs.
In one shot a 67-year-old Canadian fighter who goes by the name Heval Zinar and a 40-year-old British man nicknamed Heval Cudi are seen sparring and play fighting with one another under the blazing northern Syrian sun.
The men practice the kind of hand-to-hand combat that will be vital should they face an ISIS militant without a weapon to defend themselves.
Despite being 67, Heval Zinar appears incredibly fit and as he stands in full combat gear with an assault rifle in his hands, it is clear the Canadian national boasts the kind of physique a man a third of his age would be proud of.
In another shot reminiscent of something from the First World War, a 21-year old from the UK known as Hewal Sores and a American calling himself Hewal Agir are seen sitting in a muddy trench with their rifles in the hands as they guard a military checkpoint.
Another photograph shows a 38-year-old American national calling himself Hewal Cekdar wearing a khaki T-shirt emblazoned with the word 'Infidel' in both English and Arabic, in a show of defiance in the face of ISIS' brand of Islamic extremism.
The images emerged as it was revealed that Iraq security forces have recaptured areas lost last week to ISIS in and around the battleground city of Ramadi.
According to police Major Omar al-Alawni, government forces regained control of the city's Pediatric and Maternity Hospital and the surrounding neighborhood late Monday night after fierce clashes with IS militants. The hospital is located about 500 meters from a complex of government offices.
HOW WESTERNERS FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE KURDISH PESHMERGA AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE ARE COMPARED TO FOREIGN VOLUNTEERS WHO TOOK UP ARMS DURING THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR The Western fighters joining Kurdish forces in the battle to defeat the Islamic State have been compared to international soldiers who took up arms during the Spanish Civil War. The so-called International Brigades were military units, made up of volunteers, who travelled to Spain to fight for the Second Spanish Republic between 1936 and 1939. The number of volunteer fighters is thought to have been as many as 35,000, although only about 20,000 were active at any one time. A further 10,000 foreigners are thought to have taken part in non-combatant roles during the conflict and up to 5,000 more became members of affiliated groups. The foreign fighters are said to have come from 53 different nations to fight against the Spanish nationalist forces led by General Franco during the three-year civil war.
No surrender: A 38-year-old American national calling himself Hewal Cekdar is seen wearing a khaki T-shirt emblazoned with the word 'Infidel' in both English and Arabic, in a show of defiance in the face of ISIS' brand of Islamic extremism
A 28-year old foreign fighter from the Netherlands, nick-named Hewal Serdar, poses for a photo near the Syrian town of Tal Tamr
Light-hearted: The international fighters pose for a photograph in the outskirts of the north-west Syrian town of Tal Tamr earlier this week
A 26-year old former member of the U.S. military who calls himself Hewal Amed, poses with an assault rifle in northern Syria
This photograph shows a 26-year old former U.S Amy soldier who now goes by the names Hewal Bahoz and fights alongside the Kurdish forces battling ISIS in northern Syria
A 26-year old former US soldier nick-named Hewal Amed sleeps in an abandoned building in the outskirts of the Syrian town of Tal Tamr
Firepower: Rifles belonging to international fighters are seen lined-up along a wall in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr
This morning, Iraqi troops were engaged in intense clashes in an offensive to regain control of Soufiya, one of three villages that fell into the hands of ISIS last week, said police Col. Mahdi Abbas.
Both officials said the battles turned in favor of government forces after the arrival of reinforcements and weapons from Baghdad. At least 12 militants were killed in the clashes overnight, they said.
Footage showed military black Humvees advancing in a residential area in Ramadi and Iraqi soldiers firing their rifles while taking shelter behind a wall.
The security situation in Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, sharply deteriorated after ISIS seized Soufiya and the two other villages, Sjariyah and Albu-Ghanim, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes.
Elsewhere in Iraq, police said a bomb exploded Tuesday in a commercial street in the town of Madain, just south of Baghdad, killing three people and wounding four. Later in the day, a roadside bomb hit a police patrol in the capital's western suburbs, killing two policemen and also wounding four.
Medics in nearby hospitals confirmed the casualties. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Remembering family: A 26-year old from the U.S., nick-named Hewal Dilsad by Kurdish fighters, shows a picture of his wife and son
A 22-year old from the U.S. nick-named Hewal Zagros poses for a photo. The majority of the Western fighters travelling to Middle East to battle ISIS have joined the YPG, or People's Protection Units, a Kurdish militia who are based in northern Syria
A 41-year from the United States who calls himself Hewal Azad is seen smoking a cigarette in northern Syria earlier this week
The men in the most recent pictures are all members of the YPG, although other Westerners are known to have joined the Peshmerga forces fighting ISIS over the border in northern Iraq
Kurdish People Protection Unit fighters look at a tattoo on the shoulder of a 26-year old from the U.S. nick-named Hewal Dilsad
Dozens of fighters - many of them ex-soldiers in the British and America armies - have volunteered to join Kurdish troops battling ISIS in Iraq and Syria in recent months
As many of the Kurdish fighters do not speak English, the foreign soldiers usually form new English-language regiments
Fierce clashes between Syrian government forces and opposition fighters in the country's south killed dozens on both sides over the past two days as rebel factions regained much of the ground they lost earlier, activists said this morning.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting, which began yesterday in the southern province of Daraa, killed 37 rebels as well as 22 government troops. This morning, the Syrian air force struck several areas in Daraa province, the Observatory said.
The Local Coordination Committees, another activist group that tracks the Syrian civil war, said the violence in Daraa left at least 27 people dead yesterday.
Opposition fighters and members of Syria's al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front have made major gains in southern Syria in recent weeks, capturing large swaths of territory and a border crossing point with Jordan.
Yesterday, the Syrian army said government troops captured several villages in Daraa and cut a major supply line to Jordan for opposition fighters.
On Tuesday, Daraa-based activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh and the Observatory said that a counter-offensive by opposition fighters has clawed back most of the territory lost the previous day. He also said the rebels were able to capture several soldiers and pro-government gunmen.
Syria's civil war, now in its fifth year, has killed more than 220,000 people.Philadelphia Flyers Defenseman Radko Gudas raised his stock perhaps more than any other player with an eye-catching season.
I have to be honest, I fell in love with Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Radko Gudas this season. I can’t think of any Flyer since Eric Lindros who embodied the word “beast” on the ice like Radko Gudas did last season. His combination of size, strength, and aggression causing opponents to tread carefully on the ice isn’t seen in the league much any more.
For these reasons, I was happy to drive the Radko Gudas bandwagon this season. In fact, when texting with Flyers fan buddies, I programmed my phone to autocorrect to GUDAS at all times, to properly recognize his beastliness. But before saying more, let’s go back to the beginning of the season.
Gudas’ season started with low expecations, to say the least. Seemingly a throw-in in the Braydon Coburn trade from a year ago, he had yet to appear for the Flyers due to injury. Furthermore, he started this season as a healthy scratch. With only one year left on his contract, his future as a Flyer was very much up in the air.
Due to the in-season shuffling of the Flyers defensive corps, Gudas eventually got chances. He made a mark with those chances, however, and parlayed it into more and more ice time. By midseason, Gudas had played his way up to the de facto top pair with Michael Del Zotto.
In addition to that coveted role, Gudas was really making his presence felt. He was all over the scoresheet piling up shots and hitting everything that moved. He actually risked becoming more notorious than anything, earning a suspension as well as a few other close calls.
Fortunately Gudas was able to rein himself in as necessary. The end result was some very nice numbers.
Gudas was the team’s best Corsi performer on defense, finished second among all NHL defensemen in hits per game at 4.0, and finished 2nd on the Flyers for shots by a defensemen (trailing Ghost by only 2). That’s a busy guy.
That certainly qualifies as a breakthrough season in my book. That is a veritable tsunami of performance indicators. Gudas eye-catching season can be tempered by a few factors, however.
For one, Gudas was a regular penalty-killer, but he may not have been very good at it.
It is troubling that Gudas’ expected goals against per 60 minutes of 4v5 ice time is so much higher than his teammates. That is a sign that something is going wrong for him on the penalty kill.
Second, Gudas on-ice and individual shot quality may be lagging.
“Expected” shooting percentages are a new thing, taking the shot location and applying league-wide shooting percentages from that spot in that situation. Taking it for what it’s worth, the numbers reflect relatively poorly on Gudas. His “expected” PDO is the second lowest on the team behind Manning. This may indicate that, while he’s doing a great job on total shot differential, the shots he concedes on the ice tend to be a little higher quality than the shots the Flyers get themselves.
A similar effect is seen on Gudas’ individual shooting percentage. At only 3.3%, it is among the lowest on the team. This is despite the fact that he has a cannon for a shot.
This can be explained by the fact that Gudas’ average shot distance is 57.61 feet, clearly the worst on the team. Gudas doesn’t skate with the puck very well, so he tends to throw the puck at the net even when there’s almost no chance of scoring.
All in all, it was a big, memorable season for Radko Gudas. He certainly made his name with Philadelphia Flyers fans with his increasing role, and also made his name around the league with his menacing physical presence.
He also piled up the numbers, which always pays off in the long run. His penalty kill performance and low shooting percentage show limitations to his game, most likely reflecting his limited skating and puck-carrying ability. This means Gudas isn’t going to be confused with PK Subban |
written. CEO Jeff Lawson has done an impressive job building up a developer community. The pressure from Silicon Valley for Twilio to perform well to induce more exits has largely faded as a new pipeline of tech IPOs has stolen the industry’s attention.
But even still, Twilio clearly has a lot of work ahead of it to diversify its customer concentration. Twilio negotiated a contract with Amazon Web Services earlier this year. The deal integrated Twilio’s APIs with Amazon Connect, its contact center service offering. Continuing to build new channels should help the company reach new audiences.As an amiibo collector, I am very happy with this product.
Amiibos are not only functional, they also make great collectors items. I have mine displayed, in a way that they look great, and are functional if I want to utilize the NFC technology.
Nintendo had a great idea with these Toys to Life. Although they are not the first company to make a product like this, they have done it well.
These are solid figures that bring a sense of nostalgia to people. They are high quality figures which can stand up to quite a bit of abuse. They will not break if dropped, and are flexible enough that you will not wreck them easily.
They utilize NFC (Near Field Communication) technology which is a chip that communicates with your game device. They can be used to either send data to games, or to record data from games. This means that some games may record something important (Such as Smash Bros saving the fighting style of the character), or it may just read that you have an amiibo and unlock a feature (such as Hyrule Warriors unlocking bonuses for any amiibo scanned).
Nintendo is doing more with games and amiibos as time goes on and I'm excited to see what they have for the future. I'd recommend getting any amiibo you want as soon as you can. There is no guarantee that they will produce any more of the old amiibos since they're always coming out with new games, and new amiibos.Kickstarter is a clever way to fund creative projects, powered by a unique all-or-nothing funding method where projects must be fully-funded or no money changes hands. So please share this page with your friends and family.
Civil Ape is a creative collective located in the Cherokee arts district in Saint Louis, MO. If we were asked to define ourselves further and explain exactly what we do, the shortest answer would be "We don’t exactly know yet." Without doubt, we can tell you that we proudly carry the DIY mindset. We intend to let Civil Ape grow organically, and our long-term vision is to become a collective that fosters creativity by creating an atmosphere in which artists can collaborate and share resources. Currently, however, with the help of account managers, we spend most of our days fighting for work in the digital dystopia known as the design business. We create everything from branding to websites, for local, regional and national clients. During our spare time we enjoy all things creative: painting, music, film, and photography to name a few.
In mid-2010, our wandering curiosity led us to the world of apparel graphics. With a little research and the help of friends, we built our own 4 color screen printing press (roberta). We immediately became addicted to designing and printing apparel graphics. Encouraged by the very positive response to our printed apparel, we continued to explore design concepts, secured a number of consignments, and opened an online store. Fast forward to the present, in which budgetary and material limitations prevent us from keeping up with the demand for our work. If we are to sustain and develop our design and print operation, we simply cannot afford to continue investing our revenue in a small-scale apparel printing enterprise. And so we find ourselves at a crossroads. Will apparel design remain a mere hobby, or can it become an integral part of the collective? The success of our Kickstarter will have a lot of sway in this decision.
So with a little more Google research we’ve priced our ideal print setup at a little over $13,000. We’ve taken on paper routes, opened lemonade stands, and started saving our lunch money but we still need your help.Shocking news: Mitt Romney tries to have it both ways for a third time
Shocking news: Mitt Romney tries to have it both ways for a third time
OBAMA: The problem is, he hasn't described what exactly we'd replace it with, other than saying we're going to leave it to the states. But the fact of the matter is that some of the prescriptions that he's offered, like letting you buy insurance across state lines, there's no indication that that somehow is going to help somebody who's got a pre-existing condition be able to finally buy insurance.
ROMNEY: Well, actually it's — it's — it's a lengthy description. But, number one, preexisting conditions are covered under my plan. Number two, young people are able to stay on their family plan. That's already offered in the private marketplace. You don't have to have the government mandate that for that to occur.
Purely based on the substance, this was one of the more interesting moments of last night's debate. It started with President Obama raising Mitt Romney's promise to repeal Obamacare. "Governor Romney says we should replace it," the president said. But, he said, there's a problem.Romney, pressed by Jim Lehrer to explain how he'd replace Obamacare, responded:That response—just five sentences long—amounts to a hat trick of deception, and it was clearly designed to blur the differences between Romney and the president on health care.
First, instead of actually saying what his plan is, Romney resorted to the old "it would take too long to explain it" dodge. But that's not true—to the extent he has previously articulated a plan for replacing Obamacare, it's been focused almost entirely on allowing people to purchase insurance across state lines and expanding tax deductions to the individual market. That doesn't take long to explain, but there's a problem: Romney's plan wouldn't deliver any of the benefits of Obamacare, and as the rest of Romney's answer showed, he wants to promise those very same benefits.
For example, Romney's second claim was that his plan covers people with pre-existing conditions. That probably sounded great to the debate audience, but the truth is that he has never released a health care plan that actually covers pre-existing conditions. In fact, earlier this year on Jay Leno's show, Romney said that his plan didn't cover them. Moreover, after the debate, his own top adviser conceded that President Obama was right: Romney would leave pre-existing conditions up to the states.
Pressed by TPM’s Evan McMorris-Santoro, Fehrnstrom said those who currently lack coverage because they have pre-existing conditions would need their states to implement their own laws — like Romney’s own Massachusetts health care law — that ban insurance company from discriminating against sick people. “We’d like to see states do what Massachusetts did,” Fehrnstrom said. “In Massachusetts we have a ban on pre-existing conditions.”
So, if they'd like to see states do what Massachusetts did... then why repeal Obamacare, which is modeled after what Massachusetts did? It makes no sense—and Romney knows it. That's why, during the debate, he flip-flopped and took the Obamacare position on preexisting conditions. And the reason he won't explain how he'd do that is because the only way he can do that is by leaving Obamacare in place. If he implements the plan he's proposed, preexisting conditions simply wouldn't be covered. And even his own campaign couldn't say otherwise.
The third and final element to Romney's answer was his statement that under his plan, "young people are able to stay on their family plan." To really appreciate Romney's brass, you have to take another look at his explanation for why that's would be the case. "That's already offered in the private marketplace," he said. "You don't have to have the government mandate that for that to occur."
To the extent that statement is true, Obamacare is the reason. The ability of young people to stay on their family plans isn't something that spontaneously started being "offered in the private marketplace." Instead, it became an option for young people because Obamacare requires it. In other words, Mitt Romney is either lying—because repealing Obamacare would eliminate that requirement—or he's saying that he doesn't want to repeal one of the central features of Obamacare.
To recap:
Romney dodged explaining his health care plan by saying it was too "lengthy" to describe, which just isn't true. Romney, despite refusing to detail his plan, said it covered pre-existing conditions just like Obamacare even though he has previously taken the opposite position and even though his own campaign did not stand by his claim. Romney says his plan wouldn't kick young people of their family plans because he says young people are already able to get coverage through their parents. But Obamacare is what makes that possible, and if his plan is to continue that policy, he's endorsing a key element of Obamacare.
President Obama rebutted Romney's first and second points during the debate, with particular emphasis on Romney's recurring pattern of refusing to say how he'd achieve his promises. And he did make it clear that the way to achieve the promises made by Romney would be to keep Obamacare in place. But he didn't go for Romney's jugular and point out that Mitt Romney was essentially endorsing Obamacare in substance, if not name.
In the end, Romney's answer sounded good, but a key part of the reason that it sounded good is that he claimed President Obama's positions as his own—and didn't get called out for it. That might have been enough to give him a "win" last night, but last night was just one night. And as long as President Obama and his campaign are ready and willing to fight back and point out the gap between what Romney said last night and what he's said throughout the campaign, I don't think it's a victory that can be sustained.Located deep in upstate New York, Watkins Glen International was once home to some of the biggest races in all of motorsport. Racing series such as Can-Am and Formula 1 brought out legendary names like Hunt, Lauda, Stewart, Clark, and Hill. Many early race victories were claimed by icons in motorsport. Mario Andretti, Bruce McLaren, and Jody Scheckter, just to name a few.
Times weren't always good for Watkins though. After the 1980 Grand Prix, the Glen was officially dropped from the Formula 1 schedule thanks to financial difficulties. The next year, the track went bankrupt and closed down.
Three years later, the newly renovated track would reopen to host the return of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. The circuit prospered from then on, with several reconfigurations and improvements being carried out at the facility through the years.
Nowadays, Watkins Glen is home to NASCAR, IndyCar, and a fan-favorite, U.S. Vintage Grand Prix. The Vintage features racing cars from every era of motorsport, and is one of the largest vintage racing events in the nation.
Last year, the doors were shut on Watkins in order to prepare for a major repave of the track. Since the last repave in 1989, concrete patches were added to maintain the surface, and remained until recently. Those patches, along with drainage issues on some parts of the track, meant that the Glen was due for a resurfacing. The $12 million endeavor went off without a hitch. The track is now covered in nothing but 1.5-inch-thick motorsport-grade asphalt. New red and yellow curbing was added, along with extended run-off areas to improve safety for both the drivers and spectators.
Mazdas Prototype, stalled at the pit exit, as the C7R zooms by.
The inaugural pro race for the new surface was this weekend's Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen. An IMSA-sanctioned event, the Sahlen's Six Hour is one of the most popular stops on the schedule, drawing some of the biggest crowds of the year to the Finger Lake region. Last year's Six-Hour was drenched in rain, and since the track hadn't been repaved, the race surface was covered in standing water. Both the teams and spectators were forced to suffer through the storms.
This year's event could not have been more different. Opening to a sunny sky in perfect 80-degree weather, beautiful mountaintop views, and a slight cooling breeze, the Sahlen's Six-Hour was looking to be full of high-speed action. This was my first time at the track, and I couldn't wait to see what it had in store for me. There was already a huge crowd in pit lane when I arrived, everyone trying their hardest to snag a selfie next to one of the crazy Ford GTs or the Mazda Prototype car, which was clad in Le Mans tribute livery to honor their win in 1991. At the start of the race, the grandstands at turn one were barely half full, and I wouldn't find out why until later when I walked around the rest of the facility.
The place is huge. 3.4 miles may not seem like a long circuit, but almost all of the interior of the track, and most of the exterior, is open to walk through and spectate. You can spend the entire six-hour race walking along the track to get different angles of cars whizzing by. Getting 30 feet away from turn one on the inside was easy, and since the place is so big, there weren't any huge crowds in one spot. The wonderful thing about professional road races in America is just how close you can get to the track. The only thing between you and the thunderous sound of a Corvette prototype is a torso-high chain-link fence, and your ears will let you know. Mine were still ringing hours after the race ended. That isn't to say there wasn't any place to sit down and relax, however. There were plenty of grandstands lined along the front straight and turn one, and since they were sparingly populated, all I had to do was pick my favorite seat and sit down. Want to sit a couple of car lengths away from the start/finish line? Sure!
A large percentage of the Glen's property was dedicated to camping spots for people to stay over the weekend, either with an RV or a tent they've set up. Many people set up campfires and viewing areas of their own, and some even had an excellent view of the race itself. Similar to Le Mans, but probably a lot cheaper and closer to home.
Oh, then there's the racing. Nothing compares to seeing stuff like this in person. Sure, you'll probably get better coverage of the race on IMSA's live stream, you might even know who the race leader is. But when you're actually out there, standing on the corner before the front straight, none of that really matters. There are loudspeakers set up along the track that stream IMSA radio to keep spectators in the loop, but once the cars actually start flying by, they might as well be playing nothing, because there's no way anyone can hear it. And that's fine. Just listen to a Corvette C7R once at wide-open throttle, and that's all you'll ever want to hear again.
The track might be a solid four-and-a-half hours away from New York City, but that doesn't matter. People from all around the northeast and beyond are willing to make the trip, because it's worth it. An event at Watkins Glen is a good way to spend a weekend, and a great way to celebrate our nation's independence.
Car enthusiasm is alive and well, despite what all the millennial blogs keep saying. People love to drive, and people love to watch cars go around a track as fast as possible. The future of Watkins Glen International is as bright as race day was, and it'll be here for a long, long time.This collection of interactive maps shows credit rating for each country.
What is Credit Rating?
A credit rating estimates the credit worthiness of an individual, corporation, or even a country. A credit rating is also known as an evaluation of a potential borrower's ability to repay debt, prepared by a credit rating agency (CRA). Credit ratings are calculated from financial history and current assets and liabilities. Typically, a credit rating tells a lender or investor the probability of the subject being able to pay back a loan.
What is Credit Rating Agency (CRA)
A credit rating agency (CRA) is a company that assigns credit ratings for issuers of certain types of debt obligations as well as the debt instruments themselves. In some cases, the servicers of the underlying debt are also given ratings.
Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investor Service and Fitch Ratings are the big three credit rating agencies. Moody's and S&P each control about 40 percent of the market. Third-ranked Fitch Ratings, which has about a 14 percent market share, sometimes is used as an alternative to one of the other majors.
Updated: Jan 2012The Claimed Mummy Gospel Fragment
As has been all over the news recently, there is an alleged scrap of the first written Gospel from the Bible, the Gospel of Mark, as found inside of a papier-mache mummy. This has the potential to be a boon for New Testament studies, but there has been significant controversy about how this discovery has been revealed and how it was done. Even the mummy mask that is the source for this scrap of papyrus looks uncomfortable with how things are going.
A bit of background. The first anyone outside of the research group looking into this mask was back in 2012 when textual critic Bart Ehrman was having a debate with Daniel Wallace about if we could confidently say we have what the authors of the Gospels wrote. In that debate, Wallace, who believes we have almost perfect reconstructions of the texts, used a gotcha debating point that a research group had a first century scrap of the Gospel of Mark, to be published that year. Wallace gives some details in a blog entry from March, 2012, but it lacks some really important details. For example, where did the scrap come from, what is the text of the fragment (what lines of the Gospel of Mark), who did the dating of the scrap and with what margins of error, etc. Wallace said he had signed a non-disclosure agreement, even though that didn’t seem to stop him from blabbing about the papyrus in a public debate. I’m having trouble understanding that, but that’s hardly here or there.
More recently, Craig Evans gave a talk for a Canadian apologetics group, and this clip of that talk highlights what seems to be the same alleged fragment.
Roberta Mazza confirms that Evans is talking about the same fragment that Wallace did, and it is supposed to be published by Brill this year. However, that blog entry from Mazza shows that she isn’t happy about how this is going down. For one is how the presentations are apparently being used not so much for rigorous scholarship but as part of the apologetics package to sell the wares of evangelical Christianity. She also worries that the methods mentioned in how the papyrus was recovered may convince collectors to go out, find more papier-mache mummy masks and in effect tear them apart to find Gospel fragments. The destruction of ancient artifacts is hardly great practice, and this could be disastrous for doing ancient history.
It has also been unclear who has behind the discovery and dating of this papyrus, among others recovered from the mask. Part of the work seems to be done by Scott Carroll, as noted by Mazza and Brice Jones. Now, Carroll was on the payroll for the so-called Green Collection of papyri. The Green Collection is owned by the founding family of Hobby Lobby, which has been notorious in recent years because of their evangelical stances and the Supreme Court case from last year. How the Greens have created this collection of antiquities is unclear, though part of it may have been acquired through eBay. This makes it hard to know the provenance of much of that collection, as worried by Brice and others. Carroll’s current relations with the Green Collection seem to no longer be so strong, and the collection that may include the mummy mask may be one run by Carroll or another of his collaborators.
Another such collaborator gave me pause: the infamous Josh McDowell. In particular, it seems that McDowell, who has no training in papyrology and only a Masters in Divinity (not New Testament studies), was handling and extracting these papyri from mummy masks. It is also not clear, but McDowell may be financially involved; for all I know, he was the owner of the mask. I find it rather disturbing that someone like McDowell, who is notorious because of his shoddy book, Evidence that Demands a Verdict, is now supposedly central in uncovering these early fragments of the Gospel of Mark. More than that, apparently along the way Carroll and McDowell’s group have found the oldest pieces of the Letter to the Romans, the oldest piece of Exodus 24, the oldest piece of 1 Samuel. All of these firsts and earliests, and yet none of it published in peer-reviewed avenues. At least not yet.
It is also frightening because Carroll and McDowell are clear about their purposes. Carroll speaks as if he were having God work through him, and McDowell talks of overturning liberal theology. This is archaeology in the hands of evangelicals, and this has had a disturbing effect in papyrology already. One reason is that the dates provided by Carroll in one of his talks pegs this Gospel fragment to between 70 and 110 CE. That range is amazingly small, and other papyri claimed to be early versions of the Gospels have also been questioned for having such tight ranges. Really, there should be a date with a margin of error of fifty years or more, especially on small fragments. See in particular Brent Nongbri, “The Use and Abuse of P52: Papyrological Pitfalls in the Dating of the Fourth Gospel,” HTR 98.1 (2005): 23-48; P. Orsini and W. Clarysse, “Early New Testament Manuscripts and Their Dates: A Critique of Theological Palaeography,” ETL 88.4 (2012): 443-474. The latter source here notes how these sorts of questionable dating methods have been used for theological ends.
So unless there are some really solid grounds for the dating of this papyrus fragment, I am very suspicious of what is claimed here. I was even worrying if this was a fragment of the Gospel of Mark at all because of past speculations. In particular, a couple of scholars tried to argue that the scrap 7Q5 from the Dead Sea Scrolls was in fact a part of the Markan Gospel. That case was really built on a foundation of sand and is rejected by pretty much all experts. Things like that make me suspicious if the people working on the fragment actually have Mark or not. Now, they do claim to have pieces of Romans and the Old Testament, so either they have amazing pareidolia and see the Bible everywhere or the mummy mask is composed of someone’s old copy of the Greek Bible.
Other things said along the way though also make me very suspicious about the quality of the work involved in this. One argument McDowell (and Evens apparently in the video above) makes is that the mask must have been from a pagan and he used Bible fragments because he was trying to destroy a book he thought was silly or unworthy. But the first question should be how does he know it was a pagan that was mummified and not a Christian? While the practice is associated with the ancient Egyptians, there were plenty of mummies found in Egypt that are of Christians. Just in the news last year a mummy was found with a tattoo mentioning the archangel Michael from c. 700 CE. Also, the logic that the reason Bible fragments are on the mummy are illogical; if this was to disrespect the Christian scriptures, then does that mean the person was also trying to disrespect the epics of Homer also found with the mask? Did this pagan also hate paganism? There is nothing but the flight of imagination here as some modern evangelicals are trying to find evidence of early persecution of the faith (something that has also been found to have been exaggerated).
The scraps found with the mummy instead suggest to me that these were the sorts of old manuscripts that he had around, worn out to not be worth keeping anymore. And if this person had a copy of the Christian Bible around, that should be evidence that this person was a Christian and not a pagan.
Okay, it should be very frightening if, with the very little bit of information that these evangelicals have posted, this team’s assessment can be so easily to be shown to not just be problematic but the exact opposite conclusion can be drawn with better justification. I’m a nobody with no expertise in these things, and yet I can find how the claims don’t stack up. If this is what is going on behind the scenes, we have to be extremely suspicious of any dating conclusions made.
But even if there is a fragment of Mark from 90 CE in their possession, what would it show? What would it prove? It would demonstrate that the Gospel existed before the end of the first century, but that is already what most scholars think. So other than excluding a later date supposed by few, the origins of the Gospel are not all that illuminated. Also, if it is just a scrap of Mark, it will not be able to tell us most anything about how much the version of Mark reconstructed today by textual critics may have differed from the autographs (the originals).
In fact, I wonder if it could show the exact opposite. Consider the case from the Nag Hammadi library and the Epistle of Eugnostos along with the Sophia of Jesus Christ. We know that the Eugnostos letter was written first, and it had all sorts of sayings that were not said by Jesus but instead the alleged author. In the Sophia, those saying of Eugnostos as now on the lips of Jesus. Some also suspect things found in the letters of Paul became sayings or deeds of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark.
This example highlights an issue: depending on the part of Mark the fragment allegedly comes from, for all we know it may be a disconnected saying of Jesus but removed from the Gospel context. Could we instead be seeing some saying that later would be put in Jesus’ mouth? For all we know, we can find a saying of Jesus before it was attributed to him, just like in the case of Eugnostos. We might have a source for Mark rather than Mark itself. If that is the case, then with a dating of 90 CE by the evangelical team for the mummy fragment, that may indicate that the Gospel of Mark, using this old source, was written after 90 CE and mean the Gospel is not older but younger than expected.
So again, depending on the nature of the evidence, we may need to come to the exact opposite conclusions of the team. That means until this evidence is published and reviewed by experts we can only be frustratingly unsure about anything related to this fragment of a Gospel. We should be skeptical of
having a Gospel fragment at all (could be mistaken identity; one wonders if there is forgery, but I doubt it)
the dating (the range given is absurdly too small)
the origins of the fragment
what it indicates about the origins and development of the New Testament
We also have reason to be weary of the very methodology involved since it includes the destruction of ancient artifacts. This leaves me with another question: why did they even think destroying this mask in the first place? What was the motivation? Did they think they would get Gospel fragments out of it?
The introduction of this fragment has been done in all the wrong ways, trying to be spectacular without the needed peer review, and instead it is designed to act as a bludgeon for Christian apologists–one that logically cannot even show what it wants. Even if this Gospel of Mark fragment is real and comes from 90 CE, that doesn’t show the Gospel was written before 70 CE, and it doesn’t show that what was written in the Gospel actually happened; fictions can be written just as early and biographies. There is a big misunderstanding about history and logic even work, and that is assuming in the best of situations.
Now, I must say this. All of the claims about the fragment could be right, and I welcome it. I do hope to read the book concerning the fragment, among many others, when it is published (allegedly this year, but I doubt the timeline since the proponents have been saying it will come out in 2012, 2013, 2014, and this year). It would, at least, put to rest the possibility that Mark is a 2nd century composition (something I consider at least possible, though not necessarily probable). And perhaps textual critics will find it of use if it concerns a passage from Mark that has been uncertain in the reading. We will need to wait and see, but even once published I will be quite skeptical until others can properly review and analyze the results.
Update: Great piece by Candida Moss and Joel Baden on the claims. Apparently now the fragment won’t be published until 2017 instead of this year, assuming no further delays! I have to quote this:
Some people are saying they have this really old and important thing, and they will show it to all the rest of us in a few years. (Essentially, this papyrus is the scholarly equivalent of “my girlfriend who lives in Canada.”)
Aaron originally posted this over at his great blog, which can be found here.Paul Stamets claims that mushrooms can save the world. I'm not so sure about universal salvation through fungal means, but I do enjoy cooking with them, so I decided to call Paul up for some cooking tips. I also happen to have an autoimmune disease, and I was intrigued by Paul's TED talk about the incredible potential of fungi and extensive writing on the nutritional and medicinal properties of mushrooms in his book, Mycelium Running.
I went to the guru of'shrooms in search of food medicine, albeit with my skeptic wits about me. I asked him to share some culinary tips that might also help ease my symptoms and prevent the progression of my disease. Take this all with a grain of salt—literally, because everything tastes better with salt—and also figuratively, because the science of fungi is still tenuous.
Paul will be the first to admit that he is eccentric. He is drawn to mushrooms for their mystery and danger as much as for their potential to help the human race. He often wears a hat made out of mushrooms. I asked, "Does it fall apart in the rain? Does it smell bad when it gets wet, like leather or wool?" He laughed as though to suggest my naiveté in the face of such fungal magic, then told me that the hat was crafted from Amadou, a hoof conk polypore found in Transylvania, and the same mushroom used by our prehistoric ancestors to transport fire. Back before the Common Era, Hippocrates wrote of the mushroom's anti-inflammatory properties.
Yes: The hat, being hydrophilic, gets heavy in the rain.
Nevermind wearing mushrooms as hats. How does one cook these beasts? Paul eats mushrooms as part of three or more meals a week, in the form of soups, stir-fries, and tea. He even bakes porcini mushrooms into bread, and has toyed with mushroom beer, ice cream, and cookies. (I, too, have experienced the shocking possibility of fungus desserts at a farmer's market in Santa Cruz; a little artisanal gelato food cart sold 'candy cap ice cream', made from a small orange mushroom with a flavor indistinguishable from maple syrup.)
Paul's strongest culinary recommendation is to always cook your mushrooms. He argues that many raw mushrooms contain unstable toxins which can be broken down through heat or acid. If you don't bake, grill, boil, or fry your fungi, you can pickle them, although Paul still recommends a quick boil before tossing them in a vinegar bath.
He speculates that when someone reacts badly to a nontoxic mushroom, the mushroom is interacting negatively with their gut flora, or the bacterial composition of their stomach.
This brings us to one of the greatest medicinal potential of mushrooms: their compatibility with our microbiome. Paul suggests that mushrooms might be the next hot prebiotic, because they assist the growth of 'friendly' bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus, and they repress the growth of inflammatory bacteria like Staphylococcus. The beneficial properties vary greatly from species to species, however. Your grocery button mushroom will offer less healing potential than the reishi mushroom from your local herbal apothecary, he says. Of the 15,000 identified species of fungi, just 200 have been designated edible and safe to consume, and 50 of these have been found to contain medicinal benefits. Paul believes that there may be considerably more species with healing properties, but research is limited.
Paul is like a prophet to the fungal spirits. He stands as the translator between the generally ignorant human population and the omnipotent gods of the fungi kingdom. He spoke with both awe and pride when he told me, "It is rare to find something powerful enough to heal you, feed you, kill you, or send you on a spiritual journey. Science and culture have been slow to catch up with the potential of these mushrooms, and there is still so much that we don't know."
We do know enough, however, to make a solid case for mushrooms as essential components of our nutrition and health. They are nutritionally dense, offering high percentages of protein, polysaccharides, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Paul writes in Mycelium Running that many species, such as chaga, red reishi, and agarikon, show promise for preventing and treating chronic illnesses. My disease, scleroderma, along with the entire range of chronic disorders and various cancers, trigger inflammatory responses in the immune system. The three aforementioned mushrooms are anti-inflammatory, and could therefore ease a host of tricky symptoms. Agarikon, in particular,can be traced back to ancient Greek medical texts: it was described by Dioscorus as the "elixir of life," and, almost as importantly, a laxative.
Paul does not limit his curiosity to the nutrition of mushrooms, however. Once you have named yourself the "mycelial messenger" for the human race, there's no turning back, and Paul is charging ahead with full steam. It is important to make the distinction, however, that Paul does not pretend to be the master of mushrooms, but rather their minion. He is in awe of the potential that mushrooms hold to save the world's problems.
The earth, in Paul's mind, belongs more to the mushrooms than to those who step on them and eat them for breakfast. They were the first organisms to come to land, and survived numerous global disasters. For example, mushrooms absorb toxic waste, he says. In a study in Washington, Paul observed oyster mushroom mycelium transform a pile of diesel waste into a fruiting, buzzing, humming, green garden. Agarikon, the aforementioned shelf mushroom of Pacific Northwest old-growth forests, may offer protection from smallpox, and could therefore be used as a measure of national defense. Paul has conducted research about the antiviral properties of agarikon with the U.S. Biodefense program, and his findings were supported by scientists from the US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and the National Institute of Health (NIH). This mushroom, along with chaga, red reishi, and shiitake, fights and prevent the growth of dangerous viruses and bacteria, such as E. Coli, bird flu, and the H5N1 virus. If aimed properly, mushrooms could make quite a splash in medicine.
Mushrooms will save the Earth, but they're also just cool. At least, they're cool to nerds like Paul Stamets, who are loaded with mushroom fun facts. The largest organism in existence is a giant mycelial mat of honey mushrooms in Eastern Oregon. Paul has also suggested that mycelium—the threads beneath the fruiting body of the mushroom, which act as externalized stomachs and lungs—are actually neurological membranes. Pause for dramatic effect: the mycelium is "sentient." It is Earth's "natural internet." If a mushroom falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Yes, because apparently mushrooms speak to each other in hushed tones when we aren't listening.
So mushrooms will save us—and they're cool—but they also offer practical solutions for everyday problems, like bug infestations. Paul had a problem with carpenter ants and termites, which he solved by infecting the ants with a species of mycelium harmless to humans. He tricked the ants into eating the mycelium before it sporulated, and once the delayed spores were released they infiltrated the entire colony. The spores mummify the ants and then, lo and behold, a mushroom sprouts out of the ant's head.
In Paul's eyes, mushrooms cure disease, soak up toxins, kill unwanted pests, heal our chronically suffering bodies, prevent further sickness, taste good in pasta … what more could we ask for? Neither Paul nor I believe that consuming mushrooms will heal my autoimmune disease—nothing can return my body to its original state, but they could strengthen my immune system on the whole, which is a good first step. They're magic!
No, not magic mushrooms—that's for another interview. Paul hinted that he has a story or two in that vein, but when I prompted him to elaborate, he responded, "Who's the audience for this piece?"Can you change?
Are you stuck with your habits, your knowledge, your weight, your fitness, your interpersonal skills? Is your future a slightly different rerun of your past?
We spend an enormous amount of time and money seeking to reinvent and upgrade ourselves, working to give up something, start something, build something or change something about who we are and what we do.
And we usually fail.
It's tempting to say, "this is who I am, habits are hardwired, it's in my DNA, I'm going to live with it." Tempting, and an easy way out.
Change is hard, sometimes nearly impossible. But if even one person as far behind as we are has dug in and done enough work to finish that marathon, to change that habit or to learn that skill, it means that it's not impossible. Merely (astonishingly) difficult.
Knowing that it's possible is 86% of the project.The Florida Gators announced Tuesday that while X-rays on his injured right ankle came back negative, senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin will be sidelined indefinitely with a high-ankle sprain he suffered in the closing minutes of Florida’s 65-64 loss to UConn on Monday night in Storrs, CT.
Wilbekin, who missed the first five games of the regular season due to suspension, has only played in three contests this season but nevertheless led the Gators |
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"blueprint": false } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_02", "position": { "x": -38, "y": 22, "z": -1279 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "campfire", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false }, { "name": "pistol_eoka", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_02", "position": { "x": -756, "y": 7, "z": -1504 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "campfire", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false }, { "name": "building_planner", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": 247, "y": 15, "z": -1341 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "HideVest.itemdef", "amount": 1, "blueprint": true } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_02", "position": { "x": -204, "y": 42, "z": 180 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "granolabar", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false }, { "name": "largemedkit", "amount": 1, "blueprint": true } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": -1183, "y": 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"autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_02", "position": { "x": 1108, "y": 15, "z": 932 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "syringe_medical", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false }, { "name": "building_planner", "amount": 1, "blueprint": true } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": 507, "y": 23, "z": 938 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "stonehatchet", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": 1424, "y": 7, "z": 746 }, "inventory": [] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": 272, "y": 14, "z": -1326 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "bow_hunting", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false }, { "name": "arrow_wooden", "amount": 5, "blueprint": false }, { "name": "arrow_wooden", "amount": 1, "blueprint": true } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": 526, "y": 14, "z": -1456 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "syringe_medical", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": -789, "y": 22, "z": -1416 }, "inventory": [] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_01", "position": { "x": -897, "y": 20, "z": -1457 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "hammer_salvaged", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false } ] }, { "name": "autospawn/resource/loot/loot_barrel_02", "position": { "x": 687, "y": 23, "z": 574 }, "inventory": [ { "name": "burlap_shirt", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false }, { "name": "campfire", "amount": 1, "blueprint": false } ] } ]With our temporary move to Sydney Olympic Park confirmed, here’s what you really need to know about our new home ground.
Our arrangement at Sydney Olympic Park will see us play out of ANZ Stadium and Spotless Stadium which both share the same precinct. This means you’ll always be heading to the same place with no confusion.ANZ Stadium will host a minimum of four blockbuster matches including both Sydney derbies during the 2016/17 season while the majority of games will be played at Spotless Stadium.Your match day travel to our matches will not change significantly with Sydney Olympic Park in close proximity to the original Wanderland. With both ANZ Stadium and Spotless Stadium only a short car ride or convenient rail trip, getting to next season’s matches will be a walk in the park.Just like at Wanderland, public transport to and from the match will be included in your Membership and match day ticket.Public transport will remain the most affordable and convenient mode of transport to Sydney Olympic Park on match day.If you do decide to drive, there is amble parking available in the nine 24/7 car parks which include 400 accessible (disabled) car spaces.Sydney Olympic Park brings the opportunity to offer new premium seating and hospitality options for those interested.To explore the new hospitality options please contact our corporate department at corporate@wswanderersfc.com.auTo cover the extensive amount of Membership questions concerning next season and our new venues we have created a Frequently Asked Questions page which you can view hereTransCanada Corp. is once again at the centre of an escalating political battle in Washington, as the Congressional Republicans push forward legislation that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline despite the threat of veto from President Barack Obama.
As the Harper government applauded in Ottawa, the Republican-dominated House of Representatives passed legislation Friday that would force approval of the controversial pipeline, which is designed to carry oil sands bitumen to the massive refining hub on the U.S. Gulf Coast.
For its part, TransCanada weighed in with a rebuttal of Mr. Obama's skeptical statement Friday, in which he played down the importance of the pipeline to the United States' energy needs.
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"Understand what this project is: It is providing the ability of Canada to pump their oil, send it through our land, down to the Gulf, where it will be sold everywhere else," Mr. Obama said, evidently frustrated with questions about TransCanada's controversial project while he was standing alongside fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Sui Kyi.
TransCanada spokesman Shawn Howard – who applauded the Congressional vote – said the KXL pipeline will carry crude from both Alberta and the U.S. Bakken field, and is clearly in the U.S. national interest, contrary to Mr. Obama's characterization. "American refineries need the oil that we will transport – from both Canadian and American oil fields – to create products that we all rely on," he said.
While exports from Canada to the U.S. are growing by other routes, the company and its shippers insist the Keystone XL line is still a much-needed link between Alberta's oil sands and the Gulf Coast refiners.
Ottawa has long urged Mr. Obama to quickly approve Keystone XL and welcomed the vote.
Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford said the Harper government "will continue to advocate that the Keystone XL pipeline be approved without further delay."It's too early to say whether the Republican effort will result in victory for the Calgary-based company, which filed its Keystone XL application more than six years ago. Or indeed whether the partisan fight will backfire on the Canadian pipeline firm by stiffening the resolve of President Barack Obama to resist Republican pressure on the polarizing issue that is seen by many environmentalists as a litmus test for the President's climate agenda.
Given the fact that the Republican-led House has passed similar bills several times, Friday's vote was the easy first step in a renewed effort by backers of the project to forge bipartisan support for Keystone XL.
Much tougher will be the Senate early next week – where Democrats still have a majority until January. Getting the 60 votes needed to avoid a filibuster and pass a similar pro-Keystone XL measure will be a close. Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu – a Democrat who supports the project – is eager to get a bill passed, as she is looking to demonstrate her clout ahead of a run-off election in her home state where neither she nor her Republican opponent won a majority of votes in the midterms earlier this month.
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In any event, a stand-alone Keystone XL bill demanding the President approve the project would be easy to veto. The White House has already made clear that's what Mr. Obama intends to do. And there is little chance the current Senate could muster the 67 votes needed to override the veto.
A more substantive challenge may come early next year when the Republican midterm victors take control of the Senate. The next Congress will have Republican majorities in both houses. Then a Keystone XL approval provision tucked inside must-pass legislation – such as a critical funding bill – could be sent to Mr. Obama forcing him to make a much tougher decision on whether to veto. Even then, Republicans will need at least a dozen Democrats in the Senate to be able to override a presidential veto.
While Mr. Obama has sounded increasingly skeptical about the value of Keystone XL, he has said he will let the process play out before making a final decision. That includes a court case in Nebraska challenging the state's approval of the current pipeline route in which a decision is expected early next year.
Should the state court rule in favour of TransCanada, Mr. Obama may have little ground on which to reject the pipeline. The U.S. State Department has concluded the project will not lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands, though environmental groups have denounced that finding.
But at six years and counting since first being proposed, is the pipeline still needed?
Rail capacity has grown and TransCanada's rival, Enbridge Inc. is proposing an expansion that would add as much as 600,000 barrels of day of capacity from Western Canada and the U.S. to the Gulf Coast. Refiners that have the capacity to process up to 2.7-million barrels a day of heavy oil, and currently, are only accessing 1.8-million barrels due to a shortage from traditional suppliers in Mexico and Venezuela.
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Valero Energy Corp. – the U.S.'s largest refiner – remains eager to see Keystone XL built, spokesman Bill Day said.
"Valero's Gulf Coast refineries currently receive some Canadian crude by rail, but we would like to increase deliveries of Canadian crude via Keystone XL, which will be a very efficient method of bringing heavy crude to our large, complex refineries on the Gulf Coast that process heavy crude," Mr. Day said in an e-mail. "Keystone XL will help Gulf Coast refiners like Valero replace higher-cost heavy crude from overseas with lower-cost heavy crude from North America."
"We do need the Keystone pipeline to move the growing volumes of heavy oil that we are expecting," said energy economist Jackie Forrest, of Calgary-based ARC Financial Corp. While costs have escalated for Keystone XL to $8-billion, Ms. Forrest said costs have risen for all transportation options. Even at the higher price tag, "Keystone would be more competitive than rail," she said.April 4, 1889.
Spring came slowly to Chicago, with a whistle of winter from the Great Lakes and the sorrow of a crop-hauler’s summer. At the Olympic Theater, stagehands cranked and the curtain lifted. Hands that had chopped wood for six months—hands rough with labor and freezing rain—tipped jiggers of bourbon to scabbed lips. The wooden seats—some rowseats, some benches, some chairs set around tables—had been burnished by wool, by oilskin, by leather, and by the expectations of audiences who wanted something for every cent they spent—because every cent they’d earned they’d torn out of the world, or themselves.
J. W. Kelly, the headliner for the evening, had travelled the country for 20 years—trying to make these people laugh.
He was 32, in his prime. Vaudeville had come about—refining itself from the variety shows of the previous decades—and Kelly had developed a New York brogue and tough-talking reputation as the “Rolling Mill Kelly.” Born John Walter Shields, J. W. Kelly was a loud-mouthed bigot, which, to the downtrodden slouches of the galleries, had irresistible allure. “He is a universal favorite,” reported the star-struck New York Mirror, “and the whole audience joins enthusiastically in the applause.”
That April day, Kelly stepped out from behind the curtain in his characteristic, all-black ensemble—spectacles, top hat, and frock coat. The bits were reported, familiar: “Kelly, Have You No Shame at All;” “The Milwaukee Fire”; “Songs My Mammy Sang.” As he lumbered forth to the accompaniment of his entrance music, “The Wearing of the Green,” the house was ready, waiting for him. A chimney sweep for their burnt spirits.
Oh, Paddy dear, an’ did you hear the news that’s goin’ round?
The shamrock is forbid by law to grow on Irish ground!
Saint Patrick’s day no more we’ll keep, his color can’t be seen,
For there’s a cruel law against the wearin’ of the green!
The men with hats turned down in their laps (lest they be utilized as spittoons), the boys tossing peanuts, the serving girls in tassels and high boots—you won’t find the tombstones, but these were our ancestors. They weren’t all criminals or thugs or prostitutes or men with razors in their boots, but some of them were, more perhaps than any of us would be comfortable admitting—and this wasn’t church Sunday.
This was Chicago. The farmers that were in town were away from their families, their pastors, their roosters’ call at dawn. They were "supplying up," taking their few days between the doldrums of winter and the toil of summer. They’d come to the Olympic to drink, to pass the time and pass out from too much of the liquor—or, as J. W. Kelly called it, “in the black bottle.”
Gaslights, cigar smoke, and beaver-felt hats, Kelly regarded the crowd. His eyes were swollen—only a moment before, one of the wrestlers had shaken him awake. Not one of the real wrestlers; the duty had fallen to the challenger, the bumpkin who’d come to Chicago to sell his pigs and thought he could stand with a champion. Two champions. Jack Carkeek and Evan Lewis. Back to back. The dumb hick had worn his overalls.
In Carkeek, the bumpkin faced a lifelong practitioner of Cornish Wrestling, or “wrasslin” as it was called in Cornwall England, where Carkeek’s father and grandfather had mastered the roughneck style. Carkeek was sizable for the day, 185 pounds, and for six years he’d been traveling the globe, beating bumpkins for prize money. Since an 1887 loss at Chicago’s Battery D’Armory, he’d assumed a place in the upper ranks of the fight business, training alongside and taking marquee matches against the best in the world. The Chicago bout, against none other than Evan Lewis, decided the first recognized professional heavyweight wrestling championship in the United States. The referee called the match; drained of strength, Carkeek was bleeding internally. As “The Miner,” Carkeek had played his customary role as the “honorable man,” and if his reputation wasn’t menacing enough to scare off bumpkins, or sell out the last row of the Olympic theater, he nonetheless took the edge off the Evan Lewis contingent; Lewis attracted an audience, but a cruel, bloodthirsty audience—because Lewis was a cruel, bloodthirsty fighter.
If the bumpkin withstood Carkeek, his reward was a match with Lewis, “The Strangler,” the American Catch-as-Catch-Can Champion, and the American Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.
“The Strangler” had beaten everyone—Joe Acton, William Muldoon, Tom Canon, everyone—and not only did he beat his contemporaries, he frightened them, using a full inventory of styles: London Prize (bareknuckle fighting), Catch-as-Catch-Can, Greco-Roman, “mixed” (meaning to say the rules were negotiated) and “go as you please” (meaning to say the rules were unwritten). Lewis’ game would be familiar to today’s mixed martial arts fans; though he specialized in the ground attack, he didn’t mind exchanging blows. In an era when matches were not stopped short of injury, Lewis would commonly emerge victorious via broken bone, torn joint, or crushed windpipe.
Lewis’ signature technique, and namesake: the strangle. In 1886, he strangled Matsada Sorakichi until the famed rib breaker’s eyes rolled into his head and he was regurgitating blood. In the rematch, with the chokehold banned, Lewis had promised, “I will not choke you this time, but I will screw your leg off.” Under a minute, and he did just that. The bout made the front page of The New York Times. The injury, the Times reported, reached from ankle to knee and was far worse than a break—joints, ligaments, and muscles were shredded. In 1887, Lewis had destroyed “Stompin’ Tom” Connors, a master of the Lancashire style (a precursor to Catch-as-Catch-Can) who was direct from the source, England. Lewis, perhaps not seeing straight wrestling as his best strategy, had punched, head-butted, kicked, and choked Connors into a limp-limbed doll. It didn’t seem to bother Lewis that the match ended in his disqualification. For a hobby, and sort-of half-time act, Lewis juggled 250-pound Indian clubs.
J.W. Kelly, as one of the highest-paid variety performers of the day, offered a whole show, an evening of edification: prize fighting and wrestling were standard variety-show offerings, as were more exotic confrontations, like Sumo. With his gruff, no-nonsense persona, Kelly opted for the wrestling. Wrestling was an American pastime (of the first 16 presidents, six of them, including George Washington, John Adams, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln, were wrestlers), and a red-blooded American man knew that fighters didn’t wear padded mittens and that the takedown was the fundamental act of a fight. Parson Davis, Lewis’ manager, had issued the public challenge, placing ads in Chicago papers and sending boys into the streets with handbills and posters |
Thursday it would not cut federal funding to North Carolina while the lawsuits are winding their way through court.
[Federal judge upholds controversial North Carolina voting law]
Barber went to western North Carolina earlier this month to talk about the issue, and he plans to have what he calls a “Moral Monday” protest in Raleigh this week. At least 54 people protesting the law, which is also called House Bill 2 (H.B. 2) and which Barber calls “Hate Bill 2,” were arrested at a sit-in at the state Capitol last month.
Barber said he tries to present the totality of the law, and people typically disagree with it once they learn more about the transgender issue and minimum-wage provisions.
At least one legislator who voted for it said he didn’t realize all that the law encompassed. North Carolina state Rep. George W. Graham Jr., who represents Lenoir County and voted for the bill, told the Raleigh News and Observer that he didn’t know until after the vote that the legislation dealt with issues of minimum wage and discrimination suits.
“Those are two of the major things that are antithetical to what the state’s history has been about and its evolution over the last 50 years,” said state Sen. Daniel T. Blue Jr. (D).
The campaign against H.B. 2 is similar to one that advocates waged in the wake of a battle over voting rights here after the state passed a controversial voting rights law, one of the strictest in the nation in 2013. The Justice Department and state civil rights groups sued. In April, a federal judge upheld North Carolina’s law; the groups have appealed.
Barber said the law and a redrawing of the state’s congressional maps led to an “unconstitutionally constituted legislature passing unconstitutional legislation.”
U.S. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, a North Carolina native whose father grew up in the segregated South, also used the language of the civil rights movement that Barber and others have employed when talking about H.B. 2. In a news conference Monday, she compared conflicts about bathrooms and transgender people to Jim Crow laws.
McCrory said on “The Mark Levin Show” on Monday that he takes issue with people comparing the bathroom law to the civil rights struggle.
“There is absolutely no relevance between the issue of civil rights for African Americans, which went through a tremendous struggle, and the issue of how do we determine the gender of a person going into our public showers or public restrooms or public locker rooms,” McCrory said.
He said the church in which Lynch grew up supports the law; her father was the pastor at White Rock Baptist Church in Durham for years. The church said last week the pastor has not taken a public position on the law.
Lynch’s lawsuit is suing over “compliance and implementation of Part I” of the North Carolina law, not the other sections. The Justice Department did not respond to a request seeking comment.
“Who would you be in 1963?” Nancy “Mama Nia” Wilson, executive director of SpiritHouse, an arts and organizing group in Durham, said she asks people after she explains the law.
That appeal has not yet changed the minds of voters such as Carlos Parker, who was chatting with a friend at Christian Cuts barbershop in Kinston. He didn’t know about the other provisions of the bill but agrees with McCrory’s stance on bathrooms.
“I’m with McCrory. I hate to say that,” said Parker, 38. “I think McCrory is standing his ground for religious beliefs.”NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- An Amazon.com fulfillment center could bring more than 1,200 jobs to the long-ailing village of North Randall, in southeast Cuyahoga County.
Across the country, the e-commerce giant is disrupting the traditional retail business and contributing to shopping malls' struggles. In Northeast Ohio, though, Amazon is literally replacing them. The North Randall project, an 855,000-square-foot building, would occupy approximately 69 acres of the former Randall Park Mall site.
The project popped up on the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority board's agenda on Thursday morning. The board approved a request to provide up to $123 million worth of bond financing for the project, which could open during the second half of 2018.
"This is part of our ever-growing network," Eric Murray, senior manager of economic development for Amazon, said during the meeting. "We're very excited about the opportunity to consider Northeast Ohio."
Seefried Industrial Properties, Inc., an Atlanta-based developer that has worked on other projects for Amazon, has a contract to buy the North Randall site, David Riefe, the company's senior vice president for the Midwest, said during Thursday's port board meeting. The properties belong to multiple owners today.
The developer plans to raze the existing buildings - a shuttered Burlington Coat Factory store, a closed automotive-maintenance facility and a former department store occupied by Ohio Technical College's PowerSport Institute, which would relocate.
Seefried expects to construct a $177 million facility and lease it to Amazon, which has more than 70 such fulfillment centers across the country.
Murray said that North Randall is vying against other, out-of-town sites for the project, which would include 2,600 parking spaces, 64 truck docks and parking for 200 trailers.
Employees at the facility would earn "very competitive" salaries, Murray said, though he wouldn't provide numbers. The jobs would include healthcare, dental care, access to a 401(k) retirement-savings plan and other benefits, he added.
David Smith, North Randall's longtime mayor, expressed cautious optimism during an interview after Thursday's port board meeting. He stressed that the fulfillment-center deal is far from done.
"It's the biggest development, I think - the potential for the biggest development - since I've been in office," he said. "When the demolition of the mall site started, we anticipated having the opportunity to have this type of development. We're just hoping that it is completed."
The workforce at the Amazon facility would surpass North Randall's population of roughly 1,100 people. But the employment would be a fraction of the estimated 5,000 or so people who worked at the mall in its heyday.
Randall Park Mall closed in 2009. Bargain-focused developers Stuart Lichter and Chris Semarjian eventually acquired much of the property and started razing the central mall building in late 2014. They've been marketing the sprawling site, near Interstates 480 and 271, as an industrial park.
Smith said the village doesn't have cash to put into the Amazon deal. But the village could grant partial property-tax abatement for the new building.
"If we're fortunate to receive this project, that has been a topic of discussion," he said. "I'm not sure what we're going to end up at, but we are going to be amenable to as much as we can grant."
Documents distributed at the port board meeting also mentioned a state grant that, along with private money from investors, could round out the funding package.
JobsOhio, a private, statewide economic-development corporation that handles deals in their early stages, hasn't announced any incentives for the project. "The company is working with JobsOhio on state and JobsOhio assistance; however, there are no executed agreements at this time," Matt Englehart, a spokesman, wrote in an email.
Murray told members of the port's board that Amazon has garnered "tremendous" support from the local community, including the village and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the regional chamber of commerce. The company could make a decision on the project in 30 to 45 days, he said.
"We're glad the project is under consideration, and we're optimistic that it will be approved," Deb Janik, the chamber's senior vice president for real estate and business development, said during a phone call after the meeting. She wouldn't comment further.
The Plain Dealer reported in May that Seefried also has a deal to buy the shuttered Euclid Square Mall in Euclid for another large project - a 650,000-square-foot building that could be expanded to 1 million square feet for an unidentified tenant.
On Thursday, Riefe said the projects aren't mutually exclusive. The North Randall deal doesn't impact Seefried's plans in Euclid, where a rezoning of 70 or so acres from retail to industrial use is on track for a City Council vote in late August.
Jonathan Holody, Euclid's planning and development director, wouldn't comment on the potential use for the building, which Seefried has talked about opening late next year. Riefe also won't say whether the project is being designed for Amazon, which has a huge appetite for space and a penchant for secrecy when it comes to real estate.
But Amazon has opened multiple fulfillment centers in other markets, including the Columbus area. The company, based in Seattle, employs thousands of workers at two such facilities in Etna and Obetz, respectively east and south of Columbus.
Those buildings are 20 miles apart - roughly the same distance between the Euclid Square Mall site, east of Cleveland, and the former Randall Park Mall property.Obama administration and Mexican government officials recently discussed creating a three-tier security system designed to protect Mexico’s southern border from drug and human traffickers, according to U.S. officials.
The border control plan calls for U.S. funding and technical support of three security lines extending more than 100 miles north of Mexico’s border with Guatemala and Belize. The border security system would use sensors and intelligence-gathering to counter human trafficking and drug running from the region, a major source of illegal immigration into the United States.
According to the officials who discussed the U.S.-Mexican talks on condition of anonymity, the Mexican government proposed setting up three security cordons using electronic sensors and other security measures along the southern Mexican border, along a line some 20 miles from the southern border, and along a third security line about 140 miles from the southern Mexican territorial line.
The plan would be funded in part through the Merida Initiative, a U.S.-led anti-drug trafficking program that has involved nearly $2 billion in U.S. funds.
Hey taxpayers, how do you feel about sending money to Mexico in order to secure the border? The southern border of Mexico that is, not the southern border of the United States with Mexico. More from the Free Beacon:
Meanwhile, illegal foot traffic from Mexico into the United States has doubled since January, when talks of amnesty of Capitol Hill started to heat up. Border Patrol agents and Sheriff departments along the southern border with Mexico are continually battling dangerous drug cartels armed with AK-47 style weapons.
"We've seen the number of illegal aliens double, maybe even triple since amnesty talk started happening," an agent told Townhall, who asked to remain unnamed due to fears of retaliation within Customs and Border Protection [CBP], something he said is common. "A lot of these people, although not the majority, are criminals or aggravated felons. This is a direct danger to our communities."
There's also this:
American politicians in both parties are stampeding all over themselves to pander to Mexico and adopt mass illegal alien amnesty schemes. But while the Mexican government lobbies for more “humane” treatment of illegal border crossers from their country into ours, Mexico remains notoriously restrictionist toward “undesirable” foreigners who break their laws or threaten their security.
Despite widely touted immigration “reforms” adopted in 2011, Mexico still puts Mexico first — as any country that is serious about protecting its sovereignty should and would.
While the United States' southern border remains wide open, Mexico's southern border is already heavily secured with a full fence, armed guards, barbed wire and lookout towers. Not to mention, Mexico treats illegal immigrants far worse than we do.It's time for the United States to focus on it's own southern border, not the southern border of Mexico 2100 miles away.WASHINGTON — As military sexual assaults rise sharply, members of Congress have grown impatient with the Pentagon’s repeated promises to address the problem and are drafting legislation to make their own fixes.
Three bills were introduced in Congress last week, which would variously give victims of military sexual assault their own military lawyers, require an inspector general investigation of retaliation claims and strip commanders of the authority to dismiss court-martial convictions in major cases, among other changes.
President Obama has also taken on the issue. Last Thursday, White House officials met with 16 Democrats and Republicans from both houses of Congress to discuss ways to prevent sexual assault and improve the military’s response to it.
“I don’t want just more speeches or awareness programs or training but, ultimately, folks look the other way,” Obama said May 7. “We have to do everything we can to root this out.”
The Department of Defense had earlier that day released its annual report on sexual assault in the military, showing that the reported number of sexual assaults increased from 3,192 in fiscal 2011 to 3,374 in fiscal 2012. However, based on anonymous surveys, the DOD estimated that there were about 19,000 sexual assaults involving servicemembers in fiscal 2011, and that number rose to 26,000 for fiscal 2012.
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Barbara Boxer have said they will introduce a bill to address fears of retaliation by taking cases out of the chain of command and allowing servicemembers to report the crimes directly to military prosecutors.
Several bills related to military sexual assault were already in the works, including several aimed at changing the UCMJ to take from commanders the ability to overturn convictions and sentences. The issue was spotlighted by a case in Italy, in which an Air Force fighter pilot was convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping house guest. A lieutenant general later threw out the conviction and reinstated Lt. Col. James Wilkerson in the Air Force.
Greg Jacob, a former Marine and now policy director for the Service Women’s Action Network, an advocacy group, said the way the system works now, commanders can influence the legal process in three places — when determining which cases go to trial, when setting up the court, and afterward, when they can overturn the decision.
That’s problematic because of the lack of impartiality — commanders can and do take their personal feelings for the accused attacker and alleged victim into account — and because commanders aren’t trained lawyers, Jacob said. For instance, in the Wilkerson case, Lt. Gen. Craig Franklin went against the advice of the military lawyer on his staff to overturn the verdict, because he said he did not believe there was enough evidence to prove Wilkerson guilty, and because of letters attesting to Wilkerson’s character.
While many bills address only the issue of commander decisions after the court-martial, Jacob said his group believes that “if you’re going to limit the commander’s authority on the back end of the process, you’ve got to look at the commander’s authority on the front end” as well.
Military officials frequently stay stripping any of that authority from commanders would be detrimental to good order and discipline. In March, the staff judge advocate to the Commandant of the Marine Corps told a Senate subcommittee that “as long as we hold our commanders accountable for everything that a command does or fails to do, they must have these types of authorities.”
“They need to be able to hold everyone in their unit accountable,” Maj. Gen. Vaughn Ary said, “to preserve that good order and discipline to accomplish their mission.”
At the same hearing, Lt. Gen. Richard Harding, judge advocate general of the Air Force, said the commander’s ability to hold subordinates accountable is part of the reason America succeeds on the battlefield, and that it creates “a responsive, disciplined force.”
Gillibrand doesn’t buy it, as she made clear during a Senate hearing in early May.
“You said that you believe the chain of command needs to retain its authority to make determinations of whether or not a sexual assault charge should go to trial because you believe that that authority is necessary to maintain good order and discipline within the ranks,” she said to Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, citing the numbers of sexual assaults in the recent DOD report. “Obviously this is not good order and discipline.”
As Donley responded, saying commanders need to be part of the process, Gillibrand cut him off.
“Well, they’re failing in this regard, sir,” she said. “This is not good enough.”
Jacob, like Gillibrand, believes removing the authority to begin sexual assault investigations and refer them to court-martial would increase reporting. It would actually improve order and discipline, Jacob said, by making the system “impartial and reliable.”
The current system “elevates an individual commander’s authority and discretion over the rule of law,” Nancy Parrish, president of Protect Our Defenders, said in January. “It is fraught with inherent personal bias, conflicts of interest, abuse of authority and, too often, a low regard for the victim.”
The system fails to provide justice and undermines trust, she said, “the essential ingredient to an effective, functioning military.”
Another piece of legislation, the Ruth Moore Act, seeks to alleviate some of the burden veterans face when seeking to prove to the VA that sexual assault-related injuries were connected to their service.
What SWAN would really like to see, Jacob said, “is a comprehensive review of the military justice process.”
“The military has really played whack-a-mole with this issue,” he said, and the process isn’t working. “We’re a 21st Century military using an 18th Century legal system.”
Still, he said, it’s good to see that Congress and the White House are taking notice.
“It’s an issue that everybody recognizes as a problem, and everybody wants to fix it,” he said. “Clearly there’s the will, clearly there’s the understanding [of the issue]. … It’s been really, really great to see.”
Last year, then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced several initiatives aimed at addressing the problem. The initiatives, which include establishing special victims’ units within the services and requiring that a colonel or general make the decision about whether to convene a court martial in most sexual assaults, were written into the funding bill for fiscal 2012. That funding bill was passed earlier this year.
And some of the legislation this year is almost identical to bills that failed in the last session of Congress. Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., who introduced a bill last month that was very similar to a bill she introduced in the last session of Congress, said she believes the cases of sexual abuse at the Air Force’s training facility in Texas and the case at Aviano have shown the need for more change.
Yet, “legislation can only do so much,” Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon said in a written statement Thursday.
“We can go a long way toward holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring victims receive justice, but those steps all happen after an assault has taken place,” said McKeon, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. “Commanders must take responsibility for the culture and climate of their units, a climate that appears, at a minimum, not to take this problem seriously.”
Hagel does appear to be taking a swing at changing the culture: Last week, he ordered inspections of all military offices and workspaces — including at military academies — to find and trash any “materials that create a degrading or offensive work environment.” The goal, he said, is to make sure all facilities “promote an environment of dignity and respect.”
Hlad.jennifer@stripes.com
Twitter: @jhladWhile major cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex has stopped all fiat deposits and delayed USD withdrawals, conditions of which users are still unsure of…another major exchange in US-headquartered Kraken is expanding their options.
Today Kraken Digital Asset Exchange announced the offering of new international wire options to fund accounts with US dollars (USD), British pounds (GBP), and euros (EUR).
Kraken said that clients in SEPA countries should continue to use SEPA for EUR payments since this is the fastest and most cost effective option for EUR. However, the new funding options are good for clients in these countries as well wishing to fund in either USD or GBP.
Deposit details
– Availability: All service areas except the US, which is already covered by domestic USD payments
– Start time: immediately
– Currencies: USD, GBP, EUR
– Payment type: International SWIFT wire
– Account verification: Tier 3 or 4 required
– Fees: 10 USD / 10 GBP / 10 EUR
Withdrawal details
– Availability: All service areas except the US, which is already covered by domestic USD payments
– Start time: April 24th, 2017
– Currencies: USD, GBP, EUR
– Payment type: International SWIFT wire
– Account verification: Tier 3 or 4 required
– Fees: 60 USD / 60 GBP / 60 EUR
How to make a deposit?
Navigate to Funding > Deposit > USD/GBP/EUR in your account, select the available “SWIFT” payment option, and follow the given instructions. To help ensure a smooth transaction: a) Inquire with your bank about which correspondent bank would be best to specify for the transfer; and b) tell your bank that there should be no currency conversion – funds should arrive exactly how they are sent, as USD, GBP or EUR.
How to make a withdrawal?
Navigate to Funding > Withdrawal > USD/GBP/EUR in your account, select the available “SWIFT” payment option, and follow the given instructions.Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that with the objective of reducing the number of road accidents, the Centre is mulling various proposals and was going to make air-conditioning mandatory in the driver's cabin of buses and trucks.
Speaking after inauguration of 76th conference of Indian Road Congress here, he said, "Every year around 1.5 lakh people die and three lakh people get injured in road accidents in the country. Around 5 lakh accidents take place every year and we want to curtail this number by at least 50 per cent." He said that attention must be paid to road engineering, otherwise in future we may have to think of registering cases against those who make detailed project reports (DPRs) of roads if a faulty road is found to be reason of the accident.
The engineers, he said, should not change the land acquisition plans for roads under pressure from local politicians. Talking to reporters later, Gadkari said the Road Transport Ministry has identified accident-prone spots on highways and drafted a Rs 12,000 crore scheme to prevent accidents by improving the condition of the highways.
"We are going to make air-conditioning of driver cabins of trucks and buses mandatory so that the drivers, who work for several hours non-stop, get some relief and can drive with more alertness," he said.His ministry is also thinking of forming teams of paramedical personnel who can rush to the scene of accident on motorcycles and provide first-aid quickly, he said.
The Minister denied that the Road Safety Bill of the Centre encroaches on powers of the state governments. Gadkari expressed hope that electronic toll collection system would start operating on all the highways by April 1, and added that his ministry is ready to give financial aid to states to set up this system on the roads other than highways too.
To a question, he said under the UPA government policy, private companies were allowed to start recovering toll after 75 per cent of the road work is complete, but the NDA government was thinking of allowing toll recovery only after the 100 per cent completion of toll-road.Welcome to Today’s edition of “Top Shelf Prospects”. As we go through the Summer of 2013 I will be featuring a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. I will go team by team through the NHL bringing you a look at each Teams Top Prospects. I will be following the order of the first round of the NHL draft (as if there were no traded draft picks). You can find all the articles here. Since we had an extensive NHL Draft preview, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in the 2013 draft, as there have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed. What I will be doing is linking you to those articles, as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year’s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2013-14 roster of the NHL team in question. I will also bring you one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as my darkhorse to make the NHL. For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played or being 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances (especially due to the fact that the latest NHL season was only 48 games).
After years of being a playoff bubble team (and often being on the right side of that bubble, recently) the Nashville Predators suffered a precipitous fall in the NHL standings in 2012-13. After losing half of their star defensive pairing of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber, with Suter going to Minnesota last summer, the Predators were expected to fall off a little bit, but few thought they would be the second worst team in the Western Conference. In truth, it wasn’t just Suter leaving that hurt the Predators. Pekka Rinne who is usually amongst the best of the best goalies in the NHL, had a season where he can merely be called “good” instead of his usual level of “great”. While at the same time, the Predators just couldn’t score enough goals last year. One has to ask what happened with the forwards. Weber was the team’s leading scorer with 28 points, and the leading forward was David Legwand with just 25.
The fall lead to Nashville picking 4th overall in the 2013 NHL draft, the highest pick they have had since their 2nd overall pick in 1998 as a brand new expansion franchise in the NHL. In an outcome that few could have foreseen, the Predators were shocked and pleased when consensus top 3 pick (and many analysts #1 pick) Seth Jones was available at 4th overall. It became a no-brainer selection for Predators GM David Poile who just loves to build his team by taking defencemen high in the draft. The Preds followed that up with some other solid value picks such as Jonathan-Ismael Diaby and Juuse Saros.
2013 NHL Draft Picks Reviewed by LWOS: Seth Jones, Jonathan-Ismael Diaby, Juuse Saros
Prospect Graduates: Ryan Ellis
Top Prospect: Filip Forsberg, RW/LW,
Born Aug 13 1994; Ostervala, Sweden
Height 6.02 — Weight 176 — Shoots Right
Drafted in the 1st round of the 2012 NHL Draft, 11th Overall by the Washington Capitals,
Traded to the Nashville Predators in April 2013
In what was a shocking trade at last year’s NHL trade deadline, the Nashville Predators acquired Filip Forsberg from the Washington Capitals for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. From my perspective, this move was a steal by Nashville as they acquired one of the best prospects from the 2012 Draft. The questions on Forsberg were always about whether his skill would translate on the scoreboard as he, like most 17 year olds, showed flashes of talent but struggled to put up points playing against men in 2011-12. In 2012-13, Forsberg was again playing against men as a member of Leksand in the Swedish Allvenskan, and put up 33 points in 38 games, answering many of the questions. After the end of his year in Sweden, he even came to North America where he made his NHL debut, and got his first NHL point, an assist, in 5 NHL games.
Forsberg is a versatile forward, capable of playing either wing position. Some scouts say he’s a power forward in the making, and he certainly tries to play that style of game. He’s willing to hit opponents, throw his body around, and drive the net. Prior to the 2012 Draft Forsberg was very skinny, and his ability to stand up to the rigors of the NHL playing that power forward style was certainly questioned. However Forsberg has used the last year to improve in this area, he’s not 100% of the way there yet, but is much improved. He still will need to add some muscle to his frame before he’s ready for the rigors of the NHL on a nigh
Forsberg is not all power though, as he is also extremely skilled. He’s got an excellent shot with a very quick and deceptive release that often fools goaltenders. He is also a very talented passer and is able to threading the needle through sticks and skates, and make crafty saucer passes at times to give linemates high quality scoring opportunities. Forsberg is also talented stickhandler and adept at using his body to protect the puck and extend plays to allow his teammates time to get open. If there is a criticism it is that he can sometimes seem to forget about these skills and develop a sort of tunnel vision where he shoots everything on net. This seems to happen if his team really needs a goal, or if he is in a slump. He will need to correct this and continue to be patient and play a smart game in key moments. It is something he should improve with maturity.
Forsberg is a hardworking, willing backchecker. He has good defensive awareness and is effective in all three zones on the ice. He understands defensive positioning and is a good shot blocker and is able to effectively cut down passing lanes as well as an opponent’s time and space. With his defensive game, and his offensive potential, I would expect that he will be given every opportunity in training camp to start next season with the big club.
Top Prospect #2: Austin Watson, Right Wing/Centre
Born Jan 13 1992 — Ann Arbor, MI
Height 6.03 — Weight 187 — Shoots R
Selected by the Nashville Predators in round 1 #18 overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Austin Watson had a very distinguished junior career. He was a member of the 2009 OHL Champion and Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires with Predators’ defenceman Ryan Ellis. After a brief detour to Peterborough, Watson was traded to the London Knights during the 2011-12 past season. He provided exactly what the Knights were looking for, giving what was already a strong defensive team an added boost of offence and a power forward’s game up front. Watson would help the Knights win the OHL Championship, and was even given the award as OHL Playoff MVP and was named to the Memorial Cup Tournament All-Star Team.
Coming off that successful campaign, Watson joined the Milwaukee Admirals where he scored 20 goals as an AHL rookie. The team has been really impressed with Watson, giving him a ton of ice-time, and using him in all situations including top powerplay and penalty kill minutes. Watson is one of the Predators top forward prospects, and the strategy here has been to get him as much ice-time and experience as possible in the AHL. He also came up to Nashville for a short stint this year and even notched his first career NHL goal.
Watson is a big forward who is extremely versatile; and is capable of playing both Centre and Wing. The Predators have seemed to want to develop Watson as a centre, playing him almost exclusively there in the AHL. He has many of the skills of a prototypical power forward, as Watson loves to use his size, balance, good speed, and powerful skating stride to take defenders wide and drive the puck hard to the net. When he gets to the net, Watson uses his soft hands to get the puck by the goaltender. He also has an excellent wrist shot, and quick release which he can use to score from further out. Watson is also a decent playmaker with the vision to create opportunities for teammates. He does this most often out of the cycle game, where his strength and puck protection ability buys time for his linemates to get open. While Watson is good on the boards, and in front of the net, and battles hard on the ice, we would like to see him bring more physicality to his game. He’s certainly not soft, and doesn’t shy away from physical contact, or the dirty areas of the ice; but Watson does not initiate that contact as often as a player with his frame and skill set ideally should. He could be a really devastating hitter on the forecheck if he committed to it.
Over the last two years, Watson has greatly improved his defensive game and showed a consistent effort level in all three zones, something he was criticized for not doing enough of prior to the 2011-12 season. Watson has dismissed those critiques in the last two years, as he has shown to be a tireless worker, and an excellent two way forward. He was one of the best defensive forwards in the OHL when he left London, and has continued that strong play into his time with Milwaukee. He has been put on the ice against the other team’s best forwards, both at even strength and on the power play. Watson has shown that he can be a relentless backchecker, and put a ton of back pressure on whoever has the puck helping his teams defence by cutting down the oppositions time and space. He has also showed outstanding anticipation in cutting down passing lanes and creating turnovers and transition offence. To top it all off, he has also showed a willingness to make physical sacrifices as he blocks a lot sf shots.
Watson is a darkhorse candidate to make the Predators out of training camp, and could pull it off if he has an impressive showing in camp and the pre-season. However a more realistic scenario sees Watson continue to play huge minutes in the AHL, and to prepare for a call up when injuries strike in Nashville. Watson has real potential to form a great two way, physical line with Filip Forsberg for the Predators going forward, but the Predators have shown a commitment to avoid rushing him and nurturing the potential of their former first round pick from the 2010 draft.
Super Sleeper Mattias Ekholm, Defence
Born May 24 1990 — Borlange, Sweden
Height 6.04 — Weight 194 – Shoots Left
Selected by the Nashville Predators in round 4 #102 overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Mattias Ekholm has been improving every year. After making the Predators out of training camp in 2011, he was sent back to Sweden after playing just 2 NHL games. After winning the Borje Salming trophy as the best defender in Sweden, the big defenceman made the full-time transition to North America this year, playing the year for the Predators farm club in the AHL. A good start to the season had many analysts believing that he was ready for full time NHL work, and anticipating that he would be on the Predators when the lockout ended. However, bad luck struck, and a shoulder injury took Ekholm out of the Admirals’ lineup and out of consideration to play with the Predators out of camp. When he returned, he seemed a little hesitant at first, but as Ekholm got more comfortable with his shoulder, we started to see him return to his early season form. He even managed to earn a callup, playing in his third career NHL game.
Ekholm is a very good puck mover. He skates well and and protects the puck, which gives him the ability to advance the puck out of danger when facing a heavy forecheck. His strong passing skills are seen in a good first pass starting the Admirals transition game, and in his composure with the puck in the offensive zone. Ekholm’s improved his slapshot over the course of the last year, and he now features a strong point shot. The best thing about his shot though is the fact that Ekholm understands how to keep it low and on net; allowing his AHL teammates to get tip ins and rebounds.
Defensively Ekholm uses his size and physical attributes well. He is good along the boards and plays a physical brand of hockey in the defensive zone. However Ekholm’s decision making seems to be a work in progress. It is improved but he still has tendencies to get himself out of position when he goes for the big hit, or to make some questionable passes in his own end of the rink. A year in the AHL has helped, but he has a bit more to go. I believe that Ekholm still needs more AHL time, whether that be as little as half a season is certainly possible, but the risk taking will need to be curbed.
Last year a look at Nashville’s system showed a team that had prospect depth, but lacked a little in top end talent. With the additions of Jones and Forsberg over the last year, the top end talent is certainly there, while the depth with players like Colton Sissons, Pontus Aberg, Brandon Leipsec, Jimmy Vesey, Taylor Beck, continue to provide a system that is full of depth. GM David Poile and Coach Barry Trotz have consistently gotten results in Nashville despite their resources (high draft picks, and money at times) being more limited than the big boys they played under the old alignment in the NHL’s Central Division. I expect that won’t change with the move to the new Central Division, and that the team will continue to churn out quality two way hockey players who play Predators hockey. The disappointments of 2013 are likely a small blip on Nashville’s radar and I expect to see them rise back up to their middle of the pack status (and possibly even higher) over the next several years.
Thanks for reading, as feel free to follow me on twitter @lastwordBKerr. Give the rest of the hockey department a follow while you’re at it – @LastWordBigMick, @TheHockeyMitch, @ddmatthews, @CanuckPuckHead, and @LastWordOnNHL, and follow the site @lastwordonsport.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.Coworkers, sans Cubicles
Green Brooklyn’s post about a new place called Treehouse reminded me of my fascination with the concept of coworking. According to trusty Wikipedia:
Coworking is an emerging trend for a new pattern for working. Typically work-at-home professionals or independent contractors or people who travel frequently end up working in relative isolation. Coworking is the social gathering of a group of people, who are still working independently, but who share values and who are interested in the synergy that can happen from working with talented people in the same space.
After perusing some coworking spaces’ websites, I was skeptical about the vague mentions of “shared values” that coworking community members claim to have. Before joining, how are you supposed to know what those “values” are going to be and whether you’d share them?
But then I thought about who would join a coworking community, and |
think about NAFTA?
Mike Pence: You're absolutely right. I've supported free trade throughout my career. But--
Lesley Stahl: OK.
Mike Pence: --the truth of the matter is NAFTA has provisions in that law that call for it to be reviewed, that have never been-- never been-- initiated. What-- what I hear Donald Trump saying is let's-- let's look at these trade agreements and reconsider them and renegotiate them. And--
Lesley Stahl: And you're OK with--
Mike Pence: --with regard to--
Lesley Stahl: --that?
Mike Pence: --and with regard to other trade agreements, we've talked about this. I-- I really do believe when the American people elect one of the best negotiators in the world as president of the United States, we would do well--
Donald Trump: We're gonna bring back jobs--
Mike Pence: --to negotiate individually with countries.
Donald Trump: We're gonna bring back our jobs, we're gonna bring back our wealth, we're gonna take care of our people. Very simple.
Lesley Stahl: OK. More issues. Waterboarding. Mr. Trump wants to bring back waterboarding, and quote, "A hell of a lot more." Are you comfortable with bringing back waterboarding?
Mike Pence: I don't think we should ever tell our enemy what our tactics are.
Lesley Stahl: But what about that? What--
Mike Pence: I don't--
Lesley Stahl: --about-- he's publicly--
Donald Trump: I like that answer.
Lesley Stahl: --said that--
Mike Pence: I don't think we should-- I-- I think--
Lesley Stahl: But are you OK with the idea of--
Mike Pence: --I think--
Lesley Stahl: --waterboarding?
Mike Pence: --I think enhanced interrogation saved lives.
Lesley Stahl: And you're OK with--
Mike Pence: I--
Lesley Stahl: --that?
Mike Pence: --what I'm OK with-- what I'm OK with is protecting the American people. What I'm OK with is when people have the intent to come to this country and take American lives, that-- that we are-- that we are prepared to do what's necessary to gain the information to protect the people of this country--
Donald Trump: But Lesley, let's step further. We have an enemy, ISIS and others, who chop off heads, who drown people in steel cages and we can't do waterboarding--
Lesley Stahl: OK, but, but why--
Donald Trump: OK, they're not playing--
Lesley Stahl: --would you use their--
Donald Trump: --under -- because you know--
Lesley Stahl: --techniques?
Donald Trump: --what, those techniques get information. I don't care what anyone says.
Lesley Stahl: Are you agreeing with him?
Mike Pence: I am--
Donald Trump: And get information--
Mike Pence: --what I--
Donald Trump: --using those things.
Mike Pence: --what I can tell you is enhanced information gleaned information that saved American lives and, I was informed, prevented incoming terrorist attacks on this country from being successful. The American people expect the president of the United States to be prepared to support action to protect the people of this nation, and I know Donald Trump will.
Lesley Stahl: Have you answered me?
Mike Pence: I have.
Lesley Stahl: Let's talk about the convention. You're a showman. What are you going to do to keep it from being a snooze-o-rama, as some have happened.
Donald Trump: Well, I think we're gonna have an exciting time. We've got some wonderful speakers. We have some very talented people. My family's gonna speak.
Lesley Stahl: Worried about violence outside? This is an open-carry state. People can carry guns. There'll be demonstrators. They've already said they're going to carry assault rifles. Are you worried? And would you call on people not to carry their guns?
Donald Trump: I have great faith in law enforcement. If they don't want to take their guns, I think that's fantastic. But I have great confidence in law enforcement. The police like Donald Trump. It's law and order. And I have great confidence that they will do a great job.
Lesley Stahl: There's no question in anybody's mind that you want to win this election. I don't think anyone would doubt that. But what about being president? Do you really want to be president of the United States?
Donald Trump: I want to make America great again. Honestly. I want to make Am-- I'm not doing this because-- I'm sacrificing tremendous things. I could be doing other things. It's lovely to sit down with you and be grilled. That's okay. But I could be doing other things right now. And I have some of the greatest properties in the world. I could be out there--
Lesley Stahl: Would you rather be out there?
Donald Trump: I tell you what. I've really enjoyed this process. I've gotten to know the people of this country. I've gotten to know places that I didn't know, that I read about, but I didn't know. I've also gotten to see the problems. And it's a movement.
Donald Trump: Now, when you ask me the question, do I wanna be?
Lesley Stahl: Yeah.
Donald Trump: I wanna be for one reason. I wanna make America safe again, and I wanna make America great again. That's why I'm doing this. And I love it.
Lesley Stahl: And you wanna govern? I mean it--
Donald Trump: I do wanna govern.
Lesley Stahl: It is different--
Donald Trump: I do--
Lesley Stahl: --building a movement--
Donald Trump: I govern my-- I--
Lesley Stahl: -and than-- going in there with the nitty gritty and--
Lesley Stahl: --all that tough decision making.
Donald Trump: Sure. No, no I wanna govern
Lesley Stahl: OK, this is my absolute final question.
Donald Trump: OK.
Lesley Stahl: You're not known to be a humble man. But I wonder--
Donald Trump: I think I am, actually humble. I think I'm much more humble than you would understand.
Lesley Stahl: As you think about-- prospect of running this country in these tough times where the world is spinning apart-- are you awed? Are you intimidated? Are you humbled by the enormity of this?
Donald Trump: You just said it best.
Mike Pence: Mmm.
Donald Trump: In a world that's spinning apart. That's what I'm thinking of. I'm not thinking of, "Oh gee, isn't this wonderful? Isn't this great what I've done?" I've had people that said, "It doesn't matter if you win or lose, what you've done has never been done before. You're gonna go down in the history books." You know what I say to 'em?" I say, "You're wrong." I will consider it, 'cause I funded my own primaries, I'm funding now a lot of this campaign. I'm putting in, you know-- I've spent $55 million in the primaries. I'm spending a fortunate now. I'll tell you, it is spinning. Our world is spinning out of control. Our country's spinning out of control. That's what I think about. And I'll stop that.
Lesley Stahl: Not-- humbled or-- awe.
Mike Pence: I can say to 'ya-- what--
Lesley Stahl: Go ahead.
Mike Pence: Talking with him in private settings, I love the words you used because this man is awed with the American people, and he is not intimidated by the world. And Donald Trump, this good man, I believe, will be a great president of the United States.
Donald Trump: I love what he just said.Well, that happened.
Clay Guida bounced around for 25 minutes, Gray Maynard slowly slogged from a one to a ten on the Frustration Scale, and the entire state of New Jersey switched allegiances mid-fight at the inexplicable headlining attraction of UFC on FX 4.
Maynard eventually won, taking a split decision seemingly on principle alone, much to the relief of a majority of the MMA world. But that didn't stop the outpouring of criticism that emerged from nearly everyone with a voice. From Daniel Cormier to Dana White, Ben Askren to Joe Rogan, it seemed like the entire community had something to say about what escalated into a remarkably bizarre Friday night.
Wtf is going on here — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 23, 2012
This is crazy. Is he winning the rounds? I don't know what's happening here seriously frustrating — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 23, 2012
"@TDiesel45: @dc_mma same bullshit as Diaz vs Condit" even worse man. Are they training that there man — Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 23, 2012
Congrats @GrayMaynard my brother :-) — Jose 'Scarface' Aldo (@josealdojunior) June 23, 2012
I thought it was impossible for this fight to suck. I WAS WRONG!!!!!! — Dana White (@danawhite) June 23, 2012
First time I have ever seen Guida get boo'd out of the building. I am booing too!! — Dana White (@danawhite) June 23, 2012
Ref took a point from Guida for running! This is like the twilight zone!!!! Never thought I would see that — Dana White (@danawhite) June 23, 2012
Maynard won that easy!!!! Wasn't that close. HORRIBLE fight! — Dana White (@danawhite) June 23, 2012
Gray Maynard is my new hero, just like a video game. #fb — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) June 23, 2012
Gray Maynard is the long lost Diaz brother. HE CAME TO FIGHT! — Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) June 23, 2012
Man Guida is hard to watch, kudos to @GrayMaynard putting up with that! Good job buddy, way to bring back the W — Luke Rockhold (@rockholdMMA) June 23, 2012
I think the UFC should shave Clay Guida's head as punishment for his performance tonight! RT if you agree! — Siyar Bahadurzada (@SiyarTheGreat) June 23, 2012
If there were yellow cards in UFC like they used to have in PRIDE, Clay Guida would be paying to fight by now. — Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) June 23, 2012
Ugh... seriously? Someone nail his feet to the canvas and make him fight. — Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) June 23, 2012
That was the right decision. Greg Jackson's gameplans are going to kill this sport. — Dan Hardy (@danhardymma) June 23, 2012
TRASH decision!!!!My teammate @clayguida WON!!! He beat Gray Maynard!!!!! What an amazing execution of a great @JacksonsMMA game plan! — Tim Kennedy (@TimKennedyMMA) June 23, 2012
Wow what a back fire of a game plain — Melvin Guillard (@Young__Assassin) June 23, 2012
I don't know if Guida is winning the fight but he damn sure is winning the dance battle!#yougotserved — The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) June 23, 2012
I take great comfort knowing that tomorrow night's fight with Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Franklin will be at least 100 times more exciting. — Joe Rogan (@joerogan) June 23, 2012
Why are people surprised at guida fighting this way? He's always like this — Daniel Downes (@dannyboydownes) June 23, 2012
Guida started using footwork very well in his fight w/ Maynard because he was striking & moving. By the end it was only moving, no striking. — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 23, 2012
Guida couldn't go toe to toe w/ Gray. That would've been stupid & he prob would've got ko'ed. His gameplan was still excellent. — Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 23, 2012
They should take points for holding guys down and running! Let's make fights exciting not boring @ufc — Leonard Garcia (@badboygarcia) June 23, 2012
Maynard looks frustrated, but I think anyone would be with Guida's unorthodox-ness — Patrick Healy (@BamBamHealy) June 23, 2012
Judges finally got one right! — Ben Askren (@Benaskren) June 23, 2012
Jackson camp ruining mma for me. Stand and fight. — David Rickels (@TheCaveman316) June 23, 2012TOWNSVILLE, Queensland, Australia, December 1, 2016 (ENS) – Scientists have confirmed the largest die-off of corals ever recorded on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
The worst affected area, a 700 km (435 mile) stretch in the northern region of the world’s largest reef, has lost an average of 67 percent of its shallow-water corals in the past nine months.
Further south, over the vast central and southern regions of the Great Barrier Reef, the scientists were relieved to find a much lower death toll.
“Most of the losses in 2016 have occurred in the northern, most-pristine part of the Great Barrier Reef. This region escaped with minor damage in two earlier bleaching events in 1998 and 2002, but this time around it has been badly affected,” said Professor Terry Hughes, director of the Australian Research Council, ARC, Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies based at James Cook Universit1y.
Dr. Hughes undertook extensive aerial surveys of the reef at the height of the bleaching.
“The good news is the southern two-thirds of the feef has escaped with minor damage. On average, six percent of bleached corals died in the central region in 2016, and only one percent in the south. The corals have now regained their vibrant colour, and these reefs are in good condition,” said Professor Andrew Baird, also from the ARC Centre, who led teams of divers to re-survey the reefs in October and November.
Tourism on the Great Barrier Reef employs 70,000 people, and generates $5 billion in income each year.
“This is welcome news for our tourism industry,” said Craig Stephen, who manages one of the Great Barrier Reef’s largest live-aboard tourist operations.
“The patchiness of the bleaching means that we can still provide our customers with a world-class coral reef experience by taking them to reefs that are still in top condition,” Stephen said.
Another silver lining was revealed in the northern offshore corner of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, where the loss of coral was lower than the other northern reefs.
“We found a large corridor of reefs that escaped the most severe damage along the eastern edge of the continental shelf in the far north of the Great Barrier Reef,” said Hughes. “We suspect these reefs are partially protected from heat stress by upwelling of cooler water from the Coral Sea.”
The scientists expect that the northern region will take at least 10-15 years to regain the lost corals, but they are concerned that another bleaching event could happen sooner and interrupt the slow recovery.
Death is only one possible outcome from coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures due to global warming. Many surviving corals affected by mass bleaching from high sea temperatures on the northern Great Barrier Reef are the sickest they have ever seen, the scientists said in June.
“We measured the condition of surviving corals as part of our extensive underwater surveys of Australia’s worst ever bleaching event,” said Hughes. “We found that coral bleaching has affected 93 percent of the Great Barrier Reef. While the central and southern regions have escaped with minor damage, nearly half of the corals have been killed by mass bleaching in the northern region.”
Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2016. All rights reserved.President Trump wasted no time in moving forward on Obamacare. He has signed an executive order that basically starts the dismantling of Obamacare and directs the Department of Health and Human Services and other responsible agencies to start development of a free market health care program.
One of the complaints about Obamacare is that much of the rulemaking was done behind the scenes and lawmakers had to pass the law without knowing the entire content. The law was basically the “bones” of Obamacare and the Department of Health and Human Services was tasked with putting the meat on the bones over the ensuing months before full implementation. Well, the Trump administration has decided to do the exact same thing, but in reverse.
Let’s break it apart.
Section 1 – Prompt Repeal of Obamacare
The Trump administration seeks prompt repeal of Obamacare. Until it is repealed, the administration plans to make certain the law is efficiently implemented, but make certain that while following the law the economic and regulatory burdens are minimized. The administration also plans to give the states more flexibility to move toward a “free market” in healthcare.
Section 2 – Help Everyone Who Could Be Harmed By Obamacare
The Department of Health and Human Services and any other agency that is responsible for working with any part of Obamacare has the discretion to delay or grant exemptions from upcoming provisions that would impose any burdens on States or on “individuals, families, healthcare providers, health insurers, patients, recipients of health care services, purchasers of health insurance, or makers of medical devices, products, or medications.”
This section made me laugh – it basically means anyone who feels hurt by the law may be helped. It will be interesting to see what the Department of Health and Human Services does with this power. Will they help “the common man” who voted for Trump and cancel the penalty for not carrying coverage right away, which does away with the individual mandate? Or will they help the insurance companies by cancelling the tax health insurers have to pay to support Obamacare? Or will they help large employers and cancel the requirement to provide coverage to their employees?
Section 3 – Help States with the Pain of Obamacare
The Department of Health and Human Services shall work with states to provide greater flexibility in dealing with Obamacare. I assume this is to help ease the burden on the states while a replacement plan is crafted.
Section 4 – Develop a Free Market for Health Care
The Department of Health and Human Services shall encourage the development of free market health insurance and health care services, with the goal of achieving and preserving maximum options for patients and consumers. Of course we know the problem with this – it does not guarantee a patient can get care. With a free market system, it is expected the patient will shop for care and no provider wants a sick or poor patient. The GOP's best option is to create a base plan that covers primary care and put a free market system on top of it, such as the plan outlined in this paper.
Section 5 – Follow the Rules
The Department of Health and Human Services has to follow the usual procedures when carrying out this directive, such as posting notices and receiving comments. The good news about this – we can follow what they are doing, and if we don’t like it, we can flood their office with complaints.
Section 6 – Let the Budget People Do Their Job and We Can’t Do It without Money
This order does not impair the Office of Management and Budget from doing their job. They produce the President’s budget and make certain programs, policies, and procedures are consistent with the President’s policies.
This order is also subject to availability of appropriations – so Congress has to give them money to do it. Since Congress is Republican controlled, it is likely any funds needed to make this happen will materialize.
So it begins. The Republicans have long wanted to put a free market system in place and now they have the power and a willing President to do so. Will they be able to do this and provide the health care their voters need? It remains to be seen. President Trump is known to be a deal maker, and if he can get the GOP to open their mind to providing a base of care with a free market system on top, he just may be able to keep his voters happy.
When Obamacare first passed, I called it the continuing soap opera of health care reform. This new season promises to keep us on the edge of our seat. Stay tuned.Jason Cowley: Shall we begin with Brexit? It’s very close here at the moment: the Remain side had big leads in the polls but it’s narrowed considerably since the conversation moved on to immigration, porous borders and freedom of movement of migrant workers within the EU. What forces are driving the desire for Brexit?
Michael Sandel: As an outside observer, I don’t feel it’s for me to offer a personal view about how Britain should vote. I think there are really two questions. One is whether Brexit would be good for Europe and the other is the question of whether it would be good for Britain. It seems to me that for Britain to remain in the EU would be a good thing for Europe, but whether it’s a good thing for Britain is something that’s for British voters to decide.
A big part of the debate has been about economics – jobs and trade and prosperity – but my hunch is that voters will decide less on economics than on culture and questions of identity and belonging.
JC Superficially, the United Kingdom seems a becalmed society, but we’re experiencing eruptions. We had the Scottish referendum in 2014, and we almost saw the break-up of the British state. Now we’re having a referendum on whether we should continue to be a member of the European Union. Why are there so many unsettled questions? Why are the people of the United Kingdom so restive?
MS I think the restiveness that you describe reflects a broader disquiet with democracy that we see in most democracies around the world today. There is a widespread frustration with politics, with politicians and with established political parties. This is for a couple of reasons; one of them is that citizens are rightly frustrated with the empty terms of public discourse in most democracies. Politics for the most part fails to address the big questions that matter most and that citizens care about: what makes for a just society, questions about the common good, questions about the role of markets, and about what it means to be a citizen. A second source of the frustration is the sense that people feel less and less in control of the forces that govern their lives. And the project of democratic self-government seems to be slipping from our grasp. This accounts for the rise of anti-establishment political movements and parties throughout Europe and in the US.
JC One of the key slogans of the Brexiteers is to regain control. Why does this resonate with so many? And are you somewhat sympathetic to that line of argument?
MS Well, I do think it resonates deeply. And I see this not only in Britain, I see this in the American political campaign, and I see it looking at the rise of anti-establishment parties throughout Europe. A theme running through these various political movements is taking back control, restoring control over the forces that govern our lives and giving people a voice.
As to whether I have some sympathy for this sentiment, I do. I don’t have sympathy for many of the actual political forms that it takes.
One of the biggest failures of the last generation of mainstream parties has been the failure to take seriously and to speak directly to people’s aspiration to feel that they have some meaningful say in shaping the forces that govern their lives. And this is partly a question of democracy: what does democracy actually mean in practice? It’s also closely related to a question of culture and identity. Because a sense of disempowerment is partly a sense that the project of self-government has failed. When it’s connected to borders, the desire to reassert control over borders, it also shows the close connection between a sense of disempowerment and a sense that people’s identities are under siege.
A large constituency of working-class voters feel that not only has the economy left them behind, but so has the culture, that the sources of their dignity, the dignity of labour, have been eroded and mocked by developments with globalisation, the rise of finance, the attention that is lavished by parties across the political spectrum on economic and financial elites, the technocratic emphasis of the established political parties. I think we’ve seen this tendency unfold over the last generation. Much of the energy animating the Brexit sentiment is born of this failure of elites, this failure of established political parties.
JC One particularly notable trend is the failure of mainstream social-democratic parties across Europe – the Labour Party included. Many people who might once have been inspired by or supported the centre left are now attracted by populist movements of both left and right. So why is social democracy failing?
MS Social democracy is in desperate need of reinvigoration, because it has over the past several decades lost its moral and civic energy and purpose. It’s become a largely managerial and technocratic orientation to politics. It’s lost its ability to inspire working people, and its vision, its moral and civic vision, has faltered. So for two generations after the Second World War, social democracy did have an animating vision, which was to create and to deepen and to articulate welfare states, and to moderate and provide a counterbalance to the power of unfettered market capitalism.
This was the raison d’être of social democracy, and it was connected to a larger purpose, which was to empower those who were not at the top of the class system, to empower working people and ordinary men and women, and also to nurture a sense of solidarity and an understanding of citizenship that enabled the entire society to say we are all in this together. But over the past, well, three or four decades, this sense of purpose has been lost, and I think it begins with the Ronald Reagan/Margaret Thatcher era.
JC You mean the neoliberal turn at the end of the 1970s – the advent of what you have called “market triumphalism”?
MS Right. It began there. But even when Reagan and Thatcher passed from the political scene, and were succeeded by the centre-left political leaders – Bill Clinton in the US, Tony Blair in Britain, Gerhard Schröder in Germany – these leaders did not challenge the fundamental assumption underlying the market faith of the Reagan/Thatcher years. They moderated, but consolidated the faith, the assumption that markets are the primary instrument for achieving the public good. And as a result, the centre left managed to regain political office but failed to reimagine the mission and purpose of social democracy, which became empty and obsolete. This remains an unfinished project.
JC Unfinished even after the financial crisis, when this was considered by many on the left to be a potential
social-democratic moment?
MS That’s right, and I think many of us expected that the financial crisis would mark the end of an era of unqualified embrace of the market faith and the beginning of new debate about what should be the role and reach of markets in a good society. What happened, sadly, is that the financial crisis came and, although we did have some debate about regulatory reform, it was a rather narrowly cast debate. We have not yet had the more fundamental debate about what should be the role of markets in a good society. As a result, social democracy has not only lost the argument, it has failed to articulate a vision of a just society; it’s failed to articulate a conception of democracy as self-government. And so it is understandable that its traditional constituencies in working-class and middle-class communities lost confidence that social-democratic parties could be the vehicle either for a renewed sense of community and mutual responsibility or for collective democratic projects.
JC Is it also because trust has been lost in the state – because of the economic failures of the mid-to-late 1970s, the unravelling of the postwar consensus, stagflation and so on?
MS I think that has contributed to a loss of confidence in the state but I think a further source of lost confidence in the state is that, traditionally the democratic state has as one of its primary purposes to be a vehicle for self-government, to enable citizens to have some meaningful say in how they are governed. Whereas today the state seems more an obstacle to meaningful political participation and self-government than a vehicle for it. Any revival of social democracy would require not only an articulation of a conception of a just society, but also forms of political participation that could renew the democratic promise.
That’s as important as articulating a conception of a just society, working out institutions and civic practices that could revitalise the project of democracy as a vehicle for self-government. The existing state fails to do that and I think when people
look to the European Union they also feel that it is not a vehicle for democratic self-government. So I think both the nation state and the European Union are seen to have failed in this regard.
JC So where does this leave us? I guess it leaves us in the UK approaching Brexit?
MS Where it leaves us is with a potent backlash. And it’s a backlash that is understandable. I think it’s a mistake to view the backlash – and it finds expression in the ways that we’ve been discussing – simply as people suddenly turning inward and against immigrants as if this were simply a matter of mindless bigotry by people, benighted people, who are ungenerous. It’s important for people who make the case for Remain to be able to offer a conception of Europe that could begin to address this unanswered hunger for meaningful self-government, for having a voice.
JC What about the EU as a social market with its own social standards and rules? Is that potentially progressive? It can impose certain transnational legislation on sovereign governments from outside that benefits workers.
MS It’s potentially progressive in the policy outcomes but that is not enough. A regulatory state, however effective and desirable its social regulations may be, is insufficient to win people’s allegiance unless the regulatory process is connected to a democratic process with which people identify as citizens who have a voice, who have a say.
It’s desirable to have the EU promulgate social regulations that moderate market forces and protect workers and protect the environment, protect health and safety. All of that’s good but it’s insufficient and I don’t think it can be supported politically unless it makes people feel they’re not being dictated to by faceless bureaucrats from Brussels. Even if those faceless bureaucrats promulgate very good social legislation, people want a voice, people want a say, people want a more robust democratic system. It’s a mistake to neglect that.
JC More generally, can free-market globalisation be tamed? And could we be entering an era of more protectionist economics? Consider the rhetoric of Trump.
MS I have no sympathy for Trump’s politics but I do think that his success reflects the failure of established parties and the elites in both parties to speak to the sense of disempowerment that we see in much of the middle class. The major parties have failed to speak to these questions. What Trump really appeals to is the sense of much of the working class that not only has the economy left them behind, but the culture no longer respects work and labour.
This is connected to the enormous rewards that in recent decades have been lavished on Wall Street and those who work in the financial industry, the growing financialisation of the American economy, and the decline of manufacturing and of work in the traditional sense. There is also the sense that not only have jobs been lost through various trade agreements and technological developments, but the economic benefits associated with those agreements and those technologies have not gone to the middle class or to the working class but to those at the very top. That’s the sense of injustice; but more than that, the fact that the nature of political parties – I’m speaking about those in the US – have become, since the time of the Clinton years, heavily dependent on both sides, Democrats and Republicans, on the financial industry for campaign contributions.
JC One thinks of the Clinton family’s relationship with Goldman Sachs, for instance.
MS Well, there you have an example of how the Democratic Party has become so Wall Street-friendly that it has largely ceased to be an effective counterweight to the power of big money in politics or to the financial industry and its influence in politics. And this is why Bernie Sanders was able, though he will not win the nomination, to have far more success than anyone imagined. He was originally thought to be a fringe candidate who would maybe get 5, 10 per cent of the vote. And yet he fought Hillary Clinton almost to a draw in many of the Democratic primaries. No one would have imagined that.
The mainstream of the Democratic Party had so embraced the financial industry that it was unable to provide an effective counterweight when it came to the financial crisis or to the aftermath, the regulatory debate. And oddly enough, Trump from the right and Bernie Sanders from the left have a good deal of overlap. They’ve both been critical of free-trade agreements that benefit multinational corporations and the financial industry but haven’t in practice helped workers.
Bernie Sanders has been a big critic of the role of money in politics, and Trump, though he’s a billionaire, also appeals to the anger about money in politics, when, at least during the primaries, he was able to claim that he was paying his own campaign costs and not depending on Wall Street. Despite their different ideological direction, they are both tapping in to the frustration that we’ve seen reflecting the failure of the mainstream parties.
JC What are the limits to markets? And what is the alternative to market triumphalism, especially when moderate social democracy is in crisis?
MS The only way of reining in the uncritical embrace of markets is to revitalise public discourse by engaging in questions of values more directly. Social democracy has to become less managerial and technocratic and has to return to its roots in a kind of moral and civic critique of the excesses of capitalism. At the level of public philosophy or ideology it has to work out a conception of a just society, it has to work out a conception of the common good, it has to work out a conception of moral and civic education as it relates to democracy and empowerment. That’s a big project and it hasn’t yet been realised by any contemporary social-democratic party.
A revitalised social-democratic response to the power of markets would also try to come up with institutions for meaningful self-government – forms of participatory democracy in an age of globalisation, where power seems to flow to transnational institutions and forms of association. It’s important also to find ways to promote participatory democracy. This requires political imagination and political courage. It’s a long-term project that remains as a challenge, but until we make some progress in that bigger challenge, I think that democratic politics will still be vulnerable to the backlash that we’re witnessing, with Brexit in Britain, some of the populist political movements in Europe, and Trump in the United States.
There is an alternative – but the alternative is to go beyond the managerial, technocratic approach to politics that has characterised the established parties and the elites, to reconnect with big questions that people care about.Immigration activists rallied in front of Oakland's City Hall to call on Gov. Jerry Brown to declare California to be a sanctuary state. (November 29, 2016)
The Oakland City Council voted to renew its status as a “city of refuge” on Tuesday night, and called on Gov. Jerry Brown to make California a sanctuary state.
About 100 people held a candlelight rally outside City Hall. Dozens lined up to speak at the meeting in support of the resolution.
Assemblyman Rob Bonta promised to continue fighting in Sacramento for laws that protect immigrants who follow the rules, like the state law that provides licenses for undocumented drivers.
“As Oakland and the East Bay goes, so goes California,” Bonta said.
School board member Rosie Torres said her heart was aching for the many students in the Oakland Unified School District who recently immigrated to the city to escape intolerable conditions. “And this is how we greet them? This is not who we are,” she said, referring to President-elect Donald Trump's promise to pull federal funds from sanctuary cities.
Torres said the school board would consider voting on making the district’s schools into sanctuary schools.
If the Trump administration follows through on its threat to pull federal funding from cities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities, Oakland stands to lose $140 million that goes to preschools, homeless shelters, and meals for seniors.
The Sanctuary Movement was born in the 1980s in churches and synagogues that sheltered Central American immigrants who fled unrest and violence but weren’t given refugee status because of Cold War politics.
Oakland has been a sanctuary city since 1986, when it declared itself to be a refuge for immigrants from conflicts in Guatemala, El Salvador, Haiti and South Africa. The city reaffirmed its status in 2007.
Former mayor Jean Quan remembered how law enforcement asked her to renew its sanctuary policy then, so they could conduct outreach and better protect immigrant communities.
"That resolution made the whole city safer. This time, it's a broader issue -- not just safety, but democracy itself that we're defending," she said.
Supporters argue that sanctuary policies allow undocumented immigrants to come forward without fear of deportation and help law enforcement solve crimes and protect their neighborhoods.
San Francisco’s sanctuary policies came under scrutiny last year when an undocumented immigrant was charged with murdering Kate Steinle. Francisco Lopez-Sanchez was released roon a marijuana charge despite a request to turn him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
In 2013, California passed the Trust Act, which allows jails to limit compliance with ICE.If you know your hockey or Florida sports history, then you have probably heard the name Miami Screaming Eagles. If not, the Screaming Eagles were a charter member of the World Hockey Association and actually signed NHL goaltender Bernie Parent to a lucrative contract. Unfortunately, with nowhere for the team to play, owner Herb Martin sold the franchise rights to Bernard Brown and James Cooper. The team took to the ice for the inaugural 1972-73 WHA season as the Philadelphia Blazers before moving on to Vancouver, and then to Calgary, where they finished life as the Cowboys in 1977. South Florida would have to wait twenty-one more years for the Florida Panthers to take the ice and finally give the region a big-league hockey team to call its own.
Delving a little deeper into the halcyon days of the ‘70's shows the wait might not have been so long had luck, and the WHA, been a little bit more on the area's side. Hollywood Sportatorium developers Stephen Calder and Norm Johnson toyed with the idea of bringing a WHA expansion team to town in the early days of the "Rebel League |
than crabs, but it’s the world’s most successful animal and will probably outlast even the cockroach.
Opinions expressed on Cool Green Science and in any corresponding comments are the personal opinions of the original authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Nature Conservancy.Star Trek: Harlan Ellison‘s City on the Edge of Forever #3 arrives in stores on Wednesday, but fans can have a sneak peek today.
This third story in a series of five was written by Harlan Ellison, Scott and David Tipton, with art by J.K. Woodward, and cover by Juan Ortiz.
In Issue #3, “Captain Kirk and Spock [are] stranded in the past of old Earth, searching for the focal point that altered the timestream and changed everything about the universe they knew. And once they find her, they could find themselves foiled by a force even greater than the Guardians of Forever… love.”
Thirty-two pages in length, Star Trek: Harlan Ellison’s City on the Edge of Forever #3 will sell for $3.99. There is a subscription variant cover by Paul Shipper.
Click on thumbnails to enlarge images. More preview pages can be found at the referring site.
Source: StarTrek.comSteve had been passing by SecuriTek's in-your-face full-sized billboard job ad every day for nearly a month. They utilized the "geek appeal" of twisted logic puzzles and obtuse syntax to lure in candidates with perks in their "laid back yet professional" environment. However, along with their promises of catered lunch wishes and every-day-is-casual-day dreams, the advertisements made one thing perfectly clear - only the best and brightest C/C++ developers on the planet should apply. Thinking Hey! I'm a Top-Tier kind of guy and What the heck...I don't have anything to lose Steve decoded an obfuscated HR email address (ROT13? C'mon...) and sent off his resume.
To his delight, their HR called soon after to schedule an interview. After a short "Hi. How are you? Nice weather!" with the HR rep Steve was put straight into the next stage of his interview - a programming test. It was an insidious test involving string processing, trees, and data structures that took over an hour to complete. But within minutes of finishing the test, Steve learned that, out of hundreds who took it, he was one of the few out who managed to pass it. Afterwards, Steve was offered and accepted the job.
Welcome Aboard!
Steve arrived to the "standard" fanfare of any new SecuriTek employee - an edible bouquet waiting for him at his desk, a top o' the line laptop, 24" monitor, executive-style chair...and orders to hang tight until they had some work to send his way. So, like any corporate "newb" with his hands on the keys to the castle while awaiting his first real assignment, Steve hit the books, or rather the corporate Sharepoint portal. After first learning the inner workings of the company's flagship application (developed in C++) he brushed up on improving his fundamentals, optimizing memory, and all the other "best practices" that earns A+++ developers points in the corporate world.
After a few days of working — or more accurately, waiting for work — Steve felt pretty stoked to be able to handle any oddball enhancement or bug related to a dangling pointer that would come his way. However, when the first assignment arrived, Steve found himself in a difficult place. It wasn't some esoteric C++ bug, but instead a test script to get him familiar with the company's flagship virus detection app. It wasn't a "script" intended for execution by some interpreter, but instead one that was printed out and executed by a human. Worse still, the document resembled a cryptic sphinx riddle than a bug description.
...
7. Perform all of the necessary pre-initialization steps as described by script 118T-B.
8. Open Microsoft Excel as prescribed in script 0G17.
9. After clicking on "Virus", take a screen capture (see script 0G22).
10. From the printout, enter each item into Microsoft Excel.
...
18. After clicking on "View Report", click on "Print Report".
19. From the printout, enter each "Virus" item into Microsoft Excel.
20. If the Excel spreadsheets do not contain identical data, the test has failed.
...
Steve began repeating out loud if only to confirm that the language centers of his brain had not been fried. It turned out that the test script could be simplified as "Verify that items which appear after you click on 'Virus' will be listed on the 'errors report'." That could have taken two minutes, and thanks to the genius developer who had already fixed that particular bug, Steve spent more than two hours fruitlessly testing a working feature.
As the days of performing test scripts passed by, Steve couldn't help but wonder why are there so many JavaScript and HTML bugs. That and, what the hell does this have to do with C++? As Steve become more acclimated with his coworkers, he began to wonder something else: why are so many "developers" doing test scripts all day? Shouldn't they be fixing bugs instead?
The answer came in the form of the company's in-house developed scripting language that Steve came to call "WTFSL"
Security Through...Obscurity?
Like many horribly tragic enterprisey solutions, WTFSL was the nepotistic brain child of the company owner's cousin. Besides not being the least bit extensible, WTFSL featured a limited set of functions. Floating point math? Nope. Regular expressions? Sorry. Advanced string handling? Sort of... Handling strings larger than 64K? Wishful thinking. Garbage collection? Only if the developer remembered to deallocate local variables - in fact, this was the source of many crashes and out-of-memory bugs in the product. Things were so bad that nearly all data validation was forced to be handled in the user's web browser because of WTFSL's impossibilities. It was, however, originally written in C++.
Steve considered making an argument in very best interests of "the greater good" (namely the sanity of the company's development staff), like implementing future version using a liberal-licensed scripting language like LUA or at least allow a hook into something a little more well known like PHP or even SNOBOL at this point, but it was a hopeless case.
Besides freely admitting that WTFSL as being the most secure language to develop in (only 10 people, tops, on earth knew how to code in it), the owner's cousin who first dreamt up this sasquatch of a language was on the board of directors. "I'm sorry, I can't just tell him to throw his work to the garbage" was the usual reply if someone suggested that they use something else.
"Don't worry," Steve's coworker said in response to the why are we testing bugs all day question, "it's always like this before the launch of a new version. Once we're out of beta, it's right back to the code."
Coding, as he found out, wasn't going to be C++, but instead WTFSL. "Some day," his coworker added, "you'll work on the language core. But you gotta give it some time. I should be starting on that team next month!"
His coworker also happened to be "one of the best C++ developers the company could find", though he had started at SecuriTek nearly three years earlier. As enticing as it was to maybe code in C++ some day, Steve chose not to stick around. But his former coworker should be joining that team any month now!No doubt about it, life can be tough for our four-legged friends who depend on us for food, shelter, and love. Even with all the horrible news we read about animals, there is still good in the world. This now viral photo shared by an Imgur user is doing just that: giving us hope.
After a recent snow storm hit Turkey, the Atrium Mall, located in the Bakirkoy neighborhood of Istanbul, opened their doors to homeless dogs so that they wouldn’t have to spend the night in freezing temperatures.
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All bundled up and warm for the night! Animal lovers stepped in to provide blankets for the dogs.
The kind people also fed all of the dogs, so they didn’t go to bed with an empty stomach.
One of the volunteers who gathered blankets and food for the dogs explained to CNN Turks, “All of us, if we can help as much as we can, all the stray animals will be in good shape and the street animals need help all over the world.”
We believe every dog deserves to be tucked in at night!
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We are thankful the Atrium Mall in Turkey opened up their doors to allow the homeless dogs a warm place to sleep for the night. Even though Istanbul may seem far a way from the United States, many people don’t realize the extent of the pet homelessness issue right here. While we love and adore the dogs we share our homes with, the fact that there are some 70 million stray cats and dogs living on the streets gets easily ignored.
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Taking the extra steps during the winter months will make sure our furry friends stay safe and warm. Most importantly, please never leave your dog or cat outdoors when the temperatures drop. No matter what the temperature is, wind chill can threaten a pet’s life. Pets are sensitive to severe cold and are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia when they are outdoors during extreme cold snaps. Exposed skin on noses, ears and paw pads can quickly freeze and suffer permanent damage. It’s also important to make sure your companion always has access to fresh, clean water. For more tips on how to protect your pet during the winter months, click here and please share with your friends and family.
If you’re considering welcoming a four-legged companion into your home, please always adopt and never shop. And if you’d like to get involved with your local animal shelter, check out our guide to volunteering. What may seem like a small action can make a huge difference!
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Image Source: Anadolija via Balikadam/ImgurAnti-Trump rally. Mark Lennihan | AP
WASHINGTON — Led by unions, women’s rights activists and health care organizations, hundreds of thousands of people are preparing to hold a march and rally here January 21, the day after Donald Trump’s inauguration. Participants will march to protect the right of reproductive choice and to protest plans by Trump and the GOP to suppress that right.
At the same time, marches and rallies will be held across the nation.
Many of the organizations participating in the marches have already launched long terms plans of resistance to the Trump administration. They aim to fight Trump’s every attempt to rollback progress that has been made toward social equality and economic justice.
The Washington, D.C. march will also put the spotlight on Trump’s history of misogyny, his record of harassment of women, his anti-worker plans and his Cabinet picks.
“We will send a strong message to the incoming administration that millions of people across this country are prepared to fight attacks on reproductive health care, abortion services, and access to Planned Parenthood, as they intersect with the rights of young people, people of color, immigrants, and people of all faiths, backgrounds, and incomes,” Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, said in a statement.
Planned Parenthood is running the logistics, safety, security, volunteers and digital promotion of the march.
The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), the AFL-CIO and many unions are helping to coordinate the march and will bring their members to it.
Gloria Steinem and Harry Belafonte are scheduled to speak.
Meanwhile, “sister marches” will be held nationwide, including events in Chicago, Champaign-Urbana, Ill., St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Paul, Minn., Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and in eight other California cities. Marches will also be held in Portland, Eugene and four other Oregon cities, in Grand Rapids, Mich., at the United Nations in New York City and at state capitols in Juneau, Alaska, Trenton, N.J., and Honolulu.
UniteforAmerica/#NotMyPresident is planning protests in additional cities.
Another march is being planned for inauguration day, January 20, by the Legalization For All Network. Participants will protest Trump’s plans to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants, cut off federal funds to sanctuary cities and repeal President Obama’s executive order protecting undocumented people brought here as children.
“Trump ran a racist campaign,” a statement from the Network says, “calling Mexicans ‘rapists, criminals, and drug dealers.’”
The statement points out that once before a people’s movement stopped a draconian anti-immigrant plan.
In December 2005, the statement reads, the GOP-run U.S. House approved legislation “criminalizing the undocumented.” But after more than a million people protested the following spring, the legislation died.’
“[Today] a similar mass movement is needed to stop Trump’s attacks on the undocumented,” the network declared.
While they are working to plan the march, many organizations are kicking off programs to aid people in fighting Trump’s plans to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
For example, Raising Women’s Voices is posting a daily graphic showing how various provisions of the ACA enhance women’s health care.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and three other groups have formed the Protect Our [Health] Care Coalition.
Moreover, the SEIU and AFSCME have launched a joint program to protect Medicare and Medicaid. The GOP has both programs in its crosshairs.
What’s more, National Nurses United is resuming its campaign for a single-payer national health care system.
And several boycott movements such as #GrabYourWallet are identifying businesses that carry pro-Trump merchandise, companies with financial ties to Trump, corporations whose executives back Trump and firms with digital ads on pro-Trump websites.
Summing up the goal of these actions and movements, CLUW Executive Director Carol Rosenblatt declared in an e-mail to members “We will [send] an historic message to the new administration: that we will not turn back.!“Gentlemen, there is no need to worry: our plan is flawless. The Emperor will never see it coming.”
– Grandmaster Ouroboros of the Order of Unholy Obsidian, later revealed to have been Dread Emperor Traitorous all along
A few years ago I would have been able to enjoy the beautiful madness that was Skade as we rode through it, but being apprenticed to Black had ruined me. Now I was wondering how a city with a population of a several thousand could manage to feed itself when all the fields around it were covered in snow. Or who cleaned the streets for them to remain this pristine. Were there fae street sweepers? If so, were they available for hire? Marchford didn’t look nearly as nice. And that was without even getting into the logistics of running a monetary system when everyone and their sister could make illusionary coin. Unless all coin was illusionary? This entire race was giving me a headache just to think about. The rest of my companions seemed more concerned with getting their bearings, which I already knew would be pointless. I’d looked back after we turned a corner twice now and found an entirely different street behind us, the second time even on a different floor. The seat of the Winter Court was nearing Tower-levels of mindfuckery, though at least it wasn’t also full of death-traps and demons. I hoped.
Archer’s casual assessment of the Winter King as “pretty much a god” wasn’t a significantly better alternative, but I’d take what I could get.
If I was getting out of this with most my organs on the inside, it would be by picking a story and sticking to it. The fact that’d I somehow wiggled my way into being the heroine when facing the Rider of the Host likely meant Arcadia didn’t care for my being Evil so long as I acted heroic. That broadened my options a great deal. There were at least half a dozen tales about some clear-sighted commoner with a Good heart walking into the court of Callow and unmasking the schemes of wicked courtiers trying to trap them, though my introducing myself as the Lady of Marchford might have killed that in the crib. Trickster stories, then? Trying to outwit fae at the game they’d allegedly invented struck me as asking for an invitation to a feast that lasted a century, but with the story on my side I might pull through. Sadly, I hadn’t been abducted by a fairy queen with designs on my virtue so professing my pure-hearted affections for Kilian would be of no use. To be honest I wasn’t great with temptation anyway. Wouldn’t be sleeping with one of my senior officers if I was.
“Catherine,” Hakram said in a rasping whisper. “Watch.”
I glanced at the tall orc, then around us. We were riding through a marketplace of sorts, filled to the brim with hundreds of fae. Stalls that were riots of silk and pale wood offered an array of wonders for perusal. Some one-eyed old man with skin dark as a Soninke’s was offering a bottled wish, moonlight made silver and the heart of a once-good woman, all set on an elegant quilt of woven winds. Fares just as absurd stretched as far as the eye could see, the entire plaza much too large for the width the surrounding walls suggested. I saw Masego eyeing what a peddler promised to a drop of the blood of the Forever King with sharp interest, so I kicked his foot. He jumped in surprise and then coughed in embarrassment.
“You start buying things here and you’ll leave with a dozen different fae owning a slice of your soul,” I hissed.
He looked mulish.
“It’s not like I’m using all of it,” he whispered back.
That was the single most Praesi thing I’d ever heard him say and rubbed the bridge of my nose in despair. You’d never find a Callowan selling their soul like that, I thought irritably. Well, except that one time I’d become a villain. So maybe sometimes you found Callowans selling their souls like that, but in most cases I felt like my opinion held up. I glared at Masego anyway, until he gave up with a huff.
“Don’t you pout at me, you’re a grown man,” I muttered.
When had I become the voice of reason? People were supposed to talk me out of things, not the other way around. Still, this felt dealt with so I turned my attention back to the marketplace. Hakram wouldn’t have been interested in the wares here, I was sure. The orc take on having an economy was raising cattle, looting other clans and the occasional bit of barter. Aside from books and booze there wasn’t much in Adjutant’s tent and I would know: I riffled through his stuff at least once a month when I got bored. So what had he been trying to point out to me? I began paying closer to attention to the fae themselves instead of what they haggled over, but how they were dressed wasn’t what caught my attention. It was how they behaved.
Two fae bargained over a silver chain almost perfunctorily, going smoothly back and forth until it became clear the man – who looked like a noble fallen on hard times, his robes threadbare and his hands without rings – could not afford the chain. At which point he publicly bemoaned his lack of wealth, going on twice as long as he had while bargaining. There was something wrong here, like they were acting instead of truly talking. Further away I saw a gorgeous but common woman hacking off her beautiful golden locks and offering them in exchange for a precious stone, and that was when it finally clicked. On the other side of the market place I found an earnest-looking man pawning off an heirloom ring missing its jewel in exchange for a pretty ivory comb. It was an old tale, one children in Callow grew up hearing about as a warning about blind good intentions. They’re going through stories, I realized. All of them. There wasn’t a single outcome here in the hundreds of conversations taking place that wasn’t already set in stone.
It was enough to make me shiver. They might almost look like us, but the fae were other. Something apart, obeying completely different rules. An entire people of actors going through the motions since before Creation even existed. How many times had they gone through their stories, I wondered? If Roles were grooves worn into Creation by repetition, accumulating power by repetition, then these were an entire race of Named. Everyone from the chimney sweeps to the king himself, following along the paths set for them. And now I’d just walked into the midst of that with a lie on my lips, throwing myself headfirst into a maze of interwoven tales that went back unbroken since the dawn of existence. Gods Below, this was more dangerous than I could have ever dreamed of. I forced a smile on my face and sat ramrod straight on my horse as we passed through the market. I met Hakram’s eyes and saw fear there to mirror mine. We’re in over our head. More so than usual.
“This must me where we part, Lady of Marchford,” the Duke of Sudden Rime announced.
I could see interest and fascination in his too-blue eyes as he watched us, having long chased away his initial distaste at our presence. For all that he was more than willing to pawn off responsibility for us to the Baron. Was this a story as well, I wondered? There might not have been an exact precedent for my actions today, but if another tale was close enough they might have moved towards it. Or perhaps not. Their arguing over who’d be responsible for us had felt too organic, not at all like the haggling fae behind us. It had felt like they’d been genuinely unsure of the outcome, no matter how smoothly the conversation had gone. Still, how much could I rely on that impression? Fae were some of the greatest liars to ever exist. There were too many unknowns at play here for me to get a good read on the situation.
“I am most certain we will meet again,” the Marchioness of the Northern Wind said, flashing hungry teeth. “I look forward to it eagerly.”
“I’m sure our dearest Baron will take great care of you,” the Lady of Cracking Ice added, smiling at the fae in question.
“Your reception has been most graceful,” I replied, careful to avoid even the implication of debt.
The nobles tittered and rode past a house of stone too white to be anything of Creation, disappearing the moment they turned the corner. The Baron turned to us, face expressionless.
“As I’ve not been given instruction by His Majesty to bring you under his roof, it seems you will be settling in the guest palace,” he said.
“That will not be necessary, my lord baron,” a voice intervened.
The fae nobles we’d encountered so far had been sharp-faced with even sharper tongues, but none of them had struck me as made for strife. Intrigue yes, and cruelty absolutely but fighting? None of them had the silent assurance of someone used to taking lives. This one, though, looked liked he’d been made for war. His mount was ebony, and I did not mean that in a poetic sense: the horse was sculpted out of dark wood, polished so perfectly it could have been black marble. The man himself was wearing a sober long-sleeved tunic with buttons of shade, the sword at his hip slender and without a sheath. I could feel the power in it, and not mere sorcery: it felt like sharpness made object, a principle made into thing. His skin was pale and his cheeks freshly shaved, thin red lips forming a permanent scowl. A black silken blindfold covered one of his eyes, silvery writing sprawled across it. I’d never seen someone who fit the turn of phrase of being raven-haired better before: just looking at the dark locks I could almost hear the flap of wings.
“My Prince of Nightfall,” the Baron of Blue Lights replied, bowing low.
“That ought to end well,” I muttered.
The prince’s eye flicked in my direction at the words, meeting my stare. I matched his gaze and found myself peering into darkness, a night so dark no stars would ever grace it. I began to drift from my body until I reached for an older memory, one branded into my soul. I felt my back snapping again, my bones grinding to dust as the weight above spoke a single word: Repent. I’ve stared down Hashmallim, fairy, a little dark isn’t going to cow me. Night is when villains rule. I found myself on the horse again, the Prince of Nightfall smiling amusedly.
“His Majesty sends his regards, and grants these awaited guests the use of the Still Courtyard until they can be properly received,” the one-eyed creature spoke.
“A great honour,” I said, which for all I knew could be true.
Well. Fuck. I’d never seriously hoped the Winter King wouldn’t know we were in the city, but him sending what looked like his Court’s equivalent of one of the Calamities had not been the plan. Not that I had a plan, per se, but this definitely wasn’t it. Having Aisha along right about now would have been great, since my companions might all be Named but between the lot of us all we knew about plotting would barely fill a page. Written large. There might even be illustrations.
“I look forward to your attendance of Court on the morrow, Baron,” the prince said, the implied dismissal clear.
The Baron of Blue Lights bowed gracefully a second time, eyes lingering on us before he left. Confusion and fear were plain in his gaze. I feel for you, my friend, I thought. There’s probably someone out there who knows what’s going on, but it’s sure as Hells not either of us. I nodded politely at him and Hakram elbowed Masego so he’d do the same with the rest of us. There was a long moment of silence with only the five of us in the street. The Prince of Nightfall smiled at Archer, somehow conveying a few centuries of hatred in a mere quirk of the lips.
“Did you know, girl, that I once swore if your mistress had a child I would feed it to her?” he idly said.
“The Lady of the Lake isn’t one for children,” Archer replied with a friendly smile of her own. “She much prefers jewellery.”
While I admired the guts behind mouthing off to the immortal creature that had night for eyes, I kind of wanted to throttle her right now. We don’t taunt the monster, Archer. Not when it’s already out to get us. Oh Gods, was this what it felt like being in charge of me? The balance of appalled and impressed was miraculously even. How had Black not had me killed off by now?
“While I’m sure you and the Lady of the Lake have a colourful history,” Adjutant said, “we are all here under the banner of the Lady of Marchford.”
It was a sad day when the orc in a group was the closest thing you had to a diplomat. I yawned in an almost offensively fake manner to change where this was headed.
“Alas, I am but a feeble delicate young girl and travel has tired me,” I said. “Is the Courtyard far, Your Royal Highness?”
“Ah, I forget myself Lady Foundling,” the Prince said. “You are well known for your… frailty, after all. It was untoward of me to delay.”
There was enough sarcasm injected in that single word to poison a well. I was reluctantly impressed.
“All is forgiven,” I drily replied.
“If you and your retainers would follow me, I will lead you to the Courtyard,” the one-eyed fae said, his horse moving into a trot without prompting.
We trailed after him and I gestured for Archer to come closer. She leaned in.
“I thought the whole changing-seasons motif meant fae are reborn when their Court comes around again,” I said quietly. “Like a cheap cousin to reincarnation.”
“It does,” she agreed.
“Then he’s missing an eye even now because…”
She nodded.
“Every time?” I whispered.
“She likes the ring,” Archer shrugged.
Whoever had first said that Named became crazier the older they lived clearly had something of a point. It wasn’t long before we arrived at the Still Courtyard, though my guess was that it wasn’t because it was all that close. More that everything in Skade was close, if you were high up enough the fairy food chain. The Prince of Nightfall was royalty, if the title was any indication, but what exactly that meant I was unsure. Was he related to the king? I wasn’t sure whether fae could even have children if they didn’t have them with mortals. The Still Courtyard was a low-hanging square building with a front of ornate greenwood pillars and bare stone steps. Through the arched entrance I could see the courtyard it was named after, a pristine garden of untouched freshly-fallen snow. A dozen blue-attired servants were already kneeling outside when we arrived, none of them daring to look up. They didn’t even register in the prince’s eyes, as far as I could see.
“I hope your rest will be peaceful,” the raven-haired fae said.
Ah, implied threats thrown our way by someone who could kill me with relative ease. He was making this feel like home. The Prince cast a look at Archer, then moved on.
“I will see you all in Court on the morrow,” he added. “Until then, Lady of Marchford.”
“Looking forward to it, Your Royal Highness,” I replied with insincere enthusiasm.
The Prince of Nightfall rode away without glancing back, leaving us and the servants alone. They were still kneeling, so I cleared my throat.
“So,” I said. “About those rooms.”
They rose, and as I peered at them I saw they were… hesitant. Not afraid, I decided, but unsure of what they were supposed to do. They’re not used to having guests, I thought, or maybe just not mortal ones.
“I am the steward for this courtyard, Hallowed Ones,” a female fae said, bowing before us. “We are honoured by your presence and have arranged chambers for your leisure.”
I thought about asking for her name but held myself back. No, it wouldn’t do to get too involved: I might be stepping into a story by accident. I looked down at my armour, which was sadly full of holes where people had taken it upon themselves to stab me, then at Hakram’s similarly scarred set of plate.
“I could use a nap and a bath,” I said. “How about you lot?”
Apprentice leaned forward on his horse.
“Does this courtyard have a library?” he asked.
Well, good to see he still had his priorities on order. I swore on all the Hells, if Masego landed at the bottom of the sea the first thing he’d ask the mermans was if there were any books around.
“It does, Hallowed One,” the steward said. “Maeve can take you to it, if you so desire.”
Maeve was, from the look of it, a very pretty servant with a low neckline who was now smiling invitingly at Apprentice. Another servant looked at her, then Masego and his face turned thunderous. Well, I mused. If there was anyone among my companions I could feel pretty safe wouldn’t get involved in some deadly fae love triangle, it was Apprentice. Masego gingerly got down from his horse and immediately headed inside, gesturing for the servant to follow him.
“See you later,” I called out, then sighed. “Someone stable that horse. We’re only borrowing it.”
“I could do with a nap,” Hakram admitted. “Feels like I’ve been awake for days.”
Odds were decent we had been.
“You should also take a bath,” I encouraged.
The orc wrinkled his nose.
“I washed myself in the river when we were returning to Marchford,” he said.
“He smells like blood and sweat,” Archer commented. “It’s quite nice, actually.”
“See, Archer likes how you smell,” I told him.
He grunted in displeasure but silently conceded the point, dismounting as the Named in question turned to look at me.
“What was that supposed to mean?” she said.
“You live in the woods and I’ve only ever seen you wear one outfit,” I replied frankly.
“You could see me out of it, if you asked nicely,” she winked.
“We’ve been over this before,” I said, dismounting and handing off the reins to a servant.
“Sadly,” Archer sighed, doing the same.
We made our way inside, pausing as we passed the threshold. There was no sound. In a city there was always noise in the background, people talking or working or the hundreds of different that kept it all going. Even out on the field, you heard animals or wind or the gurgle of water. Here there was only silence so absolute the sound of my breath felt like someone screaming. The Still Courtyard, huh. That would take some getting used to. Ahead of us the footsteps of the servant leading us to our chambers were soundless, and the entire thing made me uncomfortable enough I felt the need to keep talking.
“So what’s with your ‘hitting on everything that moves’ habit,” I said. “You realize that even if you showed up naked in Masego’s bed he’d be more likely to ask how you got your scars than anything else, right?”
“Nah, I just like fucking with him,” she admitted with a grin. “He gets so confused and offended.”
“I don’t,” I said, “and you keep offering.”
“Twice isn’t exactly a lot,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Still, let me put it this way. How long do you think you’ll live, Squire?”
“I’m a villain,” I said. “So theoretically forever.”
“I didn’t ask for the Evil manifesto,” she said. “We’ve had villains in Refuge, I know the speeches. What do you think.”
I shrugged.
“If I make it through the next few years, maybe another twenty after that?” I guessed. “Depends on the opposition I end up getting.”
“We never have a guarantee we’ll make it through the first story,” Archer said quietly looking ahead. “Named have more of everything – power most of all, but also danger. I could die tomorrow or in ten years, but sooner or later I get an ending. And when I do, I want to have lived as much as I could.”
I could see where she was coming from, honestly. There were a lot of perks that came from being Named, even if I hadn’t partaken in most of them. Got that as much from my own sober inclinations than Black’s outright austere example, I figured. You only needed to crack open a history book to see a lot of Black Knights and Warlocks had sown their wild oats with enthusiasm. Hells, Masego’s father was married to an incubus. Dread Emperors and Empresses outright had a seraglio, even if Aisha kept assuring me sex wasn’t a large part of that. As for heroes, well, good-looking and righteous was a pretty common type for a lot of people on Calernia. If anything heroes were more likely to end up in bed with another hero than villains were with other villains. I was hardly chaste myself, but sleeping around had never appealed to me past my initial fumbling attempts to learn what I liked. What I had with Kilian mattered to me as more because I could trust her than because she was delightful in bed. Trust was a lot more precious to me than sex these days.
“You’re actually quite prudish for a Callowan,” Archer said. “Your people are a lot more salt-of-the-earth as a rule.”
“I wouldn’t use Hunter as a measure for Callowan mores,” I snorted. “That outfit was a little bare by anyone’s standards.”
“Those leather pants, though,” Archer sighed fondly. “He had an ass like you wouldn’t believe.”
I wasn’t exactly eager to discuss the merits of the buttocks of a man whose hand I had hacked off after beating him savagely, so I wisely decided to go into my rooms when the servant showed them to me. The ochre-skinned girl took the hint, following another servant to her own. My guide was the steward from earlier, and before I could even take a look around she knelt at my feet.
“Hallowed One,” she said, looking down. “An invitation awaited you when you arrived at the Courtyard. May I give it to you?”
I was genuinely tempted to say no and see what came of that, but kicking the hornets’ nest could wait until I’d had a bath.
“Sure,” I said. “It was sent specifically for me?”
“An invitation is always sent to the Courtyard, Hallowed One,” the steward said hesitantly. “It’s simply that usually we… do not receive guests, in this part of the season.”
And just like that today’s game of this does not feel like a coincidence in the slightest had found a winner. Eyes still on the ground, the fae offered me a scroll with a seal of frost on it. It would have looked natural if not for the emblem that could be glimpsed in the ice. What the emblem actually depicted I had a hard time understanding, the image blurring under my eyes and the words Duke of Violent Squalls coming to the front of my mind whatever I did. Fancy.
“There’s a bath adjoining the room?” I asked.
“Whatever you require will be found,” the steward said.
Close enough to a yes, I figured.
“That’ll be all, then,” I said.
Time for a bit of light reading, I supposed.
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more attractive programs elsewhere, said Dan Loritz, Perpich’s deputy chief of staff.
But now one-third of Minneapolis’ school-age children go to charter schools or public schools in other districts, a trend that raises long-term questions about the district’s financial future. Black student flight accounts for more than half of all kids leaving the district, out of proportion with the 43 percent of the school age population they represent. In St. Paul, which loses slightly less than a third of its school-age population to school choice programs, most of the departing students are white and Asian.
At a recent gathering of Minneapolis schools officials, district finance chief Ibrahima Diop showed his worry. He said the district is still thinking of itself as a 50,000-student system, but it can’t afford to do that with current enrollment at 36,000.
District Superintendent Ed Graff has called the enrollment numbers “flat to partial decline.”
Does that trouble him?
“When the students are in our schools, we’re going to make sure they get the most positive experience possible,” he said. “And I think from there, that will build.”
Charter schools bulk up
About 70 percent of the kids leaving the district are headed to charter schools. Many of these independent public schools have established themselves in north Minneapolis, catering to black parents concerned about academic achievement, discipline and safety in the district schools.
Harvest Network has three schools and plans to grow. It aims to educate 3,800 of the kids on the North Side by 2025. That would cut MPS’ North Side enrollment by 40 percent.
In south Minneapolis, Hiawatha Academies, a network of schools that attracts most of the Minneapolis defectors — about 1,200, who are mostly Latino — is planning to break ground on a new high school this fall.
On average, math scores for black students are 10 percentage points higher in the schools that Minneapolis black students are leaving for, than for black students staying in the district.
But test scores vary wildly. About a dozen of the 70 charter schools and school districts competing with Minneapolis have math proficiency rates for black students that are well above 50 percent, while about 20 are at or below the Minneapolis proficiency rate of 18 percent.
Test scores aren’t the only reason parents look elsewhere. North Side mother Akisha Everett said she had heard stories of fights and behavior issues at neighborhood schools, which is partly why her older son is at a district middle school outside her neighborhood and her youngest is at Best Academy, in the Harvest network.
“That’s the message we’re receiving, I believe, as professionals: You don’t want to send your kids over there with those kids, because then your kids will turn out like those kids,” Everett said.
North Side mother Princess Titus chose Southside Family Charter School for her daughter in part because of its small size and staff support.
“I think I bought into the stereotype myself that my neighborhood wasn’t good enough for me,” she said.
Winning students back
Even though the school district’s own projections show the enrollment losses continuing, Graff and his team think they can stem the exodus.
If they double down on academics and student needs, families will stay. For the academics, new literacy programs are beginning this fall, and the district will focus on “social-emotional learning” to address the student needs angle.
“We have to focus internally, both at the district office as well as schools, to make sure that we’re providing the highest quality of education possible,” said district accountability, innovation and research chief Eric Moore. “We believe that that will retain our families and that will attract additional families.”
There’s external energy at work, too, even on the embattled North Side. Parents like Omar and Mari Gomez have joined a campaign to help their kids’ school, Loring Elementary. Former school board candidate Kimberly Caprini is part of a group working to strengthen the link between Patrick Henry High School and the schools that feed into it: Olson Middle, Jenny Lind Elementary, Hmong International Academy and Loring.
Efforts range from lobbying for school upgrades to volunteering in the schools.
“We’ve got skin in the game,” Mari Gomez said.
Henry High graduate Nate Streeter is putting his kids in the same schools he attended on the North Side.
He sees his neighbors volunteering in other ways in the community, but not when it comes to doing the thing that would improve the neighborhood schools — enrolling their kids and engaging. He understands, but it’s frustrating.
“How do you think change happens?” he said.Image copyright Reuters Image caption Very little was left of the village of Bento Rodrigues, where more than 150 houses were destroyed by the mud.
Mining giant BHP Billiton says it will fight the suspension by the Brazilian Supreme Court of a settlement for damages caused by a dam burst at an iron ore mine.
The flood down the Rio Doce in November sent a wave of waste water into the river valley and flattened two towns.
BHP and the Brazilian company Vale which owns the mine agreed to pay around $2bn.
Prosecutors said the settlement favoured the mining companies.
The Supreme Court ruling questioned the "absence of adequate debate" about the settlement and said that local municipalities affected by the disaster had not been included.
Members of the the government of the Minas Gerais state, where the dam burst occurred, had also not been involved, said the ruling.
The agreement had been signed by President Dilma Rousseff in May, before she was suspended from office.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Germana dam, the third belonging to the Samarco mine company in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
The consortium (Samarco) had agreed to settle the claim with staggered payments over a 15-year period with the total amount decided by the cost of the clean-up and repairs.
Public prosecutors have insisted that the settlement was inadequate and that it favoured the mining companies and did little to compensate local communities.
The consortium has argued the settlement was the best way to rectify damage after the disaster.
BHP Billiton Brasil said it had already begun rebuilding one of the towns destroyed and would continue to support recovery of local communities in the long term.
The suspension of the settlement reinstates the Brazilian government's original civil claim for $6.23bn in compensation.
The government has called the accident the country's worst ever environmental disaster.
The mine has remained closed with environmental authorities saying they will only allow it to open once it can prove mud is no longer leaking into the surrounding area.You must enter the characters with black color that stand out from the other characters
Message: * A friend wanted you to see this item from WRAL.com: http://wr.al/yrEl
— Police in Apex are asking for help finding a Johnston County man who hasn't been seen nor heard from since they say he texted his boss more than two weeks ago.
Raymond Alan Myers, 54, sent his employer the message Feb. 23, saying he was leaving his work vehicle in Greensboro, police said Tuesday. His cellphone signaled off a tower in Salisbury and his bank card was used the same day at a McDonald's in Burlington.
Myers, authorities said, has not been in contact with family members who live in Henderson County and Ohio. They are offering a $5,000 reward for information about his whereabouts.
Myers is white, stands 5 feet 9 inches, has a medium build and weighs approximately 160 to 170 pounds.
Investigators did not say if they found the vehicle in Greensboro, but they believe he might be driving a white 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD with North Carolina license plate EL9012.
Anyone with information about Myers is asked to contact the Apex Police Department at 919-362-8661 or local law enforcement.A satisfying guilt-free treat
We’ve been fans of nice cream since our Vitamix came into our lives.
It’s easy, it’s healthy, and it tastes just like the real thing!
We love experimenting with flavors like coconut ice cream and pumpkin ice cream.
But there’s something so decadent and satisfying about a creamy scoop of coffee ice cream.
Throw some coffee in the freezer, you’re going to want a dessert pick-me-up!
Don't let extra coffee go to waste
I’m notorious for making a pot of coffee and then drinking a half a cup. So instead of dumping it all down the drain, I’ve been freezing it in ice cube trays.
Why? Because I love iced coffee, and regular ice cubes water it down.
But now we’ve got a freezer full of coffee cubes, and I just can’t use em fast enough.
So why not use the same method as I did with the Coco Lime Sorbet and use those cubes to make ice cream!
We always have frozen bananas on hand for our No Yoke Shakes, so I figured those 2 ingredients would do the trick.
It was absolutely delicious! But it also had the creamiest texture we’ve ever gotten from a nice cream before. It was silky smooth and reminded me of authentic gelato.
So next time you’ve got a little extra coffee, put it in the freezer and whip up this decadent treat.
Look at how creamy this turned out…
RecipeKESWICK – A proper investigation would have spared a 15-year-old student from trouble with the law and threats of expulsion following a fight with a classmate that was triggered in part by a racial slur, police conceded today as they updated a case that's attracted international attention. The Korean-born student's story made headlines after hundreds of his classmates in Keswick, Ont., staged a walkout to protest that the Grade 9 student was the only one charged in the fight on school property on April 21. He was charged with assault causing bodily harm for breaking his classmate's nose, even though he claimed self-defence and did not throw the first punch. It was also alleged the incident had been instigated by a racial slur. York Regional Police Chief Armand La Barge admitted at a packed news conference that he ordered a review of the case because of the student protest, and the subsequent investigation revealed police were too hasty in laying the charge, which he has asked the Crown to withdraw. "I'm confident had that full investigation been done at the onset, we would have never found ourselves at (court)," La Barge said.
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"We would have consulted with the Crown and the Crown might have suggested... some type of mediation between the two as opposed to bringing them into the criminal justice system." The made-for-Hollywood tale of a quiet honours student who was lionized by classmates after knocking out a racist schoolyard bully with a single punch got somewhat embellished along the way, La Barge said. It wasn't a case of race-motivated bullying and was actually a typical example of "youthful exuberance" after an intense testosterone-fuelled competition in gym class, he said.
"Both parties were willing to be physical with each other – during and after the game – resulting in pushing and shoving and swearing and eventually punching," he said. A racist comment was made, but there's no evidence the Korean student had ever been bullied in the past or was a repeated victim of racism, La Barge said. While the comment was an instigating factor in the fight, it did not warrant any additional charges since "uttering a racial slur isn't unto itself an offence," he said. Nor should the Korean student have been charged at all, he added.
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"If one accepts the fact that there was no intent to commit serious bodily harm in this case – and I do – then what we are left with is a consensual fight between two 15-year-old boys after a turbulent contact-sporting activity," La Barge said. "Both boys, I am told, are good students and both boys have never had any disciplinary issues before." He added that both teens were immediately sorry that things got out of hand. The boy who had his nose broken told police he was sorry for throwing the first punch and saying what he said, and he didn't want to lay charges that might threaten the other boy's future. La Barge said he's never heard more from the public about a case in his 36 years in policing and understands the worldwide outrage, even if the story wasn't completely accurate when it was first reported. "I've received feedback from as far as Australia, I've received feedback from all across Canada," La Barge said. "What it tells me is people care about bullying, people care about racism, people care about our school systems and people care about our community, and they're keenly interested in ensuring those things don't happen in our community, or if they are happening, they don't go unchecked. And we equally care." The parents of the Korean boy, who cannot be named, said they're satisfied with the outcome, though they still await word from the Crown. But the family's lawyer Paul Koven said he remains disappointed with the conduct of the school, which recommended the boy be expelled before eventually backtracking. Koven said it's unfair that his client had to be victimized and become a case study for school officials and police. And he wonders how the story might have ended had it not drawn so much attention. "There's always an ongoing concern as to what happens to the next child who finds themselves in the same circumstance," he said. "What happens when the students don't protest? What happens when the media don't run with the story? What happens when there's no lawyers involved to hold parties accountable to the letter of the law?"Germany repatriating gold faster than planned as confidence in euro plunges
Things are looking bad in Europe and Germany prepares for the worst: a probable sudden death of the euro currency.
Seven years of failed neoliberal policies have destroyed the Greek economy, yet in the midst of a big refugee crisis, terrorist attacks, right-wing extremes rising in almost every European country, and the monster of Deutsche Bank threatening with another financial disaster, two things remain unchanged: IMF and Schäuble's sadistic behavior against Greece, and, Greek persistence on keeping the country in a currency which may collapse any moment.
The German financial establishment, of course, will not play with fire like Schäuble does, nor will give a hand to help Greece in case of a European financial Armageddon.
We have repeatedly supported that Germany has already a plan B to return to national currency in case that things will take an uncontrolled route in eurozone. Further information justifies this estimation, as recently the country decided to accelerate the repatriation of its gold reserves. From RT
Berlin is bringing home its gold reserves stored in New York, London and Paris faster than scheduled, Germany’s central bank said Thursday. The move is linked to surging euroskepticism, as new governments in France and Italy may ditch the single currency.
The German Bundesbank has already moved 583 tons of gold out of New York and Paris, planning to have a half of its gold back in Germany by the end of 2017, which is ahead of the 2020 plan. The rest will be split between the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Bank of England.
[...]
As French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and Italy's 5-Star Movement are openly calling to pull out of the euro, some economists in Germany say the repatriated gold may be needed to back a new deutschmark should the eurozone collapse.
There must be no taboo when we talk about the destiny of the nation. We have reached the point where the people are at the end of their endurance. I think we need an in-depth national political discussion. And this discussion, of course, needs to start in parliament," he said recently. In Greece, as described, after rejecting the idea for more than two years, Syriza seems ready to think the unthinkable: to leave the eurozone. Even if government officials do not talk about it openly, eminent figures from the left-wing party publicly talk about the hypothesis. For the former European affairs minister of Syriza, Nikos Xydakis, the issue of the exit from euro, in any case, should no longer be considered "taboo". "" he said recently.
Yet, the Greek banking-media establishment that has tied its interests with the hard currency, doesn't want to hear about Grexit. Even under these circumstances, anyone who dares, even to speak about the possibility of national currency, demonized by the mainstream media propaganda.
Despite all the bad signs, Tsipras and his administration, still doesn't seem to have a serious plan to get the country out of the euro-Titanic.
As described previously, i n reality, Berlin does not want to destroy eurozone because the euro-currency is the tool to impose the Greek model to all the debt colonies. But that doesn't mean it can prevent a disaster which might lead to an ugly ending of this currency. It is almost certain that the Germans and others have ready plans to return to the national currency. n reality, Berlin does not want to destroy eurozone because the euro-currency is the tool to impose the Greek model to all the debt colonies. But that doesn't meanit can prevent a disaster which might lead to an ugly ending of this currency. It is almost certain that the Germans and others have ready plans to return to the national currency.Manchester City have not won back-to-back league games in five months
When Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola - the world's most coveted and celebrated manager - would succeed Manuel Pellegrini in the summer, there was not a cloud on the club's horizon.
City had effectively been building a home waiting for Guardiola to move in and the man any club in the world would want in charge was finally ready to take up residence after leaving Bayern Munich.
What was not part of the plan was a slump in form that raises the possibility of Guardiola taking charge with City in the Europa League - a prospect that must now be considered as Manchester United closed to within a point of Pellegrini's fourth-placed side with a 1-0 win at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
What has been happening to City's season to leave them in this perilous position?
Has Guardiola news distracted City?
Pep Guardiola is still on course for a Bundesliga, domestic cup and Champions League treble at Bayern Munich
This is an easy accusation to make and can be supported by the fact City have won only three games out of 11 since Guardiola's arrival was confirmed in an announcement in February - but is it actually true?
City have won a trophy - the Capital One Cup at Wembley against Liverpool - since then and it would be doing Pellegrini's squad a kindness to suggest they have only become indifferent and below-par since it became known Guardiola was on his way.
They have also made club history by reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time with victory over two legs against Dynamo Kiev - but the signs of decline were in evidence well before 1 February.
Manchester City have not been at their best for any period since they began the season with five straight Premier League wins. They had already lost five league games before the Guardiola announcement was made.
City won their first three away games in the Premier League but only two of the next 11 and have not won back-to-back league games in five months. The rot set in long before they started getting ready to put Guardiola's name on the manager's office door.
It is hard to believe City's players have been dwelling on the Spaniard's arrival during games and in an uncharacteristically prickly post-match media conference after the United loss, Pellegrini was at pains to deflect suggestions Guardiola was providing an unwelcome distraction.
He said: "I don't think I have lost any control. The attitude of the team was excellent. I repeat - I am happy with attitude of the players."
Guardiola's impending arrival may have focused minds on City's shortcomings - but this was a team showing signs of struggle and decline well before he was confirmed as Pellegrini's successor.
City can't beat Premier League's better sides
Manchester City have won just one game against the Premier League's current top-eight
Manchester City are only one point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham even though they still lie fourth, and 15 points behind leaders Leicester City having played a game less.
The rest of the season is not about winning the title but finishing in the top four - an embarrassing state of affairs for a club with City's aspirations and scale of ambition.
And perhaps the most tell-tale statistic of why they are where they are comes in their record against the current top eight.
City have played 11 matches against them, winning only one, drawing three and losing seven for a meagre return of six points. They also lost heavily home and away to ninth-placed Liverpool.
Their total of 51 points from 30 games is a grim reflection of their struggles throughout the season.
In 2011-12 they had 70 points at this stage of the season, the following year they had 62 points and 67 when they brought the title back to Etihad Stadium in 2013-14. Last season they had 61 points after 30 games.
What will be Guardiola's priorities?
Guardiola's first priority will be to keep everything crossed that stumbling Manchester City can keep it together long enough to make sure they finish in the top four - or win the tournament of course - to ensure they are in next season's Champions League.
He inherits a squad that is guilty of under-achievement this season, even though they have won the League Cup and remain in the Champions League.
City's buying policy has been flawed to such an extent in recent years that they still rely heavily on the backbone of the side that won the club's first title in 44 years in 2012 - namely keeper Joe Hart, captain Vincent Kompany, midfield pair Yaya Toure and David Silva, as well as striker Sergio Aguero.
Around that key group others have not achieved, while there are problems even with those players. Kompany is 29 and suffering from acute calf problems, Toure is 33 in May and was sold by Guardiola at Barcelona, while even the peerless Silva is now 30 and has been troubled for many months by an ankle problem.
Guardiola will be happy with Hart in goal and will want to build around 24-year-old Kevin de Bruyne, who has been such a big miss through injury in recent months. He will also want Raheem Sterling, a £49m summer signing from Liverpool, to justify that fee.
Will Joe Hart still be number one at City next season?
He may well target Everton's 21-year-old John Stones to give youth and authority to a central defence that is still holed below the waterline by Kompany's many absences, with Martin Demichelis looking every day of his 35 years and more against Manchester United and both Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala not showing a return on a combined investment of around £70m.
Wilfried Bony was signed for £28m from Swansea City as the likes of Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic were allowed to depart, but it is hard to see a striker who lacks mobility surviving under Guardiola.
In defence, Bacary Sagna is 33 and coming towards the end of his Premier League career, while Pablo Zabaleta is 31 and Aleksandar Kolarov is 30 - this is a City team that has been allowed to grow too old, with poor signings exacerbating the problem.
Jesus Navas has been poor and Samir Nasri has provided moments of magic and mediocrity.
So Guardiola's priorities will be to freshen up and introduce young blood into a stale squad, while also bringing authority to all parts of the pitch, especially in central defence and in giving attacking support to Aguero.
For all City's ability to flex their financial muscle, he will find that a lot easier to do with them in the Champions League rather than the Europa League.
Could Pellegrini finish on a high?
Pellegrini, who leaves City at the end of the season, joined from Malaga in 2013
The 62-year-old Chilean has one trophy in his locker in his final season but there will be no Premier League title - he is relying on the Champions League to give the campaign a flourish because a top-four finish should be a given, not a source of celebration.
Pellegrini has brought Manchester City to the last eight of the Champions League and the draw has been relatively kind as they avoided the big three of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to be paired with Chelsea's conquerors Paris St-Germain.
It is a tough task - one a City squad firing on all cylinders might just fancy - but right now they are seriously underpowered.
Pellegrini has been dogged by those injuries to Kompany, De Bruyne and Silva and matters got worse on a bad day against Manchester United as Sterling and keeper Hart suffered injuries that mean they may miss the PSG games.
Hart's calf injury looked a serious problem as he was taken off on a stretcher after rescuing Demichelis from a dreadful back pass.
Sympathy will be in short supply if City cite injuries given their resources - but they are facing real problems.
City will be in dreamland if they can get into the Champions League's last four but it is hard to see them, in their current state, troubling the trio of superpowers in this competition.
It may well be that the League Cup and a place in the top four will have to suffice before Pellegrini takes his leave.Brazil's massive Belo Monte hydroelectric power project is arguably the most hated government project in the world. Although opposition to the dam remains more international than local, a group of fisherman and tribal members of the Xingu River Lives Movement rowed up and down the river on Wednesday to block construction workers from initial phase construction of the mega-dam.
The protestors arrived at the dam site by boat, unfurling banners in front of temporary, dirt dams known as coffer dams with slogans like "Belo Monte: crime of the Federal Government", people involved in the protests said. They blocked the movement of workers and machinery, disrupting construction of the 11,200 megawatt dam for over two hours. No arrests or violence were reported.
"Despite the criminal operations that are Belo Monte, where the Brazilian government is spending billions to devastate the Xingu while creating a situation of complete chaos among local communities, we will continue to resist this monstrosity and work to call attention of the Brazilian public and the world that this wanton destruction of the Amazon will hurt us all," said Antônia Melo, coordinator of the Xingu Vivo movement. "To take away the river is to take away the life of its people, because water is life."
The Xingu River is an Amazon tributary located in the state of Para, one of two large Amazon jungle states in northern Brazil. The Belo Monte dam has been in the works for decades in Brazil and was only approved in 2010. Construction began on the project in late 2011. The dam is expected to be completed by 2015.
Most of Brazil's electricity is derived from clean hydroelectric power stations that do not burn fossil fuels to produce power. However, to build such a dam requires substantial disruption of the immediate environment. In the case of Belo Monte, it includes knocking down and inundating with water around 516 square kilometers of virgin rainforest. Part of the Xingu River tributaries will be diverted, causing some river dwelling tribes to complain that certain fish species will not survive, especially if the river dries up during the dry season.
Brazil's government attests that native groups, under the umbrella of Funai, the main Indian political representative in the country, all agreed to Belo Monte. But that has not been enough for a number of groups in Brazil, led primarily by Xingu Vivo and their international colleagues at International Rivers and Amazon Watch.
The dam is run by Norte Energia, a consortium of government energy companies and private sector firms like Brazilian mining major Vale (VALE), with its 9.1% stake in Belo Monte. Norte Energia was unavailable for immediate comment on Thursday.
California based International Rivers said in a press release that, "The building of coffer dams, traversing one of the main channels of the Xingu, is already a major intervention in the riverine ecosystem" according to Brent Millikan of International Rivers "Besides destroying habitats and interfering in the river's hydrology, coffer dams create obstacles for local boat transportation and the movements of fish."
The dams are temporary constructions to allow for engineers to set up shop to begin the heavier lifting in the months ahead. However, untold volumes of dirt and gravel have been seeping into the Xingu, causing at least one tribe, the Arara tribe, to lodge a complaint with the state's public attorneys general office this week.
Belo Monte has caused quite a stir. James Cameron, Hollywood director, created a short documentary in August 2010 called Letter from Pandora. In it, he tries to equate the battle against Belo Monte with the pro-nature battle depicted in his blockbuster Avatar.
See: Photos Of Xingu River Protesters Blocking Road To 'Pandora'--Xingu Vivo MovementPlease enable Javascript to watch this video
NORMAN, Okla. - Several students have been suspended, and a coach has been terminated, after reports of an "extremely disturbing" incident with the Norman North Junior Varsity wrestling team.
The alleged incident happened on the bus as the JV wrestling team was returning from a tournament.
Sources close to the investigation tell KFOR that the incident involved a 12-year-old boy who was allegedly sexually assaulted by several upperclassmen while on the school bus.
The boy was allegedly held down, and his mouth was covered so he couldn't scream, as he was sexually assaulted by two teens believed to be students at Norman North High School.
As soon as district officials were notified about the incident, they contacted Norman PD and simultaneously began an internal investigation, according to the Director of Communications at Norman Public Schools.
We are also told the attack was captured by surveillance cameras on the bus.
School officials say, within a matter of hours, two students were suspended.
They say more students are being suspended as the investigation continues.
A press released from Norman PS also says, "An adjunct coach who was responsible for supervising students on the bus was immediately dismissed. A second coach has been suspended pending further investigation."
Police say they are conducting interviews but cannot comment at this time due to the nature of the incident.
"Student safety is a top priority. This is an ongoing investigation, and we will continue to work with police to pursue any appropriate criminal charges. Any parents or students who have been involved in the wrestling program and have information or concerns about inappropriate activities are urged to immediately contact district administration or the Norman Police Department."
"We really want to ensure we get the full picture of what happened. So, at this point, investigators are working to gather those interviews," said Sarah Jensen, with the Norman Police Department.
News of the incident stunned parents of students at Norman North.
"I'm shocked. Really, I am," said Linda Gray, another student's parent. "Someone really needs to get down to it and figure out what's going on. That child should not have been on the bus with those other students."What the developers have to say:
Why Early Access?
Should it be a simulation or an arcady game? Right now it is not focused on realism.
How challenging should the game be?
What types of scoring do we need? Stroke, match, skins...?
Should the courses be realistic or more fantastic?
Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?
How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?
User Interface
Graphics
Ball/club physics
Game types
What is the current state of the Early Access version?
Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?
How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?
“Because I need help making this game great! Right now it is a fun golf experience but your input is needed to make it great. What do you want to see out of a virtual reality golf game?“It will be in early access until multiplayer is added. I anticipate this will be roughly 2-4 months.”“The full version will include two major differences: more maps and online multiplayer.There are several general areas in which I'd like to improve the current game before leaving early access:“Currently the game has a practice range where you can practice and hit targets for points, as well as an 18-hole course where you can play a full round. There are three clubs to choose from, a driver, an iron and a putter.I have not optimized the game yet but it still runs fairly well. I usually use 1.3-1.5 SS (on a GTX 980). Right now there are relatively few bugs, though I'm sure some will show up when its played on hardware I haven't tested with.”“No, the price will not change when leaving early access.”“From this point forward the game development will be driven by the community. I have a roadmap of things I'd like to add but I have no problem deviating from that plan if the community wants something different.I'll be focused on engaging the community mostly through the tools Steam provides. Additionally there is a development blog where I post updates.”North Carolina campaign buttons sit on a table before the start of a rally with Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump in Fletcher, North Carolina, U.S. October 21, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst - RTX2PW7X
(This version of the November 3 story officially corrects paragraph 13 to read Chapel Hill, instead of Raleigh. The White House initially misidentified Obama's location in a transcript of his remarks)
By Julia Harte
ASHEBORO, N.C. (Reuters) - When Bill McAnulty, an elections board chairman in a mostly white North Carolina county, agreed in July to open a Sunday voting site where black church members could cast ballots after services, the reaction was swift: he was labeled a traitor by his fellow Republicans.
"I became a villain, quite frankly," recalled McAnulty at a state board of elections meeting in September that had been called to resolve disputes over early voting plans. "I got accused of being a traitor and everything else by the Republican Party," McAnulty said.
Following the blowback from Republicans, McAnulty later withdrew his support for the Sunday site.
In an interview with Reuters, he said he ultimately ruled against opening the Sunday voting site in Randolph County because he had "made a mistake in reading the wishes of the voters." He declined to discuss the episode further.
This year's highly charged presidential contest between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump has stoked accusations by both parties of political meddling in the scheduling of early voting hours in North Carolina, a coveted battleground state with a history of tight elections.
In emails, state and county Republican officials lobbied members of at least 17 county election boards to keep early-voting sites open for shorter hours on weekends and in evenings – times that usually see disproportionately high turnout by Democratic voters. Reuters obtained the emails through a public records request.
The officials also urged county election boards to open fewer sites for residents to cast ballots during early voting that began on Oct. 20 and ends on Saturday.
Civil rights advocates and Democrats launched their own campaigns for expanded early voting hours.
The tug-of-war yielded mixed results.
The state did ultimately add nearly 5,900 more hours and 78 more sites to vote early than in 2012. But several counties opened only one polling site during the first week of early voting, slightly denting turnout across the state. Voter turnout dropped by 20 percent in the counties that had multiple polling sites during the first week of early voting in 2012 but just one site during the first week in 2016.
“We currently have more early voting locations and hours open than ever were open under Democrat control,” said North Carolina Republican Party executive director Dallas Woodhouse, denying his party was trying to suppress the Democratic vote.
President Barack Obama praised the expanded early voting opportunities during an election stop in North Carolina on Wednesday.
"Those who wanted to suppress the vote, they're going to fail," he said at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill. "Right now, there are more one-stop early vote sites in North Carolina than ever before."
Counties that Obama, a Democrat, won in 2012 increased their Sunday hours this year by 16 percent, while counties that voted for his Republican rival, Mitt Romney, decreased them by nearly a quarter, the records show.
State Republican officials say keeping polls open during evenings and weekends, or "off-hour" times, drains county resources.
'FOLKS ARE ANGRY'
In two emails, on Aug. 11 and Aug. 14, Woodhouse urged Republicans serving on county election boards to follow the "party line" on curtailing the early voting period.
"Many of our folks are angry and opposed to Sunday voting," he wrote. “Six days of voting in one week is enough. Period.” Keeping polling sites open for the full 17-day early voting period "may be wasteful and unnecessary," he added.
Woodhouse's emails were subsequently published by local media, but he was not alone in lobbying to limit voting hours, the Reuters review of public records shows. The review counted similar emails from at least four other Republican Party officials to election boards, each of which is composed of two Republicans and one Democrat.
The same day that Woodhouse sent his Aug. 11 email, Elaine Hewitt, a member of the Rowan County Republican Executive Committee, sent the county elections board two proposed schedules for early voting, both of which included just one site for the first four days and no sites on Sundays.Last week we ran a monster poll to gauge some level of reception to the current European PSN Store. The votes were open to anyone, registered or not, and on the whole we averaged about 450 votes per question, which we think is a large enough subset of the European PS3-owning public to make it all worthwhile. And besides, pie charts are awesome.
How often do you switch on your PS3?
A simple question and one with predictable results, it appears most of you switch on your beloved black box more than once a day, with the remaining majority doing so just once a day. Those that only switch it on once a fortnight, really?
How often do you check the PSN Store?
Again, naturally, most of our readers are incredibly savvy and only check when they know something is up that’s worth checking for, and in this case with the European Store now firmly cemented on a late Thursday afternoon time slot.
How often do you buy PSN Store PS3 games?
We thought we’d have a higher percentage on the ‘buy most’ category, but it appears we as a group only buy the occasional PSN game. Whether this is down to pricing or a lack of a demo we’ll hopefully uncover later in the survey.
Would you download a PSN Store PS3 game demo?
Thankfully we got the answers we were expecting out of this one: if there’s a demo there’s a good chance most people will grab it. The question was open enough for interpretation of whether we meant just for genres you were interested in, but the results are still relevant anyway.
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Sara Jerde may be reached at sjerde@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SaraJerde.
Have information about this story or something else we should be covering? Tell us: nj.com/tipsHow competitive is UIUC computer science admission? A quantitative study of Indian applicants
By : Admin Feb, 07 2017 0 Comments
Benjamin P. Stern
Founder & CEO, IvyAchievement
Jump to:
Data collection
Test scores are important for UIUC admissions
UIUC computer science admissions statistics
Non-CS applications at UIUC
UIUC CS+X admissions
Conclusion
Introduction
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is the flagship state school of Illinois, the fifth-most populous state of the United States. With an overall freshman acceptance rate of over 65%, it is less selective than other state schools, such as University of Michigan – Ann Arbor (24%) and the University of California, Berkeley (17.5%). However, it has a top-ranked computer science graduate program: UIUC computer science is ranked #5 in U.S. News and World Report, behind only MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and UC Berkeley (all tied for #1).
Selecting schools to apply to is a daunting task, and for students who choose schools based on rankings readily available on the Internet, UIUC is an attractive choice. UIUC reports that international students make up over 15.7% of its undergraduate student body, which is more than the 14% of American undergraduates who come in from out-of-state!
I work with a large number of international students, the majority from India, including Indian expatriates in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Singapore, and Indonesia. I have spent over five of the last 12 months in India, meeting with clients, conducting events, and establishing a presence there. I am also very active on Facebook groups for Indian applicants and interact with them daily. This gives me the unique opportunity to collect and share admissions data with them.
Data Analysis
Data collection
As I discovered counseling Indian students, UIUC gets a lot of applications from India. I aim to be able to guide future clients regarding whether to apply and perhaps demystify the “black box” of admissions for them. A few days ago, just after UIUC announced its regular-decision results, I circulated a poll online and directly to clients who applied to UIUC. The poll was originally tailored for Indian students, and now includes American grading systems as well. So please fill it out!
The poll collected admissions results (early action/regular decision and accepted/waitlisted/rejected plus honors); standardized test scores (including old and new SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, APs, TOEFL, and IELTS); and grades from various curricula in use in India and elsewhere. These included the Indian Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), International Baccalaureate (IB), and others. (Wading through the alphabet soup will be the topic of a future post!) Optional information included a description of extracurricular activities and an opportunity to upload the 400-word UIUC essay.
The poll has received over 85 submissions. After eliminating fake entries and disregarding (for now) data from outside India and from other admissions cycles, I was left with 79 submissions. I can’t be sure this is a representative sample, but the data suggests it’s pretty close. My feeling is that there is probably a slight under-representation of those who were rejected, but the accepted and waitlisted respondent sample accurately reflects the Indian applicant pool.
Overall, our data showed an acceptance rate comparable to UIUC’s published acceptance rate (68.4% of respondents vs. 66% published):
First, I wanted to figure out how big of an impact GPA has on UIUC admission. UIUC is one of the few schools that does not ask Indian students studying under a national or state curriculum for 9th or 11th grade scores, so 10th grade board scores are the only grades UIUC takes into consideration. (UIUC doesn’t even ask Indian applicants for transcripts or coursework.) In the CBSE system, students take six nationwide exams and the five highest are counted. Each exam is given a grade of A1-E2, which is converted to a 10-point scale. GPA is the average of the top five exam scores. 50 of the 79 submissions came from Indian students in CBSE schools. To my surprise, there was no correlation whatsoever between GPA (which is on a 10.0 scale) and acceptance rate:
I was also surprised that the lowest CGPA reported was 8.8. After we collect more data, I will run analyses on other grading systems.
Test Scores are important for UIUC admissions
So if grades don’t matter, what does? It turns out that admission at UIUC is highly dependent on test scores. 47 of the 79 responses included SAT scores. I converted old SAT scores to the new SAT equivalent using the official College Board score converter. To produce less “granular” data, I grouped scores into 30-point range “bins” (1570-1600, 1530-1560, 1490-1520, etc.) and plotted the midpoint of each “bin” against the acceptance rate. Unlike the CGPA analysis above, the analysis shows a nearly linear correlation between SAT score and admission.
But the composite score is only part of the story. The SAT has two main components: a Math score and an “Evidence Based Reading and Writing” score, each scaled to 800 points. With the data we collected, I generated a “box and whisker” plot. Each box is bounded on the top and bottom by the 75th and 25th percentiles, respectively. The horizontal line inside the box is the median and the “x” is the mean. The “whiskers” extending upward and/or downward represent the range of the data (minimum and maximum), which may exclude “outliers” which are represented by dots outside the whiskers. If there are no outliers, that means all scores were within the boxes and whiskers.
Accepted applicants were very strong, with all accepted applicants scoring at least 710 in Math (all but one 740 or above) and 75% scoring at least 700 (or the equivalent old SAT components) in Reading & Writing. Waitlisted students had a slightly wider range of Math scores (still near the top), but their Reading & Writing scores were lower: the median for waitlisted students was 675, as opposed to 720 for accepted students, and the 75th percentile for waitlisted students was just above the 25th percentile for accepted students (705 vs. 700). For currently enrolled freshmen, UIUC reported a middle 50% for Math at 700-790, Critical Reading at 570-680, and Writing at 590-690. This is approximately equivalent to 740-800 Math and 640-720 Reading & Writing on the new scale. Nearly all Indian applicants who filled out our poll scored at or above these new-SAT 25th percentile equivalents. Rejected students had a range of scores, but tended to be lower.
ACT scores showed a similar trend:
This chart represents the highest ACT Composite, Math, English, Reading, and Science score across all test administrations. Accepted and waitlisted students had similar Math scores, but waitlisted students had much lower English scores. (The 75th percentile for waitlisted students [32.5] was below the 25th percentile for accepted students [33]). All accepted respondents except one had ACTs in the 32-35 range.
UIUC computer science admissions statistics
How much more difficult is it to get into computer science at UIUC? UIUC allows applicants to select two majors; the first choice is mandatory (but can be “undeclared”) and the second choice is optional. Because of UIUC’s strong reputation, UIUC computer science is a popular major choice for applicants, especially those from India:
More than half our respondents applied to computer science, computer engineering, or some interdisciplinary major including computer science (referred to those discussing admissions as “CS+X”). 13% of Indian respondents applied to “CS+X” majors. Mechanical and aerospace engineering took up a combined 16%, and the remaining majors 4% or less. Half of Indian applicants didn’t choose a second major, and another 18% went undeclared:
It turns out the UIUC computer science program is indeed more selective than admissions overall:
Seven respondents from India who were accepted into the UIUC computer science program provided SAT scores. All seven had a 790 or higher in math (or the equivalent on the old SAT). ACT results were not much different:
Waitlisted and accepted applicants both achieved high math scores, with accepted students sitting at the top of the range, and waitlisted students scoring lower in English. Notably, accepted students performed more poorly in Reading. The ACT Science score does not appear to have been a factor in admissions either. Only one CS respondent who took the ACT was rejected, which explains the sparse data. Once we collect more data, a full ANOVA (analysis of variance) will yield more information.
Non-CS applications at UIUC
Over half our respondents applied to a computer science or “CS+X” major, so their data weighs heavily in the above charts. What happens when we isolate non-CS applicants?
The non-CS acceptance rate among our respondents, 75%, is higher it is for non-CS majors.
The data pool for non-CS students is smaller, and the accepted student pattern is similar to that for UIUC computer science, with very high Math scores and lower Reading & Writing scores. Scores don’t need to be as high outside CS: the median reading and writing score for non-CS accepted applicants is 730, as opposed to 770 for CS offerees. Another big difference between CS and non-CS is who was able to make the waitlist. Some students with low scores managed to avoid being denied admission.
UIUC CS+X Admission
“CS+X” at UIUC refers to a major that combines computer science with another discipline. These include Computer Science & Anthropology; Computer Science & Astronomy; Computer Science & Chemistry; Computer Science & Linguistics; Mathematics & Computer Science; and Statistics & Computer Science. We didn’t have a large sample of CS+X applicants, but 4 out of 5 who indicated CS+X as their first choice got in. Almost all respondents who had CS+X for their second choice had computer science as their first choice. (One respondent applied to CS+X majors for both first and second choices.)
There were only a few CS+X applicants who took the SAT, and they all scored in a narrow range. All had 790 or 800 (or equivalent) in math, but their reading and writing scores were lower than even the non-CS admitted applicants’. Unfortunately, there is still not enough data to yield conclusive results, and we can’t yet do a meaningful breakdown of different CS+X majors. So if you applied for a CS+X major, take our poll!
Conclusion: UIUC Computer Science Admissions Demystified
UIUC considers only a few variables when evaluating Indian students. UIUC does not accept letters of recommendation, its essay is limited to 400 words (shorter than other schools’) and the application asks for a limited number of grades. The application also has very limited space for describing extracurricular activities. This makes analyzing admissions relatively easier compared to other schools.
I would love to do analyses of other applicant populations, so please circulate our poll, which may be filled out anonymously:
https://ivyachievement.formstack.com/forms/uiucpoll
I believe that being well informed about admissions gives applicants an edge, and I look forward to continuing to demystify the application process. For now, potential applicants to UIUC computer science and other majors will have some data to “chew on.”The US government is on the precipice of a historic shutdown that would result in hundreds of thousands of federal workers being placed on unpaid leave, after House Republicans refused to pass a budget unless it involved a delay to Barack Obama's signature healthcare reforms.
Democratic leaders declined to convene the Senate on Sunday, standing firm against what they described as the extortion tactics of their Republican opponents who they accused of holding the government to ransom for ideological reasons.
The resolution passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in the early hours of Sunday morning makes funding the government until the middle of December contingent upon a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act. It also strips the new healthcare law, which is due to come into force on Tuesday, of a key tax on medical devices.
Senate Democrats and the White House have said they will block any budget resolution that is tied to the healthcare law – known as Obamacare – which was passed three years ago and upheld by the US supreme court last year.
Undermining the healthcare reforms – the flagship legislative achievement of Obama's presidency – has been a priority for the conservative wing of the Republican party for years and the spectre of government shutdowns has been used in the past.
However there was a growing sense on Capitol Hill on Sunday that House Republicans were prepared to see through their threat of a shutdown, which would begin at 12.01am ET on Tuesday, even though polls show they would be blamed for a maneuver that could damage the party during next year's midterm elections.
"Republicans in Congress had the opportunity to pass a routine, simple continuing resolution that keeps the government running for a few more weeks," said White House spokesman Jay Carney. "But instead, Republicans decided they would rather make an ideological point by demanding the sabotage of the healthcare law."
Harry Reid, the Senate leader who on Saturday said he would refuse to bow to "Tea Party anarchists", showed no interest in negotiating with Republicans over the stalemate. He was criticised by leading Republicans for failing to invite the Senate to debate the House resolution, less than 36 hours from the budget deadline.
Instead, the Senate was expected to wait until Monday before stripping the Republican motion of its references to Obamacare and, for the second time in a week, returning a "clean" bill to the House that would fund federal departments, without also impeding the introduction of mandatory healthcare for Americans who are uninsured.
If there is time, the House would then have just a few hours to either vote to fund the government, free of any measures that would impede the introduction Obamacare, or trigger the first American government shutdown in 17 years.
Asked if he thought a shutdown was now inevitable, Richard Durbin, the second most senior Democrat in the Senate, replied: "I'm afraid I do."
Durbin told CBS's Face the Nation that he was open to negotiating over the tax on medical devices, "but not with a gun to my head, not with the prospect of shutting down the government".
Senior Republicans took to the Sunday morning talk shows to defend their stance, claiming that it was Democrats who were forcing a shutdown by refusing to compromise over the controversial healthcare reforms.
Congresswoman Cathy McManus Rogers, chair of the House Republican conference, said Reid was acting irresponsibly by refusing to hold a session of the Senate. "They're the ones threatening a government shutdown by not being here," she said.
Ted Cruz, the Republican senator spearheading the congressional campaign to undo Obama's healthcare reforms, turned the debate on its head by accusing Democrats of holding "political brute force" for refusing to delay or unravel the healthcare law.
"If we have a shutdown, it will be because Harry Reid holds that absolutist position and essentially holds the American people hostage," Cruz, who this week gave a 21-hour speech to draw attention to his campaign, said on NBC's Meet the Press.
"So far, majority leader Harry Reid has essentially told the House of Representatives and the American people, 'go jump in a lake'," Cruz added. "He says: 'I'm not willing to compromise, I'm not willing to even talk.' His position is, 100% of Obamacare must be funded in all instances. Other than that, he's going to shut the government down."
The impact of any federal shutdown would depend upon how long it lasts. Under contingency arrangements, essential services such as law enforcement, will be kept alive, although hundreds of thousands of federal workers would be placed on unpaid leave.
Social security and Medicare benefits would continue, and air traffic controllers would remain in place to ensure airports function. However museums, national parks and landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty and Washington Monument, would be closed.
The military's 1.4 million personnel active duty would remain in post, but their paychecks would be delayed. About half of the Defense Department's civilian employees – about 800,000 people – would be furloughed, meaning they would be suspended from work without pay.
Federal courts would continue to function as usual for around a fortnight, after which the judiciary would have to start shelving work that is not considered essential.
The gridlock over the government budget could be just the prelude to an even more serious showdown expected in mid-October over the government debt ceiling.
Republicans are threatening to refuse to lift the ceiling unless Obamacare is reined back, which could mean the US Treasury would be forced to default on its debt payments.Product Description
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Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C.Big changes are coming for the automobile industry, and everyone in the industry knows it. This week, Ford and the Chinese technology company Baidu announced a $150 million investment in Velodyne, makers of powerful LIDAR sensors that are widely used in self-driving cars.
It's only the latest in a long sequence of deals linking car and tech companies together over the past year:
The proliferation of deals represents a growing realization among car companies that they are going to need help navigating the major changes of the next decade — Ford says it wants to start offering fully self-driving cars by 2021.
The auto industry is facing three big innovations — car sharing, battery-powered electric vehicles, and autonomy. By itself, any one of these shifts would represent a significant but manageable challenge. But the real problem is that all three trends are converging, and they jointly represent an existential threat to today's dominant car companies.
Threat #1: car sharing
So far, car sharing is the innovation that has had the biggest practical impact on the way people get around. Ride-hailing services are still limited to a narrow elite — just 15 percent of Americans had ever used Uber or Lyft in 2015 — but investors are betting that they will grow quickly.
The big question for the auto industry is whether ride-hailing services will start to displace car ownership as the primary way people get around. Even before Uber and Lyft came along, there were a few areas in America — like Manhattan — where it was common for people to forgo car ownership and get around using mass transit and (for the more affluent) taxis.
Uber and Lyft are making this lifestyle both cheaper and more convenient, which could cause more families to give up their cars. Short-term car rental services like Zipcar are also helping people get by without owning a car, knowing that one will be available to them in a pinch.
By itself, the shift to greater car rental isn't necessarily a problem for the car industry. Someone still has to manufacture and sell the cars that Uber, Lyft, and Zipcar are renting out, and there's no reason Ford, GM, and Toyota couldn't be the companies that do it.
But selling cars to ride-sharing drivers or the corporate fleets of companies like Zipcar is a different business than selling cars directly to consumers. And Detroit benefits from an incestuous relationship with conventional car dealers.
For example, one of the big barriers that has held back Tesla's growth is the network of dealers conventional car companies use to sell their vehicles. Not only do conventional car companies have a lot of experience selling cars through these dealerships, but state laws often require cars to be sold this way, creating a barrier to entry for startups like Tesla.
In a future where on-demand car rental is the default way people get around, the key to success in the auto industry may be winning big orders from companies like Zipcar, Uber, and Google. And that could create openings for companies focused on creating different kinds of vehicles and selling them in new ways.
Still, car sharing alone doesn't pose a big threat to the auto industry for the simple reason that today's ride-hailing services are too expensive for mass adoption. If you live in a suburban area with plentiful parking, it's cheaper and more convenient to buy a car and drive it around yourself. And even many people who live in high-density areas and don't have a car rely on mass transit (and walking and biking), because these options are more affordable than hailing a ride.
Threat #2: electric vehicles
Internal combustion engines are marvels of engineering, channeling rapid-fire explosions to power a vehicle as it moves down the road, and modern car designs are deeply influenced by the strengths and weaknesses of internal combustion engines. Conventional car companies have expertise not only in engines but also in transmissions, radiators, gas tanks, and more — and a lot of that would be rendered obsolete if cars were powered by batteries and electric motors.
This is the basic premise behind the creation of Tesla. CEO Elon Musk and his financial backers are betting that a company specifically created to build electric vehicles will be better at it than a conventional car company trying to make the switch from gasoline to electricity.
Yet so far, electric vehicles haven't seemed like much of a threat to conventional vehicles. In 2015, there were 17 million new cars sold in the United States. Of these, just 115,000 — fewer than 1 percent — of them were battery powered or plug-in hybrids.
The basic problem is that electric vehicles don't provide a very compelling value proposition for ordinary consumers. They might save money on fuel, but they tend to cost significantly more than gas-powered equivalents — even after you factor in generous government subsidies. With long charging times and relatively few charging stations in most metropolitan areas, they're significantly less convenient than conventional gasoline-powered cars.
Threat #3: automation
Self-driving capabilities would represent the most radical change in car technology in decades — and the biggest threat to conventional car companies. Making cars drive themselves is mostly a software problem, and software has never been Detroit's strong suit. Google is investing heavily in its self-driving car program, betting that its expertise in software development will allow it to claim a major role in the car industry of the 21st century.
Yet even here, conventional car companies have managed to keep their heads above water by outsourcing the hard technical problems to third parties.
A bunch of car companies — including Tesla and several conventional firms — have begun offering cars with "advanced cruise control" or "autopilot" capabilities. And several of them have purchased their technology from Mobileye, an Israeli startup that builds car sensors and software that allows cars to stay in their lane and avoid hitting the car in front of them.
Detroit's vision is that this self-driving technology will gradually get more and more sophisticated. Cars will continue to look more or less like they do today, but over time you'll have to grab the steering wheel less and less frequently. Eventually, grabbing the steering wheel will become so rare that it will make sense to sell cars with no steering wheel at all.
If that's how the market will evolve, it's not such a scary prospect for incumbent car companies. They have decades of experience integrating third-party components into their vehicles, and their existing manufacturing and distribution facilities will give them a big advantage over companies that try to start building self-driving cars from scratch.
The big threat to Detroit comes from a combination of trends
So incumbent car companies would be able to cope with any one of these three trends taken individually. The problem for Detroit is that these changes are not going to come one at a time. They're happening all at once, and each of them is likely to accelerate and magnify the impact of the others.
For example, it's hard to make electric cars compelling to consumers, but it should be easier to make them attractive for car-sharing services. A ride-hailing car doesn't need the 300-mile range of a conventional gasoline-powered car. It just needs enough power to get through a morning of driving; the driver can then recharge it during his lunch break.
So electric cars purpose-built for sharing use might have smaller batteries, which can reduce vehicle weight and further improve energy efficiency. And of course ride-hailing drivers care a lot about the energy efficiency of the vehicles they drive, since a gas-guzzling car will cut into their earnings.
Self-driving technology will magnify this effect still further. As long as taxis need human drivers, they're going to mostly be sedans with room to carry three or more passengers. Nobody would want to drive a two-seat taxi and miss out on fares because he only has one passenger seat available.
But once you get rid of the driver, much smaller and lighter vehicles become viable. Lots of people take taxi rides alone, and they could take these rides in tiny one-passenger electric vehicles. These lighter vehicles would be more power-efficient and require smaller batteries, which in turn would further lower the cost of taxi service.
The optimal one- or two-seat electric car is likely to look significantly different from the best five-seat sedan — especially if the car doesn't need a driver's seat. So the shift to self-driving, electric ride-hailing cars will create a bigger opening for new companies to disrupt the car market.
And of course, with improved efficiency and no driver, these automated taxis will cost a lot less to run. That will bring them into financial reach for many more customers, dramatically expanding the market for ride-hailing services.
At the same time, the shift to ride hailing will help accelerate the shift to self-driving technology. One big reason for this relates to mapping. Right now it's widely believed that Google has the world's best self-driving car technology, and Google's technology depends on having extremely detailed maps of every street where a Google car drives. Uber has traditionally relied on Google's map data, but it recently announced plans to create its own independent mapping data.
If you're trying to sell cars to consumers, that's a huge problem, because it means you have to map the entire country before you sell your first vehicle — no customer is going to buy a car that refuses to drive in rural areas. On the other hand, if you're renting cars, it's not such a big problem. You can roll out your car rental service one metropolitan area at a time. Nobody minds renting a taxi that will only go to destinations in the same metropolitan area.
Renting self-driving cars will have other advantages too. Companies that write self-driving software will be concerned about safety (and the liability that comes with accidents). Maintaining ownership of the vehicles will allow them to guarantee that they get regular maintenance and that defective parts are replaced promptly.
So there's a good chance that fully self-driving cars will initially be available only for use as part of a ride-sharing service. If that happens, it will undermine the advantage provided by car companies' dealership networks and experience selling cars directly to consumers.
Electric, self-driving cars designed for a rental market are likely to look dramatically different from today's cars. With no driver and less space needed for an engine, we're likely to see companies experimenting with different shapes and configurations — rear-facing seats, built-in desks and mirrors, big touchscreen displays and televisions, perhaps even beds for long nighttime trips.
Why you shouldn't write off Detroit yet
So conventional car companies are going to face some serious competitive threats over the next two decades. But it would be a mistake to write them off, because they have one big advantage over Silicon Valley upstarts: They know how to manufacture millions of cars.
Tesla is the only Silicon Valley company to even attempt to manufacture cars at a significant scale, and it's been learning the hard way that it's really difficult. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become notorious for announcing production delays and cost overruns.
All three of Tesla's cars so far came to market later than originally announced, and Tesla recently announced it was raising $2 billion to fund further expansion of its manufacturing facilities. If all goes according to plan — and it probably won't — that will allow Tesla to produce 500,000 cars a year, about 3 percent of US car sales in 2015.
Manufacturing a big, complex object like a car is difficult, and conventional car companies have a 100-year head start on learning how to do it. That explains why Silicon Valley has been as eager to partner with Detroit as Detroit has been to partner with Silicon Valley.
The big question is how these partnerships will work. Will Google, Uber, and other Silicon Valley giants design the cars and rely on their Detroit partners to assemble them, much as Chinese companies like Foxconn assemble smartphones for Apple and Motorola? Will car companies treat Google as just another supplier and Uber as just another distribution channel? Or will a new generation of companies emerge that combines the strengths of both sides? Companies in Detroit and Silicon Valley are spending billions in the hope that it will help them come out on top.
Watch: When carmakers taunted horsesThe seven-year romance started in 2010 with an online profession of love from a man stationed overseas.
He was having financial issues, the man told his long-distance flame — a widow and former City of Toronto employee — and she sent him $40,000 to help. Over the years, she sent more money in hopes of pursuing $22 million in compensation promised by the Nigerian court system.
This month, the whole thing came crashing down — after the former city staffer had sold her condo and sent more than $450,000 overseas.
But there was no man and no compensation. Toronto police say it was just another online romance scam.
Det. Sgt. Ian Nichol, with the Financial Crimes Unit, said he became aware of the scam this month. The woman "had been through some trauma in her life," he said, making her vulnerable to the social media requests of an online scammer.
According to police, the suspect — or suspects — developed a long-term "relationship" with the woman, and convinced her to help with a series of fake financial issues.
They also used the assumed identities of real people employed in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United Nations and convinced that woman she could claim a court award if she sent money to them "to cover various fees, taxes and bribes of local officials in Nigeria."
"She was led to believe she was going to be compensated for her losses," Nichol said.
More than $450,000, he said, is now believed to be offshore, and police said the woman was "defrauded of her life savings and possessions."
$17 million lost to romance scammers in 2016
In 2016, roughly 750 people across Canada lost more than $17 million to scammers pretending to be in love, RCMP data shows.
That works out to around $23,000 a person.
"Typically, the higher the trust level, the more money lost," the police force notes.
Some scammers pretend to be business people, while others impersonate soldiers stationed overseas. They could be from any country, and might claim to have a legal or financial issue, or an immigration problem.
A common thread? They typically prey on people who are older and single.
"There's always something that's caused them to have a vulnerability, whether it's loneliness, whether it's trauma in their life — who knows," Nichols said. "Once they've bought into it, it can be very difficult to persuade them otherwise."
He said loved ones should watch for warning signs, like secretive behaviour, stories of an overseas romance, or whisperings of needing to help a "friend" financially.Google has just released the official Google Calendar app on the Play Store, to the joy of, well, probably everyone who isn't using a Nexus phone or a custom ROM. This is the same app you'll find in stock Android, packaged up and ready for individual consumption. This also means Google will be able to update the Calendar app directly from the Play Store, instead of in Android releases as part of the Google Apps package.
This includes all the features you'd expect, allowing you to set which calendars you want to view, create events, hide declined events, show the week number, decide the week start date, and more. For those stuck with OEM calendar apps on skins like TouchWiz and Sense, this is definitely a welcome addition to the family of Play Store-available Google apps. This version also adds a couple new features:
Head over to the Play Store to grab it now, and check out the official Android blog post for more information.One of the most common questions asked by new producers and DJs is “what software and VST plug-ins do you use?” The world of audio software can be mysterious when you’re first getting started. With so many DAWs and plug-ins it can really start to add up and drain the bank account. A lot of companies exploit this mystery to create the illusion that you need to spend a lot of money to make fat beats, so in today’s article, I’ll share with you some of my favorite free and low-cost plug-ins and software. Everyone should be able to make beats!
GET STARTED, GET A DAW
The first (and probably biggest) financial hurdle in getting started making beats is your DAW (digital audio workstation). You’ve probably heard of Ableton, Logic, ProTools, Reason and Cubase – they all do pretty much the same thing, and typically cost more than $500 for the complete feature set. For someone just getting started, this can be a pretty big barrier to entry. What if you want to start producing for free? Beginning producers on a budget, meet Reaper.
Reaper is a low cost and high performance professional quality DAW that sounds amazing and gives you almost all the same core functionality as the other top contenders. In fact, I think the mixing algorithm sounds so good that sometimes I’ll produce a track in Ableton, and then run multi-track into Reaper for the mix down. With full support for VSTs and AUs, it’s a perfect platform for hosting all the awesome plug-ins I’m about to share with you. It also includes hundreds of audio and MIDI processing effects, and you can edit audio, draw automation, layer unlimited tracks, record audio, interface with hardware and MIDI, and much more.
The best part: Reaper has an endless “evaluation” period. That means that you could technically evaluate it forever with full functionality, making it completely free. If you like and are using it, you should buy it for a humble price of just $60, wow!
WHAT’S A PLUG-IN?
If you already know what a plug-in is you can just go ahead and skip to the next section – for those of you who are new to this world, a plug-in (you might have hear them called by their various flavor, including VST, VSTi, AU, etc.) is a small “program within a program” that you open from within your DAW and can use to either make or modify sounds. (VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology)
For example, you might have a synthesizer plug-in or a delay plug-in. In either case, you’d first open your DAW, then load the plug-in onto an audio or MIDI track and start making noises. Many DAWs include their own “native” synths and effects – think of plug-ins as third party additions for your DAW.
FREE PLUG-INS TO PRODUCE, EFFECT, AND MASTER
In the spirit of freedom, we’ll start with a selection of plugins that are absolutely free! That means you can literally go get them right now and start making hits (technically speaking that is). I’m going to divide them into two categories: synths and FX. For the sake of sanity, I’ve chosen 5 in each category to highlight, with an extended full list at the end of the article.
Round 1: Synthesizers and Instruments!
Synth 1 : best for basics, really impressive tone – warm, fat, and punchy!
: best for basics, really impressive tone – warm, fat, and punchy! TAL Synths : especially the noisemaker and bassline, full featured, dynamic envelope, chorus, fx, very malleable and great tone
: especially the noisemaker and bassline, full featured, dynamic envelope, chorus, fx, very malleable and great tone Magic 8-Bit : so much |
good. Blackfish tosses Larry’s shit honor in his face, is pissed that he didn’t fulfill his oath to Cat to bring Arya and Sansa to safety, and also is quite open about the fact that he’s willing to die on this futile hill. Larry doesn’t really have any answers, since how do you convince a dude that just wants to fight, especially when none of the River Lords seem to exist, so the poor guy has no leverage. But we do get this rather lovely shot that is the most Oh! Larry moment we ever saw:
Hey, remember Brienne the Brute? She and Larry once had fun times with a bear together? Well, when we last saw her, Boss Ass Individual Brittany ordered her to go treat on her behalf with the Tully army, because and we quote, “you’ll know how to talk to him.” Not that it mattered with Jonny’s arbitrary battle timeline anyway.
The point is, Brienne, who feels duty-bound to protect Cat’s daughter(s), has arrived at Riverroundabout on this incredibly important diplomatic mission. And she gets scooped up by Lannister soldiers almost instantly, because Bronn has surely whipped the siege-line into shape. She asks to speak with Larry and everyone’s like, “aight.”
It’s the reunion we’ve all been wait for, guys…Pod and Bronn! Remember the fun times they had together, drinking or something? We’re pretty sure this happened, though not 100%. Don’t make us check. Bronn certainly remembers Pod’s sex life, so that’s something. Apparently his “magic cock” needs a mention, lest we let that continuity drop.
Bronn sort of launches into this…incredibly weird tirade about Pod’s sex life and Larry’s life, and does Pod think Brienne and Larry are fucking? And everyone wants to fuck Larry—it’s really upsetting how women look at him, and does he ship Brienne and Larry?
We’re NOT exaggerating. Pod, meanwhile, tries to casually laugh this off, though if you look closely, you can see Daniel Portman’s soul shattering.
Inside the tent, Larry and Brienne are not fucking. We’d be more upset about that if either of these two had a characterization beyond befuddlement and smashing things, respectively.
Instead, they’re talking about “politics,” apparently, which means just now discovering that they’re on opposite sides of the war. See, Larry is supes impressed that she fulfilled half their oath to Lady Cat, but then is like, “I just remembered Carol wants Sansa dead, so…” Brienne then tells Larry that she is there to treat with Pop-up Blackfish so that he can take the Tully forces to fight for Sansa in the North. She asks that Larry just…let them go, if she can convince him.
Let them go. To fight for the Starks. Who the Lannisters want dead. This checks out!
The best honeypot we can come up with is that Larry knows Carol is pissed at the Boltons, and wouldn’t mind if these two forces wiped each other out, or something to that effect. Though this level of strategy normally eludes Larry.
Whatever his reason (it’s never explained), he agrees to this terrible plan, because he might love Brienne or something. She also tries to return Oathkeeper to Larry, because one out of two Stark girls is enough, but he insists it’s hers. It matches her eyes.
Despite Brittany’s vote of confidence in Brienne, when we cut to her trying to convince Blackfish, not only does Brienne have no clue what to say to Blackfish, but she’s not even convincing enough to get him to stop pacing around and have a proper conversation with her. We guess there’s plenty of futzing for him to do since this is an action-packed siege.
“Sieges are dull.” —Blackfish, 6×07
She finally cajoles him into standing still long enough to read a letter that Brittany wrote, and it’s so moving that he says she’s “exactly like her mother.” For being literate? Or did she talk about how it’s her lot in life to wait for her men? Wait, that’s the books. Did she write about how she cursed her whole family to death by being awful?
Whatever she said, unfortunately being just like Cat doesn’t mean as much as it used to since Blackfish still wants to die on his dumb hill. That and he doesn’t trust the Lannisters and Floppy Hat Brigade to close their eyes, turn their backs, and pretend an entire Tully army isn’t marching North. Plus this is his home and junk.
Meanwhile, the fan-film of Jaime VI takes a turn for the fanfic. See, like the second half of the chapter, Edmure and Larry still chat in a tent, and it concludes with Larry threatening to hurl Edmure’s sonion at Riverroundabout via trebuchet catapult. But the logic for how Larry gets there is…unique.
As it turns out, the only thing that motivates him is his love for Carol. He loves her so much that he will do anything to be with her again, and everything he does is to achieve that aim. If he were to have a vision-board, it’d look something like this:
By the way, why is the Floppy Hat Brigade keeping Edmure alive if he has a fully-born sonion who can be Lord of Riverroundabout? Because in the books—forget it.
Edmure might be a book snob, or Tobias Menzies is really livid about having to act this shit out, because he’s like, thrashing against his restraints and banging his head against the tent pole. It’s not made better by the fact that Larry keeps likening Carol to Cat with the most superficial parallels we’ve ever heard. They both were mothers! They both didn’t want their kids dead!
Also, this might be the culminating moment of Larry’s arc this season: screaming how much he loves Carol. Which, in case you didn’t remember, was his culminating moment last year too. After all, we can’t choose whom we love. Even if we can choose whom we fuck and commit high treason with. Just sayin’.
Convinced that Larry really will do anything to get back to Carol, Edmure decides that it is best just to surrender Riverroundabout than to have his sonion murdered, along with all of the Tully men inside. Blackfish, seeing this obviously-compromised prisoner asking to be let in, tells the guards not to let him in, because, you know, he’s obviously compromised. However, a very conscientious Tully soldier, let’s call him Andrew, says that he has to let Edmure in since, “He’s my lord, my lord.” He’s very committed to the feudal order.
Edmure walks in and he and Blackfish exchange pissy looks for some reason. God forbid family members love each other and understand the difficult positions they’re both in. Edmure then marches up to an eager Andrew and tells him to surrender the castle to the Floppy Hat Brigade. We’re not sure what Andrew expected, but the dude is crushed. Talk about a breakdown of idealization.
Blackfish decides that he needs to save Brienne and Pod by showing them the way out of the castle, even though they were given permission by Larry to be there and don’t seem to be in any real danger. Brienne tries one more time to convince Blackfish to come with them and not die stupidly for, at this point, literally no reason. It wouldn’t even be like a hundred Lannisters fall for each Tully. The castle is breached because The Lord surrendered.
“Your family is in the North. Come with us. Don’t die for pride when you can fight for your blood.”
She really knows just what to say to him…to get him to suicide charge off-screen. Oh well, she tried.
We suppose it’s possible Pop-up Blackfish took out a hundred Lannisters, actually, since we didn’t see the damn fight. We’re just informed about it after the fact by a random guard who catches Larry standing on the battlements, staring into the middle-distance. Thinkin’ about Carol, of course. Somehow, despite it being pitch fucking black, he spots Brienne and Pod’s little rowboat. Even more miraculously, Brienne spots him and recognizes this shadowy lump as Larry. So she waves.
This is objectively ridiculous.
We know the sheer momentousness of this plotline is overwhelming, but don’t worry: we’re nearing the end. In “The Winds of Winter (fuck you)”, we cut to The Twins, where Walder Filch is throwing a ‘mission accomplished’ party. He happily chats up the alliance between the Lannisters and the Floppy Hat Brigade, though didn’t see fit to give Larry a seat on the dias. Awkward. His child-bride is missing too, but we’re less upset about that one.
Apparently the battle-cheer of this alliance is, “we send our regards!” This strikes us as…odd. It’s almost like it’s a phrase that has more meaning to the fandom than to in-verse characters and appropriating it sticks out.
Down in the cheap-seats, Arya Todd makes flirty eyes at Larry so that Bronn can go off on another tirade about how hot Larry is, and how he’s so jelly. Jelly of whom, Bronn? Larry or the ladies? Well, we get our answer when Larry, a good wingman, somehow negotiates a threesome for Bronn, and the guy goes (and we QUOTE), “Maybe I’m not in the mood.”
Are we fucked up for wanting Bronn to be in love with Larry because at least it would be something here?
Either way, he grudgingly fucks off (literally), so Walder Filch comes down from his high seat to bond with Larry. It’s actually not terrible, because he brings up the mutual kingslaying thing and it visibly upsets Larry. Like yeah, having Filch empathizing with you over something like that would call into question your life choices. It kind of reminds us that Larry used to be this character:
Walder Filch also goes on to talk about how he might lack in fighting prowess, since he’s old as balls, but he still manages to find a way to win his battles. And he’s right. What show is this?
Oh wait, it’s Game of Thrones, so rather than actually relating to anything in his arc, Larry just gets pissy with Filch and says that it was really the *Lannisters* who saved the day. “Why do we need you?” So once again:
Fast forward…some amount of time, and Larry and Bronn make it back to a still-smoking Carol’s Cheryl’s Landing! Larry rushes inside to find Carol Cheryl being coronated. By the Master of Whispers. Logically. He then gets this look on his face, and that’s the last we see of them for the season:
Concerning Canines
Elsewhere in the riverblands…
Or are we in the riverblands? Because from what we can tell, we’re in land of Always Summer, with blooming fields and happy hobbits. We’re quite certain Tuckborough is only a short walk away.
See, these Shire Folk are not only happy and industrious, but they’re pious, working hard to raise a sept under the watchful eye of Septon ‘Ray’. This is his actual canon name, and we will repeat that fact many times. Ray bares a shocking resemblance to the rugged Ian McShane, who may or may not be pissed at his agent for this role. He shouts encouragements at his little hobbits, but with a bit of a grimace on his face.
Oh, by the way, this scene was a cold open for the episode “The Broken Man.” So, we hope you’re on the edge of your seats for what’s about to happen.
There is one merry worker who is not whistling! Instead, he’s carrying giant fucking logs all by himself. The camera does a swoopy thing, and it’s time for the Reveal of Extreme Significance: this dude is The Canine!!!!!
Guys, did that send shockwaves, or what? We mean, it’s The Canine. The person who ate chicken wings once. We’re just lucky that we had the credits to collect ourselves, because afterwards we pick back up in the same spot, only now Ray and The Canine have a chat.
The Canine chops wood, while Ray teases him for losing a fight to a woman. Drop in the bucket at this point.
Then we cut to the hobbits eating lunch. The Canine isn’t sitting with them, because he’s brooding or something. Ray decides to cheer him up by expositing about the details of how he didn’t die, which we’re quite certain The Canine knows anyway.
Oh and good news, he went to the Bronn School of Vocabulary:
Ray: No, there’s a reason you’re still here.
The Canine: Aye, there’s a reason. I’m a big fucker and I’m tough to kill.
Wow, D&D just earn those Emmys time after time.
Ray further exposits about how he’s the world’s worst septon, since he doesn’t know anything about the religion he’s supposed to be preaching. Like, he doesn’t even know the names of the gods, though there’s a chance he’s just stoned out of his mind on Shire leaf. It would also explain the pseudo-philosophical bullshit he spins about how he doesn’t need to know the names, man, because they’re all just part of one big story.
“Maybe it is the Seven. Or maybe it’s the old gods. Or maybe it’s the Lord of Light. Or maybe they’re all the same fucking thing. I don’t know.”
What he does know are the stories about how badass The Canine is. The Canine thinks the gods aren’t real because he should have been punished already, but Ray says that he was. That was inspiring!
Later that day, or maybe a month later because this is the episode where Larry warped to Riverroundabout and Brittany and Jonny took a bullet train through The North, Ray is preaching at the hobbits. He might have once read A Feast for Crows and got inspired by Septon Maribald’s famous “broken man” speech (hey, that’s the name of the episode!), but he’s gonna do the short, short version. Ian McShane sells it, because he’s Ian McShane. The gist? War sucks and can make you do things that don’t feel good, but there’s always a chance at redemption. Now that we think about it, it’s a lot more hopey-changey than Maribald’s speech, though Kara Danvers approves.
The Canine sits on the outskirts listening, looking…moved? Irritated? Hungry?
Well no time for eating, three random dudes on horseback materialize and demand horses/steel/food in exchange for their “protection.” Ray says “Seven save you, friends” as they depart, so at least he knows the number of gods. It’s something. He also invites them for dinner, but says that they don’t really have anything to give, and they’ve got hungry mouths too. The randos exchanged peeved looks, but turn to go with a pissy, “the night is dark and full of terrors.” This means that they are either part of the long-forgotten Brotherhood without Continuity, or maybe they’re the people that ditched Stannis who we never heard from again.
Actually, we don’t want to keep you in suspense: it’s the first option.
Once they leave, The Canine flies into a wood chopping rage, and begins cutting into a log TWICE as fast. Ray comes over and is like, “dude, it’s just tits and dragons, don’t worry about it.” Wait, sorry, that was Ian McShane, and it seems pretty obvious he’s not taking this seriously.
Ray is kind of chill about this too. He’s like, “what are we supposed to do? We’re just a bunch of hobbits.” The Canine wants Ray to fight, but he’s done fighting. Just like Jonny. Or Forest Whitaker in Rogue One. He also thinks that if you take minimal provisions to defend yourself, that spreads the disease of violence. It’s almost like he was written by people who have heard of passivism, but never actually talked to a pacifist. The Canine thinks this philosophy is stupid. We wonder who will be proven right…
Later, The Canine has progressed to chopping wood on the outskirts of the Shire, and he hears exactly one scream. He goes racing back to find Every. Single. Hobbit. Butchered. Wow, those guys are super efficient. For some reason, the thugs gave Ray a special treatment and hung him on the half-built sept. WHAT A SENSELESS AND CRUEL WORLD! The Canine looks really pissed, and the episodes ends with him picking up his axe and marching forward, a determined look on his face.
The next episode contains a scene that makes us feel actively dumber and more insecure about ourselves to discuss. Because we are two respectable, educated women. Why are we watching this shit? What is this? Who said this was okay?
Alright. Here we go.
There are four men sitting around, chatting. One of them looks like one of the thugs who asked for steel and horses from the hobbits. It could be two of them, but frankly we don’t know or care to check. The one dude we do recognize sticks his fingers up the ass of one of his traveling companions and says it “smells like pussy.” Then The Canine comes charging in out of nowhere and murders them all, disemboweling the dude that just committed the sexual assault (for laughs), though not before asking him where the “others” were.
Isn’t your life richer, having had that described?
Later, The Canine stumbles across an unexpected party in the middle of the riverbands. It’s Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr! They think it’s Season 3 or something. They’ve caught three other dudes, who comprise the Bad Dudes from earlier, and are about to hang them. What a merry crew!
However, The Canine really bonded with Ray, we suppose, because he wants to revenge him. Beric and Thoros are like, “dude, we’re about to hang them,” but that’s not Manly™ enough for The Canine. He wants to chop them up with his axe. Is it possible…his arc is about his love of his axe? Because he’s always with it, and there were all those wood chopping scenes.
Thoros and Beric think he’s fucking weird, but agree to let him kick away the blocks of two of them. This takes at least a solid minute of negotiation. The Canine does as he’s told (good boy!), and while the hanging men are still twitching, rips the boots off one of them. Good boots are hard to come by.
Then he asks for something to eat. We cut to him enjoying a nice rabbit with the Brotherhood without Continuity. They ask if he likes it, setting up a punchline that references two seasons ago.
“I prefer chicken.” —The Canine, 6×08
Then he randomly gets up to piss (we guess it’s not random if he’s been drinking, but for a TV-show pissing is always a little random), so that D&D can pretend there’s nudity equality. Yes, giving us what we’ve always wanted: a blink-and-you-miss-it glimpse of a flaccid, urinating penis. This is almost as good as the warty dick shot.
The Brotherhood without Continuity tries to recruit The Canine by saying that they’re all here for a reason. He’s a good nihilist now though, and laughs at them. So instead, they convince him by saying that there’s a lot of fightin’ they’re going to be doing up north, and if he joins, he’ll help more than he’s harmed. The Canine agrees (we think), and we have literally no way of knowing if this is because he wants redemption or more fighting. Take your pick, because…
The Things We Do For Love
Alright, time to break down…all that. We’re going to start with Larry Lannister, as is fitting of his rank.
We really wanted there to be meaning in Larry’s arc, even if it was sarcastic or absolutely unintended meaning. Like how Grey Worm and Missandei were doing everything they could to run the city, but this annoying drunken asshole kept interrupting them. These things at least have some entertainment value.
But for Larry, there just wasn’t meaning to be found. As far as we can tell, even in-universe, the entire thing was just an inconvenient plot cul de sac that he had to round so he could get back to Carol as fast as possible.
There was a minute where we thought this actually could be about getting Larry to challenge his own identity and place in the world. Blackfish talked about how unimpressive he was/how shit his honor was, and Larry seemed hurt. Or maybe Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was hurting himself trying to figure out what character to play. After that, Brienne comes along, and tries to point out to Larry how the side of the war he’s on isn’t right.
Brienne: The Tullys are rebels because they’re fighting for their home?
Larry: Riverrun was granted to the Freys by royal decree.
Brienne: As a reward for betraying Robb Stark and slaughtering his family.
Larry: Exactly. (Pause) We shouldn’t argue about politics.
Now, your mileage can definitely vary on how poorly you view the Lannister’s response to Robb declaring himself king, but the point is, Brienne was still challenging Larry’s place in the world at the head of the Lannister army. Especially since he aligned himself with the Floppy Hat Brigade, who are just impossible to like, between their incompetence and child-brides.
It all seemed like it was coming to a head during Larry’s scene with Edmure (who we’re still a little floored was given lines rather than being billed as an extra: that good ol’ Rickon treatment), since Edmure says:
“How do you live with yourself? All of us have to believe that we’re decent, don’t we? You have to sleep at night. How do you tell yourself that you’re decent after everything that you’ve done?”
This is a question worth addressing, because it’s supposedly getting at the internal conflict of this character. But the thing is, Larry responds to this, and thereby responds to everyone else, by being like, “Look. I love Carol. We don’t choose whom we love. And everything I do is to ensure that she’s safe and I can be with her. Period.”
Also, call us crazy, but the way it’s framed in the narrative is both perfectly reasonable, and as if we’re supposed to be on Larry’s side. D&D ship Larrol, from what we can tell, and really, no one has a counterpoint to this.
What does this mean for Larry’s arc? Nothing! He spent all of last season learning that he should double-down on his love. Which by the way, marks the fifth or sixth character (we might low-balling, honestly) whose arc in Season 6 was identical to Season 5.
There are only two scenes that don’t fit in with this. One comes at the very very end, where Larry sees Cheryl being crowned, and he looks disappointed. We think. Frankly, this could be one of those situations where the next season they have a completely different relationship. Remember at the end of Season 3 when he and Carol were basically in tears at his return, but then in the first episode of Season 4, she wanted nothing to do with him and was potentially hiding taking an abortifacient from him? Or the end of Season 4, where she choose Larry-chu and they had wild White Tower sex, but then at the start of Season 5 she was incredibly mad at him for…something? Letting Tywin die maybe, or releasing Tyrion? But then the episode after that she seemed all hurt that he wasn’t more of a father to her kids?
Our point is, as much as we adore Larrol, their relationship has a habit of adjusting to plot needs. So forgive us for not reading too much into one look that could have just as easily been hunger. The overarching story for Larry was that he loved Carol and wasn’t afraid to assert it as a strategic tactic. If Cheryl truly upsets him, then that had nothing to do with any self-discovery, especially contextualized by the first half of the season, where he seemed like he wanted very violent revenge. Maybe he was just miffed that she was crowned when the previous conventions had been male-preference-primogeniture, because that was kind of rude. They’re a regular Fernando and Isabel, we guess.
There’s one other moment that we have to consider, which is Larry’s conversation with Walder Filch. It seemed like when Filch first brought up “hey, we’re both kingslayers,” Larry was really upset about being compared to this fucking asshole. Rightfully so; Larry’s kingslaying, remember, was one of the most honorable deeds he could have done. It’s just not viewed that way by the world, because no one understands what was at stake. Except Brienne. And apparently Carol and Saint Tyrion, too. But it’s something he closely guards, while also taking shit from everybody else about it. Of course it bothers him.
But, Larry counters what Filch says by just yelling about how much better the Lannister army is, and how this is actually his victory, cause he did all the hard work. By yelling about his love for Carol to Edmure, we guess. Then he storms off in a hissy fit.
If we’re being very, very generous, we could say that this was about him learning to accept his place at the head of the Lannister army now that he’s dismissed from the Kingsguard, and maybe putting Bronn in charge of trench-digging was showing this development of leadership too? But…is there even a ‘but’? Do we really have to pretend that this is a thing?
What boggles our mind is that they spent all this time and all these resources just to put this cul de sac in, and it didn’t even make sense. Larry being dismissed from the kingsguard was incredibly flippant, and that’s not even touching how illogical his entire rebellion against the Faith was which resulted in that decision. Just logistically, the fucking idiot didn’t pay attention to where the king was. No, we’re not over this. We won’t be over this any time soon, because this is not a reasonable level of stupidity. Even for Larry, this is simply not believable.
Add to this the fact that Blackfish had to have left the Red Wedding during a pee break, somehow made his way through the camp where everyone was being slaughtered, and then mustered the forces to take back a defensive stronghold off-screen, because that’s how important this was. And then, for some reason, the Freys didn’t know the Lannisters were coming to help them out, because how do alliances work anyway?
It’s one thing to retcon something small, but this was literally cramming a plot down our throats that we had no need for, and that accomplished nothing. Politically, Walder Filch is the Lord Paramount of the riverblands. This has been the case since the Red Wedding. As for the status of Riverroundabout, from what we can tell, Pop-up Blackfish took it back very recently, so it’s not like that amounted to anything either. Also, there were no other River Lords. They name dropped the Mallisters and the Blackwoods (they’ve risen against the Floppy Hat Brigade!), but we didn’t see them, nor these supposed rebellions. The only thing we saw were rogue members of the Brotherhood without Continuity slaughtering random hobbits in The Shire. But…how is this connected to anything?
Call us cynical, but we’re beginning to suspect that this whole thing was just a contrivance so that Larry could be out of Carol’s Landing for Cheryl’s Big Boom, and they actually put little to no thought into it at all.
Brienne, the Maid of FAIL
Speaking of being connected, Brienne was propped up as being very meaningful to Larry. We think. They exchanged that wave, after all.
Yes, you’d have to be a total dingus to read A Song of Ice and Fire and not find some significance in the Brienne/Jaime relationship. This is especially the case in A Feast for Crows, even though they don’t meet during the entirety of that novel. This is because they immaculately parallel each other, both on quests of identity through the riverlands, while also continually thinking about one another. The reader is able to see their influence on the other, particularly the way Brienne is shedding more and more of her idealism, while Jaime is almost taking on an increasingly romantic world-view. Ish. It’s complicated, and deep, and thematic. They both struggle with internal vs. external honor, gender expression, and how they see themselves fitting into a world that rejects them off-hand (Jaime with his disability, and Brienne eschewing traditional femininity).
For two-ish seasons, Brienne the Brute and Larry were pretty significant to each other, even if their characterizations were markedly different from their book counterparts from the start. We simply can’t imagine our Brienne shaming someone for sounding “like a bloody woman,” (or even saying the word ‘bloody’ in a non-literal context), because she rather admires other women and why the hell would that be an insult?
Still, there was the tub scene, and the time Larry gave her a sword to fulfil an oath (though they kind of screwed the pooch with Sansa trotting around in front of them for a couple of episodes), and it was clear that something was building between them. We don’t just mean romantic feels, either. We mean, we saw Larry confide in her about his most infamous act and his reasons behind it, and we saw Brienne becoming increasingly trusting of, and devoted to, him. We won’t pretend it was perfect, but it was, you know, nice.
Cue the rest of Season 4, and all of Season 5 and 6, where Larry’s entire character is devoted to his relationship to Carol, or at least, that’s framed as the most important piece of it. After all, the past two seasons were nothing but him learning to embrace how much he loves Carol, first to win the affection of an estranged daughter, and then to win a battle because Carol’s love solves all geopolitical issues.
Just as a quick aside, Larry should probably stop telling every single person he runs into how much he loves Carol. Cause like…high treason and shit. Not that there’s a legal system anyway.
Meanwhile, Brienne spent her past few seasons failing at everything.
No really, she is just made up of fail. We suppose she’s better at lighting a fire than Pod, so props there. Otherwise, she failed to convince Arya to even hear her out, only to then lose track of Arya completely (and failed to kill The Canine). She failed to convince Darth Sansa to let her into her service; she failed to pay attention to the stupid dinky candle when Sansa actually needed help. Then, mother-of-all-shocks…she failed at the one mission Sansa assigned to her this year. On occasion she’ll slaughter people at a convenient time, but otherwise, she is just utterly useless.
Larry seemed to think Brienne did an awesome job with Cat’s oath because she found Sansa, and at least could vaguely say, “Arya might not be dead.” And yeah, randomly stumbling upon these girls in a field and a bar was sure neato (and very proactive) of her. But at this point, what is she even doing? Does she still mean something to the audience, or has she gone the way of Davos, who just picks a side and makes remarks sometimes?
Come to think of it, what does she mean to Larry anymore? If it’s just like, “hey there’s that woman I hung out with for awhile and who gives me confused boners,” then sure, but contextualized by his EXTREME LOVE for Carol, her presence just doesn’t change anything. On her end, she might think he’s fuckable, or at least worthy of a goodbye wave, but…is this a romance? Is this any kind of relationship? Because from what we can tell, it was two characters who were on trajectories that they were both abruptly jettisoned from, only to faff about for two seasons and then get randomly slopped into a tent together. It was like D&D thought just sticking them in the same breathing space and having Bronn ship it would make this meaningful.
Are we supposed to think Brienne is what keeps Larry honest in the way he proceeded to negotiate the (mostly) bloodless surrender of Riverroundabout? Ya know, she’s a face on that side of the war and he doesn’t want to be as brutal or ruthless. Because by his own assertions, he just wants to do whatever’s the quickest route back to Carol. And even if that was supposed to be the case, isn’t this entire thing an exceedingly odd way for the writers to show us Brienne’s influence?
It’s not as though we don’t enjoy Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Gwendoline Christie making heart-eyes at one another (if that’s what they were doing), because at least it’s not parkour or fingers up the ass. But we just can’t find anything worthwhile to attach to these moments. Larry loves Carol. Brienne fails. What a story.
An Ode to Side-kicks
We are the kinds of people who when you ask us about the Tyrells in the books, we’ll get all smug and be like, “they exist for the benefit of the point-of-view characters, of course.” Which is not wrong. But it also means that we don’t usually take a ton of time to consider side-kick-esque characters outside of their relationships to the main character.
The thing is, Bronn doesn’t inform Larry’s character, because Larry doesn’t have a character. So instead, Bronn seems to be D&D’s attempt at comic relief. We mean, he grabs Pod’s dick and slaps him and says “fuck” a lot, and this is probably amusing to someone somewhere. He also rolls his eyes and cuts Larry off with a few more “fucks.”
At the same time, he’s a little bit infallible. We think he’s supposed to be like the everyman who is constantly ribbing these aristocrats for how out-of-touch they are (while also demanding two high born wives and castles). But D&D just kind of carry this folksy wisdom way too far.
Remember back in Season 5 when he was like, giving Larry relationship advice? And then this year, he apparently has “better instincts than any officer in the Lannister army.” First of all, there are officers? Second of all, why would this fucking sellsword have more military knowledge, particularly about siege warfare, than “officers” who probably studied this stuff, or at least read one book on it once. Hell, one of the maester chains is siegecraft, so you’d think the people benefiting from such an education system would have better instincts than the illiterate sellsword who got a job with the Lannisters by being plucky. And opportunistic. Single combat, fine, but he was tasked with overseeing the trenches.
It’s not like Bronn’s character especially matters, of course. He lightens the mood and then can sometimes act as a sounding board if Larry needs to state something obvious. We amuse ourselves with a reverse honeypot that Bronn is completely in love with Larry, because the number of times he brings up how hot he is, how jealous of all the women looking at him he is, and how he just might not be in the mood for a threesome raises a bit of suspicion. But, again, we know it’s only in our minds. That we’re talking to ourselves, and not to D&D[’s vision]. And although, we know that they are blind. Still we say…there’s a way this works.
There’s even less to say about Pod, because we can’t reverse honeypot a story for him. We can’t even tie his magical cock into anything, since all that happens is Bronn grabs it. At best, “humorous” sexual assault against men is a theme of the riverblands. Pod is just kinda…there. We’re happy he’s learning how to be a better fighter from Brienne off-screen. Go Pod!
Is it worth talking about Blackfish? We called him “Pop-up” Blackfish for a reason. From what we remember, in Season 3 he was kinda a gruff jerk. He was the dude who shamed Edmure for missing a kind of difficult shot at his father’s funeral when he was grieving. There wasn’t anything overly bad about him, but he really just…existed. You could tell he had a military competence about him, it’s just that they didn’t really bother fleshing him out any.
In the books, we’re at least privy to Brynden Tully’s complicated relationship with his brother, his love for his nieces and nephew, and how his relationship with Lysa suggested that he wasn’t completely on-board with Hoster’s treatment of her. The fact that he refused to marry for twenty years gives the potential for interesting headcanons. Also, he didn’t have to take a castle off-page; he stayed behind at the Red Wedding, because Robb actually considered securing his rear.
We’re not sure why Blackfish came to the Red Wedding in the show, because we don’t really remember him doing anything of interest. Granted, we didn’t go back to watch, so if we’re missing something momentous, please tell us. Was he just along for the ride so he could keep sniping at Edmure?
But then to bring him back, just to have him die off-screen… This is Clive Russell, and he really did sell the role, we’re not going to lie. It would have, on some level, been quite satisfying to see him leave with Brienne, or maybe agree to bring his army to the Bastard Bowl. You know, it would have made us feel like families sort of care for each other, and are willing to make sacrifices if that means banding together in the long run.
However, that’s not what we got. We didn’t even get a nice moment between Edmure and Blackfish, though frankly |
ask donors to fill its coffers, but election lawyers say he would likely have a harder time justifying significant expenses there in 2015 and early 2016 because he won’t appear on the ballot for years.
The issue has come up before. Hillary Clinton (2008), Barack Obama (2008), John Kerry (2004), and John McCain (2000 and 2008) were all senators when they ran for president in the past—but none of them was up for reelection in the same year, as Paul will be.
The advantages of having two committees would help Paul on the margins, said Dan Backer, a GOP campaign finance lawyer. If Paul’s Senate committee paid for a list-building effort through email-gathering or direct mail to harvest new donors, Backer noted that Paul’s presidential campaign would obviously reap the benefits too. As of the end of September, Paul had $2.8 million in his Senate account.
“Even if funds raised by the Senate committee are very conservatively deployed, that inevitably still helps his candidacy out because there are things the Senate campaign will do that will benefit the presidential,” Backer said.
All of this would have to be carefully divided and documented. Another GOP election lawyer said all the paperwork would be a huge headache: “It’s, frankly, a complicating factor.”
Paul’s campaign declined to comment for this story, as did Cruz’s political team.
Running for election with two active committees is well-trod ground for lower federal offices. Rep. Donald Norcross of New Jersey, for example, was able to raise twice as much money from donors such as Ivanka Trump because he was running concurrently in a special election and in the regular 2014 election. That meant he raised $10,400 each from over a dozen individual donors in 2014 even though such donations are typically capped at $5,200.
At the presidential level, the precedent-setting case came in 1995, when then-Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas wanted to run both for reelection in 1996 and the White House. The Federal Election Commission told him that “regulations allow dual campaigns to share personnel and facilities as long as expenditures are allocated between the two campaigns” properly.
These days, Paul S. Ryan, an attorney at the Campaign Legal Center, said he is more concerned about candidates skirting limits on exploratory committees and the influence of unlimited-money super PACs than Paul, or Cruz, getting a few thousand dollars more from their chief financiers.
With super PAC donors likely to cut seven-figure checks, Ryan said “it makes any concerns of doubling up the $2,600 seem pretty small potatoes,” for watchdogs like himself worried about potential influence-peddling.
In the past, large donors were limited in how much money they could give total to federal candidates, but the Supreme Court threw out those so-called aggregate limits in the McCutcheon case last year, making it even more likely that Paul could raise the maximum amount from his top supporters.
Paul is already asking individual donors to give the legal maximum of $10,200 to the Rand Paul Victory Committee, a joint account that divides its receipts between Paul’s Senate committee and his leadership PAC. If he runs for president, Paul could add that account to his Victory Committee, which would then be able to raise $15,400 from individuals.ONS reports mixed news, with rising economic inactivity but fewer claiming unemployment benefit in three months to October
Employment in Britain has fallen for the first time in a year in a half in a sign that the UK jobs market is losing steam following the EU referendum.
The employment rate edged lower to 74.4% in the three months to October, from a record high of 74.5%, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It was the first drop since February to April 2015, triggered by a 6,000 fall in the number of people in work to 31.76 million.
Meanwhile, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose by 2,400 in November to 809,000.
UK jobs improvement has stalled as employers wait and see on Brexit Read more
“This is the first genuine disappointment we have seen in the hard data since the Brexit vote,” said Alan Clarke, UK economist at Scotiabank.
John Philpott, an employment expert and director of The Jobs Economist, said a rise in public sector jobs was not enough to offset a fall in private sector employment.
“The UK labour market finally appears to be suffering a bout of post-Brexit vote blues, which is now hitting recruitment. The UK labour market looks to have entered a somewhat slower time,” he said.
The latest official report on Britain’s jobs market was mixed, with unemployment down 16,000 over the three months to 1.62 million and the jobless rate unchanged at 4.8%.
Average pay growth picked up more than expected to 2.6%, or 2.5% excluding bonuses, from 2.4%. But the number of people of working age considered “economically inactive” – out of work and neither seeking nor available to work – jumped by 76,000 over the period to 8.9 million.
Damian Green, the work and pensions secretary, highlighted the fact that the jobless rate remained at the lowest in more than a decade.
He added: “This year will be remembered as one when so many records were made – employment has consistently been running at an all-time high with more women, older workers and ethnic minority groups in work than ever before.
“But there is more to do to help people of all backgrounds and abilities into work, which will remain a priority as we press ahead with our welfare reforms that are ensuring it always pays to be in work.”
But the ONS said its figures suggested the UK employment market was softening.
David Freeman, a senior statistician, said: “The labour market appears to have flattened off in recent months. While the employment rate remains high, it is slightly down on the record set recently. Meanwhile, a small fall in unemployment on the quarter was more than offset by a rise in economic inactivity.”
Economists including those at the Bank of England have warned that 2017 would be tougher for UK workers and consumers. Unemployment is expected to rise as the broader economy slows and businesses grapple with higher costs and waning demand.
Commenting on the latest ONS figures, Suren Thiru, the head of economics at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “It is likely that UK unemployment will start to drift upwards in the coming months, as uncertainty over Brexit and the increasing input costs faced by businesses weigh on jobs growth. However, while we currently forecast the unemployment rate will peak at 5.5% in early 2018, this is still well below the long-term average.”
Higher inflation is expected to squeeze household finances at a time of weak wage growth.
Inflation data published on Tuesday showed the headline annual rate rose to 1.2% in November from 0.9% in October. It was the highest level in more than two years, driven higher by clothing and petrol prices, in a sign that the fall in the value of the pound since the Brexit vote is fuelling a rise in the cost of living.
Inflation is expected to rise sharply in 2017, to about 3%, further squeezing household finances. UK workers are only just recovering from a prolonged period of falling real pay during the financial crisis, when inflation was higher than wages growth for six straight years.
Rachel Smith, the CBI’s principal labour market adviser, said: “We see a mixed picture from the labour market over the last three months, with employment levels remaining more or less the same and unemployment seeing a slight drop.
“Although wage growth has gone up somewhat, so has inflation, hitting workers’ pay packets in real terms. Boosting productivity in every region and nation of the UK will be essential if firms are to further raise wages sustainably for their employees.”Donald Trump struck a compassionate tone at a rally Thursday night, saying he “regrets” some of his past statements.
“Sometimes, in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don’t choose the right words or you say the wrong thing,” Trump said in Charlotte, N.C., reading prepared remarks off a teleprompter. “I have done that and, believe it or not, I regret it. And I do regret it, particularly where it may have caused personal pain.”
His speech Thursday came days after a campaign shake-up which brought on Stephen Bannon, formerly of the right-wing website Breitbart News, to be campaign CEO. Trump opened his talk with an appeal to American unity, a theme he carried throughout the evening. “When one state hurts, we all hurt,” he said of the flooding in Louisiana.
Later, he made an explicit pitch to African Americans. “If African-American voters give Donald Trump a chance by giving me their vote, the result for them will be amazing,” he said. “What do you have to lose by trying something new? … This means so much to me, and I will work as hard as I can to bring new opportunity to places in our country which have not known it in a very long time. Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party have taken African-American votes totally for granted. Because the votes have been automatically there for them, there has been no reason for Democrats to produce.”
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Read More: Donald Trump Proposes ‘Extreme Vetting’ for Immigrants
Trump told the crowd he would fight for them and hammered Clinton, the Democratic nominee, as being out of touch and unwilling to be truthful or apologize for mistakes. “While sometimes I can be too honest, Hillary Clinton is the exact opposite,” Trump said. “She never tells the truth.”
“In my Administration, every American will be treated equally, protected equally, and honored equally,” Trump said. “We will reject bigotry and hatred and oppression in all of its forms.”
Read Next: Staff Shake-Up Signals a Return to Donald Trump’s Rebellious Roots
Write to Tessa Berenson at tessa.berenson@time.com.An unprecedented Chinese financial and construction effort is rapidly developing Pakistan’s strategically located Arabian Sea port of Gwadar into one of the world’s largest transit and transshipment cargo facilities.
The deep water port lies at the convergence of three of the most commercially important regions of the world, the oil-rich Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.
Beijing is developing Gwadar as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, known as CPEC. The two countries launched the 15-year joint mega project in 2015 when President Xi Jinping visited Islamabad.
Under the cooperation deal construction or improvement of highways, railways, pipelines, power plants, communications and industrial zones is underway in Pakistan with an initially estimated Chinese investment of $46 billion.
The aim is to link Gwadar to landlocked western China, including its Muslim-majority Xinjiang region, giving it access to a shorter and secure route through Pakistan to global trade. The port will also provide the shortest route to landlocked Central Asian countries, including Afghanistan, through transit trade and offering transshipment facilities.
Chinese fuel imports and trading cargo will be loaded on trucks and ferried to and from Xinjiang through the Karakoram Highway, snaking past snow-caped peaks in northern Pakistan.
‘Qualitative change’
Gwadar will be able to handle about one million tons of cargo annually by the end of the year. Officials anticipate that with expansion plans under way, the port will become South Asia’s biggest shipping center within five years, with a yearly capacity of handling 13-million tons of cargo. And by 2030, they say, it will be capable of handling up to 400-million tons of cargo annually.
China has in recent months begun calling CPEC the flagship project of its global Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI. The “qualitative change” from an experimental project to flagship project underscores the importance Beijing attaches to CPEC, said Zhao Lijian, the deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad.
Out of 39 “early harvest” projects under CPEC, 19 have since been completed or are under construction with a Chinese investment of about $18.5 billion, Lijian told VOA. The progress makes it the fastest developing of all of at least six BRI’s corridors China plans to establish, added the Chinese diplomat.
Gwadar is a “symbol of regional peace and prosperity” because it will connect countries around Pakistan to serve their trading interests, said port Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini.
Jamaldini dismissed as “not true” concerns that skilled Chinese laborers, engineers and businesses will flood Pakistan, hurting domestic industries. About 65 percent of the labor force on construction and other projects at Gwadar is Pakistani, and the number of Chinese is currently just over 300, he added.
Security concerns and India’s claims over some of the territory crossed by the massive project remain key challenges for Gwadar and CPEC in general. Pakistani and Chinese officials dismiss reported assertions that Beijing is expanding its presence at Gwadar to be able to handle naval ships and military transport planes.
The collaboration has “no strategic or political” aims against a third country, insisted Lijian. He went on to assert that the purpose of CPEC” is to help our iron brother Pakistan” to improve its economy and to strengthen the bilateral relationship.
Pakistani officials have trained and deployed about 15,000 troops and paramilitary forces to guard CPEC-related projects and the Chinese working on them. Islamabad alleges that the Indian intelligence agency has been tasked to plot subversive acts to derail CPEC.
Sleepy fishing town
Gwadar, with a population of around 100,000, mostly fishermen and boat makers, is often referred to as a sleepy fishing town.
The costal city’s poverty-stricken residents are hoping new employment opportunities will be created for them in the wake of the massive development underway in Gwadar.
But their immediate challenges are shortages of clean drinking water and hours long daily power blackouts.
“We are happy Chinese are building port, hospitals, schools and roads but right now we out of power during most of the day and limited water availability,” said fisherman Khalil Ahmed.
The family, like other fishermen in Gwadar, has been plying unspoiled crystal blue waters of the Arabian Sea for decades with age-old fishing techniques and barely surviving on limited income because financial resources do not allow them to buy modern fishing tools.
However, ongoing massive economic activity will “qualitatively” change the lives of its poverty-stricken residents for the better, says Mushahid Hussain, who chairs a parliamentary committee on CPEC.
He says a fisheries processing plant is being installed at the port and arrangements are being planned to train and equip fishermen to improve and export local fish to other parts of Pakistan and China.
Senator Hussain believes economic projects under construction in Gwadar will help its people and address long-running grievances of the province of Baluchistan, where the port is situated.
The poverty-stricken largest Pakistani province has long been in the grip of a low-level Baluchistan separatist insurgency, which mainly stems from demands from the federal government for local control over Baluchistan’s vast natural resources.
Gwadar’s existing 50-bed government hospital is being extended to 300 beds, a technical and vocational institute is being constructed, a 300-megawatts coal-based power plant and a desalination plant are being installed, a new international airport and a six-lane international standard expressway are being built to connect Gwadar port with the rest of Pakistan and neighboring countries, including Iran and Afghanistan.
Local officials say most of the projects, including the new airport, are being built with Chinese financial grants. The rest of the projects in Gwadar and elsewhere in Pakistan under CPEC are being built with “interest-free” and “soft-loans” from China.Juan Mata has become something of a role model at Manchester United in recent years, conducting himself well on and off the pitch and contributing plenty of in-depth interviews for the media. The Spanish midfielder is helping the economy too with his new tapas and wine bar.
As he comes across as such an all-round good egg, it was not altogether surprising to learn of his loyalty to Old Trafford. Mata turned down an incredible £375k-a-week post-tax wages offer to join an unrevealed Chinese Super League club in September.
Man Utd Star Juan Mata Names Barcelona Legend as the Best Player He's Ever Played Alongside @ https://t.co/2LM3Il5oCK — Man United Pro (@ManchesterUPro) October 16, 2017
The monstrous bids from China have stuttered to a standstill in the last few months, after sanctions and rules were put in place by the Chinese government to prevent an uncontrollable bidding war situation in the global game. However, there is still room for isolated bids like these.
Mata is currently paid £170k-per-week by Manchester United (that's £205k less per-week than the offered sum, if you can't add up), but the dreams of additional luxury have not polluted the 29-year-old's mind, as a United source speaking to The Sun attested to.
"Juan was offered a sizable amount of money to go to China", the source said. "They were visiting last month and made it to his reps."
"He sees his future here though and is determined to stay. He hasn't got long left but the option on his contract will almost certainly be taken up."
Mata's current Red Devils deal expires in twelve months' time.
"The club don't want him to leave on a free next summer. He is represented by his dad and has been pushing for a longer-term deal."This week, a Texas House of Representatives committee voted to send a new abortion bill to the full House for a vote next week. The Senate has scheduled a Monday morning hearing on a separate but identical bill. Last week, State Senator Wendy Davis, as she donned her now-famous pink running shoes, attempted to filibuster the bill to death. Davis, branded a fearsome crusader for women’s rights, embraced the national spotlight and admitted that she is eyeing Governor Rick Perry’s job.
Hearing or reading the phrase “abortion bill” in snippets of news coverage, we revert to form. Liberals recoil. Conservatives cheer. All without most people reading the actual text of the bill. Wendy Davis claims to be standing up for Texas women. Liberals nationwide claim to be “standing with Wendy.” Davis is suddenly a feminist hero. She’s pro-woman because, you know, she opposes that bill that, you know... um... abortion.
This tired script fails because there’s nothing especially “pro-woman” about opposing the legislation at issue....
The bill’s most notable provisions are not, properly construed, anti-woman. First, the bill limits abortions past 20 weeks to extraordinary cases such as those imperiling the life of the mother. Only the tiniest minority of abortions currently performed occur this late in gestation. The second provision requires that abortion clinics meet the Health and Safety Code standards for ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). Davis and her supporters railed against this latter provision because Planned Parenthood suggested that 37 of 42 active Texas abortion clinics would have to shut their doors for failure to meet these minimal safety standards.
ASCs are medical facilities licensed to perform minor outpatient diagnostic and surgical procedures. Falling between ordinary doctors’ offices and full-fledged hospitals, ASCs are where patients frequently get colonoscopies and endoscopies, cosmetic procedures, bunionectomies, cataract removal and LASIK surgery, etc. By definition, ASCs serve patients who walk away from their procedures the same day, assuming all goes right. If anything goes wrong, ASCs have adequate facilities, equipment, and staff to help until a patient can be transported to a hospital.
Wendy Davis opposed a bill that gives women seeking abortions the same level of safety as women seeking LASIK on a Friday afternoon. Should I have feel empowered as a Texas woman that I can currently get a D&E for an unplanned pregnancy at a place with lower standards than where I could get a endoscopy for an acid reflux diagnosis? What is so “pro-woman” about lower health and safety standards for abortions?
In May of this year, a jury convicted Kermit Gosnell of multiple counts of first-degree murder and one count of involuntary manslaughter, all related to abortions he performed in his dilapidated West Philadelphia clinic. At the time, abortion rights supporters insisted that we shouldn’t let those horrors turn us off of abortion entirely. No, we should simply note that Gosnell’s clinic is what happens when we don’t properly oversee the quality of care abortion providers give patients. Abortion is women’s health care, they insisted, and it is misogynistic Republican troglodytes who would like to relegate abortion to chop shops like Gosnell’s.
Yet, when Texas wants to treat abortion like other outpatient healthcare services, self-styled “pro-woman” politicians resist. When abortion rights advocates like Wendy Davis say they want to keep abortion safe, legal, and rare, they are only telling the truth about one of these. Was Wendy Davis committing the political equivalent of flopping last week? Is she not especially concerned with making abortion safer? Did she actually read the bill before seizing on a PR opportunity?
If Wendy Davis and her supporters disagree with this legislation, fine. I think she’s both immoral and irrational to do so, but neither morality nor rationality is a job requirement for Texas state senators. (Arguably, they aren’t for conservative ATL columnists either. So, maybe we’re square.)
But to frame Wendy Davis’s antics as “pro-woman”? No. That rhetoric does not belong here. I don’t routinely refer to abortion rights supporters as “pro-death” or “anti-children.” I resist that temptation not because I don’t think what they advocate amounts to the killing of unborn kids. I do it because language like that often muddles the debate in unhelpful ways. The abortion debate is more complex than simply pitting women against children, and I aim to respect that complexity. It is, however, flatly disingenuous to suggest that women are best served by promoting cheaper, easier, less-safe, later-term abortions. Being pro-abortion does not automatically make you “pro-woman.”
Abortion is a vestige of the truly misogynist past. In that past, single mothers were pariahs. Men were unaccountable for the children they created, if they preferred not to acknowledge inconvenient paternity. Adoption was a rare, secretive occurrence. Abortion was a quick and quiet remedy for society’s unwillingness to fully support women.
Fortunately, society has evolved in some ways. But we still owe it to women, as well as their unborn daughters and sons, to improve resources further.
A genuinely pro-woman agenda is possible, though it’s not coming from liberal abortion supporters like Wendy Davis. For example, here are three ways policymakers could advance the interests of unexpectedly-pregnant women:
Reduce child support delinquency. Efforts should encompass both stricter enforcement and programs to aid non-custodial parents (often fathers) in gaining the sort of employment that will allow them to pay for their kids and not go broke themselves. Give women greater confidence that, if they choose to raise their children themselves, they won’t have to do it without financial support from their children’s fathers.
Create programs to help pregnant women and single mothers further their education and professional development. This too can take many forms: grants to help pay tuition expenses, greater availability of on-campus child care, etc. Don’t make women choose between long-term financial independence and raising their children.
Better educate women about modern adoption so that women know their options and how to pursue them. Many women might be surprised at how many resources modern adoption can provide — financial support for the mother before and sometimes even after birth, different levels of ongoing contact with the child, the opportunity to select the adoptive parents, etc.
Programs like these offer meaningful choices to women who face unplanned pregnancies, choices about whether and how to parent their children, without destroying either their own lives or the lives of the girls and boys growing inside them. That is female empowerment. A whole lot more empowering than letting a woman terminate her pregnancy in a facility that wouldn’t even be allowed to give her a colonoscopy.
Wendy Davis, herself once a teenaged single mother, could be a powerful champion for genuinely pro-woman programs like these. Instead, she chooses to fight against limits on late-term abortions and raising health and safety standards for abortion facilities. Not only did her attempted filibuster amount to nothing but hours of fruitless talking, but she chose to speak out against measures that do not harm Texas women as she claimed. What a waste of a woman’s voice.
Earlier: How Harvard Law Grad Wendy Davis Stopped Texas, With The Help Of Hundreds of Thousands Of Her Friends
Tamara Tabo is a summa cum laude graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the school’s law review. She has clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and worked as a researcher for multiple projects on the intersection of cognitive science and law, including Baylor College of Medicine’s Initiative on Neuroscience and the Law. She looks forward to a career of teaching and writing about, but never practicing, law. You can reach her at tabo.atl@gmail.comThe old woman was pleased to see me, though undoubtedly confused as to why a 16-year-old boy she’d not previously met was crouched by her chair. I’d never been in a sheltered housing day-room before, but it doesn’t take more than a moment to register the residents’ tangible desire for company – any company – and it unsettled me. Because it was this desire that we were there to abuse.
“Hello. I’m here on behalf of the local Conservatives. It’s to remind you about the elections next week. Have you sent in your postal vote, yet?”
I’d accepted the canvassing mission because “We have to get there before the Labour Party does; they’ll vote for whoever comes first”; and of course, as a new Young Conservative, I wanted our party to win. But even a teenager’s conscience is sufficiently developed to tell right from wrong, and I knew, from the elderly woman’s trusting smile, that this was wrong. Twenty-odd years before the Electoral Commission got round to suggesting that maybe party activists should stop asking voters for their postal votes (PVs), I resolved that I’d never ask for one again.
My decades-old embarrassment seems almost quaintly innocent now: I was only asking for completed and sealed PVs, in order to ensure they reached the returning officer on time; no one in Ayrshire Conservatives would have dreamt of interfering with the actual vote itself.
For there was once a sanctity to the act of voting; your vote was between you and your conscience. Even Presbyterians like me understood something inviolable to take place in the instant between the pencil being gripped and the cross being marked; the act was so secular-holy that it would have been an obscenity for a third party to witness it, let alone interfere with it. That’s why we had curtains on polling booths. And that’s why only the bedridden (and servicemen) were excused the walk to the polling station: it was your civic duty to make the effort to vote.
No more. Since those days, of course, we’ve had a Labour government, and were it still in power, I suspect by now we’d be voting on X Factor-style 0898 numbers (“Hello! You’ve got through to Harriet Harman’s Vote-Line! Votes cast after polling day may not be counted, though you’ll still pay a heavy price”) or by scraping at petrol station scratch-cards (“They’re All The Same! So Why Not Vote By Lucky Dip?”).
What Labour did achieve was a deliberate, massive expansion in voting by envelope. Since nearly every government minister started off as a party activist, they must have known the potential for abuse that such a switch entailed, but they pressed on regardless; we reap what they sowed.
In the London borough of Tower Hamlets, where a Ken Livingstone supporter is mayor, the number of registered voters increased by a “surprising” 7,023, in a single month, between April and May 2010. Likewise, in a borough with a large Bangladeshi community – not a society to which the concept of communal voting is unknown, or one famous for its liberated women – the proportion of postal votes has inexorably grown.
Some of the worst frauds have made their way to the courts. In a case in Birmingham, in 2005, Judge Richard Mawrey likened our postal vote-heavy system to that of a banana republic. The same judge is reported this week as saying that postal voting fraud remains rife.
It’s not the cases that get to court that matter, though. It is sufficient for us all to be aware of the ongoing violation of the secret ballot’s sanctity, for a mockery to be made of our entire democratic process. Postal vote fraud is widespread; we all know this; the effect is corrosive.
But it’s OK. A report by the Electoral Commission – which rates electoral registration in Tower Hamlets as “good” – tells us to chill. The key finding in its review of 2010 general election fraud was to declare itself not “aware of any case reported to the police that affected the outcome of the election to which it related nor of any election that has had to be re-run as a result of electoral malpractice”. It’s bad enough we pay for this quango at all, worse that it prefers to be “not aware” of the widespread voting malpractice in such boroughs as Tower Hamlets.
The Electoral Commission is still led by Jenny Watson, even after the 2010 polling day debacle. She’s on a hundred grand a year, and is described on her Wikipedia page as a “long-term campaigner for women’s rights”. Were I a “long-term campaigner for women’s rights”, let alone in charge of the state outfit that regulates elections, I’d have something to say about patriarch-driven postal vote farming in communities where many women remain culturally and linguistically excluded from the mainstream.
Jenny Watson’s quango may be blithely unconcerned about the potential of postal vote fraud to affect next week’s London mayoral election. I wonder if Ken Livingstone’s supporters in Tower Hamlets take a similarly indifferent view of its potential?FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2016 file photo, election workers recount votes on Flint ballots, as they begin the process of a statewide recount at the Genesee County Administration Building in Flint, Mich. (Jake May/The Flint Journal-MLive.com via AP)
DETROIT (AP) — At least 31 people could face criminal charges after voting twice in Michigan in the fall election, an official said Thursday.
Separately, the state Bureau of Elections said human error, not fraud or equipment failure, caused mismatches between the number of ballots cast in some Detroit precincts and the number of voters.
The agency’s investigation followed a partial statewide recount of the presidential race, which raised questions about the safeguarding of ballots in Detroit. A judge stopped the recount after three days, although officials said it would not have changed President Donald Trump’s slim victory in Michigan over Hillary Clinton.
Before the recount was halted, there was an attempt to recount ballots in 263 Detroit precincts. But 68 precincts didn’t qualify because the number of ballots didn’t match the number of people who showed up to vote.
Some ballots, for example, were left in a tub below an electronic tabulator and not transferred to a secure box on election night. In one polling place, there were 300 voters but only 50 properly sealed ballots.
While many precincts couldn’t be part of the recount, all ballots cast on Nov. 8 still were part of the final official result.
“There was no pervasive fraud in our audit of Detroit,” said state elections director Chris Thomas, who instead cited “widespread performance issues” related to a lack of sufficient training for poll workers.
He said his elections staff looked at 136 precincts and was able to balance the number of ballots and voters in 65 and greatly reduce mismatches in others.
Thomas also reported that 31 Michigan residents voted twice, first with an absentee ballot and then in person. Their names were turned over to the attorney general’s office for possible prosecution. Voting twice, or even attempting to do so, is a felony.
“It’s not acceptable,” Thomas said.
Fourteen of the 31 were in Detroit. Officials believe Detroit poll workers didn’t catch the double votes because they weren’t given an updated list of voters who had used an absentee ballot.
It’s not known which candidate got the votes. Ballots are anonymous.
“There are processes in place to stop this. In these 31 cases, they didn’t work,” Thomas said.
___
Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteapMichael Yarnevich and his son, Adam, started attending MLS matches in Kansas City together at the beginning — back when the team played in Arrowhead Stadium, back when the team was the Wiz and then the Wizards.
When the stadium now known as Children’s Mercy Park opened up in 2011, the duo committed to season tickets and stepped their fandom up to the next level. Michael found a favorite spot at the stadium: a steel beam supporting the concourse level above the Cauldron supporter's section, almost directly behind the north goal. In fact, Michael called it “the best spot in the house.”
Adam confides that it also lent Michael the physical support he needed; nearly 40 years of work at a power plant left him with bad arthritis in his hips. But, as Adam notes, “He knew that you don't sit in the Cauldron.”
Then, on November 17, 2015, Michael went for a scheduled surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm doctors had diagnosed several days earlier. There were complications post-surgery, and Michael unexpectedly passed away the following day.
Adam, known to many of the SKC faithful as superfan "Brisket Bob," soldiered on through the 2016 season, and even hilariously spoofed Timber Joey’s log-sawing routine at a game against the Portland Timbers.
Adam as "Brisket Bob," with his father looking on, at Children's Mercy Park.
But he still found himself drawn to the spot where he and his father watched matches. He commented to fellow Cauldron members that he’d love to someday see a plaque on the post where he and his father watched the team’s 2013 MLS Cup and scores of other matches.
Last November, on the one-year anniversary of the surgery, he tweeted about the day and pondered a plaque:
One year ago tomorrow I lost my dad. I'd still like to get the pillar/pole he used to lean against in the MS w/ a plaque in his name... — Robert Baconwurst (@Brisket_Bob) November 18, 2016
Jonathan Kaplan, the club’s digital and communications manager, saw the tweet.
“I remember when Adam's father passed away, and I know how much the club meant to their family,” Kaplan recalls. “I sent the tweet to [Sporting KC President] Jake Reid and [Vice President, Ticket Sales and Service] Gregg Allen to get their thoughts on this, and both immediately responded that we should make it happen. From there, we worked with [Vice President, Development] David Ficklin to actually get the plaque designed and installed.”
The plaque went up inside Children's Mercy Park just before the first home game at the stadium this season.
“Initially, we thought it would be cool for it to be a surprise for Adam when he showed up at the first game,” Kaplan says. “But after internal discussions, we decided to loop Adam into the process so whatever text would go on the plaque would hold special significance for him and his family.”
Adam was indeed touched by the gesture, especially on behalf of his new daughter, who was born in 2016.
“I think it's neat that his granddaughter can go into Children's Mercy Park when she's older," he says, "and see her granddad's name in the Cauldron.”
Kaplan notes this is the first time that the team has honored a fan in this way — but Kaplan formerly worked with the Houston Dynamo, who also unexpectedly lost a superfan, 25-year-old soccer journalist and podcaster Leo Ponce, last year. The Dynamo organization responded by dedicating a bench in BBVA Compass Stadium’s original supporters’ section in his honor.
“I knew Leo very well, so I was glad to see the way the club honored him,” Kaplan said. “As a league, we are more than 20 years old and have many fans that have been with us from the beginning. We all recognize that MLS would not be in the current position without |
#25 TOP 10%
$59,700 $59,700 #30
Wyoming TRUCKERS EMPLOYED
6,980 6,980 #8 AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY
$48,480 $48,480 #3 TOP 10%
$70,800 $70,800 #4
Where do truck drivers earn the highest pay? CONCLUSION
Alaska ranked #1 for the highest average annual truck driver salary. The average tractor trailer truck driver in Alaska makes $54,070 a year. The top 10% earned $79,440 a year. Does that make you want to sign up for the next season of Ice Road Truckers?
Arkansas ranked #50 for truck driver earnings. The average annual truck driver salary in 2014 was only $36,350.
The average truck driver salary in the 3 US states with the biggest populations overall -- California, New York and Texas -- is over $41K a year, with the top 10% in each state taking in over $60K a year.
How Much Do Truck Drivers Make? WHAT DO YOU THINK?Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Motorist Mike Partridge describes how he bought an ice-cream and chatted to other stranded travellers
A man has been arrested after the M25 Dartford Crossing between Kent and Essex was closed in a security alert.
Drivers were stuck for more than seven hours in nine-mile tailbacks after a pedestrian, who was spotted behaving strangely, was held.
The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and both tunnels were shut when Kent Police said officers found a suspicious item.
But after Army bomb disposal teams investigated, they said the item posed no threat and reopened all routes.
'Man was shouting'
The A20 was also closed in Dover as officers stopped a coach as part of their inquiries into the Dartford Crossing incident.
The coach was removed from the scene, police said, and the road was later reopened. No further arrests were made.
Image caption The toll booths at the Dartford Crossing were cleared of vehicles
Motorists stuck in queues on the crossing said an Army bomb disposal vehicle, ambulances and emergency service vehicles attended the scene.
Graeme Brouder, 36, from Twickenham in south-west London, said: "I was coming off the other side of the bridge towards the tolls at about 16:30 BST on Friday.
"I was about five cars from the barrier and I saw a guy out of the corner of my eye come running along the side of my car, he ran to the barriers.
"He came back towards the cars, he went across into the lane next to me, tried to get in the car next to me, he was shouting something - I had my windows up so I couldn't hear him.
"He was shouting at that car, tried to get in that car, ran past mine, tried my door handle, and then ran down the lane behind me and he was just shouting at everyone.
"He was running around, he was trying to get in everybody's cars."
Trapped vehicles
Traffic trapped on the bridge was eventually released and diverted back into Essex, while some trapped vehicles were released from the tunnels on Friday night.
The toll booths were also cleared of traffic.
Tailbacks stretched through Kent, on the anti-clockwise M25, and in Essex, on the clockwise stretch.
In London, there were severe delays in East Ham, Beckton, Bow, Woolwich, at the Blackwall Tunnel and all approaches to the M25.
The A11, A12 and A13 also experienced heavy traffic.
The A282 Dartford to Thurrock crossing over the River Thames, which consists of the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and two tunnels, is used by 140,000 vehicles a day.
Traffic heading south into Kent uses the bridge, while northbound vehicles travelling to Essex use the tunnels, with the M25 linking up either side.CLOSE Someone is holding onto the sole winning Powerball ticket worth $429.6 million. It was sold in New Jersey. Wochit
A clerk hands over a Powerball ticket for cash at a store in Cleveland in January. (Photo: Tony Dejak, AP)
One lucky winner in New Jersey is sitting on a lottery ticket worth $430 million dollars, the seventh largest prize in Powerball history.
"The New Jersey Lottery is thrilled to announce that the sole winning ticket of (Saturday night's) Powerball drawing was purchased in the Garden State," the agency crowed Sunday.
Carole Hedinger, New Jersey Lottery executive director, said the ticket was sold in Mercer County, which includes the state capital of Trenton. She said the retail location will be disclosed by Monday, but that the winner — or winners if it was a group — probably would take some time to consult financial planners before coming forward.
“Winning the Powerball jackpot is a life-changing event. Congratulations to the ticketholder and to the retailer who sold it,” she said, adding that the agency "will be anxiously awaiting the phone call" from the winner.
The winning numbers: 05, 25, 26, 44, 66. The Red POWERBALL number was 09.
How lucky was the holder of the winning ticket? The odds of winning were a modest 292 million-to-1.
The jackpot Saturday had climbed to nearly $430 million, making the prize the largest since a record $1.6 billion payout in January. That jackpot, however, was split among three winning tickets.
Lottery spokeswoman Kelly Cripe said Saturday's winner, if electing a one-time cash payout, will receive $284.1 million. Seven winners in new York, Illinois, California and Virginia won $1 million each.
Powerball is played in 44 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1T5h0QFRussia and France have agreed to bolster efforts to share intelligence relating to the Islamic State jihadist group after the two countries vowed to cooperate militarily on the issue.
"We have agreed to strengthen our exchange of military information, both on the strikes and the location of the different groups (in Syria)," French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said following talks with Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
"Our intelligence services will strengthen their already existing ties, which require increased cooperation."
Le Drian said they had identified a method to assess the state of IS and other "terrorist groups" following air strikes conducted by both the Russian and French air forces.
"This is not being allied, this is coordinating," Le Drian said. "The goal of these information exchanges is to assess the scope of actions that can be considered."
The two sides also agreed to share intelligence on foreign fighters having joined the ranks of jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria, a figure that has more than doubled since last year to at least 27,000, according to a recent report by an intelligence consultancy.
Russia's federal security service said last week that nearly 2,900 Russians are fighting or have fought with the IS group in Iraq and Syria.
The Russian defense ministry said in a statement Monday night that French army chief of staff General Pierre de Villiers would visit Moscow "in the near future" to maintain military contacts between the countries.
Western nations have complained that Russia is primarily bombing Syrian rebels, including moderates, opposed to the regime of President Bashar Assad, rather than targeting IS jihadists.
France recently deployed its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Gulf, with 26 bombers on board, for operations against IS in Iraq and Syria. Other aircraft are also stationed in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
The defense ministers' talks follow a visit to Moscow last month by French President Francois Hollande, when he sought support from Russian leader Vladimir Putin for increased action against IS in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The two leaders agreed to "intensify" and "coordinate" attacks, mainly by targeting the transportation of the oil products that finance the group and through the exchange of intelligence.
Russian air strikes on IS have since increased, but 80 percent of their attacks remain on Syrian rebels, according to French military sources.
Monday's talks were only the second bilateral meeting between Le Drian and Shoigu, as relations between the two ministers were suspended after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014.Separatist rebels have abducted the head of police in the southern Philippine city of Zamboanga as government troops said they had recaptured 70 percent of the areas that had been occupied by the heavily-armed fighters.
The death toll from the fighting rose by 33 to 99 on Tuesday, the military said. Three soldiers and 30 Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels were killed during heavy fighting over the past 24 hours, armed forces spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala told the AFP news agency.
The government said more than 100 hostages were rescued on Monday morning and three soldiers were killed. The total number of hostages held by the MNLF was still unknown.
But the rebels hit back by abducting the police chief, along with two other police officers, by the MNLF during a clash with the rebels, Al Jazeera's Jamela Alindogan reported from Zamboango.
We know for a fact that the end is near and they are trying to flee. Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, a military spokesman
"A lot of people here were expecting the conflict was drawing to a close," Alindogan said, adding that the details of the abduction were still unclear.
Helicopter gunships were deployed for the first time by the government on Monday, as the hostage standoff entered its ninth day. About 100 rebels remain holed up with hostages.
Troops and special police forces have killed or arrested more than 100 MNLF rebels, who occupied five coastal villages, after the military foiled what officials said was an attempt to take Zamboanga city hall on September 8.
The helicopter assaults were the first air strikes since troops began an offensive on Friday against the MNLF, who have been using civilians as human shields.
"This is a precision close air support directed by ground troops to suppress the enemy," military spokesman, Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, told AFP.
Asked about the potential for civilians to be killed in the assault, Zagala said they were "precision" strikes.
'No peaceful end'
Zagala said the rebels were defiant in the face of the military advance but insisted the offensive would work.
"We know for a fact that the end is near and they are trying to flee. Some of them may be trying to disguise as civilians, so it's very critical that the village elders help us identify those who are not from their neighbourhoods."
Al Jazeera's Alindogan said a rebel commander told her there was no mediator between the two sides, that his men were prepared to die and that he did not see the possibility of a peaceful end to the fighting.
The MNLF attack is aimed at sabotaging talks centred at ending decades of conflict between rival rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), and the government.
The rebels initially took dozens of hostages and burned hundreds of homes, forcing a shutdown of Zamboanga, a city of about one million that is a major commercial hub in the region.
Muslim rebels have been fighting since the 1970s for an independent or autonomous homeland in the south of the mainly Catholic Philippines. An estimated 150,000 people have died in the fighting.United Kingdom seeks to reestablish dominance in the Americas
Barely a day after it was announced that California-based Cloud 9 had bought an Overwatch League spot in London, the national team of the United Kingdom will be playing in California for the Overwatch World Cup. Keep an eye on the crowd for C9 Jack wrapped in a Union Jack - we’re calling it.
The team's main tank is no stranger to playing in southern California. Previously playing the same position for the recently disbanded Hollywood Hammers, ChrisTFer will be main tanking for the United Kingdom. Alongside him on the flex role will be Smex, who most recently was seeking a salary alongside his teammates on You Guys Get Paid?. The team features two players who have both swapped between DPS and support during their times in Overwatch, Kruise and Realzx. During the World Cup, we will likely be watching Kruise's Genji while Realzx takes charge of Lucio duties. Kruise's eUnited teammate Boombox will head up flex support, and more specifically on the Zenyatta he has become known for. The roster is rounded out by Welshman MGEMi- I mean MikeyA, the team's lone rare flag and DPS player formerly of FaZe Clan and Ninjas with Attitude.
With eUnited well-represented on the roster, it only makes sense that the team is properly equipped to play the dive meta that eUnited has looked so good on. While Kruise's Genji has already been noted, his DPS comrade MikeyA is accustomed to running Tracer, and running her well. Boombox's Zenyatta is one of the best in the world, and his proficiency on the hero has been a crucial piece to both Cyclowns and eUnited during his time on the teams. ChrisTFer is capable of playing both Reinhardt and Winston at high levels while Realzx's talented shotcalling should keep the team focused. To round it all off, Smex's off-tank play should help keep his teammates protected while they are focused on putting out damage.
While the United Kingdom enter into Group H as the favorites, their road to BlizzCon certainly won't be an easy one. Their group features teams full of world class talent in Germany, Belgium, and Israel, and Israel has brought the full ZenGaming roster with them to ensure the team gels. In the round of 16 they are guaranteed a tough matchup; Taiwan and Brazil have brought full rosters that have yet to play North American or European teams on even ping, making them unknowns with high potential, and the United States has a fearsome roster as well. Third place in Group G will be occupied by a very talented team, meaning the UK will have to overcome a battle-tested second or first place Group G team to qualify for the round of eight.
The United Kingdom roster present for the Santa Monica sunset will be:New research examines the decision-making abilities of adults with autism spectrum disorder, suggesting that they may be better at making rational decisions than adults without the condition.
New research provides insights into "autistic cognition." New research provides insights into "autistic cognition."
The new study - which is published in the journal Psychological Science - was co-authored by psychology researchers George D. Farmer, Simon Baron-Cohen, and William J. Skylark, who are all of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 1 in 68 children in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The number of adults living with ASD is not known with certainty, but some studies have estimated that more than 1 million U.S. individuals over the age of 18 have the disorder.
As the authors of the new research explain, people with ASD generally seem to be less sensitive to "contextual stimuli," as has been shown by various cognitive and perceptual tasks.
This means that they tend to be better at isolating information and judging it independently of its context. For instance, some studies have shown that people with ASD are better at identifying figures embedded in intricate shapes, as their visual searching abilities are less influenced by distractors.
So, the researchers wanted to see whether the same attributes would apply to decision-making. Farmer explains the motivation for their research, saying, "People with autism are thought to focus more on detail and less on the bigger picture."
He goes on to say that "this is often found in more perceptual studies, for instance by showing that people with autism are less susceptible to some visual illusions. We wanted to know if this tendency would apply to higher-level decision-making tasks."
Decision-making in adults with ASD
Farmer and colleagues examined 90 adults with ASD and 212 adults without ASD, or "neurotypical" adults.
They asked the participants to complete an online decision-making task, in which they had to choose between different products. The participants were presented with 10 pairs of products, with the products in each pair differing on two dimensions.
But importantly, when presented with the pairs, the participants were also given a third "decoy" option. The participants got to see each pair twice. The first time, the decoy item was designed to distract from product A, and the second time, it was designed to distract from product B. Participants had to choose the "best" product of the three.
For instance, participants had to choose between two USB drives that differed on two dimensions: longevity and capacity. One had a lower capacity (16 gigabytes) but a longer lifespan (36 months), while the other had a shorter lifespan (20 months) but a higher capacity (32 gigabytes).
In this case, the decoy item was worse than the other two items on both dimensions, with a capacity of 28 gigabytes and a lifespan of 16 months.
From a purely rational and economic standpoint, the decoy items represented the "bad" choice, and if people had been able to make consistent, rational decisions, they should have made the same decision twice - with or without the decoy. Less rational and more inconsistent choices would involve switching in favor of the decoy.
The participants also had their cognitive abilities assessed and took a test that evaluated whether or not they had ASD-associated traits.
Adults with ASD less prone to bias
Overall, the study revealed that adults with ASD "made more consistent choices" and switched fewer times than neurotypical participants.
Farmer and his colleagues conducted a second experiment to confirm the findings, in which they only administered the tasks to those who scored in the top 10 and bottom 10 percent of a traditional ASD measuring scale.
The results confirmed those of the first experiment: adults who had more autistic traits tended to make more rational, consistent choices than participants who scored low on the ASD scale.
On the whole, this study suggests that people with ASD tend to be less affected by cognitive biases when compared with their neurotypical counterparts.
"People with autism are indeed more consistent in their choices than the neurotypical population. From an economic perspective, this suggests that people with autism are more rational and less likely to be influenced by the way choices are presented," says Farmer.
"[C]hoice consistency is regarded as normative in conventional economic theory, so reduced context sensitivity would provide a new demonstration that autism is not in all respects a 'disability,'" the authors write.
In fact, the study might shed light on what is sometimes referred to as "autistic cognition," and its place in our modern economy.
"These findings suggest that people with autism might be less susceptible to having their choices biased by the way information is presented to them - for instance, via marketing tricks when choosing between consumer products." George D. Farmer
Learn how exposure to heavy metals may increase the risk of autism.About
In a futuristic Japan, the Sibyl System is charged with keeping the peace. Using extensive surveillance and biological monitoring to gauge the likelihood that individuals will commit a crime, the police are able to use weapons called Dominators to remove potential criminals from the population before they become a problem. Confident with the success of the System within their own borders, the Japanese government has begun to export the technology to other countries, planning to ultimately spread the System across the globe.
When the state of SEAUn brings the Sibyl System in to test its effectiveness, it becomes a haven of peace and safety—for a time. Eventually, terrorists from SEAUn begin appearing in Japan, somehow slipping through the System’s security and attacking from within. Desperate for answers, Inspector Akane Tsunemori is sent overseas to bring the terrorists to justice. But when her investigation forces her into a standoff with an old ally, will she be able to pull the trigger?
Crew
ADR Director Zach Bolton
ADR Head Script Writer John Burgmeier
ADR Script Writers Jared Hedges, Joel Bergen, Alex MunizAre you a Rob Zombie fan? He helped curate and is hosting HDNET Movies’ horror movie schedule in October, and we have all the details you need right here!
Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects gets things started on Thursday, October 19th, and his “13 Nights of Halloween” come to end with a 24-hour marathon on Tuesday, October 31st, that starts at 6AM ET and features Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III at 9PM ET.
There’s something for everyone so dig in!
From the Press Release:
“The Great American Nightmare” comes to HDNET Movies this October, as the network unleashes Rob Zombie’s 13 Nights of Halloween—airing every night at 9PM ET from Thursday, October 19, 2017, through Tuesday, October 31st. The Halloween event puts the spotlight on 13 films hosted by heavy metal mastermind and acclaimed horror icon Rob Zombie. The event kicks off with Zombie’s celebrated sophomore opus THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, starring Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, and Sheri Moon Zombie as the maniacal Firefly clan, embarking on a murderous road trip with a vengeful sheriff (William Forsythe) in hot pursuit.
Other films rounding out the special include Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger in early starring roles in TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION (Oct. 20); Wes Craven’s seminal 1972 shocker THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (Oct. 21); Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins in the Oscar-winning masterpiece THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (Oct. 22); Steve McQueen in the 1958 sci-fi favorite THE BLOB (Oct. 23); Kevin Dillon and Shawnee Smith in the 1988 reimagining THE BLOB (Oct. 24); Nicole Kidman in the ghostly drama THE OTHERS (Oct. 25); Bradley Cooper in the supernatural thriller CASE 39 (Oct. 26); the found-footage epic THE DEVIL INSIDE (Oct. 27); Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis in the killer couple classic KALIFORNIA (Oct. 28); Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette in Oliver Stone’s star-studded crime thriller TRUE ROMANCE (Oct. 29); and Tim Matheson in the 1991 Stephen King adaptation SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK (Oct. 30). The month closes with a special a 24-hour Halloween marathon (Oct. 31), starting at 6AM ET and featuring LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III at 9PM ET.
“With his powerful music and innovative and original films, Rob Zombie has long established himself as one of the horror genre’s most influential modern figures,” said Rachael Weaver, General Manager, HDNET MOVIES. “His knowledge and passion for these films make him the perfect host to guide viewers along this macabre journey. HDNET MOVIES is excited to launch the festivities with one of his most acclaimed works, THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, which revitalized the horror genre with its stunning characters, grim narrative, and unforgettable ending and features some great appearances by many of the genre’s most beloved stars.”
As part of this chilling event, HDNET MOVIES is giving fans a chance to win the ultimate Rob Zombie prize pack! The prize includes a box set of Rob Zombie’s films, an autographed copy of The Zombie Horror Picture Book, and many other spooktacular prizes! Fans can enter to win at hdnetmovies.com/feature/rob-zombies-13-nights-of-halloween.
HDNET MOVIES’ “Rob Zombie’s 13 Nights of Halloween” lineup is as follows (all begin at 9PM ET):
Thurs., Oct. 19 – THE DEVIL’S REJECTS (2005)
Fri., Oct. 20 – TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION (1994)
Sat., Oct. 21 – THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972)
Sun., Oct. 22 – THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
Mon., Oct. 23 – THE BLOB (1958)
Tues., Oct. 24 – THE BLOB (1988)
Wed., Oct. 25 – THE OTHERS (2001)
Thur., Oct. 26 – CASE 39 (2009)
Fri., Oct. 27 – THE DEVIL INSIDE (2012)
Sat., Oct. 28 – KALIFORNIA (1993)
Sun., Oct. 29 – TRUE ROMANCE (1993)
Mon., Oct. 30 – SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK (1991)
Tues., Oct. 31 – LEATHERFACE: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III (1990)
Halloween Marathon—Tuesday, October 31
6aE – THE OTHERS (2001)
7:45aE – THE BLOB (1988)
9:25aE – CASE 39 (2009)
11:20aE – TRUE ROMANCE (1993)
1:25pE – THE OTHERS (2001)
3:10pE – KALIFORNIA (1993)
5:15pE – SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK (1991)
7pE – THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
9pE – LEATHERFACE: THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III (1990)
10:30pE – TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION (1994)
12:10aE – THE DEVIL INSIDE (2012)
1:35aE – THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972)
3:05aE – THE BLOB (1958)
4:30aE – THE DEVIL INSIDE (2012)
HDNET MOVIES showcases the best in box office hits, award-winning films and memorable movie marathons, uncut and commercial free. Launched in 2003 by visionary entrepreneur Mark Cuban, the linear TV network and VOD service programs a diverse slate of top Hollywood films in beautiful high definition. HDNET MOVIES is widely distributed by major cable, telco, and satellite TV providers in the U.S. For further information, visit hdnetmovies.com.Today sees the launch of rising freeriding star Matt Jones’ first production entitled Frames of Mind. The film, which uses gripping rotoscoping techniques, shows how Jones visualises tricks and pushes MTB freestyle skills to the very limit, providing a fresh view into how elite athletes use sports psychology to compete at the highest level. Filmed on his own purpose-built trail at Rushmere Country Park, the latest film sees Red Bull’s young gun demonstrate unique tricks including world-firsts in freestyle mountain biking: Bum Slide, 270 Rim Bonk, Hitching Post Flip to Feet, Decade Tsunami, Superman Backflip to tuck no-hander.Within the film, an advanced editing technique ‘rotoscoping’ was used by Cut Media to enable the audience to see what going through Matt’s head as he prepared for seemingly impossible tricks. This required an intricate process, cutting out countless sequential frames, in order to create the floating ‘traces’ seen in the final production.As an athlete in a high-risk sport, Matt Jones works closely with top Performance Mentor Gary Grinham to help him maintain a winning mentality in the run-up to competitions and in his comeback after injury. Grinham commented: “The most important thing that you must do is accept the worst possible outcome. You will never perform your best if, while you are competing, you are thinking about getting hurt. Once this is done, it will allow you to perform free and without worry.” Their partnership was the inspiration behind the film. Matt Jones was forced to visualise his tricks with very little physical practice when he broke his wrist following a crash at Crankworx Rotorua, weeks before filming started.Matt Jones, now 23, has been mountain biking since the age of ten, spending as many hours building jumps as he has riding them. He first emerged onto the British dirt jump scene while still at school, before winning his first international competition in 2016.Jones commented: “Landing a trick you’ve been building up to is the best feeling. It’s all about visualisation. Once it feels familiar it comes down to getting on my bike and trying it for real. From take-off to landing, you can run through it all in your head before you get in the saddle. I already know the jump work, height limitations, airtime; the entire trick from start to finish. I can figure out so much about a trick just by visualising it; working through the physics in my head and imagining how it feels.”To find out more about Matt Jones and to watch his film ‘Frames of Mind’ go here.Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
This post contains 13 Reasons Why spoilers.
In the recent Netflix hit 13 Reasons Why, viewers know that high schooler Hannah Baker recently died by suicide. We’re regularly reminded of the fact that she’s gone in the voiceovers from her titular 13 cassette tapes, each aimed at someone who Hannah says is one of the reasons why she ended her life.
After enduring months of bullying, sexual harassment, and frequent exposure to toxic rape culture, Hannah appears on screen in the most recent flashbacks — just days before her death — with freshly bobbed wavy hair. “I’m giving life one more chance,” Hannah’s voiceover says, and it’s almost as if the haircut speaks for her choice to seek help one last time.
Hannah isn’t the only fictional character whose dramatic haircut is a stand-in for emotional change, often after a traumatic experience, whether that looks like a mental breakdown for Hannah Horvath on Girls, a reaction to bullying in the movie Odd Girl Out, or Jenny’s coming out on The L Word.
TV Tropes refers to this portrayal as the “Important Haircut,” of which there are several subtypes. Women on screen can get haircuts to show that they’ve changed as a character after trauma. Some are repairing their emotional state and becoming empowered; others do it in a self-inflicted moment of passion with a pair of completely unprofessional kitchen shears. The trope may be paired with a serious diagnosis, particularly cancer, if the woman is shaving her head in preparation for chemotherapy.
This trope works because it shows viewers a character’s internal state in a very external way. “In a practical sense, the depiction of a femme character cutting her hair after a traumatic experience condenses a multitude of complex emotions into one simple, visually arresting action,” says Patricia Grisafi, a film and TV critic. “This can be reductive because it eschews all of these complex emotions, but it’s efficient; over the years, viewers have learned to automatically associate hair cutting with a characters’ deteriorating mental state.”
Chase Ogden, an assistant professor in Eastern Washington University’s film department, agrees that the trope works because it’s so easily recognizable. “It’s common for a woman to have long hair in US society,” he says, “so cutting that hair off can symbolize change, leaving behind the old for the new, or subverting social norms.”
Despite the drama often playing out in scenes surrounding haircuts on screen — think back to the last time you saw a woman on screen hack off large chunks of her hair over a dingy bathroom sink — it has its benefits for real survivors. Rachel Kazez, a therapist and founder of All Along, believes there’s something powerful for trauma survivors who choose to get a haircut as part of their healing process. For one thing, hair is an aspect of our lives over which we have complete control, and cutting it has no detrimental effects, other than potential short-term regret while it grows back. “It’s about the choice, not necessarily the outcome,” Kazez says.
If trauma survivors feel empowered after chopping their locks, that’s not a bad thing. What’s important is that their recovery process includes more than just a fleeting change meant as a permanent fix. Kazez worries that some survivors who haven’t had a chance to do any therapeutic work on their own might get all their ideas about what recovery and survival looks like from the media, and think that a haircut is the solution to feeling better. “The road to recovery is cyclical. It’s definitely a process,” Kazez says. “If getting a haircut is part of that process, awesome."
Nora, a writer from Chicago, decided to cut her hair after ending a relationship with an emotionally and verbally abusive partner. “I had never really gone through a breakup of that magnitude before, and it destroyed me,” she says. “I needed to feel like a different person than who I was when I was with him. I needed to feel and look strong.” She doesn’t feel like portrayals of the trope in movies and TV really represent her, though, because women are often shown in hysterics, and the choice to cut their hair is presented as irrational and overly emotional.
“The road to recovery is cyclical. It’s definitely a process,” Kazez says. “If getting a haircut is part of that process, awesome."
Lisa Rowan, a personal finance writer in St. Petersburg, Florida, actually did the DIY chop a la Hannah Horvath. “I was up late, unable to sleep from the shock and shame and other feelings I was grappling with, and I had the sudden urge to do something,” she says. “Maybe I wanted to start fresh from that point forward? I hacked at my long ponytail with the kitchen scissors.” Rowan feels like a drastic haircut can be a cry for help, but she also says that it sometimes works. She didn’t know she was in an abusive relationship at the time, but looking back, she sees the ponytail chop as a sign that something was wrong.
While it may not involve as much flair every time, plenty of women and feminine-presenting people cut off their long hair as a symbolic sayonara to their pasts. For many, these might be traumatic experiences they’ve recently gone through, such as a particularly bad breakup or divorce, rape or sexual assault, domestic violence, an illness, loss of a loved one, bullying, or mental health issues. It can also be empowering for queer women and femmes to cut their hair as a part of the coming-out process, whether as a direct symbol of their queerness or just as a way to present themselves that feels closer to who they are.
“It's weird that people assume the worst because I've chosen to keep hair shaved. I just wanted to cut my hair.”
Dramatic haircuts don’t always come from a place of difficult experience, of course. Plenty of women and femmes cut their hair short simply because they want to, not to make a statement. Naomi Coleman, creative director at Access PR, shaved her head into a fade because it was a functional and simple hairstyle, leaving just enough hair for people to see her natural wave. When she in Mississippi for a family reunion last summer, she was at a restaurant with out-of-state family members when an older woman approached her. She “commended me on my bravery for tackling cancer, shook my hand, and walked away,” says Naomi. “She openly assumed in front of multiple people that I must have been sick based on my lack of hair. It's weird that people assume the worst because I've chosen to keep hair shaved. I just wanted to cut my hair.” Not every woman or femme with a cropped style has a serious reason for the cut, and there can be a lot of unnecessary significance attached to the choice, particularly for those with shaved heads.
“Our appearance is the first thing others see,” says Desiree Marshall, a Brooklyn-based barber who caters primarily to the queer, trans, and gender non-conforming community. “It can serve as a marker for our identities. It's an intimate form of expression that everyone sees. It can leave you vulnerable. When your expression is of your own making, and not one that other people or society dictates to you, your confidence levels can go up.”
For many survivors, the haircut as a symbol of emotional change represents that feeling of renewed empowerment: an indication that the person finally has control over her or his own life again, or at least some small part of it. But it’s often portrayed in the media in much more fraught moments, such as when Maggie in The Newsroom cuts her hair after a traumatic experience in Uganda. Why are so many media representations of dramatic haircuts tied in with the idea of an emotional breakdown, much like Britney Spears’s very public and highly sensationalized head shaving?
When a drastic haircut in media representation stands in for the emotional work of dealing with the aftermath of trauma, what gets glossed over? Hollie Smith, a New York City-based PR professional who cut her hair after trauma, feels that the portrayal in 13 Reasons Why of the hair-cutting trope could have problematic consequences, since the show is intended to start the conversation about suicide. In the series, both Hannah and Jessica are rape survivors who are assaulted by the same person, but only Hannah gets a haircut. “It makes people miss major signs, as they expect a person to make a drastic change,” says Hollie. If viewers see Hannah’s hair as a sign that she went through trauma, what will they assume about Jessica, a character who has long hair but is also dealing with her assault? The show doesn’t present Jessica as suicidal, but she has other concerning behaviors, like drinking vodka at school, that should be the focus of her recovery narrative.
The haircut as a symbol also misses a lot of the internal work that survivors do.
The haircut as a symbol also misses a lot of the internal work that survivors do. Hannah’s haircut is parallel to her final mental breakdown and her loss of the will to live. Throughout the season, she suffers at the hands of rape culture and bullying at her high school, being slut-shamed and victim-blamed by almost every potential friend she meets. It isn’t until her final days when she appears renewed, with a dramatic haircut, trying to give life another chance. Hannah literally presents the haircut, in a flashback in one of her tapes, as a way of saying that she’s starting over. “I needed a change,” she says in a voiceover. “I needed to be someone new. I was going to cut away the past.” As viewers, we don’t see any of the emotional work she did in dealing with or moving past the trauma she’s endured. And just after her haircut, in the span of a few days, she witnesses Jessica’s rape, is raped in a hot tub, and kills herself. Her haircut, so close to the end of her life, seems to suggest that a drastic change is concerning; a potential warning sign for suicide.
If we’re almost always presenting changes in appearance as irrational steps in an emotional breakdown, or as warning signs for mental |
best hardware and disregard the associated price premium. If it's 'extreme' enough then you'll find it in this build.VIDEO -
An extensive survey from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life has found that the worldwide Jewish community numbers some 14 million, which equates to 0.2% of the overall global population, a figure dwarfed by the Muslim community of 1.6 billion.
Video courtesy of
jn1.tv
Fifty-nine percent of Jewish people in the world also live in countries where they are a minority group, compared to just 3% of Hindus, 13% of Christians and 27% of adherents to Islam.
Judaism faces the additional pressure of its followers having the highest average age – at 36 years old – which is eight years higher than the global average and 13 above the figure for Islam, meaning that the Jewish population is likely to have the lowest growth forecasts for the years to come.
According to the Pew Forum, of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion, some 5.8 billion hold some form of association to a recognized religion, while 16% state that they are not affiliated with any faith.It’s hard to say Josh Childress has left an impact in the NBA over the last three years since returning from his stint in Greece, but there’s still plenty of interest in his services, with the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings lining up to sign him.
Childress actually got another offer from Euroleague champions Olympiacos, the team he played for in from 2008 to 2010, making $6.7 million a season, but without taxes on the money, making it substantially more than anything he would have gotten in the NBA, as the Hawks offered him, at the time, a five-year deal worth $33 million.
A lot of water has passed under many bridges since then. Childress returned to the NBA, with his athleticism no longer carrying him through games but without any substantial fundamental addition to his game form his time in Europe. He averaged 5 points per game for the Suns in 2010-2011, 2.9 points per game in 2011-2012 and a terrible 1 point per game for the Brooklyn Nets in 14 games last season.
And yet, Childress has followers, even though everyone is pretty sure he’s not going to become the effective sixth man he was for the Hawks. He has gotten to the line only four times over the last couple of seasons (total of 48 games), but hasn’t been compensating for it with some extraordinary ability from the outside. Childress is only 6-of-43 from beyond the arc since returning to the NBA, compared to his relatively successful days with the Hawks, making 49.2% of his shots during his second season in the NBA.
Despite the money offered to him overseas, Childress wants to stay in the NBA, or at least see if he has a shot to prolong his career there. Teams are hoping that his lack of confidence with the ball and decent defensive abilities can still add to them in someway, although frankly speaking, considering the teams interested in him, he seems to be nothing more than a roster-filler at this point, without a chance of actually contributing to teams that have actual playoff aspirations next season.Developer Astro HQ, the company behind the popular AstroPad Studio app has launched its newest product on Kickstarter today. Luna Display turns any iPad into a second wireless display to be used with a Mac, and the new product has raised almost 300% of its goal in the first several hours since going live.
Astro HQ launched the latest update to its second screen feature for AstroPad last January, bringing full Apple Pencil support and more. Now, the company’s latest product, Luna Display goes beyond just graphics and creative apps and creates a true second display out of your iPad.
Luna Display works either wirelessly via a small USB-C or Mini DisplayPort dongle or also via USB cable. Astro HQ says it’s as quick and easy to use:
Luna is a true display that fits in the palm of your hand. Simply plug Luna in your Mac, launch the free app, and you’re off and running. It’s the quickest and easiest way to setup a second screen with your iPad.
As described, Luna brings the full Mac experience to your iPad:
Luna Display acts as a complete extension to your Mac, allowing you to use it directly from your iPad with full support for external keyboards, Apple Pencil, and touch interactions. It literally turns your Mac into a touchable device, allowing pinching, panning and tapping… making it much more than just a second screen.
Some of the use cases that Astro HQ shares for Luna Display (beyond graphic design) include: Spreadsheets & Data, Presentations & Keynotes, Development & Coding, and Audio and Music. It is compatible with any iPad Pro model, iPad 2 and later, and any iPad mini model.
A really reasonable $59 pledge will get you a choice of a USB-C or Mini DisplayPort Luna Display unit with an estimated delivery date of May 2018. All things considered, it looks like Luna Display has a huge leg up on other portable monitor solutions.
As with all crowdfunding campaigns there are no guarantees, but Astro HQ feels like a really reliable company from what we’ve seen. And considering it has almost $90,000 on a goal of $30,000 as of this writing, things look good for this great tech to make it to market.Toronto’s Deep Lake Water Cooling system offers the city’s downtown property owners a compelling alternative to their buildings’ air conditioning requirements. Instead of installing separate chilled water generators within their buildings, many are taking advantage of the Deep Lake Water Cooling system, operated by Enwave Energy Corporation. The Deep Lake Water Cooling system offers substantial cost savings if building operators forego a standard chiller plant and instead install heat exchangers to interface with it. We’ll overview the functional parts of the Deep Lake Water Cooling system, which has been in service since 2004: the Lake Ontario intake pipes, the Island Filtration Plant, Enwave’s Energy Transfer Station (ETS), and the closed-loop Deep Lake Water Cooling chilled water circuit that individual buildings can access with new heat exchangers.
The Basic Idea
The cooling system for a typical large office building has chilled water distribution piping installed throughout its air-conditioned spaces. Individual fan coil units tied into the closed-loop chilled water circuit provide space cooling for specific building areas. As space cooling occurs, a chilled water generator, or “chiller," removes the heat accumulated within the water pumped through the pipe loop. Chilled water flows through the system as needed to match building occupants’ cooling demands. Instead of installing a chiller system to remove accumulated building heat, Toronto’s downtown buildings can install heat exchangers that interface a particular building’s chilled water circuit via Enwave’s Deep Lake Water Cooling system. A heat exchanger installation is cheaper, requires less maintenance, utilizes less space, and, most importantly, does not demand the electricity of a traditional chiller plant.
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Intake from Lake Ontario
Three intake pipes run up to 83 m (272') deep and out to 5 km (3 miles) from the shore. The physics of cold water are factored into the design. Water is most dense at 4 degrees Celsius (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit), ensuring that the cooling water removed from the lake bottom will have a consistent year-round temperature at the system’s intake points. The cooling water to be used by the Deep Lake Water Cooling system first goes through Toronto’s standard water treatment process to become regular drinking water.
The Island Filtration Plant
Lake water drawn by the Deep Lake Water Cooling intake pipes is filtered and disinfected at Toronto’s Island Filtration plant. The treated lake water itself is never used by the Deep Lake Water Cooling system – only its cooling properties are leveraged by using heat exchangers. The 4 degree Celsius temperature (39.2 degrees Fahrenheit) of the lake water processed at the Island Filtration Plant will be increased slightly at the next step, the Energy Transfer Station.
The Energy Transfer Station
The Energy Tranfer Station is collocated with Toronto’s John Street Pumping Station. The Energy Transfer Station includes large arrays of heat exchangers that allow the heat from the downtown chilled water loop to be rejected into the city’s drinking water supply before distribution to the public. The heat removed from the downtown chilled water loop is therefore never transferred to Lake Ontario and the slight temperature increase is insignificant for water utility consumers.
The Downtown Chilled Water Loop
Toronto’s 10-mile chilled water loop runs from Simcoe Street near Lake Ontario, north through the Financial and Hospital Districts to Queen’s Park, and back to where it began. The downtown closed loop is made of steel and high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe and contains over six million gallons of water. The flow rate through the system peaks at over 72,000 gallons per minute (gpm) and averages over 30,000 gpm.
Water on the return side of the downtown loop arrives back to the Energy Transfer Station at 13.3 degrees Celsius (56 degrees Fahrenheit), approximately 8 degrees (15 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than the chilled water first leaving the Energy Transfer Station. The increase represents the net heat accumulated and retained from the Deep Lake Water Cooling system’s customer building sites.
There’s a back-up system for the city’s closed loop, when necessary: 14,000 tons of additional back-up cooling can be provided by two steam-powered centrifugal chillers and two traditional electric centrifugal chillers. This may be required during high-heat days. In routine circumstances, the heat from the loop will be removed using lake water alone and flow through the downtown loop will by-pass the four supplemental chillers.
The water circulating through the downtown loop is treated to drinking water standards. Keeping the water in the downtown loop clean and free of impurities has direct advantages – the heat exchanger processes (at each building site and at the Energy Transfer Station) are much more efficient when using cleaner water, and significant energy- and cost-savings can be realized. The downtown loop is disinfected with chlorine, and suspended solids are removed by using an efficient micron filtration system. The filtration system can remove particulates as small as 0.5 microns to meet local drinking water standards.
Positive Environmental Impacts
When combined on average, the buildings that use the Deep Lake Water Cooling system instead of individual chiller packages free up 61 megawatts of power on the Toronto electric grid. Because less electricity is required to power individual air-conditioning installations, less fuel is required for consumption at local utility plants. The corresponding carbon dioxide (CO2) gas emission reductions allowed by the Deep Lake Water Cooling system are figured to be about 79,000 tonnes (87,000 U.S. tons) annually – the equivalent of about 16,000 automobiles on Toronto’s roadways.
The Deep Lake Water Cooling system can mitigate peak electric utility rates. On a summer morning during the work week, for example, less electric power is needed to cool downtown office spaces as hundreds of air-conditioning systems are operated simultaneously. It is cheaper for Deep Lake Water Cooling system customer sites to pump chilled water through heat exchangers than through separate chiller plants, particularly at such times of high utility rates.
Because the installation of so many separate chilled water generator plants is avoided, the corresponding demand for hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) refrigerants is also eliminated.
Deep Lake Water Cooling System Capacity
The system as currently installed has the capacity to provide 72,000 tons of refrigeration and to air condition about 70 downtown office buildings, or 3.7 million m2 (40 million sq. ft.) of office space.
The Deep Lake Water Cooling system provides cooling to a diverse array of customer sites including retail spaces, hospitals, government and office buildings, event-based venues, and residential complexes. It's a renewable energy-based District Energy System that is profitable without outside subsidies.
Andrew Wilcox is the Manager of Business Development for Enwave Energy Corporation and was a technical contributor to this feature.A Su-33 prepares for takeoff from the Admiral Kuznetsov. Russian MoD
Russia's sole aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, began its first combat deployment to Syria with plenty of fanfare, but a recent report from IHS Jane's indicates Russia has given up entirely on launching strikes from the carrier.
Satellite imagery obtained by Jane's shows Su-33 jets and one MiG-29KR previously aboard the carrier now stationed at the Hmeymim air base in Syria alongside land-based planes from Russia's air force.
The Kuznetsov, never an entirely reliable system, had one of its MiG-29KRs crash in November, and another pilot had to eject after the Kuznetsov's landing gear failed and couldn't receive the aircraft, Jane's reports.
A MiG-29K takes off of the Admiral Kuznetsov. Mikoyan Gurevich
Military analysts speculated before the deployment that the Kuznetsov added "nothing" to the battle, as Moscow already has a wealth of strike aircraft in Syria, and cruise missiles fired from the Russian navy ships stationed in the Mediterranean don't offer any significant advantages over the cheap, unguided bombs Russian planes freely drop in the uncontested airspace above Syria.
The Russian Ministry of Defense did manage to crank out a few high-quality videos during the two or so weeks the Kuznetsov actually sustained operations, which fits the narrative put forth by the US Naval Institute's news service that the deployment was "propaganda, not practical."Image copyright Getty Images
A young Indian soldier has shot dead a commanding officer in Indian-administered Kashmir after an altercation, the army has confirmed.
The army has not given further details. However, some junior officers told the BBC that the argument was over a mobile phone.
Media reports say the soldier was told off for using a phone while on duty, and the device was confiscated.
Officials told the BBC that police and the army were investigating further.
The incident comes amid concerns about morale in the armed forces.
Earlier this year, India ordered an investigation after a soldier's video complaining about the quality of food went viral.
The army also came under fire for tying a man to the front of an army vehicle and using him as a human shield during polling in Indian-administered Kashmir.
The officer in charge at the time was later rewarded, which some analysts saw as a move to boost flagging morale among troops there.
Indian army sources have told the BBC that morale among soldiers stationed in the Kashmir valley is very low. Many soldiers are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with their role in the region, saying they fear they are effectively becoming an army of occupation.
Kashmir is disputed between India and Pakistan and Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a fresh upsurge of violence in the past few months.The Diff is your weekly Wednesday WFNY look into the amazing world of sports statistics. For a complete log of articles, click this link. Last week, The Diff covered the historical finishes for MLB teams that started 26-18. This week, it’s NBA Draft talk time.
Since the Cavaliers won the lottery last week, Cleveland sports fans have been enamored by the idea of Nerlens Noel. Whether you love him or hate him, the 19-year-old University of Kentucky center already has been the subject of dozens of Cleveland-based analyses and reports. Is he the best prospect in this draft? Will he fit in the NBA? Will he actually make an impact in 2012-13? How good can he be? After perusing through the usual and not-so-usual stats, I’m here today to give you the statistical know-how about why Noel should be the Cavs’ no-doubt pick at No. 1.
Age-based analysis
Let’s start with a little chart. This shows the top 11 of my aggregate NBA big board, a chart I’ve updated here at WFNY several times previously. This top-11 separates itself pretty well from the rest of the group. Especially, I want you to pay close attention to the ages listed below:
Rk First Last 5/28 3/26 1/6 School POS Birthday 1 Nerlens Noel 1.5 1.6 1.8 Kentucky C 4/10/94 2 Ben McLemore 2.5 1.5 4.8 Kansas SG 2/11/93 3 Anthony Bennett 4.0 4.4 6.8 UNLV PF 3/14/93 4 Otto Porter 5.0 5.7 9.8 G’town SF 6/3/93 5 Trey Burke 5.2 11.4 19.3 Michigan PG 11/12/92 6 Victor Oladipo 5.5 8.1 xx Indiana SG 5/4/92 7 Alex Len 6.8 8.7 4.0 Maryland C 6/16/93 8 Cody Zeller 8.3 6.6 3.5 Indiana C 10/5/92 9 C.J. McCollum 8.7 17.2 12.0 Lehigh PG 9/19/91 10 Michael Carter-Williams 10.5 12.5 11.8 Syracuse PG 10/12/91 11 Shabazz Muhammad 10.7 5.9 2.3 UCLA SG 11/13/92
Note that Nerlens Noel is 10 months younger than any of these consensus top-11 prospects. Then, after just Alex Len and Otto Porter, he’s 13-14 months younger than Ben McLemore and Anthony Bennett. But the point still remains: Since Noel previously re-classified to the high school class of 2012, from his initial standing of 2013, he’s a full year younger than his peers. Now why does this matter?
Let’s pass that along to Kevin Pelton. One of the lead innovators of the basketball statistics movement, Pelton wrote an ESPN Insider article following the discovery of Shabazz Muhammad’s actual age back in late March. Here’s the gist of his point about why age matters:
… history shows that age is key to understanding how college players end up developing in the NBA. In fact, age is one of just two factors that make up my rankings of college players. The other is their performance during the previous season, translated to its NBA equivalent based on the past performance of rookies and adjusted for strength of schedule. The rookie translations generally do a good job of separating newcomers who are ready to contribute right away from those who are too raw to contribute. But in terms of projecting value beyond the first season, as measured by wins above replacement (WARP) in the players’ first five years in the NBA, age proves almost equally important. Based on regression, age makes up about 40 percent of the WARP projection for rookies, with translated performance accounting for the other 60 percent.
The Cavaliers heavily value proprietary advanced basketball stats, which are certain to be similar to Pelton’s WARP model. Noel projects very favorably not just because of his elite collegiate production — more on that in a moment — but also because he was doing so as an 18-year-old before being injured. That’s why his potential is clearly the highest of any of these players and he has by far the highest WARP projection, too.
Usage-based PER
There have been multiple articles, such as this one over at Hoopsworld, that claim that Nerlens Noel’s 27.3 PER and Otto Porter’s 27.3 PER last season in college are quite similar. Controversially and unconventially, I beg to differ.
Back on February 6 in The Diff, I wrote a very long-winded argument about how usage rates and field goal attempts per 36 minutes positively affect PER. In essence, it’s because PER is only a rate statistic in as far as it can throw; the more shooting attempts a player has, or the more involved he is in the offense, the higher that stat will go. Not exactly fair, and that’s why players such as Bruce Bowen (8.2 career PER) have been criminally underrated by the supposed catch-all metric.
That’s what brings us to Noel again. During his 765 minutes with Kentucky, he posted a 17.4% usage rate. That’s absurdly low for a top-end collegiate prospect. In fact, let’s take a look at the usage rates of these top-11 prospects here in 2013 and do a little trick: What have other collegiate players since 2009 within 0.1 of said player’s usage rate then posted in the PER category on average? Let’s look:
Rk Last PER FGA/36 Usage Usage-Avg. PER Rank 1 Noel 27.3 7.8 17.3 14.6 1/60 2 McLemore 23.2 12.1 23.2 18.4 12/71 3 Bennett 28.3 14.4 27.5 21.0 1/30 4 Porter 27.3 11.5 24.1 18.5 2/73 5 Burke 28.7 14.6 28.3 21.0 1/35 6 Oladipo 28.9 10.7 22.2 17.6 2/103 7 Len 24.5 11.6 22.8 18.8 5/66 8 Zeller 29.8 12.0 26.5 19.6 2/52 9 McCollum 32.4 17.8 33.6 25.3 1/15 10 Carter-Williams 20.9 10.1 22.2 17.6 20/103 11 Muhammad 21.9 16.6 29.8 21.3 8/22
Note the fact that I’m using C.J. McCollum’s 2011-12 statistics and his other peculiarities. Also, again, this only includes player-seasons with 750+ minutes.
Thus, now we can see how proportionally to his usage rate, Noel’s 27.3 PER is far more impressive. On average by multiplying PER per minute, folks with 17.2-17.4 usage rates averaged approximately a 14.6 PER. While looking at Porter’s grouping of players with 24.0-24.2 usage rates, the average PER was much higher at 18.5.
Now, of course, this includes cross-position players. And as Andrew has noted before, some guards have lower efficiency statistics than forwards, especially in the beginning of their development. Overall though, placing these players in the context of their usage helps to gain a larger understanding of the strength of their PER. They’re not all created equal.
For Nerlens Noel, that again means that his numbers are even more impressive than they’d show on the surface. His defensive numbers were outstanding, his shooting efficiency was still above average and he did an exceptional job per his overall usage opportunities.
Elite defensive ability
One of the beautiful things about the NBA: the huge number of other amazing websites out there are that talk intelligently about the league. One of those is the Detroit Pistons website Detroit Bad Boys. And in a roundtable before the lottery, one of their contributors wrote in a similar ilk as my thoughts about Nerlens Noel’s elite-beyond-elite defensive potential:
What would Nerlens Noel bring to the Pistons? Shinons*: How would you like to have the most exciting team in the league? One that leads the league annually in blocks, steals, and rebounds? One that features a potentially historically good defense? Even better than the Bad Boys or Going to Work eras? That’s how highly I think of Noel. This guy put up a combined 6.5 blocks and steals. He is the best defensive playmaking prospect I’m aware of. Davis last year had 6.1. Before these two, the next best that I can think of was Jarvis Varnado, who put up 5.4 his senior year. This number, 6.5, it’s unbelievable.
This fellow is correct: Nerlens Noel’s 6.5 combined steals and blocks per game last season was elite. As in, once-every-decade elite. As in, All-NBA Defensive Team elite. As in, along with new (old) head coach Mike Brown, could help the Cavaliers buck the trend of ranking 27th, 26th and 29th in defensive efficiency in the last three years, respectively.
In fact, according to Sports-Reference.com, Noel’s 6.5 block-and-steals per game mark was the third-best total dating back to 1999-2000. Among all of the many, many college basketball players since then, only Northeastern’s Shawn James (7.3) in 2005-06 and Alabama A&M’s Mickell Gladness (6.8) in 2006-07 surpassed Noel’s mark. Over this span, the UK center is also one of only 17 players to average at least 2 steals and 2 blocks per game — another very rare feat at any level.
Those statistics above show the historical rarity of a player with Noel’s elite athleticism, defensive awareness and shot-blocking ability. He’s more than just a one-trick pony. On a more efficiency basis, since Sports-Reference.com started tracking this kind of data in 2009, Noel became the first ever collegiate player to play 600 minutes in a season and post a 9.3%+ block percentage (his was 13.2%) and a 3.2%+ steal percentage (his was 3.9%).
In the vein of possible NBA comparisons, let’s take a look at some of the elite defensive big men prospects of the last several decades and what they produced in the steals and blocks categories per 36 minutes :
First Last Team Yrs Mins STL/36 BLK/36 (S+B)/36 Hakeem Olajuwan Houston ’82-’84 2192 1.8 6.3 8.0 David Robinson Navy ’85-’87 2294 2.0 5.5 7.5 Nerlens Noel Kentucky ’12-’13 765 2.4 5.0 7.3 Shawn Bradley BYU ’90-’91 984 0.8 6.5 7.3 Shaquille O’Neal LSU ’90-’92 1840 1.4 5.8 7.2 Anthony Davis Kentucky ’11-’12 1281 1.5 5.2 6.7 Marcus Camby UMASS ’93-’96 2324 1.1 5.2 6.4 Alonzo Mourning G’town ’91-’92 1051 0.7 5.5 6.1 Bo Outlaw Houston ’91-’93 2034 2.3 3.7 6.1 Dikembe Mutombo G’town ’89-’91 1887 0.6 5.3 5.9
Numbers that rival all but practically Olajuwan and Robinson at the college level? A profile that mirrors a bigger, more block-prone Outlaw? Nearly equal on blocks and far better on steals than last year’s consensus No. 1 pick Davis? Clearly, the majority opinion is that Noel is a good defensive player. These numbers, and the ones above as well, show that he was an elite defensive star at Kentucky with the chance to be one of the best in the NBA.
Overall outlook
Thus far, I’ve shared how the stats back up the narrative that Nerlens Noel has the most potential, had the most impressive usage-based PER and has by far the most elite defensive star power of the top-11 prospects in this draft class. Notably, however, I haven’t touched on two of the main criticisms of Noel: his offense and his recovery from his ACL injury.
Back in March 2012, Kevin Pelton wrote about the historical recoveries of basketball players that suffered ACL tears. It was written just as players such as Derrick Rose and Iman Shumpert went down with the freak injury. Shumpert is back on the court, while Rose is not. But overall, Pelton’s conclusion was that younger NBA players have a much more likely chance of returning to full strength. This doesn’t even include cross-sport examples such as Adrian Peterson. In my mind, ACL tears are so common yet such freak occurrences, that usually won’t be a problem long-term once the initial rehab process is over.
On offense, Noel simply isn’t that skilled right now. For UK, he was 98-166 (59.0%) from the field and 55-104 (52.9%) from the free-throw line. He got better at picking his (limited) spots offensively as the year went on, shooting 66-102 (64.7%) in his final 17 games.
Noel’s offensive game right now consists of dunks, fastbreak opportunities and putbacks. He doesn’t really have much of a post game nor any other kind of go-to move. He is a bit better than your average near-7-footer at putting the ball on the court and making plays (per DraftExpress), but he turns the ball over quite a bit as well.
Over time, similar to the progression of Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson, however, I believe Noel’s offensive game can become much more than it is now. Those two Cavs are great examples. Here are shot charts for both players and how they developed over time:
Name Yrs Split FGM FGA EFG% Varejao ’04-’08 At Rim 445 735 60.5% Varejao ’04-’08 Others 159 498 31.9% Varejao ’09-’13 At Rim 250 766 65.8% Varejao ’09-’13 Others 338 955 34.9% Name Yrs Split FGM FGA EFG% Thompson ’11-’12 At Rim 138 241 57.3% Thompson ’11-’12 Others 56 201 27.9% Thompson ’12-’13 At Rim 224 368 60.9% Thompson ’12-’13 Others 166 431 38.5%
Varejao’s time period of offensive evolution was longer than Thompson’s, but the point still remains: Big men can get much better offensively over time. Both of these players, especially Thompson, were ridiculed as they entered the league for their lack of offensive ability. Noel is very much the same. If he can develop offensively at all in the same progression as these two Cavaliers over the next few years, he’ll be an All-Star soon. His defense is already worthy, but if he develops an offensive game, watch out.
In the end, I’ve long thought that Nerlens Noel is the deserving, no-brainer, don’t-think-twice-about-this No. 1 choice throughout the college basketball season. These numbers above back it up in a variety of ways, showing his elite potential and room for continued improvement. In my mind, he’s not the next coming of Greg Oden just because of one freak injury. He’s more likely to be a transcendent defensive talent, with room to grow offensively, but the ability to mix in seamlessly with Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters to grow an exciting brand of Cleveland basketball once again.It was one heck of a long trip home from Sweden for Jonathan Drouin and Canada’s world junior squad that year.
The team got stuck for more than 12 hours at Heathrow Airport after a cancelled flight in January of 2014 before finally getting to Toronto. Drouin then flew to Montreal, and his parents picked him up for the 90-minute drive home to Mont-Tremblant, Que.
Upon arrival, as the story goes, Drouin promptly grabbed his skates and headed directly to the outdoor rink across the street for three hours.
“Yeah, going to that rink every time is like going to the spa for me,” Drouin said with a smile, recalling the memory.
“It’s so relaxing. It’s a small city. Not many people around. I went there just to relax. Just wanted to get a little time to myself.”
Now there will be nowhere to hide as he heads to the league’s most passionate market. Drouin, 22, is poised to make his Montreal Canadiens debut and represents...Tavia Marlatt has epilepsy, and due to her frequent seizures, the 19-year-old is unable to drive. Marlatt, from Surrey, B.C., relies on TransLink public transportation, and after a number of negative experiences on busses and trains, she asked the company to make changes she believes could improve the system for all passengers.
Marlatt requested that TransLink modify signage in the priority seating section for people with disabilities, according to CBC News. Marlatt explained that because her disability isn’t visible, she’s often judged for using the priority section. She says the current signage only reinforces this, and she’s asking Translink to add an image of the international symbol of medicine next to the international symbol of access.
The international symbol of medicine, or Rod of Asclepius, (left) and the international symbol of access (right)
“I get the nastiest looks from everybody because I’m 19 and just by looking at me, you can’t tell that I have a disability,” Marlatt told CBC News. “There’s not enough room in the back to have a grand mal seizure without getting hurt.”
Marlatt told CBC News the last time she had a seizure on the bus, she woke up on the floor with the door repeatedly closing on her head. “Literally nobody tried to help me. They just stood there and watched,” she said. “I was very upset with our society for not helping a youth having a medical issue.”
“I would just really hope that people put more of an effort into learning about non-physical disabilities,” she told CBC News, adding that she hoped the signage would reflect the needs of people like her.
Thank you for sharing your story Tavia and raising awareness to an important issue. Posted by BC Epilepsy Society on Thursday, February 25, 2016
TransLink didn’t address whether it will change the signage, but the company did release a statement responding to Marlatt’s request, and announced it’s increased the number of priority seating signs on buses and the SkyTrain.
“This young woman’s story is an important reminder to all of us to remember that many disabilities are invisible. We urge all our customers to be kind and considerate to their fellow passengers,” a spokesperson for TransLink told The Mighty. The company added that its Access Transit Users’ Advisory Committee meets once every two months to give feedback on how to better accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.An account and analysis by Devi Sacchetto and Mimmo Perrotta of a July 2011 strike by ultra-precarious migrant agricultural workers in Italy.
When, in the early dawn of the 30th of July 2011, a group of about 40 African migrants refused to continue harvesting tomatoes on the fields of Nardo (Lecce), nobody would have thought that this would be the beginning of the first self-organised strike of migrant day labourers for better working conditions in Italian agriculture. The group of day labourers refused the demand of the 'caporale' to perform an additional task: to separate the green tomatoes from the valuable red gold, for an average wage of 3.50 Euro per container of 300 kg. The caporale, who had hired the workers, hoped that the workers' concern for their income would make them more cautious, if not submissive – given that the economic crisis has also entered the sphere of agriculture. But he was wrong. The day labourers returned to Masseria Boncuri and erected a street blockade together with some friends, totalling around 60 people. For two years the association Finis Terrae and the Active Solidarity Brigades have organised a tent city on this former farm which accommodates the seasonal agricultural labourers. The day labourers initially arrived here to harvest watermelons, but they were disappointed that due to low market prices the companies refused to harvest the fruit. They hoped that with the onset of the tomato harvest they would find some days of paid work but they did not accept piece-wages that had dropped to below that of the previous year. This is how the strike started, which was to last for about two weeks and in which, at least during the first days, all migrants from Masseria took part, which was around 350 people. A strike, the impact of which, was to be felt several weeks after it had finished.
The 350 day labourers are all men between 20 and 40 years of age, many of them have permission to stay or have applied for asylum. They are from Tunisia, Sudan, West Africa (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Togo). Amongst the African workers there are many who had been sacked from factories in Northern Italy and who were looking for an income during the summer months; young students or people who just finished technical college who were looking for a temporary job; refugees who had just arrived in Italy, escaping the war in Libya; young guys from Tunisia who had left the country after the fall of Ben Ali. The majority of them are modern day labourers, who know 'the journey through hell' well enough, meaning that they know the different harvests which happen one after the other throughout Southern Italy: Foggia, Palazzo, San Gervasio, Rosarno, Castelvolturno. At times they combine the work in agriculture with other jobs in industry, construction or logistics. They are 'precariarised' workers in the truest sense of the word.
Only a small share actually possesses a permission to stay, the majority is tolerated to stay in the country for humanitarian reasons or are waiting for their refugee status. The migrants without permission to stay are the most vulnerable and are therefore forced to accept the worst wages. This is the common result of the Bossi-Fini legislation, which impacts on the general situation, from the factories in the north to the green factories in the south of Italy.
Even the activists of those associations, which for two years have supported the campaign "Hire me (officially)! Against illegal employment!" were surprised by the strike in terms of its organisation and dimension. In this corner of the Salento, conditions of the rural labourers had not seemed to have changed much during the last 20 years and were comparable to the conditions in other regions of the Mezzogiorno: during the peak time of the harvests (in Nardo mainly watermelons and |
continuous “Chokehold” of any kind. Though not surprised, I like how these rags try to portray/describe something that never happened.
NYPD finest:
Hopefully I am totally wrong but they are going to try to crucify these cops for doing their job. If the fat fuk just put his hands behind his back none of this would have escalated into what it did. I think the cops are going to have a long uphill battle but thankfully this happened in Staten island and not the Bronx.
Career Path:
Fuckin Bratton threw the cops under the bus by declaring it as a choke hold.The cop grabbed him from behind yes but did not hold this guy in a position where the breathing of this fat bast*rd was blocked.The medical examiners report will be in the cops favor.Tell Deblowzio to get his azz to Italy.
Officer Joe Bolton:
It’s going to be an up hill battle for the cops, you can clearly hear the fat bastard crying out “I can’t breath”. If ever a person wanted to know why police work is so difficult, here is a good reason. Best of luck to those guys who’s lives (and their families) have just been turned upside down for all eternity.
offlinepbadad:COURT RECORDS: Carlisle man soaked marijuana in formaldehyde that had preserved human brain
A Carlisle man, already in prison on multiple burglary charges, is now facing charges he abused a corpse.- Download the WGAL appJoshua Long is accused of stealing a human brain and soaking marijuana in the formaldehyde that had preserved it.Court records show Long's aunt came across the brain in a Walmart bag while she was cleaning out a trailer outside Newville.Records show she called Long in prison and he confessed to having the brain and to having used the embalming fluid to get high.He even gave the brain a nickname: Freddy.The coroner examined the brain and determined it is a real human brain. The coroner also said that it was likely a teaching specimen.
A Carlisle man, already in prison on multiple burglary charges, is now facing charges he abused a corpse.
- Download the WGAL app
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Joshua Long is accused of stealing a human brain and soaking marijuana in the formaldehyde that had preserved it.
Court records show Long's aunt came across the brain in a Walmart bag while she was cleaning out a trailer outside Newville.
Records show she called Long in prison and he confessed to having the brain and to having used the embalming fluid to get high.
He even gave the brain a nickname: Freddy.
The coroner examined the brain and determined it is a real human brain. The coroner also said that it was likely a teaching specimen.
AlertMeCAIRO (AP) Pan-Arab Al-Jazeera television broadcast what it described as excerpts from a new audio tape by Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaeda leader slammed Palestinian negotiations with Israel and urged holy war for the liberation of Palestine. The audio — the second by bin Laden in as many days — was the first time bin Laden spoke of the Palestinian question at length since the deteriorating situation in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip where Israel imposed a siege in response to heavy rocket fire by Gaza militants. In the broadcast Thursday by the Doha, Qatar-based television, bin Laden said that "Palestine cannot be retaken by negotiations and dialogue, but with fire and iron." Bin Laden also called on Palestinians who are unable to fight in the "land of Al-Quds" — a Muslim reference to Jerusalem — to join the al-Qaeda fight and the holy war, or jihad, in Iraq. "The nearest field of jihad today to support our people in Palestine is the Iraqi field," said the voice reported to be bin Laden's. "We tell our brothers in Palestine who could not join the jihad in the land of Al-Quds, to get rid of illusions of political parties and groups which are mired in trickery of the blasphemous democracy and to take their positions among the ranks of the mujahideen in Iraq." Such a Palestinian fight in Iraq should be "supported by all Muslims, specially from neighboring countries," bin Laden added. Al-Jazeera TV did not say how it obtained the recording, which was broadcast with an old photograph showing bin Laden in a white headscarf and traditional Arab dress. As with bin Laden's earlier audiotape, posted late Wednesday on a militant website that has carried al-Qaeda statements in the past, there was no indication when exactly it was made. The two messages were bin Laden's first this year. In the Thursday audiotape on Al-Jazeera, bin Laden said the sufferings of the Palestinians in Gaza began when treacherous Arab leaders began supporting the U.S.-hosted Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, last November, and the "Zionist entity." "By their support, they are considered partners to this horrible crime," bin Laden said of Arab leaders who have backed the Mideast peace talks. Bin Laden appeared to be seeking to merge the Palestinian cause into the wider al-Qaeda struggle. Recently, there have been concerns al-Qaeda would try to increase its influence in Palestinian territories and supporters of the terror networks who sign into jihadi websites have called for such action. Israel has been battling Hamas in Gaza since the Islamic militant group took control of the strip in June from followers of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israeli air raids are common in Gaza and militants fire rockets into Israeli towns near the strip. "Palestine will not return to us with the negotiations by the submissive rulers, their conferences nor by demonstrations and elections," bin Laden said. "Palestine will come back to us if we awaken from our ignorance and adhere to our religion and sacrifice our lives and means to it." "My nation," bin Laden addressed his followers, "You have a great opportunity to regain your freedom and get out of being a follower of this Zionist-crusade alliance and to do this, you have to free yourself from the chains of humiliation thrown on us by the agents of this alliance, the rulers of our countries." Ben Venzke, the head of IntelCenter, a U.S. group that monitors militant messages, said it wasn't easy to draw significance from bin Laden's audio on Al-Jazeera since only excerpts were broadcast and the TV didn't say how long the full recording was. Although al-Qaeda has previously released two messages in as many days — most recently by bin Laden's top deputy Ayman al-Zawahri in December — these latest audiotapes appeared to be the closest by bin Laden, Venzke said. "al-Qaeda has been making a concerted effort to be responsive to developments in news cycle and to respond to current events with their perspective on it," Venzke said. "The situation in Gaza and the reprinting of cartoons was something bin Laden felt was important to address." Venzke expected a broader release of the statement on Al-Jazeera to surface within 72 hours. A militant website that frequently carries al-Qaeda postings, said later Thursday it expected bin Laden's new audio on "The Way to Salvage Palestine" soon. In Israel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel told The Associated Press that Israel does not comment on bin Laden's statements. Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said, "We and the international community must prove him wrong, because we have been pursuing peace through negotiations, and I believe the parties involved must make every effort to make the year 2008 a year of peace." In Wednesday's five-minute recording, bin Laden accused Pope Benedict XVI of helping in a "new Crusade" against Islam and warned of a "severe" reaction for Europeans' publication of cartoons seen by Muslims as insulting Islam's prophet Mohammed. That message raised concerns al-Qaeda was plotting new attacks in Europe. Some experts said bin Laden, believed to be in hiding in the Afghan-Pakistan border area, may be unable to organize such an attack himself and instead was trying to fan anger over the cartoons to inspire violence by supporters. A U.S. counterterrorism official said Thursday that "CIA analysis assesses with a high degree of confidence it is Osama bin Laden's voice on the tape" and that there was "no reason to doubt bin Laden is alive." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of intelligence matters involved. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said that although the whole of Wednesday's message had not been received yet, it was clear "the contents... are filled with hate and encouraging people to murder innocents in the name of a perverted and depraved cause." On Feb. 13, Danish newspapers republished one of the cartoons, which shows Muhammad wearing a bomb-shaped turban, to illustrate their commitment to freedom of speech after police said they had uncovered a plot to kill the artist. Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Thursday that bin Laden's accusation the pope had played a role in a worldwide campaign against Islam was "baseless." Lombardi said the pope has repeatedly criticized the cartoons, first published in some European newspapers in 2006 and republished by Danish papers in February. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Enlarge By As-Sahab via AP An undated photo of someone believed to be Osama bin Laden as part of an audiotaped speech posted late Wednesday. Bin Laden recently criticized the publication of drawings insulting to the prophet Mohammed and warned Europeans of a strong reaction to come. Conversation guidelines: USA TODAY welcomes your thoughts, stories and information related to this article. Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers across the map.The Sony Xperia Z2 has landed, but what goes into making the sequel to one of 2013's best handsets? We pinned Sony down for a talk to find out.
With the Sony Xperia Z2 now up for pre-order at Vodafone UK (big screen bonus et al), we thought we’d catch up with Sony to ask what makes its new flagship so great, and what sets it apart from its Xperia predecessors.
Pre-order your Sony Xperia Z2
Is the Sony Xperia Z2 the Android phone for you? You can pre-order yours through Vodafone UK right now.
– Click here to get your order underway!
To do that, we’ve been talking to Calum MacDougall, Head of the Xperia Marketing Programme at Sony Mobile. He’s the man who knows everything about what went into making the Z2 what it is, as well as what’s coming next, and what Sony sees as the future of mobile…
Xperia Z2: The best of Sony
According to Calum, the Xperia Z2 is like the phone equivalent of a Greatest Hits compilation album. How so? Because it pulls in the best of Sony, and from a multitude of different areas:
“The ambition is always to take the best of Sony, and the experiences that are created by our other consumer electronics divisions, and put them into our smartphones,” he explains. “People want to use smartphones for gaming, taking pictures, listening to music and everything else Sony does, so it’s a unique opportunity to be able to put all of that technology inside one device.
“You can see a step up in every area with the Sony Xperia Z2.”
“You can see a step up in each of those areas with the Xperia Z2,” he says. “We have great digital imaging camera capability with the 20.7 megapixel camera and the new processing engine – all this compact camera technology that we bring into the smartphone.
“On top of that we’re now bringing in our camcorder technology as well, so you can capture videos in brilliant 4K quality.
“Then there’s audio,” Calum adds. “The Xperia Z2 is the first smartphone where we have digital noise cancelling technology actually built in. Whether you’re travelling by plane or train, or simply walking down the street listening to music, it’s normally quite noisy in the background, meaning that if you really want to enjoy it you usually have to buy some bulky noise cancelling headphones. But with the Z2, that tech is built in. It works with the headset that comes in the box, which is a much smaller, normal in-ear style headset. That tech blocks out 98% of ambient noise, so you can really enjoy pure, clear music or movies.”
“Design is of course, very strong too. It’s a Sony smartphone, so as you’d expect it’s made of premium materials – it’s got an aluminium frame around the outside, tempered glass front and back and it’s waterproof as well. You can drop it in a metre and a half of water and leave it there for 30 minutes if you so wish. It’s also lighter, slimmer, not as wide as the Xperia Z1, and you get a bigger screen. That display is one of the key technical steps forward.”
We asked what the most important step forward is with the Z2 – screen, camera, audio or design – but Calum found it tricky to pick just one:
“The overall technical achievement is the sum of its parts,” he says. “It’s the ability to get more and more Sony tech into such a small footprint. The Z2 is a mixture of learnings from the Xperia Z, Z1 and Z1 compact, but also from the wider consumer electronics industry – understanding how people like to take photos, capture and share videos, and how they like to listen to music.
Innovation in the age of iteration
The Z2 is packed with new tech, but is smartphone innovation starting to slow down? There’s a theory among the tech press that new flagship phones – from every major manufacturer – are beginning to be more iterative than game-changing, and that we’re at a stage of evolution, rather than revolution. It’s a hot topic, and we wanted to know if Calum – and Sony – thinks that’s true…
“Yes,” he reveals, “but I definitely think you can still innovate within smartphones – we can still continue to bring Sony’s very latest range of consumer electronics technology into our smartphones. But there’s also room for innovation beyond pure hardware.”
“The short answer is that we’re going to continue to innovate within the smartphone, and continue to bring our expertise in, but the story for the consumer isn’t just about what’s in the smartphone: it’s what it connects to.”
And the longer answer? Like many manufacturers, Sony is looking at wearable tech and extra connectivity to help keep innovation in mobile steaming ahead:
“Innovation will be about what’s beyond or outside the smartphone itself, with companion products and accessories,” Calum explains. “At the same time as the Xperia Z2 we’re also launching the Sony SmartBand, which is an innovative, flexible tracking band that connects to your Xperia smartphone. With that, the Lifelog application records your activity – it records steps, calories and fitness, but also music you listen to, movies you’ve seen and the pictures you’ve taken. It creates a brand new experience around your smartphone.
“Innovation will be about what’s beyond or outside the smartphone itself.”
“The SmartBand itself is a new, interesting life tool – it vibrates if you’ve got an incoming call or a notification – and you can use it to control your music on your phone. We use NFC, which lets you connect your phone to your TV and music systems withone-touch connectivity.
“We have 154 NFC-enabled one-touch products now, so that’s innovation that goes well beyond the handset.
“So the scope for innovation is now beyond the smartphone itself,” Calum says in closing. “It’s how you can bring content and connectivity of the phone to different devices. That’s what gives people a different kind of experience.”
Are you ready to dive into Sony’s forward-thinking ecosystem? Let us know what you think of the Xperia Z2 and Sony’s plans in the comments section below. You can pre-order your Sony Xperia Z2 here.If you thought chatty protagonists in the vein of Duke Nukem had gone the way of the dodo after Duke Nukem Forever’s catastrophic release, you would be wrong. For one thing, a handful of companies are still scrapping over the rights to the Duke, but Polish-based Flying Wild Hog have also resurrected another classic 3D Realms franchise, Shadow Warrior.
I missed the game when it was originally released on PC in September last year, but the game is now making the jump to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and sees the return of Lo Wang from the original 1997 Shadow Warrior game. The game starts with Lo Wang on an errand to buy an ancient katana from a man named Miyazaki, with a briefcase stuffed full of cash and instructions to acquire the sword whatever it takes.
When Miyazaki refuses the offer, setting his ample retinue of bodyguards on Wang, you get to enjoy the brutal and gory heart to the gameplay. This is swordplay at it’s most hilariously gruesome best, with quick slashes and charged up swipes taking off enemy limbs, cleaving them in two and generally creating a whole lot of red mess all over the place.
It’s brilliantly accessible, with first person directional slashing (though I didn’t get the hang of how best to control the direction you slash from) giving a particularly satisfying degree of precision as it chops off limbs accurately. Importantly, it’s kept fast paced and frantic, as, without a blocking action, you will constantly be dodging attacks and dancing around enemies while striking quickly against seemingly overwhelming odds.
In fact, I find myself using the sword almost exclusively, even when facing enemies with SMGs. The handful of early weapons are simply no match in terms of power or fun, and this imbalance is easily made wider as you start to unlock new abilities and attacks.
As you play, you’ll start to unlock new abilities, like self healing rather than relying on the partially regenerative health and health pack, and more powerful attacks. Cracking open Ki Crystals is one way of boosting your abilities and stats further, adding tattoos to Wang’s body in what looks like a deep and sprawling upgrade system..
Making use of these abilities also highlights one of the little tweaks that has been made for the PS4. Activating them is a slightly finicky process of double tapping in a direction on the analogue stick and pulling a trigger, similar to the process on keyboard and mouse. But there’s a much better, much quicker and more intuitive method that sees you simply swipe on the touchpad as you pull that trigger in order to activate it.
It’s as you start to discover abilities that you also see a story seemingly filled with mysticism and mythology start to unfold. It just so happens that as Wang is closing in on the Nobitsura Kage blade, it is whisked away as a demonic invasion breaks out.
Along the way, you’ll also meet and team up with the banished spirit called Hoji. His first appearance points to the sense of humour that the game has. Rather than the overly lewd nature of Duke Nukem’s latest, there’s plenty of humour to be found in their dialogue without devolving into one-liners about Wang’s name and stereotypes. Those are there, but they don’t seem to be the centrepiece, with Flying Wild Hog able to take the plot in their own direction.
The quick shift in plot means that you’ll now find yourself fighting lesser demons rather than human goons, with a slightly different challenge as a consequence, as they take a little more damage but won’t block your attacks. But these are just the first steps on a longer adventure that’s sure to introduce tougher enemies and hopefully give you a handful of reasons to explore gunplay as well as the sword.
A cursory look at the reviews of the PC version certainly put this high up on my watch list, pointing to a reboot that gets a lot right as it updates an old formula for more modern days. So if you’re after some old school action, gory first person hacking and slashing and a plot and script that might just surprise you, this is one to keep an eye on.These accident rates are not safety ratings. There are many factors that contribute to the safety rating of an airline including, but not limited to, accident history, maintenance and operational procedures, types of training programs, age of fleet and specific routes flown. In addition there are different ways to analyze past accident data. The accident rates below are based on only three basic parameters. Number of flights, the number of fatal accidents and the fatality rate of those accidents. The methodology is listed below the tables.
Aviation accidents are extremely rare, with the probability of a passenger being killed on a single flight at approximately eight million-to-one. If a passenger boarded a flight at random, once a day, everyday, it would statistically be over 21,000 years before he or she would be killed. DISCLAIMER These accident rates should not be used to provide an assessment of an airline’s safety profile or future risk of an accident. These rates are derived from past accidents and not an estimate or prediction of future risk. There are many factors in judging the safety of an air carrier which are not found here. These rates are not meant to endorse or condemn any particular airline or group of airlines nor are they intended to persuade or dissuade use of any particular airline. The accident rates and method of calculation of the accident rates are solely the opinion of this web site and the creator is not responsible for how this information is used and will not be held legally responsible for any consequences arising from the misuse of this information. There are numerous commercial organizations that provide complete and extensive safety ratings of commercial air carriers.The ironically-named Quality Software Services Inc (QSSI) allegedly responsible for the SNAFU that is the Obamacare website's data hub has, incredibly, been named the new general contractor in charge off repairing the glitch-plagued HealthCare.gov. As The NY Post reports, as if the $150 million so far paid to this UnitedHealth subsidiary for its farcically bad implementation was not enough, the executive vice president of the firm (Anthony Welters) and his wife were among Obama's largest personal campaign contributors during the 2008 election cycle (and the firm has spent millions "lobbying" for Obamacare). The cronyism runs deep as the Post also points out that visitor logs show at least a dozen visits between the two by the end of 2012, the most recent information available.
The man at the center of the "cronyism"... Anthony Welters
Via NY Post,To say that I was disappointed when Apple released iOS7 in 2013 is an understatement. To be on-trend, Apple had flattened their entire UI without any real reinforcing principles. This came with countless oversights to the user’s experience which took a backseat to dropping skeuomorphism. It was flat for the sake of flat. Compare this with Google’s Material Design which came shortly after. Material embraced flat design with a specific opinion — mimicking real-world materials. This immersive design language incorporated the flat look while also maintaining depth. How? By using big, soft drop-shadows.
Just looking at the two design languages, it’s clear that Material took the better approach. Even putting aside the rich animations, Material Design provided a cleaner user experience that was also forward thinking and visually appealing. It was flat, but with the important compromise of shadow. This small compromise allows Material to maintain depth and look more polished. Even Apple seems to think so; they’ve been subtly letting drop shadows slip into their UIs ever since.
And now Microsoft, who were flat before flat was cool, have announced their new design language: Fluent Design. It looks great, but it also looks extremely trendy — big, soft drop shadows.
It is strange that the drop shadow is a visual relic that has managed to cling to UI design for decades. It doesn’t matter what the design patterns of the day embody, drop shadows are our go-to crutch for creating depth. But why? Does it need to be that way? Can an opinionated flat design still have depth and truly be free of drop shadows? What would that even look like?
A Different Approach
The fact is, we are surrounded by a world that is full of depth, and very little of it is defined by shadow. If we are going to replace drop shadows in our visual UI metaphors, we should look at other options that create depth in the world around us.
So how do we perceive depth when shadows aren’t involved? There are a couple easy answers. Scale is the most obvious solution — big things are nearby, small objects are far away. Linear perspective is another, using an objects dimensionality to recede into space. But for either of those approaches to be really effective it would require a 3D environment. Building a two dimensional UI around those three dimensional principles would feel gimmicky and distracting. Until AR and VR are more commonplace, that’s just not an option.
This lead me to another, lesser known type of depth perception. Atmospheric perspective is the phenomena where the atmosphere between the viewer and an object shifts the value and hue of the object. The further away the object is, the more atmosphere and the stronger the effect. If you look at a distant mountain range, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Utilizing this principle is a common technique in painting and art. I was first introduced to the concept when studying traditional Japanese landscape ink paintings. If you want a more recent example, pick up any video game art book and you’ll see it being used heavily in their environments and landscapes. So what if we took that concept and applied it to UI design? I decided to explore the possibilities for myself.
Creating the Effect
As a proof of concept — and a small side project — I took it upon myself to see if this could actually translate. But before any UI elements could be built, I needed to create a basic formula for simulating the effect. I wanted to approach this as a big picture concept to see if it could support an entire design system, not just a few screens in a single app. First, I broke down the effect into three core components: The content, the atmosphere, and the hue.
Content
This represents the actual object, whether it’s a photo or a button in the UI. It is the object with full exposure and correct color.
Atmosphere
This layer represents the density of atmosphere between the user and the object. It specifically affects the object’s value by muting the tones. Whites are less white, blacks are less black.
Hue
This layer only shifts the hue of the object, including the atmospheric layer beneath it. In the real world, this color shift relates to the color that is being reflected in the atmosphere. Often it’s blue for the same reasons as the sky, but it can be any color that becomes predominant in the light. In a sunset, for example, the colors become more orange and red. To mimic this flexibility, this layer would take on the color of another object in the UI — a background image, maybe a cover photo — and would serve to shift the hue of all other elements within that view.
Creating Increments
But creating the basic effect was only the first step. If this was going to be used to simulate depth, that meant it needed multiple levels or increments. Furthermore, I wanted to use a standard when creating my designs and not just eye-ball each screen to ‘what looks good.’ So I developed a basic 10-step system to represent different layers of depth that were possible in the design.
The big takeaway here is that objects do not approach the ends of the value spectrum like they do when using typical overlays or shadow. Overlays simply darken all of the elements, pushing them closer and closer to black (or white, if it is a white overlay). In the atmosphere model, objects actually approach a middle-of-the-spectrum area. This means that blacks and whites become less clear and more muted.
This creates a big opportunity for contrast, which is very important for simulating depth. If you design your foreground at a level one, with a background at a level six or seven, you’re actually free to use a broader range of bold colors and values. Use black text. Use white text. It will have the contrast to stand out, giving the designs more flexibility.
Incorporating a User Interface
After working through this it was time to put the concept to a test by applying it to a UI. I decided to go with a music app, because hey, the world really needs one more music app design, right? Honestly it was just an easy place to start. Using a basic design, I broke the UI into several groups and then applied the atmospheric system to each of them. Interactive elements like the tab bar and play controls were kept at level one, while backgrounds and subordinate elements were pushed back into other levels. The cover photo was used as the color influence, giving the entire view a subtle influence of pink hues in the example.
The result? The system worked. At least, it did in my eyes. Maybe you’re thinking, ‘Nah, that design looks all washed out and muted.’ Really, it looks great on an actual device. What surprised me the most was how my eye naturally found its way through the UI. The interactive elements seemed to pop, making them easy to find and focus on. The other elements receded in space, still providing context and depth. And the best part?
Not a single drop shadow needed.
OS-Level Design Systems
I decided to push the concept further. Could an entire design language be based on a principle like this? What would system-level interactions look like if they incorporated atmospheric perspective to distinguish themselves from app-level elements? What I found is that the OS level is really where a concept like this would shine. Multi-tasking, notifications, control center — these are all things that require a concept of depth to break the chrome of other apps being used on the screen. This is particularly important on mobile, where an app is allotted the entire screen real estate.
Obviously a desktop OS doesn’t suffer the same needs of a mobile UI, but there is no reason this concept wouldn’t scale up to work for a larger screen. It would be particularly useful to solve one specific problem — drop shadows to distinguish separate windows. No matter the platform, that is one problem no one seems able to get around. Using an atmospheric model, inactive windows could be pushed back in space. This would keep them entirely visible for reference, while making the active window perfectly clear to the user. It might even be easier to stay focused.
So there it is — a flat visual system that can still utilize depth without compromising its flat-ness. Overall the experiment was a success, and something that I would love to see included in a design system. It would be great in a single app, but would really stand out if someone like Apple used a concept like this to opinionate their design.
A Few Last Notes
These designs aren’t baked. They aren’t ready to be deployed to millions of devices around the world. They’re pretty rough and include plenty of oversights. I know that. All of this is simply a proof of concept and the result of one designer going through some self-imposed explorations over a few nights and weekends. I’m not an entire team, and I wouldn’t pretend to be more capable than any of the folks at Apple, Google, or anywhere else. There would be countless other considerations required in order to fully realize a concept like this, and the system itself could use a lot more fine tuning. My goal was to discover whether that potential even existed. In my opinion, I believe it does.
Will drop shadows ever disappear from UI? Probably not. Despite this proof of concept, I will still be using them frequently. I’m even using them on this very website. In a perfect world, a UI concept like this would likely still incorporate drop shadows to push it even further. I simply chose to challenge myself by avoiding them completely. The point is, there is a big visual world outside that our eyes naturally understand. As designers, we have a lot of tools at our disposal for translating that world into an interface. There’s no need to always stick with what has been done in the past.
Lastly, I’d love to hear what you think! Send me a tweet and let me know.Altcoin News Six Ethereum Projects and its Five Competitors
A lot of 2.0 projects have fallen by the wayside, but currently, Ethereum (ETH) development has continued to show its decentralized blockchain platform wants to stick around for the long run. Startups, legacy institutions, and developers using the programmable currency are popping up left and right. Below is a list of six projects using the ETH blockchain to try and conquer many different 2.0 tasks. Then we discuss a few competitors in the crypto-environment going after some the same goals. As time progresses in this world of decentralized distributed ledgers, the race for 2.0 technology continues.
Also Read: Crawling The Deep Web For Art
IBM & Samsung’s Adept
In January of 2015, IBM revealed its ADEPT proof of concept in a paper called “Device Democracy Saving the future of the Internet of Things.” The report explains the importance of the blockchain and its use case scenarios within the IoT environment becoming “revolutionary as a transaction processing tool.” ADEPT has chosen to use a fork of the Ethereum code for its mission and the use of autonomous telemetry. IBM’s paper describes how they envision the project saying,
“In our vision of a decentralized IoT, the blockchain is the framework facilitating transaction processing and coordination among interacting devices. Each manages its own roles and behavior, resulting in an “Internet of Decentralized, Autonomous Things” – and thus the democratization of the digital world.”
Airlock Project
The Ethereum powered Airlock is called “the next generation keyless protocol.” The platform uses two primary users lockmasters and keyholders which can lock or unlock a lockbox mechanism. Airlock states on its website, “Lockmasters seamlessly grant permission to Keyholders who can access a property or lockbox under specified conditions.” The advantage of using Ethereum’s smart contracts allows Airlock’s DApp (Decentralized Application) to create a programmable environment that can operate device automation the developers say.
Microsoft Azure
Last year Microsoft announced its new cloud-based Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) platform Azure. The company has announced many different types of distributed ledgers within the projects research and development. Blockchains such as Ripple, Factom, and Emercoin have been introduced to the system, but the media has focused its attention on Ethereum. Just recently R3 CEV told the world it was using the Ethereum protocol through Azure to connect 11 banks together for a Bank-to-Bank (B2B) platform. The Microsoft cloud platform has also revealed its first Technical Preview of Azure Stack, which shows the public the projects manifestation.
Algorythmix
Algorythmix is a blockchain based credit rating and KYC platform that just won the first prize in the Citi Mobile Challenge. The platform “Cetas” is a decentralized prototype that uses blockchain technology to bifurcate the traditional way credit ratings are handled. Algorythmix gave a statement to IBTimes UK saying, “Cetas is a decentralized platform which enables sharing of the KYC data using blockchain. The platform has an added a layer of decentralized credit rating function and advanced functionalities to address the problem of scale.” The blockchain service also has other projects which have not been conceived yet. One is Basil that can calculate cyber security risk for cyber insurance, and Hermes a platform for sensor networks for industrial IoT application.
CubeSpawn
CubeSpawn is an FMS (flexible manufacturing system) that enables big factory automation. The website states the initiative is an “open source project to build cost sensitive, high quality, modular manufacturing machines, mostly from repurposed industrial cast-offs.” The project wants to bring technical advances to everyone so the world can best allocate its resources. It believes “local high-tech manufacturing” is the answer to many global issues the world is faced with. The positives the projects could produce include reduction in long distance shipping, reducing fuel costs, encourage recycling, and ending labor inequalities.
Augur
Augur is a prediction market built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. The concept is a tool that allows users to forecast events by using software that understands the odds of basically any probability better than you do. This could make betting on sports games, elections, and future events easier because the protocol is meant to be more consistent. Augur uses a token within its system called REP (reputation) that gives a user more trust in the network. After an event occurs those who use the system more truthfully get rewarded REP. The startup just recently finished a crowd sale and also created the first contract on Ethereums Frontier.
What’s Next in the 2.0 Race?
The Ethereum project is seeing a lot of developers messing around with the code and people are finding use cases. Despite all this the programmable currency has competition in its radar with organizations who also want to achieve the same goals. Maidsafe, Tau Chain, and Counterparty are other projects that aim to do some similar objectives that Ethereum wants to encompass. In November of 2014, Counterparty sparked controversy by porting the ETH software to its platform. The project says that it uses Bitcoin’s ledger within its network stating on its website, “Counterparty is a free and open platform that puts powerful financial tools in the hands of everyone with an Internet connection. By harnessing the power of the Bitcoin network, Counterparty creates a robust and secure marketplace directly on the Bitcoin blockchain.”
Another contender or friend is Rootstock. The platform uses Bitcoin’s blockchain as opposed to an alternative token. Rootstock is said to have the same abilities as Ethereum, and its developer says that they could compliment each other. Diego Gutierrez Zaldivar co-founder of Rootstock says in a reddit post:
“The good thing is Rootstock VM is fully compatible with Ethereum VM so now you will have two platforms to run your application with two different security models and user bases. We are actually empowering the Ethereum development community not threatening it.”
Tau Chain is another project that claims it also will be able to take the 2.0 game to the next level. The developers of Tau believes that Ethereum’s Turing completeness is not necessarily the right direction. Ohad Asor of the Tau teams also says that its platform doesn’t need a token like ETH to operate saying, “Ethereum’s model requires a coin (“fuel”). Tau doesn’t need a coin: the users can agree on the economic characteristic of the network and define any kind of incentive they find adequate, whether globally over the whole network or over their local Tau client.”
Maidsafe is a project that has been said it could be a friend of foe to ETH as well. The project aims to be a decentralized peer-to-peer internet platform and has similar attributes to Ethereum. Some say that Maidsafe can be considered a decentralized storage layer with a multitude of applications. Maidsafe, stands for “Massive Array of Internet Disks, Secure Access For Everyone” and wants to change the landscape of the web with its 2.0 platform.
Ethereum does have its competitors and developers are gearing up their platforms to operate with similar goals in mind. Most of these different networks have been in the top ten cryptocurrency market capitalization at one time or another and are shooting to be right below Bitcoin. There are other projects that do not have as much attention on them right now like Hivemind, which also works with prediction markets like the Augur platform. The project says it is “a Peer-to-Peer Oracle Protocol which absorbs accurate data into a blockchain” and also will incorporate similar 2.0 features to its system. The Ethereum project is definitely not alone in this landscape of smart contract technology, |
results in the exquisite control of ant behavior. "Rather, it is a mixture of different chemicals that we assume act in synergy,” de Bekker says. “Whatever the precise blend and tempo of chemical secretion," she adds, "it is impressive that these fungi seem to 'know' when they are beside the brain of their regular host and behave accordingly."
This work was published in BMC Evolutionary Biology this week.
Images: Hughes Lab, Penn StateWhat does a Pulitzer Prize-winning war photographer have in common with a tennis legend? Or how about a celebrated opera diva and a Los Angeles civil rights lawyer? What does Alec Baldwin have in common with Yogi Berra?
A lot, says journalist Camille Sweeney, who, along with co-author Josh Gosfield, interviewed dozens of highly accomplished men and women for a new book, The Art of Doing: How Superachievers Do What They Do and How They Do It So Well. Whether someone is setting out to create one of the most popular blogs on the Internet, as Mark Frauenfelder did with BoingBoing, or to win a record amount of money on "Jeopardy!," people who accomplish amazing things rely on a particular collection of strategies to get to the top—and many of them are not what you’d expect.
Who is a superachiever?
Somebody at the top of their craft. Ken Jennings, for example, he didn’t just win on "Jeopardy!," he was the winningest contestant ever on "Jeopardy!"—he won 74 times. It’s the person who is going beyond success.
Do you think that the people you interviewed for the book are fundamentally different from the rest of us?
No! It’s interesting. I think when we started out I might have thought that. But after talking to them and really thinking about their lives, I don’t think that they’re different. When they arrived at what they thought they were going to be doing, they just kept at it. They kept up the energy. And when all the doubters and the haters were saying, “This isn’t going to work,” they didn’t listen. When they felt like they could learn something, they took what they could. It gave me hope that if you put your mind to something, you can be a superachiever. It takes a lot of work, and the work doesn’t stop. These people are pretty 24/7 about what they’re doing.
Your book includes profiles of a wide array of people—business gurus, scientists, actors, musicians, writers and athletes. How did you decide whom to include?
We always thought of our cast of characters as being the most fabulous dinner party you could go to. Anywhere you could sit, you would be getting information from people as disparate as high-wire artist Philippe Petit, dog whisperer Cesar Millan or the opera diva Anna Netrebko.
This is an eclectic group, but you discovered they all share several key strategies and personality traits. What are some of the common threads?
Probably the biggest is self-awareness—the ability to be self-questioning. I love to talk about Martina Navratilova. She had picked tennis up as a young girl and was playing extremely well, better than 99.9 percent of people worldwide ever played tennis. Yet, she was very inconsistent. She had this realization when [American tennis great] Chris Evert beat her, just a drubbing, that all along she was playing based on the assumption that talent and instinct alone was enough to get her to the top and keep her there. She realized that she was not in nearly the condition that she would need to be to be able to play consistently, so she started playing four hours every day. She transformed herself into a playing machine. Using this process of self-evaluation, she was able to get so much further than she would have had she not. She’s just one example, but we kept seeing this over and over again.
Superachievers might look like loners—at the top of the mountain, by themselves. But they all found ways to connect themselves to people who would support their dreams and their goals. Everybody had this skill of active listening, when you’re taking in what another person’s saying and processing it, listening for information that you’re going to put into action. That’s something that’s surprising for very successful people—you would imagine that they don’t want to be told (what to do), because they know everything. You wouldn’t think that Tony Hsieh, the CEO of Zappos.com, or Martina Navratilova, has to listen, but that is what they’re doing.
Another thing that these people had in common was patience—not something that you would normally associate with a hard-charging, successful person. We had a really good chat with Hélio Castroneves, the Indy 500 race car driver. When he was a young boy, his father got him into go-karting. He would get in there and he’d feel like he’d have to lead every lap and go as fast as he could and get to the end. His father kept saying, “Use your head.” By that, he meant, “You’ve got the passion and you’ve got the ambition, but temper that by knowing when to make the right move.” So, in one particular race, he literally held back and let another kart go in front of him so he could use all the energy that he had for that very last lap. Boom, he won the race. It was a wake-up call for him that he didn’t have to win every lap.
Smithsonian.com recently interviewed a psychologist who argued that successful people often benefit from psychopathic tendencies. Did you detect any psychopaths among your subjects?
Well, I’m not a scientist. But I think what is interesting is [how psychopaths] manage emotions. Being really skillful at managing your emotions means you’re able to separate yourself and examine those emotions, feel them when they’re about to occur, and create a path for them to happen but not derail you. These people that I talked with, they’re really skilled at using their emotions. They’re able to use their frustration and their anger to propel them, to fuel action.
One thing that seemed conspicuously absent from your list was natural talent. How important do you think that is to success?
I think it is important, but I think you could have a really talented artist who never picks up a pen and draws. Certainly, the people that we talked to showed talent early on. But I think it’s what you do with that talent that makes all the difference. One of my favorite interviews was with Jessica Watson, the teenager who circumnavigated the globe alone [in a sailboat] in 2010. It was an idea she had when she was 11. She had no sailing background. There was no talent that she was pursuing. But at 11, Jessica got this idea that she could do it. So, her real talent became holding onto that dream.
Are there any downsides to being a superachiever? Did these people have to make sacrifices to reach their goals?
I think one of the things with superachievers is that they’re very single-minded, very focused. They shape their life around their dreams or their goals, rather than the other way around. But to me, as long as you’re keeping the goal in mind and recognizing all of the sacrifices that goal is going to take, then I wouldn’t say there’s a downside.
Even if we aren’t superachievers, can regular people use these techniques and strategies in our own lives?
Absolutely. There is a process of doing everything. Superachievement may seem like this impenetrable block of success, this almost intimidating concept. But when you break it down into very small things, or patterns to the way somebody does something, you can grab it and absorb it right into your life. There is this exciting opportunity for people to start seeing the world through this different lens, whether you’re looking at the people we chose or people in your life.
You met so many people for this project—who was the most fun to interview?
Philippe Petit, the high-wire artist who walked between the World Trade Center towers. He’s full of anger and bravado. He has ideas about how you have to go straight into chaos in order to create art, risking his life by being up on the high wire. He has a lot of interesting techniques and strategies. One is he goes rock-jumping in riverbeds. If it’s slippery and mossy, he could fall and hit his head, so every time he moves to the next rock, he has a whole process of decision-making that he has to do very, very quickly.
There’s a lot of good advice in this book, but that’s probably one thing we shouldn’t try at home.
Exactly. No!Your pathway absorbs the world in kaleidoscopic panorama
Wheels
Spin
Cranks
Spin
Rims
Spin
Pedals
You are a mass of motion revolving pressure into the pavement
Air inside your tubes rotates. It breathes. It swims. It gasps woosh woosh woosh woosh for pressurized competition with surface streets, powered by sinews and muscles and blood and tendons and joy
Your spokes tense as they display the omnipotent sun in flashes, blasts of metal from a central hub – a nucleus of connectivity rimmed with a circle of holey wonder
What do you feel, bicycle, as you dance with the rhythm of forward movement – tangoing down a path of unpredictability? Rocks, shards, forks, debris strewn in your path. Potholes embracing your entrance.
Can you feel the wind whistling through your chain ring, your chain, your derailleur, your human?
Do you mourn the times you are displayed in my kitchen? You, a piece of steel and rubber furniture, ever shivering, trembling, anxious for a symbiotic spin outside and away from here
Are you happy, bicycle, as you spin past the blurry world?
Fly, bike, fly.he Daily Guide has been working with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department(PCSD) to revisit some of the county’s cold cases in an attempt to assist the department in generating leads, finding justice for victims, and peace for families. Anyone with any information on a cold case is encouraged to call the tip line at 573-774-7948. One of the oldest, violent, and perplexing cold cases is that of Jane Doe.
Doe is the victim of a murder, who has gone more than three decades without a name. She is getting closer to having a name, thanks to modern technology. Additionally, the PCSD is asking that individuals who may have come into contact with the victim come forward to add more pieces to the puzzle.
The Daily Guide has been working with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department(PCSD) to revisit some of the county’s cold cases in an attempt to assist the department in generating leads, finding justice for victims, and peace for families. Anyone with any information on a cold case is encouraged to call the tip line at 573-774-7948. One of the oldest, violent, and perplexing cold cases is that of Jane Doe.
Doe is the victim of a murder, who has gone more than three decades without a name. She is getting closer to having a name, thanks to modern technology. Additionally, the PCSD is asking that individuals who may have come into contact with the victim come forward to add more pieces to the puzzle.
What can DNA and bones tell us?
Doe’s body was exhumed in May of last year in an attempt to see if DNA could be extracted from the remains, as well as any other evidence that could be collected.
Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long announced earlier this week, in his weekly column, that both mitochondrial DNA and STR-DNA (Short Term Repeats) were retrieved from Jane Doe’s remains by the University of North Texas Forensic Sciences Department.
The fact that scientists were able to extract DNA from Doe’s remains has Long, Sgt. in Charge of Detectives Linda Burgess and Detective Doug Renno excited that an answer to Doe’s identity is only a DNA swab away.
The DNA profile has been added to databases such as CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) and the FBI national data base, allowing the capability to confirm or eliminate matches. Renno said that he had already been contacted about one missing woman who was not a match.
Burgess said that family members who believe Doe may be a relative should get a DNA swab. She said that people may not realize that their DNA is not on file or in a database because, at the time Doe’s body was found, the technology wasn’t around yet.
Doe’s biological profile, to determine racial identity, based on her bones, “are supportive of the assessment of possible Amerindian or Mestizo (“Hispanic”) ancestry but are not conclusive.”
The crime scene
The Daily Guide visited the crime scene with Burgess and Renno to revisit the area and discuss the facts of the case on Thursday evening.
Doe’s body was discovered on May 25, 1981 in a low water crossing off of Highway MM north of Dixon, beaten and strangled with a pair of panty hose. The location is off the beaten path, on a gravel road, in an area that was, and still is, a place that young people gather for parties.
While visiting the area, signs of recent activity were present, including a place where there had been a fire and empty beverage containers. Renno noted that the spot is not a place that someone from outside the area would find “on their own.” The road going to the low water crossing is a rough gravel road, that is very steep in places, and curvy.
The location is isolated, on a creek bed, at a low water crossing in an area that would be known only to locals.
“A trucker couldn’t have driven in here, without knowing where it was and just dumped her here,” Renno said.
Renno and Burgess confirmed that they had received information, sometime after the exhumation, that there may have been a party nearby around the time that Doe was killed. The detectives said they hope that any individual who may have any information about that would come forward to help add pieces to the puzzle.
Burgess noted that people often don’t realize that they know something or think it probably isn’t important, but they “have no way of knowing” whether or not it will mean something to the investigation.
The detectives also noted that if teenagers were in the area nearly 35 years ago drinking, smoking marijuana, or other activities that might have gotten them into trouble at the time, it wouldn’t get them into trouble now.
How did Jane Doe die?
Doe’s death was violent. She was beaten and strangled with a pair of pantyhose. Renno said she was the victim of an “obvious assault” with blows to her face and head. According to Renno, the autopsy showed mild trauma to the vaginal walls, as well.
She was discovered lying with the midsection of her body up out of the creek, on a section of gravel, her head under the water, fully dressed, and her feet under water. According to Long, last year, Doe had most likely been dead roughly four or five hours when her body was discovered at 8:47 a.m.
Renno noted that the creek is spring-fed and the water is cold, even in the summer. The cold water could possibly affect body temperature and time of death estimates.
Doe is described as dark complected, in her 30's, with a full upper denture plate, five foot, three inches tall and weighing 130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol Missing Persons Clearing house and the Daily Guide archives report that she was found wearing a dark blue, long-sleeved blouse with white pinstripes (brand name Try 1), jeans (brand name In Gear), blue bikini panties and a bra with Jubel or Julie written inside the bra in magic marker. She was not wearing shoes, no shoes were found at the scene and she was found with a pair of pantyhose wrapped around her neck.
Renno said that the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s original report on the case said that investigators had walked up and down the creek looking for Doe’s shoes.
Why is it important to solve this case?
Identifying Doe and solving this case has become near and dear to the detectives on the case, as well as members of the department, as a whole. They believe this woman deserves her name, a proper burial, and justice, if they can get it.
Burgess told the Daily Guide that when it was time for her remains to be transported to Texas for forensic analysis the department decided that it would not be shipping her like a package. Instead, she was driven by Burgess and another officer to Texas.
Burgess and Renno also said they plan to see to giving Doe a proper burial, when she returns to Pulaski County in within the few months. However, they are hoping that her family has been located by that time and she’ll be able to have her real name placed on her tombstone.
Burgess asked Renno, “What eats at you the most with this case?”
Renno said, at first, it was “how to get things done,” such as the exhumation, learning about resources through NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System), but now, as a cop, he would like to know what happened.
“I want to know what happened to her. Who did it? Somebody knew her. Somebody knows what happened to her,” Renno said.
Burgess said, for her, she knows there’s a family out there missing their daughter, their sister, or their mother.
“Somebody out there grieves for her, mourns for her. They’re asking where is my mother? Where is my daughter?” Burgess said.
Renno said he wanted to fell like “everything that can be done, has been done” to solve this case and give Doe her name back.
“She deserves to know that every agency has done everything they can to find her. She deserves to know that the community has done everything it can do to find her,” Burgess said.
What’s next?
PCSD will be making arrangements to bring Doe back to Pulaski County and has begun the process of reviewing missing person profiles, in an attempt to identify Doe. They will be making requests for DNA comparisons where they can.
Renno said none of what has been accomplished on this case, so far or in the future, would have been possible if it wasn’t for NamUs. The forensic analysis of Doe’s remains were done through NamUs and did not cost the county anything.
PCSD will continue to investigate this case and hope that some new leads will emerge from this story. Anyone with any information, no matter how small, can call the tip line at 573-774-7948. Burgess said the department follows up on every lead.See, didn't we tell you it's hilarious?! Who knew watching people shush each other could be so funny?
In the finale, the group goes on a Goonies-style treasure hunt in order to save Greendale from a Subway takeover. (Now this is how you do product placement, people!) To save the school, they delve into the history of Greendale's first Dean, Russell Borchert (guest star Chris Elliott), a reclusive genius who mysteriously disappeared after a scandal in the '70s.
"The finale is awesome," Danny Pudi recently gushed. "For me, I was excited to work with Jim Rash and Alison Brie, us three go on this side adventure that turns into a group adventure."
Community's finale airs Thursday, April 17, at 8 p.m. on NBC.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)This video is no longer available
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How Do These Women Feel About High Heels? (Street Interview)
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This is an interesting topic I came up with on August 7th. Took me over a month to make due to a lot of declines, and a crazy work schedule. Some of my days off were wasted because i would go home with nothing. Yesterday, I had to deal with a lot of frustrating street noise as you can see in the video.. Not pleased with how it turned out. Plan is to move on and work on another interview. I also chose to cut out three other opinions because they were boring, one worded answers. Instagram: /redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fp%2FBXfCatfBCTs%2F%3Ftaken-by%3Dstevocanuck&v=QXaYqI7nNds&event=video_description&redir_token=KFnk3FygPzl5hLW5pJ_c4GOyY9R8MTUwNjgxNDQwOUAxNTA2NzI4MDA5
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1,264Call it the bitcoin book boom.
In the past year hundreds of books were published on the cryptocurrency (which was the single worst-performing medium of exchange last year). Yet despite the media buzz and the wealth of private investment, most people don’t know or care about bitcoin.
The book that most convincingly argues why that could soon change is The Age of Cryptocurrency: How Bitcoin and Digital Money are Challenging the Global Economic Order by Wall Street Journal reporters Paul Vigna and Michael Casey. They begin with the story of a young woman in Afghanistan with no bank account. She’s able to receive payment instantly and securely for the work she does for a U.S. film blog using the e-currency. It cuts out the middleman; gone is the typical two-day bank delay in processing. (Never mind that the value of her payment is subject to change abruptly.)
An anonymous, peer-to-peer, unregulated network for payments may sound scary to some. But the potential it has to ease the exchange of any kind of value (the “block chain,” bitcoin’s public ledger, can support a variety of decentralized applications, such as secure storage of documents) is exciting. And it is beginning to interest not just the early group that Vigna and Casey aptly describe as, “a small, fiercely dedicated band of tech-minded, libertarian-leaning digital utopians.”
As Vigna and Casey know all too well, their book is hardly first to the market. But they have produced more than a bitcoin 101: theirs is a smarter, more holistic take on not just bitcoin, but the potential of all digital currencies to change the way we send each other money. In fact, it goes deeper than the average mildly interested reader likely cares to dig (the book gets a little bogged down in an exploration of the crash of bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox). But for those on the outside looking in, it is interesting and lucid enough to hold attention while it educates you.
While the authors are certainly bitcoin believers—declaring that the currency will make entrenched systems “look as antiquated as Gutenberg’s printing press”—they’re also careful to note it might still fail spectacularly. Success, they say, “is still a big if.”
A shorter version of this book review appeared in the March 15, 2015 issue of Fortune.
For more on the explosion in bitcoin books, read: The bitcoin book boom.OMAHA, Neb. -- JC Cloney gave Arizona yet another strong start in the College World Series, and he did it after his worst outing of the year.
The junior left-hander pitched seven strong innings to lead Arizona to a 3-0 victory over UC Santa Barbara in an elimination game Wednesday night, sending the Wildcats to the Bracket 1 final.
"I don't think we've had a performance that good all year, the one he gave us tonight," coach Jay Johnson said. "Character off the charts. His last outing was a little bumpy. He's only had two bumpy ones this year. Both times, he responded in a Hall of Fame manner."
Editor's Picks Arizona finds right formula for College World Series survival The Arizona Wildcats are confident they've found their footing in Omaha after earning a rematch with Oklahoma State. They need to beat the Cowboys twice, but they like their chances.
Cloney, who allowed seven runs in 3⅔ innings in a loss to Louisiana-Lafayette in regionals, was more like his usual self against the Gauchos. He allowed just five singles and became the eighth straight Arizona starter to go at least seven innings at TD Ameritrade Park since the 2012 national championship season.
"I don't know about being more motivated than usual," Cloney said. "Coach Johnson has talked about [these] Super Bowls all year and to give my best effort. I moved past Lafayette the day after."
Jared Oliva homered for the first time since April 4 for the Wildcats (46-22) and has driven in four of his team's eight runs in Omaha.
"The past month, I've become more developed as a hitter, and I try to stay relaxed and don't do too much," Oliva said. "I stick to my game plan, and whatever happens happens. I got a good pitch to hit and got a good swing on it."
The Gauchos (43-20-1), who went 1-2 in their first CWS appearance, threatened in the ninth against Cameron Ming after Clay Fisher doubled and Devon Gradford walked with no outs. Ming struck out Austin Bush, JJ Muno and Dempsey Grover to end the game.
Santa Barbara senior left-hander Justin Kelly (2-1) allowed seven hits in three-plus innings. Arizona scored its first run on a sacrifice fly, and Oliva followed with his fourth homer of the season (first since April 4) to make it 3-0.
Trevor Bettencourt settled things down for the Gauchos after Kyle Lewis singled leading off the fourth against Kelly. Bettencourt retired 13 in a row -- striking out a career-high seven -- before Bobby Dalbec singled in the eighth.
"You watch the College World Series when you're a little kid and you're not sure how you'll feel when you're out there," Bettencourt said. "After the warm-up pitches, I was going to take a deep breath and look around the stadium and embrace it. I couldn't help but smile. It was intense, but I looked around and felt lucky to be here."
Santa Barbara was shut out twice and batted.202 in three CWS games. So ended an excited postseason run highlighted by freshman Sam Cohen's walk-off pinch-hit grand slam to beat No. 2 national seed Louisville in the super regionals.
"When people go home, they get emotional, and I promised myself I wouldn't, but for these kids to get us here, to get this opportunity for our program, is unique," coach Andrew Checketts said. "I hate using the term 'overachieved.' I think they achieved as a group and ended up being a real good baseball team."
ARIZONA LIMITS RUNS
Arizona is the fourth team in CWS history, and first since Arizona State in 1972, to allow two or fewer runs in its first three games. The Wildcats are 24-1 this season when holding opponents to two runs or fewer.
GAUCHOS IN A PINCH
Santa Barbara's pinch hitters went 4-for-7 in the NCAA tournament, and they were 3-for-4 in the CWS. Over their final four national tournament games, UCSB pinch hitters accounted for six RBIs. The rest of the team drove in three.
UP NEXT
Arizona plays Oklahoma State on Friday in the Bracket 1 final. The Wildcats need to win that game and another Saturday against the Cowboys to reach next week's best-of-three finals. UC Santa Barbara's season is over.An armed man who barricaded himself in the garage of a home in Winnetka on Monday surrendered to LAPD after hours of negotiations.
Police say the suspect was accused in a domestic violence incident involving his wife. LAPD officers responded to the scene at Winnetka Avenue and Vanowen Street after the woman called around 5 a.m. to report that the man was trying to break into her home.
When police arrived, the woman said her husband had barricaded himself in the home. Police believed he was in the garage. They tried talking to the man by peering over a fence, but they say he pointed a shotgun at them.
Officers then called in a SWAT team, and a robot was sent into the home. The team also evacuated the woman, another relative who also lives in the home and neighbors as a precaution.
The suspect surrendered just before 3 p.m. without further incident.
Winnteka Avenue was closed from Victory Boulevard and Vanowen Street due to the incident.Premier League: Manchester City unsure how long Sergio Aguero will be out
Sergio Aguero: Nursing a calf complaint
The in-form Argentine striker limped out of Saturday's 6-3 victory over Arsenal during the second half.
Aguero later confirmed on Twitter that he would be missing for 'at least a month'.
Pellegrini also hinted that his fellow South American could be back early in the New Year.
The Chilean tactician has, however, now revealed that he cannot put a timescale on Aguero's recovery.
Were he to be out of action for the 'eight weeks' which are being suggested, he would be a major doubt for City's crucial clash with Barcelona in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League in February.
Pellegrini said after watching his side overcome Leicester City 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup: "I am not a doctor. It is very difficult.
"The doctor has said he has at least one month or eight weeks. We will see.
"I don't how many weeks but it will be at least one month. It is very difficult to know at this moment how many weeks it can be."Get the biggest daily stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
A pregnant Pug has been stolen from her owners’ home and they fear she may die if she is not returned.
The family of Dotty the Pug from Tredegar in Blaenau Gwent are desperately appealing for help after it is thought she was taken from their garden on November 20.
Dotty, who is heavily pregnant, cannot give birth naturally due to a medical condition and must have a cesarean section.
But her owners fear that due to stress, an early labour could put both her and her puppies in danger.
Kathyrn Evans, 37, said her mother let Dotty into the secured back garden with two other dogs when she went missing.
It is thought she disappeared at around 8am from the Feeder Bank area in a yard surrounded by a high wall.
The mother-of-two said: “It was less than five minutes that she was out.
“First of all we thought the gate must have been open but there hasn’t been a single sighting of her. She’s so pregnant she can hardly move and she’s so slow.”
Dotty, who is two years old, was originally hand-reared by the family after she was the only surviving puppy from her litter.
Her owner said: “We’re all worried sick about her. At first we were worried about her being in the cold and rain but now we want to know if she’s being looked after.”
“She’s been hand-reared since she was a couple of hours old.”
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A spokeswoman for Gwent Police said: "We received a report of a theft of a dog which is thought to have taken place around 8.10am on Monday 20 November.
"The dog was left outside in a garden with the gate shut and when the owner checked on the dog ten minutes later, the gate was open and the dog was gone, thought to be stolen.
"The dog is a fawn coloured pug and is valued at around £1,000. If anyone has any information about this theft, please call 101 quoting log 413 20/11/17."
A reward has been offered for Dotty’s safe return. Anyone with information is asked to call 01495 726 674 or 07970 782 672.President Trump Accuses Obama Of 'Wire Tapping,' Provides No Evidence
Enlarge this image toggle caption Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images
Updated 9:17 a.m. ET Sunday with White House press secretary statement
In a string of tweets posted early Saturday morning, President Trump let loose a barrage of accusations at his predecessor. He alleged that former President Obama had his "wires tapped" in Trump Tower before Election Day last year, accusing Obama of "McCarthyism" and being a "bad (or sick) guy."
Trump, who is under significant scrutiny for his administration's contacts with Russia before he took office, offered no evidence to support his claims Saturday morning.
Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer, released a statement Sunday — which you can read in full at the bottom of this post — saying the White House is asking Congress to investigate "whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016."
Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis dismissed the allegation Saturday in a statement, which you can read below.
Trump opened his volley on Twitter Saturday morning with a defense of his embattled attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who recused himself earlier this week from any investigations into Russian intervention in the presidential election. Sessions has been embroiled in controversy for two meetings he held with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. last year, which appear to contradict a statement he made to the Senate in his confirmation hearings.
"The first meeting Jeff Sessions had with the Russian Amb was set up by the Obama Administration under education program for 100 Ambs," Trump tweeted. Later, Trump added that the same Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, visited the White House under Obama "22 times, and 4 times last year alone."
In the midst of these defenses, the sitting president accused the former president of " 'wire tapping' a race for president prior to an election."
"Terrible!" Trump tweeted. "Just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!"
Lewis, Obama's spokesman, rejected the allegation that the former president was involved in surveillance:
"A cardinal rule of the Obama Administration was that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice. As part of that practice, neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any U.S. citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false."
Trump did not produce evidence to support his assertions, nor did he cite the source of his information — though on Weekend Edition Saturday, NPR's Ron Elving notes the fact that Trump says he "just found out":
"It appears perhaps to be a response to a narrative in Breitbart.com, the right-wing website that was previously published by Steve Bannon, the president's senior adviser. "There, you will find a narrative about how the Obama administration was so intent on thwarting Donald Trump last fall that they had much of the intelligence community doing everything it could to gather skullduggery and information about Donald Trump. "And that would have included, according to Donald Trump, wiretapping his phones. But there does not seem to be any direct evidence of that."
"That is an extraordinary thing to hear from a sitting president about his predecessor," NPR's Mary Louise Kelly notes on Weekend Edition Saturday. For our Newscast unit, Mary Louise adds: "Tapping his phones would require a warrant from the foreign intelligence surveillance court."
She also says the director of national intelligence is declining comment.
The FBI has opened an investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election to boost Trump's campaign. Congressional intelligence committees are currently reviewing documents related to possible links between Russian officials and the campaign, as well as recent leaks of classified information.
Shortly after his final tweet about Obama, which says "this is Nixon/Watergate," Trump turned his attention to other matters, berating Arnold Schwarzenegger, his successor on Celebrity Apprentice. Schwarzenegger announced Friday he was leaving the show, blaming the show's recent poor ratings on Trump.
White House statement on Trump's allegation
"Reports concerning potentially politically motivated investigations immediately ahead of the 2016 election are very troubling.
"President Donald J. Trump is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016.
"Neither the White House nor the President will comment further until such oversight is conducted. "Heading into the 2015 Draft, Eagles VP of Player Personnel Ed Marynowitz reaffirmed the teams’ commitment to highly valuing physical traits in the scouting process.
"[Nick] Saban’s philosophy, he had been in the NFL for quite some time, and our philosophy there was a very similar philosophy to what we have here. It was a very height/weight/speed specific operation. This is a size/speed league. We believed the SEC was a size/speed league. There’s enough statistical data that will support that in terms of players that are playing at a high level. There’s a certain prototype. So our goal there was that although there may be varying degrees of players in terms of an ability standpoint, when the starters come off the field and the backups come in, they all relatively look the same. So there’s a certain prototype at each position. We try to build the same thing here, whether it’s at inside linebacker, outside linebacker, corner, safety. There’s a prototype, and there’s a model that fits what we do. We did the same thing there." Big picture wise, you want to play with the odds, not against the odds. And the odds are telling you that the majority of these guys that are under this certain prototype do not play at a starting level in the NFL. If you have seven draft picks, do you really want to waste one, especially in the top three rounds, on a guy that history is telling you... typically these guys with these types of measurables don’t produce at this level?"
He indicated that in particular this would be seen in the end of the draft.
"I think sometimes in the later rounds you may defer a little bit more to numbers in terms of testing numbers and what they have in their body. You want guys that have athleticism and traits that can translate. Guys that are wired the right way in terms of being willing to develop and improve as players. Byron Maxwell is a great example of that. He has a certain level of skill set and is wired the right way to improve and develop, and I think you're looking for those traits in late-round picks."
And that's exactly what the Eagles did, using a different kind of Oregon bias: Nike |
other objects which have a clear path-to-ground. Touch them every few moments to discharge any build-up.
You could use the below method for an in-between option if you'd rather not connect to a faceplate but would still like to have confidence in being grounded.
Method Pros: Quick. Simple.
Method Cons: No guarantee of grounding; you can pick up a charge at any point in the process.
A Compromise: Grounding to the Case
We build systems on a daily basis for our guides and reviews, so our process was designed to be efficient and effective. Our build environments are humidity-monitored (you can purchase a cheap humidifier or open the windows if your house is dry) and, depending on where we're building, we don't always have easy access to a faceplate. If this is the case for you, here's a simple method that should do the trick:
If the PSU has a toggle switch, toggle the PSU to the off position. If it does not, you'll need to either use a ground-only power connector (no power provided) or connect to another grounded surface.
Connect the PSU to ground via the 3-pronged cable it shipped with; if the PSU does not have a toggle switch, it'd probably be easier to connect to a faceplate screw anyway. You could also create your own ground cable, but we'll cover that in a future video guide.
Connect your ESD Wrist Strap (search for "ESD wrist band" or "ESD wrist strap" on your favorite e-tail website; Syba makes a decent one for cheap) to the metal grill of the PSU or to another non-painted interior wall. Connecting to a painted grill will still work, but depends on the thickness and conductivity of the paint. Non-painted surfaces are your sure-fire bet of being grounded.
Build!
This system forces any discharge through the power cable and directly into ground (the third prong on your connector); the charge will bypass volatile components and leave them unharmed.
Alternatively, if you build systems frequently or have a bit more money on-hand, ESD mats are also an option. ESD mats are what I used when in the aforementioned lab environment -- with the nicer options, you can connect your ESD wrist strap directly to the mat (which will lure any charge you have out of you) and get to building. These also provide a suitable surface for out-of-case modifications; installing the CPU or heatsink externally is often significantly easier -- it's also good practice to test components before installation -- and this can be done with confidence when operating on an ESD mat.
Method Pros: A reasonable level of confidence in being grounded. Quick and simple.
Method Cons: Painted surfaces can be cause for a gray area in your confidence.
A generic ESD mat that provides a safe testing area.
Isn't this all a bit extreme? I've never zapped anything and I don't ground myself.
The short answer is: Yes, these measures ('touch metal things' aside) certainly do go above-and-beyond the "I won't shock anything!" mentality.
Chances are, if you take some precautions (next section) and touch grounded objects occasionally, you'll be fine. Most likely. That said, I've certainly ESD'd some parts to death before completely unexpectedly. You might not even feel the discharge -- work on enough systems without being properly grounded (or live in a dry environment) and you'll eventually kill a component inadvertently.
General Tips & Advice
Don't wear socks! No, seriously, don't rub your sock-enclosed feet on carpet while building. In fact, let's just list the things to do / not to do:
Try to avoid building on carpet. Opt for harder surfaces that produce less friction.
If you've opted for the quick-n-dirty method, make sure you're touching surfaces that will actually ground you. Plastic won't do much.
Don't wear socks, damn it!
Don't go out and buy a humidifier just to build a system, but if you have one already in one of your rooms, it doesn't hurt to build there.
I personally would recommend acquiring a cheap (~$7-$8) ESD wrist strap for build purposes. It'll make you feel much more confident. Use method 3 above if you'd rather not clip into a faceplate.
ESD mats are fun for regular builders, but certainly not required.
If you have clothes that you've noticed cause static buildup more often than others, don't wear them when assembling a system. Wool, for example, could cause problems. Grounding your wrist to a strap won't necessarily siphon the charge from your clothing.
Don't worry too much about ESD. Worry enough to not wear socks on carpet, but not so much that you're going 15 minutes out of the way to be grounded.
If you have any questions about electro-static discharge, system building, or need build component selection advice, please comment below or visit our forums for in-depth support!
- Steve "Lelldorianx" Burke.Anti-abortion crusader Randall Terry has released a video mocking Samuel L. Jackson as the “New Uncle Tom” for his complicity in so-called “black genocide” by supporting President Barack Obama.
Wearing a thick gold chain and speaking with a stereotypical urban accent, Terry performs his poem as “Sir Reginald Bling” to parody Jackson’s recent video which urged voters to “Wake the Fuck Up.”
“When Obama and Biden work themselves to a fit / they picked up the phone, called 9-1-holy shit,” Randall says. “Send a man who will ‘Die Hard with a Vengeance’ for us / And a man who will stay in the back of the bus / You’re darn right we’ll work, no you just stay calm / Get Samuel L. Jackson to play uncle Tom.”
“When there’s too many black kids running around / who do you call to clean up your town? / When you absolutely got to kill every babe in the womb / except no substitutes, Planned Parenthood’s the tomb,” he continues. “When the attack of the black clones gives voters the chills / Obama, this boy has exceptional skills / When it’s time for the work of the Ku Klux Klan / Samuel L. Jackson, uh huh, he’s the man.”
“Who do the racist at Planned Parenthood turn to call on? / Samuel L. Jackson, the new Uncle Tom.”
Terry is running both for Congress in Florida and as independent candidate for president in several states so that his group, Operation Rescue, can run graphic ads featuring aborted fetuses and accusing pro-choice activists of “black genocide.”
“Randall Terry, a purported candidate for U.S. President, has asserted that he has the legal right to force our station to broadcast his advertisements under a law that provides federal candidates with access to TV station airtime,” Indiana NBC affiliate WFIE explained to their viewers. “We believe that the content of Randall Terry’s advertisements is inappropriate for our viewers. If you agree that this material is not appropriate for television, please contact Randall Terry directly and let him know of your concerns.”
In 2009, Terry claimed that Dr. George Tiller “reaped what he sowed” after he was gunned down by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder.
Watch this video from Randall Terry for U.S. House via Right Wing Watch, broadcast Oct. 15, 2012.Xbox One S: Thinking of buying? Here’s all the information you need.
The 2TB Xbox One S is available in Australia from 2 August, and we’ve all the information you need right here.
What is it?
The Xbox One S is a sleeker, smaller, slightly more powerful version of the Xbox One. It isn’t Project Scorpio, a powerful revision of the console planned for next year.
The “S” doesn’t actually stand for “Slim”, but because it’s way smaller that’s what everyone’s going with.
“The new Xbox One S is the smallest and most compact Xbox we’ve ever created; the “S” is a way to differentiate between previous Xbox One models,” a Microsoft rep confirmed with Stevivor.
The Slim comes with the following improvements:
40% smaller form factor.
A new, white colour scheme.
4K video support for Blu-rays, movies and other apps.
4K upscaling for games and HDR support for select games and video.
Its power brick is in the console itself.
A new Xbox Wireless controller with Bluetooth support.
Australia gets the 2TB Xbox One Slim from 2 August, with 500GB and 1TB models available from 23 August.
The console will require a day one update after purchase to enable things like 4K video support.
How much does it cost?
Easy. The 2TB model costs $549.00 AUD. The 1TB model is priced at $499 AUD and the 500GB model at $399 AUD.
JB Hi-Fi is offering a 2TB model with Tom Clancy’s The Division for $549.00 AUD, so that’s the best deal if you’re not trading an old console in.
A Gears of War 4-themed Xbox One Slim 2TB console will also be available in October, priced at $599.00 AUD.
What if I trade in my old Xbox One?
EB Games is offering a 2TB Xbox One Slim for $379 AUD if you trade in your original Xbox One 500GB console (thanks, Agus!). You’ll also get $31 AUD off if you trade in your Xbox One Kinect with the console itself (thanks, Raj!).
Remember to connect to the internet to put all your game saves to the cloud before trading your console in. Also, wipe it first — head here for info.
Does it support Kinect?
Yes and no. The console does support Kinect, but it requires a special adapter to do so.
Those with an original Xbox One and Kinect can head to Xbox Support for a free adapter, but keep in mind that you’ll need to register those serial numbers there before trading anything in.
Those buying an Xbox One for the first time will need to shell out an additional $40 USD if an adapter is required. Pre-owned Kinects are currently $77 AUD at EB Games.
Should I buy one?
That really depends on your situation. Do you have an Xbox One already? You might want to consider waiting for Project Scorpio.
If you have an Xbox One already and don’t have a 4K television, the only benefit is the increased internal storage and its smaller form factor.
If you don’t have an Xbox One and don’t want to wait until late 2017 for its more powerful revision at that time, then it’s a go.
Decide carefully, gamers!Recycling is one of the first post-industrial successes that mixed environmentalism with business. Instead of being buried underground, certain types of waste stream from consumer's homes to special facilities to be sorted by type, broken down, and shipped off to manufacturers to begin life anew. Recycling makes environmental and economic sense.
Or at least, it did. Sure, Americans are recycling more than ever before, but the business side of things is in a lull. Some recycled goods just aren't worth as much as they used to be, and the downturn has hit the industry hard. Companies have reported losses in the millions, some have shuttered facilities, and several are talking about renegotiating contracts so cities help foot the bill. There's no easy solution. But it sure would help if Americans relearned how to recycle.
Don't believe me? Listen, you don't know how to recycle:
"I just think we need to be focusing more on the education." — Amy Perlmutter, Perlmutter Associates, a recycling consulting firm.
"It always goes back to education." — Steve Sargent, director of Rumpke Recycling.
"Maybe a better way to look is if we can better educate everybody that what they can put in their bin is recyclables that would be better." — Jason Pelz, vice president of recycling projects with the Carton Council of North America.
How the heck do you mess up recycling?
Selling out
It's best to start from the other side, the output. Recycled goods are used to make new products. That means they have to compete in commodities markets, and right now those markets aren't doing so hot. "We're experiencing the longest historic drop in commodities values in the residential recycling market," says Sargent, of Rumpke. In the last five years, the average price for all the recyclables Rumpke sells back to the market has dropped from $140 to $70 or less.
Aluminum is down. Paper is down. Plastics are down. The whole industry is down. In its second quarter earnings statement, recycling industry behemoth Waste Management posted a $59 million loss. And just like in any business, the best way to solve that is leaner operations. The company has closed down several sorting plants. Them's the breaks.
On top of that, second hand commodities is a buyer's market, which means the goods have to be top quality. But recyclables that aren't well sorted become contaminated—flattened pieces of plastic getting mixed in with the paper, for instance. So sorting plants, where all the things you throw into your recycling bins get conveyer-ed into various categories, compressed, and baled for sale, are crucial. Sorting plants are formally known as materials recovery facilities—or "murfs" (MRFs) if you're in the biz. Go ahead and giggle. I did.
Cross contamination in these plants is a big problem, so much so that some have tried to trace back all of recycling's issues to the ubiquitous blue bin. "Single stream recycling results in a doubling of contamination rates," says Susan Robinson, Waste Management's director of public affairs. But it also gets more people to participate, which is the main reason why fewer and fewer cities are asking you to sort. In the end, the big blue bin is still boss.
But sorting's biggest menace isn't cross-contamination, it's non-recyclables that come along for the ride. "The single biggest problem material at recycling facilities are plastic bags," says Robinson. "We get a surprising number of garden hoses, Christmas lights, and shower curtains," says Robinson. "All those materials wrap around equipment, sometimes for hours," resulting in hours of lost productivity while the material is fished out.
It's not even that people are being lazy. Rather, Americans are in some ways too enthusiastic about recycling. "One thing we’ve learned is that people do a lot of wishful recycling, where folks want so bad to recycle so they throw things in by default," says Anderson.
Which means it's the recycling industry that's not doing a good enough job at letting people know what is not allowed. Part of this is messaging. "Sure, plastic bags can technically be recycled, by taking them back to the supermarket," says Amy Perlmutter, the recycling consultant. But she says a lot of people think it's equally OK to put them in the bin. Likewise, the recycle symbol on the bottom of your plastic soda bottle is a code so manufacturers know where the bottle came from, not instructions for you about where to put it when it's empty.
Added to the mixed messages are absent messaging. Hoses and shower curtains are plastic, too, so hey why not? And Christmas lights are... Ok, c'mon seriously who's putting fricking Christmas lights in the recycle bin?
Sorting right
Which brings us back to you, the American who needs a recycling reeducation. Company after company, spokesperson after spokesperson, all told me that they were toiling away at how to keep consumers up to date on what is and is not allowed in the bin. The industry is focused on educating consumers, because their livelihood depends on it. They mentioned fliers, newspaper ads, websites, and social media, but none had a good way to reach you, nor did they have a comprehensive list of what-is-or-is-not-recyclable. Why aren't you getting the message?
Partly, because what-is-or-is-not-recyclable is always changing. Some of this is market driven. "My job would be so much easier if every couple of months I wasn’t telling people 'Oh no that’s not recyclable anymore because the market has changed'," says Tony Hair, Portland State University's waste management coordinator.
And some of it is geographic, because every community has different standards for what can and can't be recycled. "I think a standardized, nationwide list of what's recyclable would be great, but every community is different," says Derric Brown, vice president of sustainability at the Carton Council (PROTIP: Don't crush your cartons before you recycle them, otherwise they'll get sorted in with normal paper!)
The recycling industry is justifiably concerned about how to keep their profits intact. But you should care, too, and not just for environmental reasons. Those recycling economics could come full circle, back to you. In many places, recycling is part of the cultural identity. In many others, it's the law. Even in the worst case scenario—commodity values stayed low, contamination rates high—cities won't abandon the practice. Instead, they'll have to help with the bottom line.
Already, Waste Management and Rumpke have renegotiated contracts with some cities where commodities sales are no longer offsetting operating costs. "Who is going to pay that cost? It's going to be the government through taxes," says Jerry Powell, executive editor of Resource Recycling, an industry magazine. And in some places, these costs will go directly to rate payers, depending on how much they recycle.
Of course, it's not just up to you to get smarter. The recycling industry at large is still relying on low tech gadgets like magnets, fans, and human hands to sort the myriad—and changing—streams of recyclable waste. The biggest trend in modernization is new technology, like optical scanners. Which should help sort out all your bad recycling habits, even if you don't manage to unlearn them.You probably don't realize it, but if you use Facebook, you're working with artificial intelligence every day.
The social network is able to recognize patterns in how you interact with things and deliver content in response. If you often "like" updates from a certain person, Facebook might suggest different (sometimes weird) ways for you to see more from that person.
Mark Zuckerberg put all of this in plain speak during a town hall in Berlin, Germany, Thursday.
"So much of what you do on Facebook -- you open up your app, you open up your News Feed, and there are thousands of things that are going on in your world, and we need to figure out what's interesting," Zuckerberg said. "That's an AI problem."
Zuckerberg was joined by Yann LeCun, Facebook's head of AI research. The session was broadcast live via the Facebook app, with over 100,000 people watching at any given moment.
The two characterized Facebook's current AI capabilities as basic pattern recognition, or "supervised learning." What that means, basically, is that Facebook is good at understanding how you use the News Feed and at automatically making suggestions for you -- surfacing an article it thinks you'll find interesting, for example -- but that's all happening in a closed environment. That AI technology isn't able to learn how to do anything other than surface material on Facebook.
This kind of AI has been around for a while. IBM's Deep Blue computer was able to get good enough at chess to defeat champion Garry Kasparov in 1997. But Deep Blue couldn't then apply any of its "learning" to checkers.
That said, modern technology is evolving rapidly. Pattern recognition, as Zuckerberg and LeCun pointed out Thursday, is complex enough now for driverless cars to exist, or for tech to recognize what certain ailments look like.
"[AI can] make every doctor as good as the best doctor in the world at diagnosing skin cancer," Zuckerberg said.
"Lives are going to be saved by AI," LeCun said.
While Facebook's algorithm might seem a bit inconsequential compared to a cancer-detecting robot, Zuckerberg said his company is in a key position to further AI research in general.
"You have a lot of the smartest people in academic environments, but a lot of the infrastructure is in corporate environments," Zuckerberg said, explaining that he wants to leverage the resources at Facebook to create more advanced AI.
On that note, Zuckerberg and LeCun wrapped up the town hall by announcing a new partnership program that will accelerate AI experimentation at key research institutions. To kick it off, Facebook is donating 25 servers across the European Union.
This brings us to another point. There are plenty of problems around AI, not the least of which is the very valid concern that intelligent robots will replace human jobs.
And some worry that if AI moves beyond supervised learning and pattern recognition -- if robots and software become smart enough to better themselves and learn new skills -- we could reach a technological singularity that wipes out mankind altogether.By Will Grant
BBC News, Caracas
Mr Chavez wants to hold a second referendum on the issue Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced a plan to seek a constitutional amendment to allow him to stand for re-election. Mr Chavez said he hoped to remain in power until 2021. His announcement comes after the president lost a constitutional referendum last year. And it follows a regional election in which his United Socialist party ceded key ground to the opposition, including the capital city of Caracas. '2019 or 2021' President Chavez told thousands of supporters that he would be seeking the constitutional changes necessary to allow the president to stand for indefinite re-election. The president narrowly lost a referendum on exactly that issue last December and under the present rules, he must stand down in 2012. But now the debate must start around the country, he said. "I am ready, and if I am healthy, God willing, I will be with you until 2019, until 2021," he said. The opposition say that the same issue cannot be voted on twice. But President Chavez may well be able to get around that. When he lost the referendum last year, people were voting on a whole series of constitutional reforms - one of which was the question of indefinite re-election. This would be a proposal for a single amendment to the constitution, and as such could send Venezuelans back to the polls some time next year. It is far from clear whether President Chavez would win another vote on the matter. Although the president's personal support is still over 50%, the opposition has been buoyed by its recent performances at the ballot box. Any vote on this question is likely to be as close as the last, in which a few thousand votes separated the two sides.
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StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable versionHillary Clinton called President Trump an “admitted sexual assaulter” in an interview with the BBC on Friday, but dismissed rape allegations made against her husband, saying that they have “all been litigated” and were “clearly in the past.”
Clinton made the comments after being asked about the sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations made against Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood mogul and major Democratic donor.
“It was just disgusting and the stories that have come out are heartbreaking,” Clinton told BBC’s Andrew Marr. “And I really commend the women who have been willing to step forward now and tell their stories.”
“It’s important that we not just focus on him and whatever consequences flow from these stories about his behavior but that we recognize this kind of behavior cannot be tolerated anywhere, whether it’s in entertainment, politics,” continued Clinton, a friend of Weinstein’s.
“After all, we have someone admitting to being a sexual assaulter in the Oval Office,” she added, referring to Trump’s comments in 2005 during filming for an “Access Hollywood” segment.
Clinton’s comment about Trump prompted Marr to ask the former secretary of state about her own dismissive response to women who have accused her husband of sexual misconduct. Marr pointed to the Oct. 10, 2016, presidential debate to which Trump invited three of Bill Clinton’s accusers, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick, and Paula Jones.
“The three women brought onto stage by Trump attacking your husband, and you kind of dismissed them. Was that the right thing to do? Are you sure about that?” Marr asked Clinton.
“Well, yes because that had all been litigated,” the former secretary of state responded.
“That was subject of a huge investigation, as you might recall, in the late 90s and there were conclusions drawn. That was clearly in the past,” she added.
Broaddrick has accused Clinton of raping her in a Little Rock hotel room in 1978, when he was Arkansas’ attorney general. Willey, a former White House volunteer aide, has claimed that Clinton sexually assaulted her in 1993, during his first term in office. Jones claimed in a lawsuit that Clinton exposed himself to her in a Little Rock hotel room in 1991, when he was governor.
Despite Clinton’s comments about all of those cases having been litigated, Broaddrick’s allegations were never investigated. She came forward only after Jones filed a lawsuit against Clinton. He settled the case by paying Jones $850,000.
WATCH:
Follow Chuck on TwitterThe 8 woman kickboxing tournament Girl Power airs live on SFR Sport 5, Friday February 10.
Girl Power 2017 is a grand relaunch of the famed Bigger’s Better series. The original TV show of the heavyweight boxing tournaments aired live on Eurosport for three seasons. In 2014 the “BB” incorporation produced the pilot of the Girl Power. The female kickboxing eliminator aired live on Pay-Per-View across the world.
This season the promoters re-boost their concept. The collaborated network is SFR Sport 5.
“We look forward to numerous events. SFR Sport 5 is a leading and unique network in Europe fully devoted to combat sports,” Bigger’s Better president Jean-Christophe Courreges told fightmag.com.au
“Our main goal is an enlargement of opportunities for women in sport. We also strive to become an empowering tool for women for years to come.”
In addition, the backbone of the Girl Power is the World Kickboxing Network (WKN). The world’s leading governing body for all disciplines of kickboxing homologates the championship tournament.
“Female kickboxing is very popular. There are dozens of talented athletes in every country. Our shows are the 8 woman tournaments. So we put on the card the fighters of various nationalities. As a result, it is a further development of our sport internationally, and also an exposure for each country in particular,” said WKN president Stephane Cabrera. “We are currently finalizing the matchmaking for the upcoming show”.
Moreover, the Hall of Fame referee out of the Atlantic City, NJ, USA, Steve Smoger himself is the head official.
Female kickboxing tournament Girl Power airs live on SFR Sport 5 on Friday 10th February, starting at 20:00 (UTC+01:00)
Municipal Sports Hall Ivan Vazov in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria accommodates the gala.
Girl Power II is a one night knockout featherweight (under 60 kg) 8-woman kickboxing tournament. The fast paced contests will go ahead at 3 x 2 minute rounds with 1 minute break. An extra round may apply in the finale in case of a draw. The rules of the bouts are K-1 (oriental) with the allowance of the spinning back-fist.My favourite piece from my latest art book, 'How to Draw Fantasy: Vampires', published by IMPACT [link] Description: Lupine VampireI am the caretaker of this school and you will do as I say! Screamed Henry Wolfe at the top of his shrill voice.The kids continued to pelt him with wet balls of paper, laughing hysterically at his purple face and wobbling cheeks. Once the pelting stopped they quickly ran off to get more ammunition, knowing full well that 'Old Wolfee' with his wide girth would never be able to catch them.Henry stood there for a silent moment, dripping, his shoulders slumped and his head down.I hate children, He grumbled to himself.Don't worry Mr Wolfe, I'll help you clean this up! Chirped Britney Bishops.Henry jumped at her voice, staring blankly at her, No, you go on to class, Britney. Thanks anyway.The sound of the bell ripped through the silence between them, indicating the start of class.Oh, ok Mr Wolfe, I'll see you later! She waved goodbye, smiled sweetly at him and cartwheeled down the corridor to class.Henry stared after her, he was fuming inside. He shook his head and proceeded to clear the mess that was soaking the floor, and his clothes.As he was begrudgingly toiling away, Henry started thinking, thinking more than he had for a very long time indeed. And they weren't nice thoughts.As far as he could see, the reason he was stuck in this dump of a school was down to Britney Bishops' stupid father. If Henry had his way things would be very different, very different indeed.Henry himself would be headmaster, yes! And Britney's pathetic, useless father would be cleaning toilets for a living. Hah! He told himself that he had been very patient, and that it must be time.. surely he could get revenge now?He grinned evilly to himself. Shall I use the key again? Could he help me? It is getting a bit dangerous now, especially as he seems to be getting stronger and stronger each time I let him out. Hmmmmm.He picked up the last of the mess from the floor, stood up, straightened his aching back and stretched his arms towards the ceiling. Something caught his eye to his right and he turned towards it. The school noticeboard displayed a large poster gently flapping in the breeze, on it were faces of local missing children, lots and lots of them. Henry's cheeks and chin quivered and his eyes bulged. Quickly, he snatched at the poster, tearing it from the noticeboard and, screwing it up he stuffed it out of view into his garbage bag. He checked the surrounding corridors nervously for any students that were not in class and, acknowledging that he was alone, chuckled to himself and shuffled off towards the school basement.The basement was dark and dank, the narrow stairs were caked in crusty lime and the pipes along the ceiling were covered in rust, spider webs and dripped a strange, dark liquid. A pungent smell of old socks and burned meat hung in the air of the dingy, long room. The solitary light bulb lit a small area above the open furnace that was at the foot of the stairs. The smell seemed to be emanating from the side of the room where, along one wall, a row of bulging sacks sat, barely visible in the dim light.Henry double checked that nobody was coming down the stairs, he then bent down in front of the furnace and reached his arm inside, his brow glistened as he strained to reach his prize. There was a muffled clang and he pulled his arm out, almost tumbling over as he did so. Pushing himself up, he raised his hand closely to his face uncurling his fingers to reveal a small leather pouch tied with a silk loop.Despite his fat fingers and clumsy demeanour, Henry deftly untied the knot and emptied the contents of the pouch into his other hand. There in his palm sat a small golden key, the head was moulded into the shape of a howling wolf, the shaft decorated with twisting runes running all the way down to the two long, sharp fangs moulded into the key.Holding it up in front of his wide-eyed face, it seemed to glow.He quickly grabbed the shaft and stabbed the two fangs sharply into his neck! Just as quickly, he wrenched them out and threw the key across the room into the darkness, as he squealed in pain.Henry began writhing and shaking violently, arms and legs convulsing so wildly they were barely distinguishable as limbs. One of his flailing limbs thrashed into several of the sacks, spilling the contents over the stained floor. Bleached skulls, bones, and chunks of rotten flesh skittered and slid about as he writhed like a madman on the floor. With gnashing jaws and frothing mouth, his teeth cracked and stretched into sharp glistening fangs, his face contorted and stretched forwards like a dog, causing a yelp to escape from his throat.His eyes were turning a burning, deep red, large thick veins appeared on his neck and dull popping sounds could be heard coming from his neck and shoulders as his muscles grew, bunched and knotted into impossible positions and shapes. He hunched forward and his shirt exploded off his shoulders revealing a huge muscular back and bony spine.Thick, wiry hair sprouted out from all over his body at an impossible rate and his hands and feet stretched impossibly long, each finger and toe ended in a dirty razor sharp claw. His breathing finally slowed as he knelt on the floor, head down, clawed hands resting on the floor, the process complete.He looked up, slowly getting to his feet and, even standing slightly hunched over Henry was at least seven feet tall. He padded over to the small basement window, keeping well away from the sunlight shining through. He smiled to himself, bearing his wicked fangs.Time for revenge, sweet Britney! He growled under his breath. Tonight, on Lonely Hill you're gonna become just like me, little one. Let's see how Pappa Bishop copes with his precious angel of a daughter suddenly becoming, a little on the 'wild side'.He threw back his massive wolf-like head and laughed aloud, he then looked to the floor and he sighed.I'm forever clearing up!A GROUP of young surfers say they have had to flee a Sunshine Coast beach after they spotted a shark at a popular break.
Tai Jennison, 16, said that he and three other friends were surfing the unpatrolled break at Noosa’s Alexandria Bay when they saw a fin emerge from the water around 6:30am today.
“My mate’s dad who was in the water about 10-15 meters from it said he thought it was around 2.5 meters long,” he said.
Also a surf photographer, Mr Jennison said that shark sightings were become more common in recent times.
“Our last three surfs on the Sunshine Coast we have spotted what we believe to be sharks, one at Maroochydore, Point Cartwright and then today,” he said.
He said the recent sightings had been confronting to him and his group of mates who are keen surfers.
“We go out quite a bit, we had never seen one and then we have gotten all of these ones at once, it certainly makes you think twice.”
Mr Jennison said he and his mates will go to a patrolled break for the next time they go out in the water, just to give them sense of safety.
“Where we were today, it was about a 20 minute walk away from anything, so I think next time we will stick to a nice little patrolled break,” he laughed.When: Thursday May 28th, 5:30 – Refreshments, Talk starts at 6:00pm.
Where: Rackspace, 1691 Innovation Drive Blacksburg VA, at the VA Tech Corporate Research Center
Abstract:
The movie The Imitation Game introduced the world to Alan Turing and his work at Bletchley Park. This talk will show you how the German cypher was really cracked. We will take an in-depth look at how an Enigma machine encrypts and decrypts messages by passing electric pulses through mechanical rotors. Then we’ll delve into a brilliant exploit, invented by the Polish mathematician Marian Rejewski, that reveals subtle patterns in the cypher text to help reveal enigma’s encryption settings. Finally we’ll look at the Bombe, the infamous machine featured in the movie designed by Alan Turning that was used to break the Enigma cypher. This talk will be technical but also very accessible, with no knowledge of encryption or cryptanalysis required to understand the methods used to crack the code. I will also demo realistic Enigma and Bombe software simulators, showing real-life examples of how to encode and break messages using the exact tools they had in Bletchley Park.
This event is being hosted by the Blacksburg office of Rackspace.
Share and EnjoyJames Smith, Contributor
Recent articles have been published, by this network and others, that detail the extraordinarily large purchases of ammunition by the United States Government. This ammunition has been of varying calibers, mainly.357 Sig and.40 S&W. However, they all have been what are known as “Hollow Point” rounds.
From Wikipedia:
A hollow-point bullet is an expanding bullet that has a pit or hollowed out shape in its tip, often intended to cause the bullet to expand upon entering a target in order to decrease penetration and disrupt more tissue as it travels through the target. It is also used for controlled penetration, where over-penetration could cause collateral damage (such as on an aircraft). In target shooting, they are used for greater accuracy and reduction of smoke, fouling, and lead vapour exposure, as hollow point bullets have an enclosed base while traditional bullets have an exposed lead base. In essence, the hollow point bullet has several purposes: hollow points are designed to increase in diameter once within the target, thus maximizing tissue damage and blood loss or shock, and to remain inside the target, thereby transferring all of its kinetic energy to that target (some fraction would remain in the bullet if it passed through instead). Jacketed hollow points (JHPs) or plated hollow points are covered in a coating of harder metal (usually a copper alloy or copper coated steel) to increase bullet strength and to prevent fouling the barrel with lead stripped from the bullet. The term hollow-cavity bullet is used to describe a hollow point where the hollow is unusually large, sometimes dominating the volume of the bullet, and causes extreme expansion or fragmentation on impact.[1]
Many articles state that the hollow point round is banned in combat due to its brutal devastation it causes upon the human body. However, in reality, this is not the case.
Most people will wrongly state that their use is outlawed in the Geneva Convention. The ammunition’s forerunner was banned in 1899, and a portion of that ban is shown here:
Declaration on the Use of Bullets Which Expand or Flatten Easily in the Human Body” adopted at the First Hague Peace Conference of (29 July) 1899 which states:
The Undersigned, Plenipotentiaries of the Powers represented at the International Peace Conference at The Hague, duly authorized to that effect by their Governments,
Inspired by the sentiments which found expression in the Declaration of St. Petersburg of the 29th November (11th December), 1868,
Declare as follows:
The Contracting Parties agree to abstain from the use of bullets which expand or flatten easily in the human body, such as bullets with a |
After me, the deluge.” Louis meant it figuratively, referring to the impending French Revolution, but the deluges we face today are actual, and the remark brings to mind President Trump trying to finish a round of golf before the next hurricane dumps three feet of rain on his head.
Maybe the problem is just that solipsism is the default human condition. Former Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, on most issues an orthodox conservative Republican of the pre-tea party era, was known for his advocacy for the disabled. This was an issue that sometimes put him at odds with his own party, notably a few years ago, when his erstwhile Republican colleagues voted down approval of the United Nations treaty on disability rights, after the long-retired Dole made a personal appeal in its favor on the Senate floor.Sandy Rios (Fox News)
A religious right broadcaster defended Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who declined to say whether evolution was real when questioned by a British reporter during an overseas trip.
Radio host Sandy Rios, who also serves as governmental affairs director of the American Family Association, said during a broadcast that the likely Republican presidential candidate should not be mocked for “punting” on the question, reported Right Wing Watch.
“In the sense that Darwin taught about species morphing into other species, evolving into other types of species, that has not happened,” Rios said. “There is no scientific evidence.
She claimed the “real experts” would show that the foundational principal of biology had been disproven and was based on faulty evidence.
“Evolution has become the religion of the elite,” Rios said. “It’s a religion to the [level of] fanaticism of what they would say was the people at the Scopes monkey trial, the Christians waving their Bibles who were not really thinking through the facts, they were just outraged because it was against God’s law.”
She said Walker critics such as conservative columnist George Will had become “rabid and unreasoned.”
“Science has disproven so much of evolution,” she said. “These guys are wrong about that, Scott Walker is right.”MUNCIE, Ind. (Oct. 5, 2014)– The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is currently serving a search warrant at a medical office in Muncie.
The DEA’s state search warrant is being served at the medical office of Dr. William Hedrick. The Centers for Pain Relief clinic is located at 3301 W. Fox Ridge Lane, about a half mile from the Ball State University campus.
Dr. Hendrick is accused of over prescribing painkillers to patients as well as possible forgery and fraud. No one was arrested and no criminal charges have been filed in the ongoing investigation.
The warrant search is part of an ongoing investigation of Dr. Hedrick, who operates Centers for Pain Relief clinics at 11 other locations in northern Indiana. The Muncie location opened in July 2013 and is the 12th such clinic.
The Attorney General’s Office filed a petition with the Indiana Medical Licensing Board Monday seeking a summary suspension of Dr. Hedrick’s license to practice, alleging Hedrick represents “a clear and immediate danger to the public health and safety.”
The warrant application notes eight drug overdose deaths of patients who received prescriptions from either Dr. Hedrick or one of his nurse practitioners from January 2013 through July 2014. Those factors were grounds for authorities to request a search warrant to obtain and review various records from the Muncie clinic.
The DEA, Muncie Police, and Delaware Co. Prosecutor’s Office are involved in the raid.
In December 2013, Hedrick was arrested on a charge of interfering with jury service, a Class B misdemeanor. This was during the trial of former Indianapolis Metropolitan police officer David Bisard.
Members of the public who have information to report about the medical office can contact the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at 1-800-382-1039.
Pictures below were sent to FOX59 from a source close to Dr. Hendrick:Mozilla will patch a flaw in Firefox that can be exploited by well-resourced attackers to impersonate the browser's software update servers – and thus inject malicious code into victims' computers.
This vulnerability can, for one thing, be exploited to unmask people using the Tor project's Firefox-based anonymizing web browser.
The security hole "allows an attacker who is able to obtain a valid certificate for addons.mozilla.org to impersonate Mozilla's servers and to deliver a malicious extension update," Tor developer Georg Koppen blogged while announcing version 6.0.5 of the Tor Browser, which addresses the shortcoming.
"This could lead to arbitrary code execution. Moreover, other built-in certificate pinnings are affected as well. Obtaining such a certificate is not an easy task, but it's within reach of powerful adversaries such as nation states."
Security researcher Movrcx detailed exploitation of the flaw here and estimated that attackers would need to burn US$100,000 to successfully man-in-the-middle HTTPS connections from browsers to update servers.
"This attack enables arbitrary remote code execution against users accessing specific clearnet resources when used in combination with a targeting mechanism; such as by passively monitoring exit node traffic for traffic destined for specific clearnet resources," he wrote.
"Additionally this attack enables an attacker to conduct exploitation at a massive scale against all Tor Browser users and to move towards implantation after selected criteria are met - such as an installed language pack, public IP address, DNS cache, stored cookie, stored web history, and so on."
The need to obtain a legitimate TLS certificate for addons.mozilla.org was the cause of the high cost of entry to the attack, something Movrcx says was "difficult to accomplish but not impossible".
He claimed members of the Tor Project did not accept his initial private disclosure.
Independent security researcher Ryan Duff says Firefox used its own weaker version of key pinning which created the attack vector, adding Mozilla had fixed the flaw in the nightly version of its browser.
"Firefox uses its own static key pinning method for its own Mozilla certifications instead of using HPKP," he said. "The enforcement of the static method appears to be much weaker than the HPKP method and is flawed to the point that it is bypassable in this attack scenario."
Mozilla will push the fix into its stable release version on September 20. ®If you’re a daily fantasy sports player you know there are few things more important than finding good value plays to compliment the higher priced guys. There’s usually no way you’ll finish in the money without a couple of low-salary guys producing above their salary.
Each day I’ll bring you a rundown of some players you may want to use in your daily leagues. They will include a few top plays (high salaried players a notch below the obvious choices – Crosby, Ovechkin, Neal, etc.), some mid level plays, and a good amount of the most important ones – value plays (players most likely to outperform their salary).
While I’ll feature different DFS sites as a guide for salaries each day, you’ll find that most sites will have the individual players on a similar salary scale.
I will also include overall goalie rankings for today’s games at the bottom of each post. The rankings are not based on salary, but just as an idea of how I feel each goalie will do compared to the other starters for the night.
Please note that with daily hockey there is constantly new information to consider. New line combos, late changes to starting goalies, healthy scratches, etc., are an everyday occurrence. Check back often for any updates.
Salaries used today are from Draft Kings.
Tonight’s games:
Phoenix at Boston – 7 PM ET
Buffalo at Carolina – 7 PM ET
San Jose at Columbus – 7 PM ET
Florida at Tampa Bay – 7:30 PM ET
Edmonton at St. Louis – 8 PM ET
NY Rangers at Minnesota – 8 PM ET
Toronto at Los Angeles – 10:30 PM ET
Top Plays
G Ryan Miller – STL ($9,200) – Somewhat surprisingly, Miller isn’t the top salaried goalie tonight. There are some other fine options, but you have to like this play tonight. Miller has played a solid game since joining the Blues, and he faces a team that he is 6-0 in his career against. St. Louis has also dominated the Oilers recently and they’re by far the biggest NHL favorite in Vegas tonight. I’ll take my chances.
RW Phil Kessel – TOR ($7,600) – Kessel has four goals and 12 points over his last 10 games, so he’s doing pretty well lately. This is including his last game, where he was held point-less and was a minus-4. On Draft Kings, you don’t have to worry about negative points for being a minus, so that’s not an issue here. He will get his shots and they usually turn into some points. He’s my top forward play for the night.
Mid Level Plays
RW Ryan Callahan – TBL ($5,300) – Callahan is a player with a little added value on certain sites. Draft Kings counts blocked shots so I like to use some forwards that can not only contribute offensively, but also get some easy points by blocking shots. Callahan can do all of that: in his last 10 games he has seven points and 13 blocked shots. He also has a point in each of his last two games with his new team while firing six SOG and getting in the way of three shots, so it seems he’s comfortable with his new surroundings. The matchup makes him a pretty good choice.
LW Ondrej Palat – TBL ($5,200) – Callahan’s linemate has also been productive lately, putting up six goals and 11 points in his last 10 to go along with eight blocked shots. You’ll see in the value picks below that I took this full line tonight as the matchup is good. I usually stay away from too many players on one team/line in case they get shut down, but the prices (and the fact that they’ve played well together) made it hard to pass up.
LW Mats Zuccarello – NYR ($4,900) – Zuccarello still seems a bit undervalued so I took him. This is likely to be a low-scoring game, but Darcy Kuemper has looked (somewhat) human lately so a chance with the Rangers’ leading scorer, at this price, isn’t a bad play.
D Ryan Suter – MIN – ($5,100) – Another shot-blocker with offensive potential in one of my utility spots. Suter has just three points in his last 10, but his 25 blocked shots during that time means he can get you an easy point or two while still providing the potential for a couple of points. Considering all of his six goals this season and 19 of his 35 points have come at home, it’s a nice risk/reward play.
Value Plays
C Valtteri Filppula – TBL ($4,400) – I took both his wingers, so why not complete the line with a value center in Filppula. The matchup is nice, and the line has played well together. He has three goals and four points in three games this season and seven points in seven games over his career against Florida. He also has almost double his points output at home compared to road games this season (28 points to 15 on the road), so I’m hoping all those trends continue.
RW Marian Gaborik – LAK ($4,000) – Okay… I had him in my lineup but had some salary left so I upgraded a little bit. As long as he’s not producing his salary will keep dropping and I’ll keep using him (most nights). The Leafs give up a ton of shots and Gaborik should get his chances tonight. Hard to pass up top play potential at this price. If you need a bargain bin player, Gaborik is a decent chance to take.
D Jake Muzzin – LAK ($3,900) – Two goals, four points, 17 blocked shots, and 21 SOG over his last 10 games. You could do much worse at this salary. He’s facing a Toronto team that gives up the most shots on goal per game, so you have to think he’ll get his chances. As with other players on DK, the added value comes from the blocked shots.
D James Wisniewski – CBJ ($4,400) – More of the same here – offensive potential with defensive (blocked shot) numbers to pad the stats. My other choice here was Torey Krug who offers similar numbers (a couple more points with fewer blocks) but I ultimately went with Wis who is facing the 23rd ranked team for points against vs opposing defensemen compared to Krug, facing the 19th ranked team.
My Draft Kings
C Valtteri Filppula $4,400
LW Mats Zuccarello $4,900
RW Phil Kessel $7,600
D Jake Muzzin $3,900
D James Wisniewski $4,400
UTIL Ryan Callahan $5,300
UTIL Ondrej Palat $5,200
UTIL Ryan Suter $5,100
G Ryan Miller $9,200
$0 in salary remaining.
Tonight’s Goalie Rankings
Probable / confirmed starters are linked to the source
Good Luck! As always, if you have any fantasy hockey questions, daily or otherwise, feel free to reach out to me on Twitter.The idea behind The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, a new multiplayer game for Nintendo 3DS in which a trio of Links team up to solve puzzles, dates back to 2009.
Tri Force Heroes game director Hiromasa Shikata was working on another game in the Zelda series, Spirit Tracks, at the time as a planner, and the option — as Zelda herself — to posses Phantoms in that Nintendo DS game served as future inspiration.
"I remember talking about it during the development of A Link Between Worlds," Shikata told Polygon during an interview at E3. "[We] had wanted to do more multiplayer Zelda... and in [Spirit Tracks] there's a portion where you control the Phantoms. That element really intrigued me and brought out the idea that I wanted to try multiplayer as well.
"We really got started on it during development of A Link Between Worlds, that feeling of wanting to explore more multiplayer. It was sort of revitalized and came out of hibernation for me while I was working on A Link Between Worlds."
In Tri Force Heroes, three players, each controlling their own version of Link, can don special outfits and employ familiar weapons and items to explore dungeons cooperatively. In a level of Tri Force Heroes that I played at E3, I used a magic rod that blasted a gust of wind, which helped blow my teammates across a gap. One of those fellow Links then threw his boomerang at me to help lift my Link over the gap where I rejoined the group. Another Link had a bow and arrow, and as a trio, we could all fire our weapons at a group of switches. Team work!
Players can also stand on each other's shoulders, stacking Links in a totem to reach new heights, tossing each other around and atop ledges.
In another level, we worked together to push and pull a sequence of blocks, dodging columns of flame along the way. We also played the Zelda equivalent of dodgeball against a group of Hinox — Zelda's version of a cyclops — throwing bombs back and forth, trying not to blow ourselves up.
It's not just which items you choose that determine how you play Tri Force Heroes; your choice of outfit is important too. Link can wear special gear like a cat suit, loungewear, samurai armor, a bomb suit and more. When I played, I chose the Legendary Dress, Zelda's iconic pink attire. The dress granted my Link extra hearts. Since hearts are shared between players, the dress' powers can be crucial to survival.
Tri Force Heroes' outfits are central to the plot of the game, Shikata said. Link's involvement in the story comes about thanks to a kingdom obsessed with fashion. There's a princess in need of rescue and a king in need of heroes to help find her. That's where Link comes into play.
Outfits are more than just a mechanic and plot device. They also reflect a sense of accomplishment, Shikata said, as a player's available wardrobe will reflect their progress in the game. Players craft their outfits from materials they find by clearing dungeons, turning Tri Force Heroes into something of a loot-based grind.
"It's a cooperative game, but you may see a little competition," Shikata said, as players will have to hunt down treasure chests filled with materials that spawn after they complete a course.
Dressing up with specially powered suits is typically the domain of Mario. Link has worn masks and special gear that give him abilities in the past, but the outfit mechanic is something relatively fresh for a Zelda game. That Link can dress up as the princess he's regularly tasked with saving is something of a surprise, but Shikata had good reasons for letting Link borrow from Zelda's wardrobe.
"We consulted with folks here in the U.S. and in Japan, and asked ‘Do we think we're going too much of a negative reaction by having Link wear a dress?'" Shikata said, explaining that the consensus was no, a cross-dressing Link wouldn't be a problem. "For us as developers, the more variation we have, and that we can provide to players, the better for everyone."
Shikata hopes that letting Link wear a dress will lure in a wider range of players.
"While there are a lot of aspects of Tri Force Heroes that will appeal to young boys," he said, "we did think that by including outfits like the Legendary Dress that we would broaden that appeal to some of our younger female gamers as well."
Shikata said that Tri Force Heroes will include a larger number of outfits, but wouldn't specify how many.
"To get everything, that's going to take some time," he said. Some outfit materials will only be available as part of the game's colosseum, a competitive multiplayer mode in Tri Force Heroes.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes can be played cooperatively with two other players, but it can also be played solo. (There's no two-player option.) Players will run the same courses and challenges in single-player mode that they'll face in multiplayer, but they'll have a pair of Doppels — paper dolls — that they can control to solve puzzles.
"With single-player, it's a different experience than with two other players," Shikata said. "There are more puzzle elements, as you're not relying on someone else to help you control what to do."
Single-player can be more difficult than playing in local or online multiplayer, but some players seem to prefer it, Shikata said.
When I played the game with other members of the media, solving Tri Force Heroes' puzzles required a great deal of communication, both verbally and by pointing at each other's screens in an attempt to divine a solution. The game doesn't support voice chat online, which will likely lead to some struggles. What the game does have are eight emotes and actions on the 3DS touchscreen that players can use to attempt to communicate without words. Shikata believes the game's limited communication will suffice — and it might even make the game more enjoyable, he said.
"We could have implemented a more detailed or robust communication system," Shikata said. "However, when you do that, I've seen many cases where you have a veteran player who really knows the game and they're paired up with someone new and they'll just say ‘Go here, do this, do that.' They're going to spoil the experience for the new gamer.
"We do have the eight emotion placards [and] we experimented with more and less. But when we tried that out online we found that to be sort of a sweet spot for us. There was some irritation but when you were able to use these to convey what you wanted, it's such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. We think it works really well."
Shikata said the experiences of playing local co-op or online feel distinct, and that players should try out both.
"I think we've created two super fun experiences that are very different from each other," he said. "Even if you do have the ability to play with other friends, I want to encourage people to try online play."
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is coming to Nintendo 3DS this fall.Libyans who mounted a revolution against Colonel Muammar Gaddafi now miss the stability provided by the old order because of the savage violence into which the country has descended, it is reported.
The testimony has emerged in a number of on-the-ground interviews carried out by the Daily Mail and comes only days after a Commons Defence Committee report placed blame for the country’s collapse and the emergence of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) firmly on the shoulders of David Cameron.
The former PM, who stepped down as an MP hours before the report was published, faces calls from fellow Tories to appear before the committee to account for the “ill-conceived” 2011 war, which even US President Barack Obama is alleged to have privately written off as Cameron’s personal “sh*t-show.”
Five years on from the conflict, Libyans are lamenting the violence, blackouts, shortages, refugee crisis and general descent into chaos of the formerly stable North African state.
Read more
“I joined the revolution in the first days and fought against Gaddafi,” a former anti-regime fighter named Mohammed told the Mail.
“Before 2011 I hated Gaddafi more than anyone. But now, life is much, much harder, and I have become his biggest fan,” the 31-year-old said.
An oil worker named Haroun said getting rid of Gaddafi “was clearly a mistake because we weren’t ready for democracy and we needed support from the international community, which just wasn’t there.”
Political activist Fadiel told the paper that although “it should be better than Gaddafi’s time now,” all that remained is “chaos and everyone fighting each other, it’s just a mess.”
Entrepreneur Nuri, from Tripoli, said: “It’s not so much about being pro-Gaddafi because he was a crazy leader who was actually quite embarrassing internationally. It’s just that people’s lives are so difficult now compared to under Gaddafi.”
Medical student Salem, 26, also from Tripoli, said hopes had been quickly crushed in the wake of the US-led war in which the UK played a major part.
“Far more people have been killed since 2011 than during the revolution or under 42 years of Gaddafi’s rule combined. We never had these problems under Gaddafi.
“There was always money and electricity and, although people did not have large salaries, everything was cheap, so life was simple,” he added.
Cameron did not give evidence in the committee report and has so far not responded to calls to give testimony on what the investigation has branded an “ill-conceived” operation.The right reform for the Fed
By Ben Bernanke
Sunday, November 29, 2009
For many Americans, the financial crisis, and the recession it spawned, have been devastating -- jobs, homes, savings lost. Understandably, many people are calling for change. Yet change needs to be about creating a system that works better, not just differently. As a nation, our challenge is to design a system of financial oversight that will embody the lessons of the past two years and provide a robust framework for preventing future crises and the economic damage they cause.
These matters are complex, and Congress is still in the midst of considering how best to reform financial regulation. I am concerned, however, that a number of the legislative proposals being circulated would significantly reduce the capacity of the Federal Reserve to perform its core functions. Notably, some leading proposals in the Senate would strip the Fed of all its bank regulatory powers. And a House committee recently voted to repeal a 1978 provision that was intended to protect monetary policy from short-term political influence. These measures are very much out of step with the global consensus on the appropriate role of central banks, and they would seriously impair the prospects for economic and financial stability in the United States. The Fed played a major part in arresting the crisis, and we should be seeking to preserve, not degrade, the institution's ability to foster financial stability and to promote economic recovery without inflation.
The proposed measures are at least in part the product of public anger over the financial crisis and the government's response, particularly the rescues of some individual financial firms. The government's actions to avoid financial collapse last fall -- as distasteful and unfair as some undoubtedly were -- were unfortunately necessary to prevent a global economic catastrophe that could have rivaled the Great Depression in length and severity, with profound consequences for our economy and society. (I know something about this, having spent my career prior to public service studying these issues.) My colleagues at the Federal Reserve and I were determined not to allow that to happen.
Moreover, looking to the future, we strongly support measures -- including the development of a special bankruptcy regime for financial firms whose disorderly failure would threaten the integrity of the financial system -- to ensure that ad hoc interventions of the type we were forced to use last fall never happen again. Adopting such a resolution regime, together with tougher oversight of large, complex financial firms, would make clear that no institution is "too big to fail" -- while ensuring that the costs of failure are borne by owners, managers, creditors and the financial services industry, not by taxpayers.
The Federal Reserve, like other regulators around the world, did not do all that it could have to constrain excessive risk-taking in the financial sector in the period leading up to the crisis. We have extensively reviewed our performance and moved aggressively to fix the problems.
Working with other agencies, we have toughened our rules and oversight. We will be requiring banks to hold more capital and liquidity and to structure compensation packages in ways that limit excessive risk-taking. We are taking more explicit account of risks to the financial system as a whole.
We are also supplementing bank examination staffs with teams of economists, financial market specialists and other experts. This combination of expertise, a unique strength of the Fed, helped bring credibility and clarity to the "stress tests" of the banking system conducted in the spring. These tests were led by the Fed and marked a turning point in public confidence in the banking system.
There is a strong case for a continued role for the Federal Reserve in bank supervision. Because of our role in making monetary policy, the Fed brings unparalleled economic and financial expertise to its oversight of banks, as demonstrated by the success of the stress tests.
This expertise is essential for supervising highly complex financial firms and for analyzing the interactions among key firms and markets. Our supervision is also informed by the grass-roots perspective derived from the Fed's unique regional structure and our experience in supervising community banks. At the same time, our ability to make effective monetary policy and to promote financial stability depends vitally on the information, expertise and authorities we gain as bank supervisors, as demonstrated in episodes such as the 1987 stock market crash and the financial disruptions of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as by the crisis of the past two years.
Of course, the ultimate goal of all our efforts is to restore and sustain economic prosperity. To support economic growth, the Fed has cut interest rates aggressively and provided further stimulus through lending and asset-purchase programs. Our ability to take such actions without engendering sharp increases in inflation depends heavily on our credibility and independence from short-term political pressures. Many studies have shown that countries whose central banks make monetary policy independently of such political influence have better economic performance, including lower inflation and interest rates.
Independent does not mean unaccountable. In its making of monetary policy, the Fed is highly transparent, providing detailed minutes of policy meetings and regular testimony before Congress, among other information. Our financial statements are public and audited by an outside accounting firm; we publish our balance sheet weekly; and we provide monthly reports with extensive information on all the temporary lending facilities developed during the crisis. Congress, through the Government Accountability Office, can and does audit all parts of our operations except for the monetary policy deliberations and actions covered by the 1978 exemption. The general repeal of that exemption would serve only to increase the perceived influence of Congress on monetary policy decisions, which would undermine the confidence the public and the markets have in the Fed to act in the long-term economic interest of the nation.
We have come a long way in our battle against the financial and economic crisis, but there is a long way to go. Now more than ever, America needs a strong, nonpolitical and independent central bank with the tools to promote financial stability and to help steer our economy to recovery without inflation.
The writer is chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
© 2009 The Washington Post CompanyThe Raiders have been the talk of 2014 free agency for all the wrong reasons. The past three days have been a rollercoaster with only slight moments in which that coaster wasn't plummeting to the earth. Now after what appeared to be the worst news of all -- Rodger Saffold's voided contract and implications that Mark Davis made the decision on his own -- there comes another report which could stem the tide a bit.
The new report confirms everything from previous reports but one important distinction -- that it was Reggie McKenzie who made the call on Saffold.
According to sources close to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle, MRI results revealed a torn labrum which Raiders team doctors said would require off-season surgery. Tafur says that though Davis was in strong support of the move, it was Reggie McKenzie who made the call.
Saffold was told initially by Raiders physicians that he was "fine". Then they came back the next day and told him the news of their findings. Saffold's agents sent the MRI results to an outside specialist who said everything checked out. The Rams also said he checked out fine and re-signed him to a 5-year deal of their own.
This in no way takes the stink off the initial deal or the voiding of it which leaves the Raiders now scrambling for a left tackle, but if it is true, it could help repair the growing image of dysfunction in Raiderland.
Then again, these things have a way of sticking around regardless of any new information or damage control attempts from the organization.
Follow @LeviDamienThe EU and Azerbaijan: Mismatched objectives While EU-Azeri co-operation on energy has flourished, Azerbaijan’s human-rights record has deteriorated.
President Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan is visiting Brussels this week for negotiations on the Southern Gas Corridor, which someday might transport gas from the Caspian Sea region to European markets. This oil-rich country in the south Caucasus plays a significant role in the European Union’s energy security. That should in no way impede José Manuel Barroso, the European Commission’s president, from being very clear that the need to meet human-rights standards will be a part of any relationship with the EU.
Co-operation between the EU and Azerbaijan on energy has flourished, but even as Baku and Brussels have become closer, Azerbaijan’s human-rights record has deteriorated.
EU-Azeri relations are best described as mismatched objectives and ambitions. Brussels wants to diversify its energy resources away from Russia. It is offering benefits such as free trade and visa liberalisation and is seeking comprehensive reforms across a range of areas as a precondition for closer ties.
Baku’s interests are more narrowly defined and focused on making the most of its energy resources and resolving the conflict with neighbouring Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. It wants a relationship based on equality, viewing its energy resources as a key factor boosting its stance vis-à-vis the EU.
Negotiations on an association agreement that started in 2009 have been slow, and the lack of progress is evident. While Brussels is contemplating how to accommodate Baku’s request for a different kind of partnership, Azerbaijan’s human-rights situation is on a rapid decline. Human Rights Watch research shows that since March 2012, the authorities have arrested or convicted at least 22 political activists, journalists, social media bloggers, human-rights defenders, and others who criticised the government. This year alone, people have been charged or convicted in 16 cases.
In more than half of the cases the authorities have used blatantly trumped-up drug- or weapons-possession charges. In others, they have invoked bogus charges of incitement to violence, as with the opposition leader Ilgar Mammedov, the focus of a resolution in the European Parliament last week. Twenty of the 22 are behind bars.
Aliev has also signed into law scores of regressive legislative amendments, further tightening the space for independent groups to operate by imposing new restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and association. Most recently, last month, amendments expanded criminal libel laws explicitly to include statements made online, apparently intended to intimidate Azerbaijan’s growing online activism. Another law approved in May sharply increases maximum prison terms for administrative offences, from 15 days to two months, including for offences the government frequently uses to punish people for involvement in peaceful, albeit unsanctioned, public protests.
Authorities in Azerbaijan have not sanctioned a single protest in the centre of Baku since 2006. The authorities swiftly and often violently break up any unsanctioned demonstrations, detaining and prosecuting dozens of people on administrative charges of hooliganism and disobeying police orders.
In this context of a rapidly deteriorating human-rights situation and growing government hostility toward independent and opposition voices, Aliev’s determination to seek enhanced relations with the EU based on “equal partnership”, without human-rights conditions, is not surprising. But it should be completely unacceptable to the EU.
Policymakers in Brussels are quick to point to Azerbaijan’s growing geostrategic importance to the EU in light of its proximity to Iran, its vast hydrocarbon reserves, and the border it shares with Russia’s turbulent north Caucasus. However, this importance is predicated on Azerbaijan playing a stabilising role in the region. The government’s human-rights practices, however, not only run counter to the benchmarks set out for it by the EU as part of the European neighbourhood policy and association-agreement negotiations, but they also appear likely to destabilise the country as they further polarise society and drive dissent underground.
While meeting with Aliev, Barroso should impress upon his Azeri colleague that any framework for relations between the EU and Azerbaijan will have a strong human-rights component. This is what the EU is obligated to do with any partner. Azerbaijan is no exception.
Giorgi Gogia is a senior Europe and central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch.D-Amphetamine (AMPH) was effective in a number of studies on motor and language recovery after stroke, but given safety concerns, its general use after stroke is still debated. Most stroke patients are excluded from treatment because of a significant risk of cardiovascular dysregulation. AMPH acts on multiple transmitter systems, and mainly the noradrenergic actions are related to the cardiovascular effects. If AMPH's cardiovascular and arousal effects were correlated with its plasticity-enhancing effects in humans, this would imply that desired and undesired effects are inevitably tied. If not, improved cerebral reorganization may not be mediated by AMPH's arousing effects and could be achieved with substances lacking the undesired cardiovascular effects. As a model for language recovery after stroke, we used a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design and taught 40 healthy male subjects an artificial vocabulary of 50 concrete nouns over the course of five consecutive training days (high-frequency training). The associative learning principle involved higher co-occurrences of 'correct' picture-pseudoword pairings as compared to 'incorrect' pairings. Subjects received either AMPH (0.25 mg/kg) or placebo 90 min prior to training on each day. Novel word learning was significantly faster and better in the AMPH as compared to the placebo group. Increased learning success was maintained 1 month post-training. No correlation was found between training success and drug-induced increases in blood pressure, heart rate, or a facilitation of simple motor reaction time. Our data show that AMPH's plasticity-enhancing effect in humans is not related to its cardiovascular arousal. This suggests that the beneficial effects in stroke patients could also be obtained by less cardiovascular active drugs.Kids are using more devices now, but they’re still reading books. In fact, the market is buoyant
In 2014, children’s books are facing more competition than ever from other forms of entertainment, particularly digital: games, apps, YouTube and social networking.
Does this mean that the children’s publishing industry is feeling downbeat? Actually, no. This week’s The Bookseller Children’s Conference in London was a notably positive affair, with buoyant sales figures and excitement – but not hyperbole – about digital opportunities.
One of the topics discussed was whether children’s book-apps can ever deliver stories as well as printed books. I’ve pulled that out as a separate article, but here are some of the other main talking points.
Some of them aren’t technology-related at all, but they reflect the discussions that engaged me as a technology journalist (and a parent). Also see Guardian books writer Imogen Russell Williams’ take on the day for her perspective as an expert on the children’s books world.
Children’s books are selling well
Really well, actually. John Lewis, who runs the charts and analysis section of publishing industry magazine The Bookseller, gave a presentation outlining the latest sales figures, which suggest that 2014 is a storming year for children’s (printed) books in the UK.
Last year, children’s book sales fell by 3.5% to £308m in the UK, but that was better than the 6.5% decline in overall book sales. And in the first eight months of 2014, sales of children’s books are up 10% year-on-year, with 37m of them sold so far.
If this continues, a 10% rise for the whole of 2014 would make it “the best year for children’s books on record” according to Lewis. “All in all, the children’s book market is doing spectacularly well this year: it’s up by 10% when the entire printed book market is down by about 2%,” he said.
He was backed up by Ann-Janine Murtagh, publisher at HarperCollins Children’s Books, in her keynote speech.
“It’s probably one of the best moments to be working in children’s books,” she said. “We speak often about the golden age of children’s literature, but I would actually say that we’re experiencing something of a gold-rush in the children’s book market.”
Walliams, Donaldson and Minecraft
What’s fuelling that gold-rush? Some big authors and brands. David Walliams has sold £3.4m worth of children’s books in the first eight months of 2014 alone in the UK, and that’s without counting his latest book Awful Auntie, which came out this week.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney had sold £3.3m of books by the end of August, but both pale in comparison with Gruffalo author |
of the film — as Tilda Swinton, in a blond blunt-cut wig and braces, introduces herself as the new CEO of pharmachemical giant the Mirando Corporation — the noise grew louder and louder, with loud rhythmic clapping from both levels of the theater. We were all catching on to what was going on.
It wasn’t anti-Netflix protests: The theater was just projecting the film wrongly, with the top of the screen masked so that it cut off Swinton’s head at one point. Whoops.
The film stopped, the lights came up, journalists started frantically tweeting about it, inventing a (mostly joking) rumor that it was sabotage from Netflix to undercut the pro-theater case that all movies are meant to be seen on the big screen. Then it was fixed, and the movie started over. (Thankfully, nobody minded seeing that Swinton scene twice.)
Rating vox-mark vox-mark vox-mark vox-mark vox-mark
The somewhat bizarre event is oddly fitting for Okja, which is every bit as weird — and on the whole as wonderful — as you’d expect from the director of Snowpiercer and The Host (easily my favorite monster movie of all time). That goes double when Bong has co-written the screenplay with Frank screenwriter Jon Ronson.
The movie kicks off in 2007, when the Mirando Corporation, founded by the father of CEO Lucy Mirando (Swinton), is in search of a serious image revamp after committing some light atrocities against mankind. Lucy — who succeeds her sister Nancy in the job — has come up with the idea of sending out 26 “superpiglets,” bred from a happy and unusually excellent pig discovered at a farm in Chile, to farmers around the globe. The idea is that each superpiglet will be bred according to local farming practices, and in a decade they’ll be judged in a globally broadcasted contest helmed by Mirando’s new face, television personality Dr. Johnny Wilcox (a sweaty and unhinged Jake Gyllenhaal, pitching his voice into every register imaginable).
Then we jump forward to 2017. One of the superpiglets, named Okja, has been living a happy life with the farming family who raised her in the mountains of Korea. Her favorite person in the world is Mija (Ahn Seo Hyun), an orphan living with her grandfather (Byun Hee-bong). Mija was only 4 when Okja joined the family, and the pair grew up together frolicking in the woods, each the other’s caretaker.
But now, the time for the competition has come. The Mirando representatives arrive on the mountain, where Dr. Johnny proclaims Okja the best of the superpigs. As preparations are made to take Okja to the unveiling in New York City, Mija becomes determined to keep that from happening.
The story unfolds from there, combining madcap chase scenes and wry (but savage) corporate satire with touches borrowed from torture horror — except this time it’s about factory farming. There are ostensibly peaceful eco-terrorists, too, in the form of the cleverly named ALF (Animal Liberation Front), a group led by a very sincere young man named Jay (Paul Dano). The ALF tries to outsmart Mirando’s cadre of suits — especially Lucy and her chief henchman (Giancarlo Esposito) — and everything gets wildly out of hand.
And so it should. As a director, Bong’s great skill is soulful social satire, juxtaposing the absurd with surprisingly touching moments that help his films retain a kind of humanism that can sometimes be lacking in satirical works. In Okja there are psychopaths, for sure, but there are also people for whom practical concerns get in the way of ideals: Dr. Johnny is a self-proclaimed “animal lover” who finds himself in bed with Big Farming, and Jay can’t quite keep his crew of idealistic activists to their total no-harm stance.
Okja isn’t perfect; it falls down when the absurd and the serious ricochet back and forth between scenes, making it hard to track with the film’s tone. But it’s easily forgivable; this is a big, ambitious movie, and when it works, it is ridiculously fun.
Okja extends a more standard anti-factory farming stance in order to skewer the absurd ways in which corporations co-opt the language of environmental and localist movements to reel in consumers. The result is kind of a masterclass in how vocabulary can be twisted for insidious ends. Words like “natural!” and “eco-friendly!” are splashed across the screen behind Lucy Mirando as she announces the superpig competition. And the idea of having local farmers raise superpiglets is, of course, a handy way to camouflage what’s really going on at Mirando Corporation (in Paramus, New Jersey, of all places).
If factory farming is an ugly product of the corporatization of American culture, so is the twisting of activist movements — from environmentalism to feminism to political ideologies — into corporate lingo, ideals cynically transformed into sales slogans. And Bong cleverly extends this to show how it affects cultures far beyond the borders of the US.
That this market critique comes from a movie so closely tied to Netflix, which has come in for all kinds of economic and corporate critique both here at Cannes and in general, makes it more than a little ironic. And there’s plenty about the company that’s concerning to people who care about both the business and aesthetics of cinema.
But Okja is also a rare breed of movie: it boasts a multi-hemispheric setting and cast, extended use of two languages, and the distinction of combining action, arthouse, and political satire in one funny, biting, disturbing, often kind of adorable package. Would traditional studios, with their proclivity for blandly appealing blockbuster fare, even have the guts to gamble on a film like Okja?
Okja releases on Netflix in the US and a number of other countries, including France, on June 28.We're on Steam! Malevolence: The Sword of Ahkranox is a procedurally generated, turn-based first person roguelike set in an infinite world with infinite environments, items, weapons, spells, potions, cities, NPCs, quests and even dialogue. It's being made out of Australia, but involves a team of people from all over the world.
We keep a regularly updated development blog on BlogSpot, as well as maintain an official Facebook Fan Page and Twitter Feed, which I heartily encourage you to join if you're on those networks, as we keep them regularly updated with info about the game!
Here is some of what people have had to say about the title so far:
"A 3D roguelike? Shut up and take my money!"
"Best game i have EVER seen on this site"
"Freaking gorgeous! Best-looking roguelike ever."
"Just divorced skyrim.. Marry Me!!!"
"You guys are a constant inspiration to indie devs everywhere"
"I have never been so impressed. This is AMAZING work"
"This engine just blows my mind"
"With every article you guys post I want to play Malevolence more and more"
"When can I start giving you money? Please, take my money!!!"
"A system shock 1 like interface and an elder scrolls feel... I love it!"
"Dont ever stop! This game looks absolutely beautiful in all three of my main ways: Depth, Detail and Beauty!"
"Wow, this game looks like it has definite promise!"
"How did i not find out about this sooner?"
"ARGH SO HARD TO WAIT!!!"
"This game looks awesome! Brings back so many memories."
"I hate rpgs, but this looks AMAZING"
"Infinite items, infinite world, infinite quests. Guys, I think I'm in love!"
"I KEEP THROWING MONEY AT THE SCREEN!!!! WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENNING?????"
"I think I may have just done a little love wee. "
Anyway, I hope you like it! And remember to please join the social networks to follow our development!Mate-guarding is a strategy to guard a partner from extra-pair relationships. It is a science term for possessiveness in love. Both men and women mate guard, but men generally do it more often.
Many factors can initiate mate guard, such as jealousy, the partner’s attractiveness, and being in a committed relationship. Nevertheless, a study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that men could show more mate-guarding simply because their women wear red.
They study recruited 223 young couples. They read a scenario in which the woman is going out with friends without her partner. A picture was presented with the scenario: a red or black dress that she will be wearing.
Men were asked to answer questions about mate-guarding in this scenario. Women were asked to rate whether their partner would show mate-guarding. Both men and women also reported their relationship satisfaction.
Researchers found that men reported higher mate-guarding when they imagined their women wearing the red dress, relative to black. However, women did not expect their men would show more mate-guarding in the red condition.
Interestingly, the result was not influenced by relationship satisfaction or relationship length.
Researchers suggest that red clothing can increase a woman’s sexual attractiveness to men. It can drive men to approach to the woman. This may be because men interpret red as a signal of sexual desire.
Therefore, guarding a female partner who wears red can be a reasonable strategy to keep the relationship secure.
In the future, researchers will examine how women’s attractiveness and clothing color work together to influence men’s mate-guarding.
Citation: Prokop P, Pazda AD. (2016). Women’s red clothing can increase mate-guarding from their male partner. Personality and Individual Differences, 98: 114-117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.021
Figure legend: This Knowridge.com image is for illustrative purposes only.Test Kitchen-Approved
Author Notes: About a decade ago, I went to a cooking demonstration at Macy's by Christopher Hirscheimer. She showed the crowd her trick for making it easy to carve roasted chicken -- she simply cut out the chicken's backbone before roasting, then she reshaped the bird and trussed it to hold it together. Spatchcocking is a similar technique except instead of re-shaping the bird, you flatten it, making it possible to grill or saute a bird in one layer. Fast forward to this fall. At a dinner with some fellow food52ers in Boston, our conversation touched on chef Gordon Hammersley's technique of "braise-roasting" poultry -- where he submerges the meat in broth and leaves the skin exposed to the oven heat. I thought it was time to get in the kitchen to try the combo of spatchcocking and braise-roasting. As usual, rather than do any research, I winged it, occasionally calling out to Merrill for advice. Here are the results! —Amanda Hesser
Serves: 4December 23, 2013 at 5:12 PM
From freelancer Dave Del Grande:
SAN FRANCISCO — Washington junior running back Bishop Sankey disclosed Monday he has been evaluated as a potential third-round pick in the next NFL Draft and plans to make a decision on whether he’ll return to the Huskies for his senior season sometime after Friday’s Fight Hunger Bowl game against Brigham Young.
Sankey, who set a Washington single-season rushing record with 1,775 yards during the regular season, asked the NFL for a draft evaluation earlier this month. Collegiate juniors are allowed to make such a request without losing their eligibility.
“It’s pretty much what I expected,” Sankey noted of the third-round grade, which he said he learned about last week. “I’m going to talk to coach (Chris) Petersen and to my family after the bowl game and make a decision.”
Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins reportedly received a second-round grade from NFL evaluators.
LUPOI WITH TEAM: The Huskies had their first practice in San Francisco in preparation for the bowl game Monday morning. Joining the team for the workout at the City College of San Francisco was defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, who has been the target of recent allegations of illegal payments made for a recruit’s tutoring.
Acting Washington coach Marques Tuiasosopo announced Lupoi would retain his normal coaching duties for the bowl game.
Asked if having Lupoi around the team might be a distraction leading into Friday’s contest, Tuiasosopo assured, “After all the Sark stuff (coach Steve Sarkisian taking the USC job earlier this month), nothing’s a distraction.”
ALREADY A WINNER: Huskies quarterback Keith Price would have paid to see his alma mater, St. John Bosco, play in the California state championship game Saturday night. In fact, he did pay.
Price and fellow Bosco alumnus Will Shamburger paid to get the game on Seattle cable, and saw Bosco beat Northern California power De La Salle 20-14 in a matchup of two nationally ranked teams.
“Great game,” Price assured of a championship that has earned him bragging rights among the many Los Angeles-area products on the Huskies roster. “First thing I’ve paid for since the (Floyd) Mayweather fight (against Robert Guerrero in May).”
LONG TIME COMING: Fight Hunger Bowl executive director Gary Cavalli couldn’t be happier about the Washington-BYU matchup.
“We probably have our best matchup,” Cavalli said of the 12th edition of the bowl. “We’ve wanted BYU every year we’ve had the game, but they’ve either been too good or not good enough. Same with the University of Washington.
“This is the fulfillment of a dream on both sides of the ball for us. Every bowl director dreams of a 31-29 game. That’s what we have.”
HUNGER BITES: BYU’s participants in Monday’s promotional press conference had their first “Life in the Big City” moment when their bus from Oakland to San Francisco got caught in traffic that was getting an early start toward the San Francisco 49ers’ home game against the Atlanta Falcons. They arrived at AT&T Park about a half-hour late. … Like the 49ers, the Fight Hunger Bowl is headed to the new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., next season. “We had to move to be competitive,” Cavalli said of a game that will match a Pac-12 team against a Big Ten rival. “The college bowl landscape is getting crazy.” … BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, whose team will be making its ninth consecutive bowl appearance, labeled the Huskies “the best opponent we’ve played in the nine years.” … Both teams will be distributing food to the hungry on Christmas Day in San Francisco. The Huskies will be at the Glide Memorial Church, while the Cougars will be at St. Anthony’s. … A crowd of about 35,000 is expected at the 38,000-plus-seat AT&T Park. Good weather is in the forecast.Update (December 4, 2016, 12:30 A.M.: Evidently, Donald Trump was not a fan of this cold open.
Alec Baldwin, however, has offered to stop doing his "totally biased" impression if the president-elect takes one simple action:
The original article continues below.
When there’s nothing left to say, you can always lean on horrified incredulity. That was Saturday Night Live’s strategy in this weekend’s cold open, a brief segment that once again featured Alec Baldwin as a trigger-happy Donald Trump. This time, the action focused on the president-elect’s compulsive tweeting and affinity for amplifying the words of random Twitter users who happen to agree with him—even if, say, they appear to be 16-year-old high school students. Quoth Kate McKinnon, breaking the fourth wall at the beginning of the sketch (she was playing Kellyanne Conway, natch): “He really did do this.”
The sketch went on to poke fun at Trump’s ill-advised phone calls with foreign leaders and that goofy photo the real estate mogul supposedly hates:
It did not, however, tackle one of the president-elect’s most heinous crimes: his strange devotion to the manual retweet, a serious breach of Twitter etiquette. Maybe next week?
Oh, and that photo Trump hates, by the way? It’s right here. Certainly don’t retweet it.SAN FRANCISCO — It is a wild time in Silicon Valley. Two-year-old companies are valued in the billions, ramshackle homes are worth millions and hubris has reached the point where otherwise sane businesspeople muse about seceding from the United States.
But the tech industry’s venture capitalists — the financiers who bet on companies when they are little more than an idea — are going out of their way to avoid the one word that could describe what is happening around them.
Bubble.
“I guess it is a scary word because in some sense no one wants it to stop,” said Tomasz Tunguz, a partner at Redpoint Ventures. “And so if you utter it, do you pop it?”
A bubble, in the economic sense, is basically a period of excessive speculation in something, whether it is tulips, tech companies or houses. And it is a loaded, even fearful, term in the tech industry, because it reminds people of the 1990s dot-com bubble, when companies with little revenue and zero profits sold billions in stock to a naïve public.Late last month, a young man named Maher entered Abu Mohammed’s candy shop in a small town 10km east of Daraa city. An argument over the price of sweets quickly escalated. When the fight turned physical, Maher, who is not a rebel, took out his gun and shot Abu Mohammed in the chest and another man in the leg.
As small arms flood the streets of Daraa province, residents are increasingly turning to guns to settle pretty much any dispute.
“Fights once fought with fists are now settled with guns,” Firas, a Daraa citizen journalist, told Syria Direct in a recent interview. Today’s widespread prevalence of guns is an undeniable result of the deteriorating security situation, he says. “It was inevitable…Today, most people carry guns.”
In light of the growing culture of gun violence, the opposition’s Court of Justice in Daraa is increasingly concerned with curbing it, the court’s Chief Justice tells Syria Direct.
“Moving forward, we will do what we can to limit the further spread of weapons, to bring about gun control and to institute official punishments for such offenses,” Sheikh Osmat al-Absi, Chief Justice of Dar al-Adl fi Houran, the southern Syrian province’s main judicial body for adjudicating civil and military disputes, tells Syria Direct’s Omaima al-Qasem.
In a patchwork province comprising armed factions such as the Free Syrian Army’s (FSA) Southern Front, Jabhat a-Nusra and Islamic State affiliate Liwa Shuhadaa al-Yarmouk, gun violence manifests in the form of personal disputes, reprisal killings and assassinations.
The Court of Justice maintains a 150-member enforcement authority to carry out its rulings related to civilian matters. However the court also turns to local armed groups, notably the Southern Front and its member brigade Jaish al-Yarmouk, for extra manpower.
Al-Absi recognizes that the delicate balancing act with local armed groups is neither desirable nor sustainable. “We are in desperate need for the police force to execute the decisions of the court with regard to gun violence.”
Q: What actions has the Court of Justice taken in light of the recent uptick of gun violence in Daraa?
Gun violence needs to be controlled; however, given the lack of security and stability in Daraa, it is difficult in the immediate future to regulate carrying weapons.
We are in desperate need for the police force to execute the decisions of the court with regard to gun control. Armed groups also have a responsibility to control their members on this issue. Young men shouldn’t be carrying guns unless they are fighting jihad or are on the frontlines, and we need to educate society on the dangers of weapons.
When the court hears of a gun-related conflict among armed factions, our role is to intervene and resolve the dispute. If these groups fail to resolve their differences, the court will detain the culprit, investigate the case and hold the individual accountable.
Q: How is the court able to execute its decisions in the absence of rule of law?
I wouldn’t say that there is an absence of rule of law. There are certainly laws in place, and we are trying to preserve order as best we can in light of current circumstances.
Q: Earlier this month, you told Syria Direct that you are “working to form an enforcement entity” to ensure that Daraa’s rebel factions abide by your rulings. Where do you currently stand with regard to this entity, and, prior to its formation, how have you been able to enforce the court’s decisions?
This enforcement entity is in the process of being formed. Currently, the Court of Justice has a 150-member executive authority, which carries out matters related to civilian affairs. With regard to armed conflicts, the Court of Justice leans on local armed groups to implement our rulings.
Q: Discuss this relationship between the court and the local armed groups. Do these groups respect and abide by the court’s decisions?
The relationship between the court and the local armed groups is strong, and these groups in large part abide by the court’s decisions. While there is certainly mutual respect, that is not to say that we have a perfect success rate in enforcing our rulings. People ignore even divine laws every once in a while. However, our ability to enforce our rulings has improved noticeably in comparison to before.
Q: Was the gun epidemic also present before recent events in Syria?
No, the gun epidemic is new. Prior to the revolution, weapons were not freely floating around like they are today. With so many people from Daraa and across Syria taking up arms in recent years, the spread of weapons has proliferated in an alarming way.
Q: Are there any gun-control regulations for individuals who are not Free Syrian Army (FSA) members?
Currently, there are no regulations in place, but, of course, this is something that we hope to accomplish. We do, however, regulate the trading of guns and have shut down shops that were selling weapons. Hopefully, this will serve as a precursor to further gun control throughout Daraa province.
Furthermore, while owning a gun is not regulated, there are clear laws in place with regard killing or using a gun to intimidate and threaten.
Q: Have there been any incidents of gun violence between members of armed groups due to personal differences?
No. While differences certainly occur between members of armed groups due to personal differences, they have never reached the point of gun violence. At times, these individuals will start crowding around and putting up checkpoints as if they are getting ready to fight, but these situations almost always reach a quick resolution through the judiciary or another form of conciliation.
Q: Have there been instances of revenge killings for events that happened before the war? How are these killings treated?
Yes, and they are treated like murder. They are not treated like reprisal killings. In these instances, the culprit is arrested and is referred to the judiciary for judgment. However, not all cases reach the court, sometimes because particular parties won’t file chargers. In such an event, an investigation isn’t opened.
In the event that cases do come our way, the public prosecution and the investigations office check out the crime scene, at times with the medical examiner. At this point, the court takes the suspect and his brothers to be questioned, and the case is referred to a criminal court.
Q: Have you had to deal with these types of cases recently?
Yes, the court has recently seen a number of such cases. If the suspect is found guilty, the sentence is death.
Q: What does peaceful coexistence look like in Daraa, an area that is so heavily armed?
People did not choose this state of affairs. It is a product of the chaos in Syria, and, unfortunately, gun violence has become a societal reality. Of course it is frightening for the people of Syria. Moving forward, we will do what we can to limit the further spread of weapons, to bring about gun control and to institute official punishments for such offenses in order to curb this dangerous behavior.Two giants of the mobile phone industry, Apple and Google, have agreed to drop all current patent infringement lawsuits between them, they said Friday.
“Apple and Google have also agreed to work together in some areas of patent reform,” the companies said in a joint statement. They have not agreed to cross-license each other’s patents, however.
Apple filed a lawsuit with the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2010 against Motorola Mobility, which was subsequently acquired by Google. Google has since agreed to sell the smartphone business to Lenovo, but the deal has not yet closed.
Many of the lawsuits Apple has filed against other smartphone makers, including Samsung, involve Google’s Android operating system. This deal announced Friday does not affect the Apple-Samsung lawsuit, however.
Earlier this month a California jury ruled Samsung should pay Apple $119 million for infringing several Apple patents related to smartphones and tablet PCs. Samsung was also ordered to pay Apple $930 million in an earlier case, which Samsung has appealed.
As sales of smartphones began to rise, competition between phone makers reached unprecedented levels and companies turned to the courts as a way to gain an advantage over competitors. However, despite millions of dollars spent in lawyers’ fees and thousands of hours of court time, the results have been mixed.
Few vendors have managed to get injunctions against popular smartphones that affected sales in any significant way.
Indeed, Motorola Mobility had been hoping to get the iPhone banned from sale in the U.S. on its allegations of patent infringement.
The judge overseeing the Apple v. Samsung case, Judge Lucy Koh, has asked the companies to settle several times and earlier this year ordered the chief executives of each company to sit down and attempt to hammer out a deal. That ended in failure.
Updated at 11:40 p.m. PT with more information throughout."Full House" Remember that Full House reunion we heard about last summer? Well go grab your favorite Jesse and the Rippers T-shirt and take to the streets, because it looks like it's really happening.
TV Line reports that a 13-episode multi-camera continuation of Full House, appropriately titled Fuller House, is nearing an order—where else?—at Netflix.
The revival will star Candace Cameron Bure as D.J. and Andrea Barber as Kimmy Gibbler, among many others. "Full House" The revival is poised to star Candace Cameron Bure as D.J. and Andrea Barber as the one-and-only Kimmy Gibbler, with John Stamos, Bob Saget, and Dave Coulier being eyed to make guest appearances. Stamos is also set to have a producer role on the show as well, which is being spearheaded by Full House creator Jeff Franklin.
Franklin will executive produce alongside Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett, who are reprising their roles from the original series. Jodie Sweetin was mentioned as being onboard in last year's report on the revival, but she's not included in today's update.
This is no doubt exciting news to fans of Full House like myself, and feels like the most logical continuation of the show with D.J. and Kimmy now acting as the focal point as adults.
Fuller House marks the latest in a long line of "revivals" of popular TV shows, which now includes Twin Peaks, The X-Files,Coach, Boy Meets World(in the form of the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World), and Arrested Development, which got a fourth season on Netflix.
The move isn't official yet so we haven't heard anything from Netflix, but I'd be surprised if the deal fell through. What do you think, folks? Are you enthused about reuniting with the Tanner family? Are you holding out hope for a Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen appearance? Will riots be started if we don't also see the return of The Rippers? Sound off in the comments below.Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Nevada and Arizona. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its construction was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers, and cost over one hundred lives. Originally known as Boulder Dam from 1933, it was officially renamed Hoover Dam, for President Herbert Hoover, by a joint resolution of Congress in 1947.
Since about 1900, the Black Canyon and nearby Boulder Canyon had been investigated for their potential to support a dam that would control floods, provide irrigation water and produce hydroelectric power. In 1928, Congress authorized the project. The winning bid to build the dam was submitted by a consortium called Six Companies, Inc., which began construction on the dam in early 1931. Such a large concrete structure had never been built before, and some of the techniques were unproven. The torrid summer weather and lack of facilities near the site also presented difficulties. Nevertheless, Six Companies turned the dam over to the federal government on March 1, 1936, more than two years ahead of schedule.
Hoover Dam impounds Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by volume (when it is full).[6] The dam is located near Boulder City, Nevada, a municipality originally constructed for workers on the construction project, about 30 mi (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The dam's generators provide power for public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona, and California. Hoover Dam is a major tourist attraction; nearly a million people tour the dam each year. The heavily traveled U.S. Route 93 (US 93) ran along the dam's crest until October 2010, when the Hoover Dam Bypass opened.
Background [ edit ]
Search for resources [ edit ]
As the United States developed the Southwest, the Colorado River was seen as a potential source of irrigation water. An initial attempt at diverting the river for irrigation purposes occurred in the late 1890s, when land speculator William Beatty built the Alamo Canal just north of the Mexican border; the canal dipped into Mexico before running to a desolate area Beatty named the Imperial Valley. Though water from the Imperial Canal allowed for the widespread settlement of the valley, the canal proved expensive to maintain. After a catastrophic breach that caused the Colorado River to fill the Salton Sea, the Southern Pacific Railroad spent $3 million in 1906–07 to stabilize the waterway, an amount it hoped in vain would be reimbursed by the Federal Government. Even after the waterway was stabilized, it proved unsatisfactory because of constant disputes with landowners on the Mexican side of the border.
c. 1904 River view of the future dam site,
As the technology of electric power transmission improved, the Lower Colorado was considered for its hydroelectric-power potential. In 1902, the Edison Electric Company of Los Angeles surveyed the river in the hope of building a 40-foot (12 m) rock dam which could generate 10,000 horsepower (7,500 kW). However, at the time, the limit of transmission of electric power was 80 miles (130 km), and there were few customers (mostly mines) within that limit. Edison allowed land options it held on the river to lapse—including an option for what became the site of Hoover Dam.
In the following years, the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), known as the Reclamation Service at the time, also considered the Lower Colorado as the site for a dam. Service chief Arthur Powell Davis proposed using dynamite to collapse the walls of Boulder Canyon, 20 miles (32 km) north of the eventual dam site, into the river. The river would carry off the smaller pieces of debris, and a dam would be built incorporating the remaining rubble. In 1922, after considering it for several years, the Reclamation Service finally rejected the proposal, citing doubts about the unproven technique and questions as to whether it would in fact save money.
Planning and agreements [ edit ]
c. 1921 Sketch of the proposed dam site and reservoir,
In 1922, the Reclamation Service presented a report calling for the development of a dam on the Colorado River for flood control and electric power generation. The report was principally authored by Davis, and was called the Fall-Davis report after Interior Secretary Albert Fall. The Fall-Davis report cited use of the Colorado River as a federal concern because the river's basin covered several states, and the river eventually entered Mexico. Though the Fall-Davis report called for a dam "at or near Boulder Canyon", the Reclamation Service (which was renamed the Bureau of Reclamation the following year) found that canyon unsuitable. One potential site at Boulder Canyon was bisected by a geologic fault; two others were so narrow there was no space for a construction camp at the bottom of the canyon or for a spillway. The Service investigated Black Canyon and found it ideal; a railway could be laid from the railhead in Las Vegas to the top of the dam site. Despite the site change, the dam project was referred to as the "Boulder Canyon Project".
With little guidance on water allocation from the Supreme Court, proponents of the dam feared endless litigation. A Colorado attorney proposed that the seven states which fell within the river's basin (California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming) form an interstate compact, with the approval of Congress. Such compacts were authorized by Article I of the United States Constitution but had never been concluded among more than two states. In 1922, representatives of seven states met with then-Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover. Initial talks produced no result, but when the Supreme Court handed down the Wyoming v. Colorado decision undermining the claims of the upstream states, they became anxious to reach an agreement. The resulting Colorado River Compact was signed on November 24, 1922.
Legislation to authorize the dam was introduced repeatedly by two California Republicans, Representative Phil Swing and Senator Hiram Johnson, but representatives from other parts of the country considered the project as hugely expensive and one that would mostly benefit California. The 1927 Mississippi flood made Midwestern and Southern congressmen and senators more sympathetic toward the dam project. On March 12, 1928, the failure of the St. Francis Dam, constructed by the city of Los Angeles, caused a disastrous flood that killed up to 600 people. As that dam was a curved-gravity type,[19] similar in design to the arch-gravity as was proposed for the Black Canyon dam, opponents claimed that the Black Canyon dam's safety could not be guaranteed. Congress authorized a board of engineers to review plans for the proposed dam. The Colorado River Board found the project feasible, but warned that should the dam fail, every downstream Colorado River community would be destroyed, and that the river might change course and empty into the Salton Sea. The Board cautioned: "To avoid such possibilities, the proposed dam should be constructed on conservative if not ultra-conservative lines."
On December 21, 1928, President Coolidge signed the bill authorizing the dam. The Boulder Canyon Project Act appropriated $165 million for the Hoover Dam along with the downstream Imperial Dam and All-American Canal, a replacement for Beatty's canal entirely on the U.S. side of the border. It also permitted the compact to go into effect when at least six of the seven states approved it. This occurred on March 6, 1929, with Utah's ratification; Arizona did not approve it until 1944.
Design, preparation and contracting [ edit ]
Hoover Dam architectural plans
Even before Congress approved the Boulder Canyon Project, the Bureau of Reclamation was considering what kind of dam should be used. Officials eventually decided on a massive concrete arch-gravity dam, the design of which was overseen by the Bureau's chief design engineer John L. Savage. The monolithic dam would be thick at the bottom and thin near the top, and would present a convex face towards the water above the dam. The curving arch of the dam would transmit the water's force into the abutments, in this case the rock walls of the canyon. The wedge-shaped dam would be 660 ft (200 m) thick at the bottom, narrowing to 45 ft (14 m) at the top, leaving room for a highway connecting Nevada and Arizona.
On January 10, 1931, the Bureau made the bid documents available to interested parties, at five dollars a copy. The government was to provide the materials; but the contractor was to prepare the site and build the dam. The dam was described in minute detail, covering 100 pages of text and 76 drawings. A $2 million bid bond was to accompany each bid; the winner would have to post a $5 million performance bond. The contractor had seven years to build the dam, or penalties would ensue.
The Wattis Brothers, heads of the Utah Construction Company, were interested in bidding on the project, but lacked the money for the performance bond. They lacked sufficient resources even in combination with their longtime partners, Morrison-Knudsen, which employed the nation's leading dam builder, Frank Crowe. They formed a joint venture to bid for the project with Pacific Bridge Company of Portland, Oregon; Henry J. Kaiser & W. A. Bechtel Company of San Francisco; MacDonald & Kahn Ltd. of Los Angeles; and the J.F. Shea Company of Portland, Oregon. The joint venture was called Six Companies, Inc. as Bechtel and Kaiser were considered one company for purposes of Six in the name. The name was descriptive and was an inside joke among the San Franciscans in the bid, where "Six Companies" was also a Chinese benevolent association in the city. There were three valid bids, and Six Companies' bid of $48,890,955 was the lowest, within $24,000 of the confidential government estimate of what the dam would cost to build, and five million dollars less than the next-lowest bid.
The city of Las Vegas had lobbied hard to be the headquarters for the dam construction, closing its many speakeasies when the decision maker, Secretary of the Interior Ray Wilbur, came to town. Instead, Wilbur announced in early 1930 that a model city was to be built in the desert near the dam site. This town became known as Boulder City, Nevada. Construction of a rail line joining Las Vegas and the dam site began in September 1930.
Construction [ edit ]
Labor force [ edit ]
Workers on a "Jumbo Rig"; used for drilling Hoover Dam's tunnels
"Apache Indians employed as high-scalers on the construction of Hoover Dam." – NARA
Soon after the dam was authorized, increasing numbers of unemployed people converged on southern Nevada. Las Vegas, then a small city of some 5,000, saw between 10,000 and 20,000 unemployed descend on it. A government camp was established for surveyors and other personnel near the dam site; this soon became surrounded by a squatters' camp. Known as McKee |
insist that the state find a way to provide the public funding that makes it possible.”
Simon Isham, editor-in-chief of The Louisville Cardinal student newspaper, contributed to this report. Reporter James McNair can be reached at jmcnair@kycir.org and (502) 814-6543.
Clarification: The story has been updated to note that two FSU students quoted in the article are members of “Progress Coalition,” a student group against corporate influence in education.
Disclosure: In October 2014, the University of Louisville, which for years has donated to Louisville Public Media, earmarked $10,000 to KyCIR as part of a larger LPM donation. Our newsroom has previously reported on the institution and will continue to report on it.A Godzilla-themed hotel is to open in Tokyo, which means your partner won't be the only monster you go to bed with.
The 30-storey Hotel Gracery, based in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo, will fling open its doors on April 24 and for just $334 a night (or $417 a night at weekends) guests can stay in the Godzilla Room, which features a large kaiju statue, as well as various pieces of memorabilia from the film.
But if you can't afford that, there is plenty of kaiju to go around elsewhere. An enormous Godzilla head will protrude from the top of the hotel, which sits above the Toho cinema, for example. Toho is the film company that produced and distributed many of the Godzilla films.
Should you wish, for $125 a night you can stay in a room that looks directly out at this Godzilla head.
Room with a view: one of the hotel rooms looks directly out at this Godzilla head
A digital rendering of the hotel from the street
A remake of the original 1954 Godzilla film was released last year.Reddit’s Ad Experiment Is Good News for Condé Nast. Maybe for Digg, Too.
How do you sell ads on a user-generated content site frequented by people who love technology and hate ads?
Sell ads that look exactly like the content itself.
That’s the strategy that Condé Nast is taking–cautiously–with Reddit, the Digg-like news aggregator it bought a couple of years ago. And it might be working.
So says Josh Stinchcomb, who runs sales and marketing for the “business” group of Condé’s digital properties, which also includes Wired.com, Ars Technica, and Web sites for the likes of The New Yorker and Portfolio. About three months ago, Stinchcomb began running ads that look exactly like the story headlines Reddit users submit and vote on.
The only difference: They sit at the top of the site’s homepage and carry a “sponsored link” tag. Like this (click to enlarge):
The results have made Condé “cautiously optimistic,” says Stinchcomb. You can measure that two ways: Click-through rates for the ads are running at about five percent, which is several times more than the industry average. And readers haven’t revolted.
The latter is a real possibility at a site like Reddit, whose users are fiercely protective of the community they’ve built, and antagonistic toward advertising in general. Stinchcomb says about 20 percent of Reddit’s users have installed ad-blocking software on their Web browsers.
If Condé keeps using the ads–they’ve run them from three sponsors so far and are tinkering with a self-service version that would allow marketers to submit ads on their own–it won’t create a torrent of cash. Right now the ads are priced at a $7 CPM (that’s $7 for every 1,000 eyeballs Condé gets in front of the ads), and Stinchcomb says he’ll probably have to knock that rate down. (He says he may also consider changing ad pricing to a cost-per-click/performance model, which would be a first for Condé).
But even a little bit of money would be a plus for Reddit, which has remained more or less a revenue-free property for Condé, even though traffic has shot up since the acquisition. Stinchcomb says Reddit now attracts five million uniques visitors a month, up from 1.5 million when the publisher bought the site (per usual, third-party traffic meausurements are much smaller).
Just as important, if it works for Reddit, it could have big implications for Digg, which has a significantly bigger audience, but faces the same problems selling ads.
Digg has raised $40 million so far, at a very high valuation, but revenues have been paltry. The site is reportedly planning to start selling ads that will look and feel a lot like the ones Reddit is already trying. High time to start experimenting.
[Note to Techmeme’s Gabe Rivera: Yup, you have sponsored content, too. In fact, we’ve seen versions of this model for as long as we’ve had mass media. I think this iteration is particularly interesting, though.]Famed director Hayao Miyazaki made a rare public appearance Monday in Tokyo, but the one-hour news conference may not have satisfied fans of his magical animation: The subject wasn’t movies but politics.
Responding to questions from reporters, Miyazaki bashed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s moves to build a new U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture, revise the pacifist post-war Constitution and reactivate nuclear power plants that have been idled in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima crisis.
“I believe Prime Minister Abe wishes to leave his name in history as a great man who revised the Constitution and its interpretation, which I think is despicable,” Miyazaki said at a news conference at his studio in Tokyo hosted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan.
The news conference was live-streamed over the Internet to general viewers.
Miyazaki attended the news conference as a representative of a fund to support Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga’s campaign against Abe’s plan to build a military base in Nago, northern Okinawa, to take over the functions of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, central Okinawa.
The fund, set up in May, had raised ¥385.7 million in donations as of July 8. Miyazaki is one of its eight representatives.
He said he hopes that foreign journalists attending the news conference will report that a majority of Okinawans are opposed to the Futenma relocation plan.
Miyazaki suggested the new military base should be built outside Okinawa, which saw fierce ground battles in World War II and was under U.S. control until 1972.
Miyazaki did not deliver a speech during the news conference, but simply answered questions from foreign journalists who sought his opinions on various political issues.
He argued that Japan should apologize in a straightforward manner for its wartime aggression in China, while both Tokyo and Beijing should stop engaging in political games over the history issue.
“(Japan’s) war of aggression into China is definitely something we should not have done. I believe (Japan) should clearly say that (the country) inflicted enormous damage on China and express deep remorse over it,” he said.
However, when asked if he would be willing to create a movie to share views on Japan’s aggression in the 1930s and ’40s with other Asian nations, Miyazaki indicated he wouldn’t.
“I think it’s better to create an animated movie that has something to do with a history over hundreds of thousands of years, rather than a history over these 100 or 200 years,” he said.
Miyazaki said he is currently working with computer graphics staff on a short animated film to be shown at his museum in Mitaka, western Tokyo. The main character of the film is a small hairy caterpillar living on a small green leaf.
Some of his noted works explore themes such as the power and beauty of nature, and the sins of humans for destroying it.
Miyazaki confessed that he dislikes “American culture” and the “American lifestyle” based on mass production and mass consumption. That American culture has deeply influenced Japan, he said.
“I have lived with a feeling that civilization based on mass consumption will come to an end someday,” he said.
He was also asked if Japan should operate nuclear power plants. Miyazaki immediately said “no.”
“Operating nuclear power plants in this country, which has so many volcanoes and sees earthquakes so often, is simply out of the question,” he said.
Miyazaki said he believes Mount Fuji will erupt someday and tsunami may devastate Tokyo and its surrounding area, including his home.We recently had the chance to present you the leaked information regarding PepsiCo China’s plans about releasing a smartphone named P1.
At the time, there was an actual Pepsi Phone Weibo page which now does not exist. The page instead says “page not found” (translated from Chinese). We can deduce from this that PepsiCo China might not be happy about the leaked info, and is now hiding any evidence about the Pepsi P1 phone’s existence.
Three days ago, we managed to spread the word on the Pepsi P1, and according to Reuters, PepsiCo reacted with an official announcement on Monday that they are cooperating with a partner to produce a set of Pepsi branded phones and accessories in China soon.
We are still speculating that the licensed partner might be the Shenzhen Zhongtai Chuangxin Science And Technology Co as they were originally tagged in the now gone Weibo Page and are a company that partly work with mobile accessories.
It currently seems that PepsiCo got slightly puzzled from the avalanche of news circulating around the Pepsi P1, but there are only 5 days left for the official announcement in Beijing. Various pictures of speculations about the phone’s looks can be found around the web, some of them actually looking realistic, or at least Pepsi-like, as you can see below.
1 of 3
Hopefully we can get a clear picture of the phone and also some details about the licensing company. We will bring you fresh news on the matter after the announcements on October 20.Tim and I usually meet at family reunions. I vividly remember the swimming pool of a Hampton Inn in Roanoke, VA. While I did flips and underwater handstands, he circled the shallow end of the pool, talking to himself. From time to time, he addressed me mid-sentence, usually about a character or detailed story point of a game, then meandered away again. I loved games back then and was eager to hear what he had to say. I had never met anyone who could get as excited about games as Tim. This drew me to him. The fact that he often did not care to relate to others, or did so with great intensity, made perfect sense to me. He was utterly absorbed in what he loved. It was not until years later that I began to understand what it means to have autism.
I'm not interested in making a documentary about autism. Of course, the fact that my cousin has autism will inform every scene in the film. It is the elephant in the room. However, I don't want it to overshadow Tim. Rather than looking at him through the lens of autism, I'd like to learn about autism through him. What goes on in his mind and how does he perceive the world around him? His perspective interests me because it is unlike my own and there is a lesson to be learned from every new perspective we can inhabit. The more we know about the experiences of others, the better we can love and understand. I won't attempt to make sense of Tim. No opinions will be voiced, no studies referenced, no experts questioned. I want to show what it's like to be my cousin, experience the anxieties and triumphs of his everyday life.
I'm also interested in how Tim affects those around him. My older brother suffers from a muscular disorder, which, in spite of huge effort, has defied diagnosis and treatment. Since the symptoms appeared three years ago, my family has not been the same. This first-hand experience has made me aware of how one person's disorder can be almost as debilitating to others as it is to the person him or herself. How have Tim's parents been able to cope with their family situation for eighteen years? There's no way for me to answer this question, especially within the limits of a short documentary. All I can do is take a careful look at their interactions with Tim and catch glimpses of their love, faith, sorrow, and humor. I would not be surprised if I return home with a better idea of how to deal with my own family situation.
Concretely speaking, the documentary will follow Tim and his parents for three weekdays. During this time, I want to fluidly shift perspectives from one family member to the next. The viewer will wake up with Tim's mother, for instance, move to Tim preparing to leave for school, then pay a visit to his father at work. I think that showing Tim's absence can be as powerful as showing his presence. For this reason, I'd like to spend time in the house in the early morning and in the afternoon, prior to the school bus' arrival. My inspiration comes from documentary filmmakers Albert and David Maysles and Frederick Wiseman. I believe that viewers should be allowed to decide what they think and how they feel. Ambiguity can be a powerful tool.
First and foremost, your funding will enable me to rent professional video equipment. Good quality image and sound will be vital in order to get the viewer as close as possible to Tim. Considering that much of the shooting will take place in the evenings, when Tim and his parents are at home, the camera needs to perform well in low-light situations. It should also have professional audio inputs, since Tim likes to speak most of the time. The camera that best fits my needs is the Canon C300, known both for its sensor sensitivity and overall usability. Along with the camera, I will have to rent a number of accessories.
I plan to work alone because a film crew would be too disruptive in Tim's home setting. This approach will keep production costs at a minimum. I'm used to shooting by myself from my non-profit work abroad. If I were to require assistance for an all-day shoot, I have friends in the area upon whom I can depend. Production will last two weeks. At that time, I will return all the rentals and turn to editing the material. This will take me at least a month. My goal is to submit the finished documentary to several film festivals in order to raise awareness about what it can be like to live with autism.Empathy is our ability to think and feel what another person is thinking and feeling. It’s an incredibly important psychological trait that we’ve evolved to experience to help facilitate social interaction, cooperation with one another, solving social conflicts, and creating overall social harmony.
According to psychologists there are 3 different types of empathy: cognitive empathy (thinking what someone is thinking), affective empathy (feeling what someone is feeling), and sympathetic empathy (a combination of the two, coupled with the motivation and drive to take action and do something about it).
It is this last type of empathy – sympathetic empathy – that can sometimes be unhealthy and even destructive in the wrong context and situation. While empathy is a very useful trait, at times it can be misused and abused.
For example, we are all familiar with how people elicit empathy from others in order to manipulate them, whether it’s a commercial trying to make you feel a certain way to buy a product, or a politician trying to make you feel a certain way to vote for them, or even a person you know trying to make you feel a certain way to change your behavior (such as maybe through guilt-tripping or shaming you).
It’s important to be attuned to the emotions others express toward us, but at the same time we can’t let these emotions run wild and dictate our behavior.
Empathy is often associated with morality, helping others, and creating good in the world – but too much empathy can even blind us from making good moral decisions.
To start, we need to understand how empathy works.
Our capacity for empathy often extends most to people whom we know – our family, friends, coworkers, and people that are close to us. It’s, at the very least, extremely difficult to empathize with people who aren’t in your “social circle,” at least not in any measurable way.
You may see a commercial about starving kids in third world countries and you’ll feel like shit, but the truth is you’re probably much more likely to donate to a charity that is personally relevant to you. For example, if you’re Mom suffered from breast cancer, you’re probably more likely to donate to a breast cancer charity. Or if you used to grow up in an abusive household, you’re probably much more likely to spend your time volunteering with other children in those situations.
We care more about things that are personally relevant to us. That’s a completely natural and understandable limitation of empathy.
Now, let me ask you a question. How do you think your emotional reaction would be if you heard about a story on the news where 100,000 people died in a natural disaster? Now, how do you think your emotional reaction would be if you heard the exact same story on the news, but this time 100,000,000 people died?
Chances are you’d have a fairly similar emotional reaction in both situations, even though in the latter situation there’s 1000x more people dying.
Why is this? Because our brains aren’t designed to empathize at such a huge scale. We need to see people’s faces, we need to know their names, we need to know about them and listen to their stories, to really empathize with them.
To our empathic brains, it’s hard to distinguish between 100,000 people dying vs. 100,000,000.
There’s that famous quote by Joseph Stalin where he says, “When one person dies, it’s a tragedy, but when a million people die, it’s a statistic.” I think that says a lot about how our empathic minds work.
When we think about organizing a “good society” or a “good government” – whatever that may mean to you – what we’re usually talking about is a lot of people who we really don’t know or understand. Our social brains aren’t designed to think about such large amounts of people and make decisions on behalf of such large groups.
There’s the famous “Dunbar’s Number,” which is the theory that there is a cognitive limit to how many meaningful social connections we can really maintain at once. It’s been suggested that this number may be around 100-250 people – but I think whatever the number may be, there is certainly a limit to how many people we can meaningfully connect with and empathize with at once. Right? To get to know someone takes time and effort, and we only have so much time and effort at the end of the day.
So this, to me, is a limitation of empathy. Because when we think about society at large – government, politics, businesses – we’re often talking about large amounts of people. Large amounts of people who we aren’t usually capable of empathizing with in any meaningful way.
But, here’s the real kicker, we sometimes get manipulated by empathy when we make these big decisions.
In one study, psychologists asked participants how much money they would donate to help develop a drug that would save the life of one child, and asked others how much they would give to save 8 children. The answers were about the same. But when they told a third group one child’s name and age, and showed them a picture of her, the donations were far higher for the one person than to the eight.
Psychologists call this the “identifiable victim effect.” If we can personally relate and empathize with a victim, then we are much more motivated to do something about the situation. This effect persists, even when we can rationally save more people.
This is a great example of how we put more weight on a situation that we can empathize with vs. ones focused on just numbers or statistics.
The media loves to play on this “identifiable victim effect.” For example, many times we focus on the “personal stories” behind the victims of mass murders and shooting sprees. And the news will tell us all about the children, and the parents of the children, and the shooter, and the parents of the shooter. And obviously, we keep learning more about this tragedy – until you’re in it – you’re empathizing like it’s a real-life movie or book, you’re living vicariously through these victims and you feel really strongly about the situation, as if it happened to you or someone you know.
However, now that you’re emotionally invested in the story, it’s time for the sales pitch. Right? There’s always seems to be underlying agenda or “call to action” behind the story, whether it’s mental health issues, or gun legislation, or some shocking cultural shift that is happening in America and needs to be stopped (like we’re playing too many video games, or too much rock music).
And you’re more likely to buy whatever they are selling if they pull the right emotional triggers. If it’s a story that you can empathize with and care about, and if there is an “identifiable victim” we can relate to and sympathize with, then you’re going to feel more strongly about any proposed solutions to fix it.
But this can be a limitation of empathy. Because you’re often times too emotionally invested to think rationally about the situation.
In an excellent article called The Case Against Empathy, the author Paul Bloom states:
“On many issues, empathy can pull us in the wrong direction. The outrage that comes from adopting the perspective of a victim can drive an appetite for retribution. But the appetite for retribution is typically indifferent to long-term consequences. In one study, conducted by Jonathan Baron and Ilana Ritov, people were asked how best to punish a company for producing a vaccine that caused the death of a child. Some were told that a higher fine would make the company work harder to manufacture a safer product; others were told that a higher fine would discourage the company from making the vaccine, and since there were no acceptable alternatives on the market the punishment would lead to more deaths. Most people didn’t care; they wanted the company fined heavily, whatever the consequence.”
He goes on to give another example in the same article, this time about global warming:
“As it happens, the limits of empathy are especially stark here. Opponents of restrictions on CO2 emissions are flush with identifiable victims—all those who will be harmed by increased costs, by business closures. The millions of people who at some unspecified future date will suffer the consequences of our current inaction are, by contrast, pale statistical abstractions.”
So it’s a lot easier to look at environmental regulations and see the immediate consequences they will have on businesses. And it’s easy to empathize with those consequences, because there are identifiable victims. But it’s a lot harder to empathize with people in the future – those whom we don’t know and will never know – who will ultimately pay consequences in the future if we ruin the environment.
As Bloom eloquently puts it, “Too often, our concern for specific individuals today means neglecting crises that will harm countless people in the future.”
Of course, empathy is a fantastic and useful ability, especially at a “micro level” in your daily life – when you’re dealing with family, friends, loved ones, bosses, and coworkers – people who you interact with face-to-face and build meaningful relationships with.
But empathy can also be severely limiting at a “macro level” – when we start looking at the bigger picture of society, when we have to think about people in more abstract terms, and we start talking about benefits and costs that affect many people who we don’t know at all and can’t possibly empathize with.
Sometimes, to make good and moral decisions (meaning, choices that benefit the most people in the long-run), we need to put aside our sympathetic empathy and strong emotional motivations, and instead try our best to see things from a more objective and rational perspective.
This means trying our best to see the “bigger picture” behind our choices and decisions and how they influence society as a whole in the long-term, without getting too narrowly focused on just one emotionally gripping story.
Stay updated on new articles and resources in psychology and self improvement:There are 54 million single people in the U.S. and around 40 million of them have signed up with various online dating websites such as match.com and eHarmony. As a result, about 20 percent of current romantic relationships turn out to have started online.
So it’s no surprise that there is intense interest in understanding the behavior of those who sign up and in improving systems designed to create a successful match.
Today, Peng Xia at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a few pals publish the results of their analysis of the behavior of 200,000 people on an online dating site. Their conclusions are fascinating.
They say most people behave more or less exactly as social and evolutionary psychology predicts: males tend to look for younger females while females put more emphasis on the socioeconomic status of potential partners.
But they also have a surprise. They say that when it comes to choosing partners, both men and women’s actual behavior differs significantly from their stated tastes and preferences which they outline when they first sign up. In other words, people are not as fussy about partners as they make out.
Xia and co analyzed a dataset associated with 200,000 individuals from the Chinese dating website www.baihe.com, which has over 60 million registered users. Each person’s profile contained information about their gender, age, location, body type, occupation, marriage and children status and so on. It also listed the dates of all the messages they sent during an eight week period in 2011, as well as the receiver of the message and whether they responded.
In their first week of membership to this dating site, men send on average 15 or 20 messages and continue to send them at that rate. By contrast, women send twice as many messages in the first week but this rate drops dramatically in the second week to well below the rate men send and stays at this much lower level.
In general, men send far more messages but get fewer replies than women. And women are more likely to receive unsolicited messages and less likely to reply. Both sexes reply quickly to messages when they do reply, taking on average about nine hours to pen a response.
So what kind of partners are people looking for? The general picture is unsurprising. “Males tend to look for younger females while females place more emphasis on socioeconomic status such as the income and education level of a potential date,” say Xia and co.
But when they compared each person’s preferences with the attributes of those he or she chose to message, Xia and co found a surprise. “A fairly large fraction of messages are sent to or replied to users whose attributes do not match the sender or receiver’s stated preferences,” they say.
In particular, women tend to deviate much further from their stated preferences than men. That’s particularly true of attributes such as age, height, and location. However, they are much less flexible than men about marital status and number of children.
What’s interesting about these discoveries is that when it comes to certain categories such as height, education level, people’s actual choices are essentially random. These choices are indistinguishable from random selections, say Xia and co.
By contrast, people’s choices in categories such as age difference and geographic distance accurately reflect their stated preferences.
So it seems that people care deeply about the age of their potential partners and where they’re from but not about how tall they are, how much they earn, or their education level.
Nevertheless, the general trend is that people tend to reply to others who match their stated preferences. “We observe that for both males and females, the reply probability is larger when the sender’s attribute matches the receiver’s stated preference,” they say.
Of course, there are likely to be significant differences between certain aspects of dating behavior in China compared to other parts of the world. For example, there is very little ethnic variety in China—98.9 percent of people in the data set were Han Chinese, the ethnic majority in China. What’s more, 97 percent claim to be nonreligious. That’s a group very unlike the mix found in other parts of the world.
The bottom line here is that people prefer dates that match their stated preferences but actually aren’t too fussy when it comes to many of these categories. That’s information that many dating sites might like to explore in more detail when designing the questions they ask and the algorithms that link one person to another.
And with the online dating business generating over $1 billion in revenue per year and becoming a large part of single people’s lives, there will surely be great interest in improving the way the services work.
Ref: arxiv.org/abs/1401.5710 : Who is Dating Whom: Characterizing User Behaviors of a Large Online Dating SiteAutostraddle may collect a small share of sales from some of the links on this page.
For a lot of trans women, going to the pool or the beach can be one of the most stressful things about post-coming-out life. You’re more exposed than usual, swimsuits aren’t normally designed for girls with bodies like ours, and there are usually lots of people there. But don’t worry! Things aren’t hopeless for you! Here are just a few suggestions for trans women.
Summer is in full swing and it’s hotter than ever and so are you, and in classic trans girl style if you’re a late bloomer who didn’t buy a swimsuit in May, now’s your chance. If you’re looking for something a little more traditionally masc or butch, you can stick with board shorts; that’s just as valid an option for trans women as any of these one and two piece suits. Or you know what? Board Shorts can be femme too! Make fashion bend to your will, don’t give in to it’s demands.
Here are a bunch of super stylish and cute swimsuits that I think would look great on a trans woman.
Two Piece Suits
Two piece suits are super cute, and when you’re a trans woman, you might want a little bit of a skirt or short at the bottom, because let’s be honest, the biggest worry for a lot of trans women when going to the beach is making sure your bulge doesn’t show. I love this Underwire Bikini Top and matching Ruched High Waist Skirt Swim Bottom, the red looks especially great on trans girls. Another cute red option is the matching Polka Dot Print Halter Bikini Top and Polka Dot Print Tie Side Ruffle Swim Skirt, which have a nice retro feel and are a super stylish option for trans girls looking to get that modern femme aesthetic. If you have a top already, I’d suggest the Fringe High Waist Swim Bottom, which is fun and gives you a great ’60s look. Another ’60s throwback suit that has some nice light summer colors is this Pineapple Stripe Beach Crop Top Short Co-Ord, which is great if you want some extra space but not a skirt.
Black Swim Suits
If you don’t want to have a skirt on your suit but you’re still worried, the best way to disguise any bulges is with the color black. A dark suit always looks super stylish and is good at hiding anything you want to hide. This simple Lace Up Front One Piece is sleek and great for plus size Tall Girls. A slightly more bold option would be this Color Block One Piece or Tiger Embroidered Swimsuit, which both have large black areas in the crotch. I love the pattern on the Fruity Suity One Piece, which is both busy and dark, so it’s extra good at hiding. Finally, if you want to go with a two piece, this Boohoo Mix and Match Bikini in Black is simple, flirty and fun. If you’re looking for a cover up, this Gauze Lace Inset Swim Cover Up will make you look like a witch out for a beach day, which if you’re a trans woman, that’s exactly what you are.
One Piece Suits
Again, if you’re looking to get a little coverage, these one piece suits are perfect for you. First we’ve got this cute and bright Ruffle Skirt One Piece Swim Dress, which is great for any softies. If you’re a little tougher, I love this Skull Dot Print Peplum One Piece, which is perfect for the thousands of goth trans girls out there across the country. Finally, if you’re a party animal, want to show off your gay pride or you just want everyone to stare at you, I don’t think you have a better option than the Jaded London Rainbow Sequin Fringe Swimsuit.
Sporty Suits
If you’re more the sporty type of trans woman, there are lots of cool and tuff options for you too! This Ripcurl Stripe Swimsuit is super stylish and not too femme. The Active Cap Sleeve Swimsuit is simple, but makes a nice statement. I love the way this Free Society Marl Textured Bikini looks like a sports bra. Or if you want to look like an ’80s beach babe with a little extra coverage, this The Crop and High Waist bikini in ’80s Print is perfect for that. Or if you want to go for the full coverage look, this O’Neill Mesh Insert Body Swimsuit looks amazing and is a nice dark color.
Board Shorts
You know, being a trans girl doesn’t mean you have to give up wearing shorts! If that’s what you’re into, go for it! You do you! Outplay has a bunch of awesome options. For some shorter short I like the Todasana and Tomboier options. Or if you want a looser fit the Choroni and Atlantic Board Shorts look great. I’ll see you at the beach! Or the pool I guess!
Rash Guards
I recently saw the movie 47 Meters Down and Mandy Moore and Claire Holt looked super cute in rash guards before they were surrounded by sharks, so I’m sure trans women would look even cuter. This RVCA Neoprene Rash Tank is especially cute, and works for a lot of different styles and aesthetics. If you want to go the simple, straightforward route, the Caurimare from Outplay is a classic black, long-sleeved option. I also absolutely love the Mochima, a rash gaurd that uses the Outplay logo but also definitely looks more than a little bit like that ’90s paper cup design.Comedian Rachel Bloom’s Sex Dance on Bill Nye’s Show (Source: Netflix Screenshot)
The Friday premiere of talk show “Bill Nye Saves The World” sparked a massive backlash this week after the show hosted a comedian, Rachel Bloom, to dance provocatively and denounce sexual mores. The performance marked a stark career departure for host Bill Nye, who has been widely beloved as a child educator. Nye served as honorary co-chair of Saturday’s March for Science to support state subsidies for the theory man-made global warming jeopardizes civilization itself.
Statements by Bloom’s parents uncovered exclusively by GotNews may explain why the 30 year old married comedian was willing to make the controversial performance.
Bloom’s performance of the song “My Sex Junk” on an episode of the new Netflix show featured her preaching that “there’s nothing [sexually] taboo,” singing she is “down for anything,” and advising viewers that having sex “how you want, it’s your godd*mn right.” The episode, entitled “The Sexuality Spectrum,” presents prescriptive cultural critiques from fringe humanities fields as central elements of biology and medicine.
Visible ogling Bloom and backup dancers at stage right, Nye, former presenter of the taxpayer-subsidized ‘90s children’s show “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” nods along as Bloom encourages the audience to consider trying anal sodomy.
A video of the performance that surfaced on YouTube [ NSFW ] has been received extremely negatively—at the time of press having been given 24,000 unfavorable ratings. That’s a negative rating by 98 percent of those who voted.
Negative YouTube Reception for Bloom Song ‘My Sex Junk’ (Source: GotNews)
In 1999, Bloom’s attorney father, Alan, wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Times to defend the airline industry. In the letter, Alan wrote, “I have been traveling approximately 50,000 miles a year—mostly on business—for the last 20 years,” later in the letter differentiating that business travel from that done with his wife and then 11 year old daughter. Assuming Alan kept his business travel to weekdays, in theory, his average daily airline travel would have been surpassing at least 100 miles as Rachel was approaching pubescence.
Could long personal absences by her father have inspired Bloom to jest she still doesn’t know what her father does for a living?
I'm very impressed at the amount of people who know what their dad does. I'm 27 and still don't know. — Rachel Bloom (@Racheldoesstuff) June 22, 2014
I got caught reading a dirty book when I was 12 and I said, "Oh! I thought this was one of Dad's law books!" #CrazyExGirlfriend — Rachel Bloom (@Racheldoesstuff) January 7, 2017
In Jan. 2015, Bloom married her boyfriend of then six years—a writer and director of her CW show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” She joked in February her now 35 year old husband was the “father of my dog.”
I would get pregnant right now if it meant I would give birth to a dog — Rachel Bloom (@Racheldoesstuff) January 2, 2015
1997 episode of Nye’s children’s show on genetics used as an object lesson a two-headed turtle, which the show noted could only survive in captivity. Observing the difficulty its two heads presented to feeding, movement and an overall goal of passing along its genes, Nye said, “Now, the mutations that made this animal, the mutations in the genes, happen all the time in nature. Sometimes the mutations help an animal survive, and sometimes they don’t.”
You won’t hear this stuff from the lying mainstream media. Keep the GotNews mission alive: donate at GotNews.com/donate or send tips to editor@gotnews.com. If you’d like to join our research team, contact editor@gotnews.com
Facebook posts by Bloom’s mother, Shelli, reveal that in mid-2015, and following Bloom’s wedding, their mother-daughter relationship had turned very south. Shelli complained in March, “Rachel is sad that I did not die right after giving birth to her. That would have enabled her to live a happy, carefree life as a motherless child.”
In April 2015, Shelli’s mother revealed Bloom thought her an “unfit” mother, and that Bloom “does not want to be on the same planet with us.”
In Sept. 2015, in the run-up to the world premier of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” Bloom’s mother lamented, “Here’s hoping that the fictional character named Rachel Blum in a new novel is more respectful than the real |
government or state-owned enterprise.
Only 4% of respondents reported that none of their income came from market activities.
The survey population, however, was overwhelmingly composed of refugees from North Korea's north-eastern provinces. What about the remainder of the country?
Satellite imagery shows the Haggard/Noland findings are plausible nationwide.
Backbone of economy
Analysts have identified well over 300 markets across North Korea. Many are larger than a standard football pitch. Satellite imagery also shows these markets are growing.
Image caption This is Tongil farmers market in Pyongyang, pictured in 2003 by Naenara, the North's official web portal
By layering historical imagery we can observe markets that were small in the early 2000s are now taking over their neighbourhoods.
We can estimate the number of vendors in some of these markets - giving us a lower-bound estimation of the size of the local merchant class.
What we observe is that having existed only at the margins of the North Korean society in 1990, North Korea's markets are now the backbone of the consumer economy.
Satellite imagery analysis also sheds light on Pyongyang's ability to enforce market regulations outside of the capital.
In many cases where Pyongyang has ordered markets to be closed we can see thousands of people trading at "grasshopper" markets in makeshift locations. These spontaneous markets represent a double-loss for the regime.
From an ideological perspective, people are engaging in self-directed capitalist enterprise.
From a public finance perspective "grasshopper" markets represent lost revenue to the state because the government does not sell slots at the official marketplace.
'Mining boom'
Satellite imagery also sheds light on North Korea's continued economic integration with China.
Image caption Analysts say at least 80 new mining projects have been undertaken in the last seven years in North Korea
Statistics Korea reports that Chinese trade with North Korea totalled $5.63bn in 2011 (up 284% from 2007), and exports to China totalled $2.46bn in 2011 (up 424% from 2007) - primarily composed of coal and iron.
Satellite imagery of North Korea is not perfect. Many parts of the country go unobserved and many times only older imagery is available to analysts.
Today, however, we can identify no fewer than 80 new mining projects have been undertaken in the last seven years.
These new projects consist of both renovations to existing mines and the construction of new pits. The scale of investment requires a large influx of foreign capital because the DPRK simply lacks the finances and capacity to bring these mines on-line by itself.
Satellite imagery has also been a vital tool for NGOs and rights groups who are tasked with monitoring changes in North Korea's notorious political prison system.
In 2003 the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea was the first organisation to publish a comprehensive report on the North's political prison camps.
The existence of these camps was verified by matching defector testimony and hand-drawn maps with satellite imagery of the related areas.
Since 2003, however, we have witnessed a dramatic change in the way North Korea manages its political prisoner population.
Defector testimony, clandestine reporting and satellite imagery have been used to confirm that North Korea has closed Camp 22 in Hoeryong and Camp 18 in Pukchang.
Unfortunately, no information has yet to lead us to a definitive conclusion about what has happened to the former inmates.
And it is not all good news on this front, however. It is only through satellite imagery that we learned in January of this year that North Korea had expanded its incarceration capacities at two other prison camps, No 14 in Kaechon and No 25 in Chongjin.
As no information about these facilities has been obtained from within North Korea, satellite imagery is our only tool for recording these changes.
Satellite imagery offers a new and accessible source of data for analysing North Korea. Now everybody with an internet connection can observe the most remote corners of the country, or track North Korean projects in distant corners of the globe.
Try it for yourself and share with the world what you discover.By some measures, Wright had a uniquely disastrous major-league career — one game with the 2002 Mariners in which he accounted for six outs in three at-bats. But he appreciated the chance. “I’m grateful for time I had up there, and to get into that game. No regrets whatsoever.”
Elsewhere on this website, we celebrate the greatest Mariners performers of the past 40 years. You won’t find Ron Wright on this list. In fact, by some measures, Wright had a uniquely disastrous major-league career — one solitary game with the 2002 Mariners in which he accounted for an astounding six outs in three at-bats.
But no one appreciated his ill-fated time more than Wright. He has channeled what by all rights could have been lingering bitterness and turned it into a healthy attitude toward a post-baseball life he loves.
“My reaction now is the same as it always has been — I’m grateful for time I had up there, and to get into that game,” Wright said by phone from St. George, Utah, where he lives a quiet, happy life as a pharmacist, baseball instructor, outdoorsman, father and husband. “No regrets whatsoever.”
In the realm of MLB’s one-game wonders, Wright is not exactly Moonlight Graham, romanticized in “Field of Dreams,” or John Paciorek (former Mariner Tom Paciorek’s brother), who was 3 for 3 and drove in three runs in his lone game for Houston in 1963 before hurting his back and never returning to The Show.
In his first at-bat, Wright struck out. In his second at-bat, he grounded into a triple play. In his third at-bat, he grounded into a double play. The fourth at-bat never came. Seattle manager Lou Piniella sent Mark McLemore up to hit for Wright in the seventh inning of an eventual 9-7 Mariners win. Wright never appeared in another big-league game, sent back down to Tacoma a couple days later.
“If I got into one game,” Wright said cheerfully, “I might as well do something memorable. I wish it had been three home runs, but it wasn’t. It was kind of a weird sequence of events that led to the actual outcome. With different baserunning and different bounces, you never know.”
Road to The Show
Wright made his cameo appearance for the Mariners on April 14, 2002 in Arlington, Texas, against the Rangers. He was 26 and had gone from elite prospect with the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates to minor-league journeyman after back surgery in 1999 that didn’t go well. Wright had been a touted slugger known for 500-foot homers, but when the surgeon nicked his sciatic nerve during a disk removal, he was left with perpetual numbness in his right leg that effectively sapped his power.
“You can look at it two different ways,” reflected Wright, now 41. “You could be bitter, but he was the best doctor in the country. If not for him, I might not have even walked out of there. But looking back, I wish I hadn’t had surgery.”
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Wright, who grew up in the Tri-Cities after age 8 and attended Kamiakin High School in Kennewick, had been earmarked as the Pirates’ first baseman of the future after being acquired from Atlanta as a key piece in a trade for All-Star starter Denny Neagle. He even got a September call-up from the Pirates in 1997 but did not play because of a wrist injury.
After the back injury, which cost Wright most of the 1998 and ’99 seasons, Wright drifted through the minor leagues, moving from the Pirates’ organization to the Reds and Devil Rays (now Rays), mired in Triple-A. The Mariners signed Wright to a minor-league contract in 2002.
“My leg was always fresher early in the year, and I got off to a torrid start with Tacoma,” he recalled.
The Mariners, coming off a 116-win season, had a deep, loaded lineup, and Wright understood that his chance of getting a crack with the big club was remote. But early in the season, designated hitter Edgar Martinez suffered a hamstring injury. The Rainiers were in Iowa when manager Dan Rohn told Wright to jump on a plane to Texas. The Mariners needed another bat. Wright excitedly called his family with the news but told his parents not to bother flying to Dallas. They could catch him in Seattle later down the line.
There was no “later,” of course. For Wright, forever, there was only April 14, after sitting on the bench for his first two games in the majors. He would have sat a third game, in fact, except that during batting practice on that fateful Sunday, a line drive by Mike Cameron bounced off the pitching screen and struck Jeff Cirillo on his head, opening a wound that required three stitches. Gerald Perry, the Mariners’ hitting coach, informed Wright that he would be starting at DH and batting seventh.
Just one regret
In his first at-bat, facing veteran lefty Kenny Rogers with two aboard in the second, Wright experienced the only regret he would have. He decided to take one pitch — and let a fat fastball from Rogers go by. Looking back, Wright thinks if he hadn’t sat for a few days, he would have come up hacking. But he felt he needed one pitch to reconnoiter. Rogers proceeded to paint the corner for the whiff.
“I still remember looking at that first pitch and thinking I should have torn that ball up,” he said.
Wright came up again in the fourth with Ruben Sierra on third base and John Olerud on first, no outs. What happened next, he says, “is like a blur.”
Wright hit a chopper up the middle, thinking that at the very worst they’d get a force at second and he’d beat the throw to first for an RBI. But Rogers, a Gold Glove fielder, snared the ball and quickly threw to Texas shortstop Alex Rodriguez for the force out.
Sierra, meanwhile, had broken late for home, and Rodriguez fired to Texas catcher Bill Haselman.
“It sounds like Ruben maybe was not running too hard,” Wright said. “I looked up and saw him in a pickle. The first-base coach waved me to second so I could at least get in scoring position.”
But Sierra was tagged out, and then so was Wright on the throw back to A-Rod. Wright had joined Larry Hesterfer of the 1901 New York Giants — a pitcher — as the only players in history to hit into a triple play in his only big-league game.
Piniella would tell reporters afterward, “I could see it developing, like a thunderstorm on the gulf.”
“When you put the ball in play, a lot of things could happen,” Wright said. “But Kenny was one of the best at fielding his position.”
Wright came to bat one final time in the sixth, this time with Sierra on second and Olerud on first. He hit the ball squarely, but right at Rodriguez, who started a 6-4-3 double play.
“That’s just the way baseball goes,” he said. “I was fine with that. The first at-bat, I was a little awestruck, keyed up.”
Back to the minors
Afterward, there was much gallows humor. Bret Boone presented Wright with a lineup card signed by the Mariners players — and Rodriguez. The next day, when another first-and-second situation presented itself, Piniella told Wright in the dugout with a grin he would have sent him up to hit but he was afraid he’d hit into another triple play.
“What can you do but laugh?” Wright said. “People around the game know how it goes. I had a short memory. It ended up a big story, but I was over it by the next at-bat, ready to roll. I’d hit into double plays before. The triple play was kind of a freak deal.”
The next at-bat was back with Tacoma. When the team moved on to Oakland after a four-game series with Texas, the Mariners’ bullpen was shot and needed reinforcement. When Piniella called Wright into his office to send him down, he apologized for not getting him another chance.
There would be no more chances. Wright tried gamely, moving on to the Detroit and Cleveland organizations, and finally, in 2004, to Sioux Falls of the independent Northern League. But his body had nothing left, and Wright finally quit.
“Before my injury, I probably would have been disappointed if I was not an All-Star two or three times,” Wright said. “But I knew in the back of my mind it would never be the same. I was missing pitches I hit before. It was good to be rewarded for all the hard work with one game, at least.”
More important things
After his retirement, Wright got his pharmacy degree at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho, and settled into a job as a pharmacist in Utah, the state where he was born. He and his wife Annica, whom he met in church while in the minor leagues, have been married 20 years and have four kids ranging from 19 to 10.
“I was not raised to think the only thing in life was baseball,” Wright said. “I loved it and breathed it and wanted it more than anything else, but I had a good head on my shoulders and realized that there were other things more important, like family.”
Wright, who played in the heart of the steroids era, saw players juice up and pass him by. But if you think that made him bitter, you haven’t been paying attention.
“Suddenly, the one thing I could do, hit home runs, everyone could do,” he said. “And I’m gimpy, and they’re ‘roided up. It was hard to watch, but I stick up for guys. A lot of good, honest people took them. I still think it’s wrong, I still think it’s the chicken’s way out, but I understand it’s more than black and white. If everyone is doing it, it’s hard to pass up.”
These days, Wright doesn’t watch much Major League Baseball until the postseason. He admits it’s still hard. He’s had a couple of stints coaching hitters at Dixie State University in St. George and would love to get involved in the college game again. Wright has written a manual to help with the mental side of hitting and does private instruction. He still has friends in the game, but most, such as Mariners first-base coach Casey Candaele, have segued from player to coach.
Every so often, someone will bring up the game — his game — and it doesn’t bother him.
“I knew I wasn’t going to stay there,” he said. “So I might as well have done something memorable.”A White Rock, B.C., councillor says the bellies of pregnant women who wear too-tight clothing resemble "sausage casings."
That's just one of the observations made by David Chesney while he was a guest on broadcaster Jim Goddard's online show, The Goddard Report, earlier this month.
They were chatting about a pregnant television meteorologist who received hate mail for her appearance on screen, prompting Chesney, the editor and publisher of the online newspaper the White Rock Sun, to offer his opinion of how some pregnant women dress.
How they can yank on those Lululemon sweatpants and body dance skins and go out in public at eight months pregnant. - David Chesney. White Rock councillor
"They can't get on any more skin tight, it looks like sausage casings. Their belly button is pushing through the material and I kinda look at that and I go, 'I get it, you're pregnant, all right.' Now why, why, why such a desire to push that out in front of everyone and and again, as I say I know... I can hear some people screaming at me right now."
Chesney said during the interview that he doesn't advocate that pregnant women wear "tents," but, thinking of his mother's generation, he says there is more appropriate maternity wear.
"The fact is that the styling was much different through the '50s, '60s, '70s — even in the '80s women wore a little bit more loose-fitting clothes. But as I say, nowadays, how they can yank on those Lululemon sweatpants and body dance skins, and go out in public at eight months pregnant... I don't find it repulsive. I just really have to question, why that?"
Chesney also shared his thoughts on maternity leave.
"You get one year maternity leave, so women want to come to work until their water breaks so they can have one year off from the time the baby is born. They are not taking a month off ahead of time. They are coming to work. They are barely able to walk. They can't sit down. They are not comfortable."
'He does not speak for White Rock Council'
CBC News attempted to reach Chesney, but he was not immediately available.
White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin called Chesney's comments "unfortunate."
Chesney says he doesn't advocate that pregnant women wear 'tents,' but in thinking of his mother's generation, he says, there is more appropriate maternity wear. (White Rock Sun)
"He does not speak for White Rock council," Baldwin told CBC. "And definitely it's an unfortunate remark that he's made and it's disturbing, but it's nothing we can take responsibility for."
This isn't the first-time that the first-term councillor has been criticized for his comments.
Baldwin says Chesney made some defamatory comments about another a councillor and as a result, he was censured and taken off council committees.
"There definitely seems to be a pattern, and that's unfortunate."
Social media backlash
Leah Emmons, a Ladner woman who gave birth five months ago, says she just brushed away Chesney's remarks.
"Those nine months are the most exciting time of your life," she said. "Yes, you have to exercise decency in terms of what you wear... but I think you basically just have to wear what you're comfortable in."
Here are some other comments on Twitter:I spent much of my 25-year career in the private sector turning around failing enterprises. With a great team behind me, I helped to turn around the Salt Lake City Olympic Games, and fix a badly broken state budget in Massachusetts. But I have never seen an enterprise as large, as poorly led, and as badly in need of a turnaround as our federal government.
USATODAY OPINION Columns In addition to its own editorials, USA TODAY publishes a variety of opinions from outside writers. On political and policy matters, we publish opinions from across the political spectrum. Roughly half of our columns come from our Board of Contributors, a group whose interests range from education to religion to sports to the economy. Their charge is to chronicle American culture by telling the stories, large and small, that collectively make us what we are. We also publish weekly columns by Al Neuharth, USA TODAY's founder, and DeWayne Wickham, who writes primarily on matters of race but on other subjects as well. That leaves plenty of room for other views from across the nation by well-known and lesser-known names alike. Columnists
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President Obama inherited a severely imbalanced budget, and he made it much worse. Many now question whether we can ever return to fiscal sanity, let alone fiscal strength. A point of no return may well be approaching — a decade of huge deficits could drive our principal payments and interest rates beyond our reach while starving the economy of the capital it needs to grow.
We can still correct course because our economy retains tremendous capacity for growth. As president, I will bring to Washington the turnaround philosophy it so badly needs.
Any turnaround must begin with clear and realistic goals. By the end of my first term, I will bring federal spending as a share of GDP down from last year's staggering 24.3% to 20% or below. This level is in line with the historical average and nears the tax revenue our economy generates when healthy. With economic growth of 4% a year, meeting this goal will require approximately $500 billion of spending cuts in 2016, and that would still allow us to undo the Obama administration's irresponsible defense cuts.
There are three ways to reduce spending, which combined, will achieve a fiscal turnaround of this size.
First, eliminate every government program that is not absolutely essential. There are many things government does that we may like but that we do not need. The test should be this: "Is this program so critical that it is worth borrowing money to pay for it?" The federal government should stop doing things we don't need or can't afford. For example:
•Repeal ObamaCare, which would save $95 billion in 2016.
•Eliminate subsidies for the unprofitable Amtrak, saving $1.6 billion a year.
•Enact deep reductions in the subsidies for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Legal Services Corporation.
•Eliminate Title X family planning programs benefiting abortion groups like Planned Parenthood.
•End foreign aid to countries that oppose America's interests.
Second, return federal programs to the states where innovation, cost management and reduction of fraud and abuse can far exceed what Washington achieves. I will block grant Medicaid and workforce training, saving well over $100 billion in 2016.
Third, sharply improve the productivity and efficiency of the federal government itself. Where we do want the federal government to act, it must do a better job. For instance:
•Reduce the federal workforce through attrition and align compensation with the private sector, saving over $40 billion by 2016.
•Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act, a union giveaway that artificially raises costs for government projects, and save taxpayers more than $10 billion a year in the process.
•Attack rampant fraud in government programs by enacting far stiffer penalties for those who steal from taxpayers. Cutting improper payments in half could save more than $60 billion a year.
•Consolidate, eliminate and streamline federal departments, agencies and offices following a stem-to-stern review.
These three approaches, applied systematically throughout government, will produce a fiscal turnaround. But that achievement will be short-lived if we do not also ensure that both Medicare and Social Security are made sustainable for future generations. Reforms should not affect current seniors or those near retirement, and tax hikes should be off the table. However, the retirement age for younger workers should be increased slowly to keep up with increases in longevity. And Social Security benefits for higher income recipients should grow at a slower rate than for those with lower incomes.
Tomorrow's Medicare should give beneficiaries a generous defined contribution and allow them to choose between private plans and traditional Medicare. And lower-income future retirees should receive the most assistance. I believe that competition will improve Medicare and the coverage that seniors receive.
What I propose will not be easy. Washington is full of sacred cows that supposedly can't be slaughtered and electrified third rails that allegedly can't be touched. But if we do not act now, the irresistible mathematics of debt will soon lead to unimaginable peril. With the downgrade of America's credit rating, we've gotten a taste of that bitter reality as we see the full potential of fiscal disaster playing out across Europe. We must turn around while we can.
Mitt Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts, is seeking the Republican nomination for president.Malaysia Airlines MH17: Signals intercepts reveal pro-Russian separatists claiming responsibility for passenger plane downed over Ukraine
Updated
Ukrainian signals intercepts appear to have captured pro-Russian separatists claiming responsibility for shooting down a Malaysian airliner over rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, killing all 289 people on board, including at least 28 Australians.
Ukraine's Kyiv Post newspaper has posted what it says is a conversation between a separatist commander and Russian intelligence officer Vasili Geranin.
In the transcript, released by Ukraine's security service, the separatist, identified as Igor Bezler, says: "We have just shot down a plane. It fell down beyond Yenakievo (Donetsk Oblast)."
The paper also has a transcript of what it says is a conversation between two separatists identified as "Major" and "Greek".
"The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first 200. We have found the first 200 - a civilian," Major says, referring to the codeword for a dead person.
"In short, it was 100 per cent a passenger aircraft.
"These are Chernukhin folks who shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin check point. Those Cossacks who are based in Chernukhino."
The paper also posted part of a third conversation between Cossack commander Nikolay Kozitsin and an unidentified militant.
"Regarding the plane shot down in the area of Snizhne-Torez. It's a civilian one - fell down near Grabove. There are lots of corpses of women and children. The Cossacks are out there looking at all this," the militant says.
"They say on TV it's AN-26 transport plane, but they say it's written Malaysia Airlines on the plane. What was it doing on Ukraine's territory?"
Kozitsin replies: "That means they were carrying spies. They shouldn't be f***ing flying. There is a war going on."
Military analysts have speculated that militants mistook the passenger jet for a military aircraft.
Earlier Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said the downing of the airliner was an act of terrorism.
"MH-17 is not an incident or catastrophe, it is a terrorist attack," he tweeted.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said it would be an "unspeakable crime" if the aircraft was proven to have been shot down.
"If it does turn out that this aircraft was brought down by a surface-to-air missile, there is no doubt this would be - under those circumstances - an unspeakable crime and the perpetrators should swiftly be brought to justice," he said.
US vice-president Joe Biden earlier said the aircraft was "blown out of the sky" and it was "not an accident".
Reuben Johnson from defence publication Jane's Military says all the missile systems in the area of Ukraine where the plane was downed had been seized by separatists.
"We have some telephone recordings that were intercepted by the Ukrainian security service... that has the separatists talking to each other, saying 'We shot down a plane'," he said.
"So there's not too much that's left to the imagination."
The conversation between Major and Greek, as posted by the Kyiv Post:
Major: These are Chernukhin folks who shot down the plane. From the Chernukhin check point. Those Cossacks who are based in Chernukhino. Greek: Yes, Major. Major: The plane fell apart in the air. In the area of Petropavlovskaya mine. The first 200. We have found the first 200 - a civilian. Greek: Well, what do you have there? Major: In short, it was 100 per cent a passenger aircraft. Greek: Are many people there? Major: Holy sh**t! The debris fell right into the yards [of homes]. Greek: What kind of aircraft? Major: I haven't ascertained this. I haven't been to the main site. I am only surveying the scene where the first bodies fell. There are the remains of internal brackets, seats and bodies. Greek: Is there anything left of the weapon? Major: Absolutely nothing. Civilian items, medicinal stuff, towels, toilet paper. Greek: Are there documents? Major: Yes, of one Indonesian student. From a university in Thompson.
Topics: air-and-space, accidents, disasters-and-accidents, unrest-conflict-and-war, ukraine, russian-federation
First postedThe Food Server at the MIT Media Lab's Open Agriculture Initiative Courtesy MIT Media Lab/Open Agriculture Initiative Vertical farming, an agricultural technique that involves growing plants indoors in precisely programmed conditions, is spreading rapidly. Kimbal Musk (Elon's brother) is opening an incubator for vertical farming startups in Brooklyn, the world's largest vertical farm is set to open this fall, and personal indoor growing boxes are being developed for home use.
Soon, an unlikely company will also start using the technology: Target.
"Down the road, it's something where potentially part of our food supply that we have on our shelves is stuff that we've grown ourselves," Casey Carl, Target's chief strategy and innovation officer, tells Business Insider.
A Food Computer at the MIT Media Lab's Open Agriculture Initiative Courtesy MIT Media Lab/Open Agriculture Initiative In January, Target launched the Food + Future CoLab, a collaboration with design firm Ideo and the MIT Media Lab. One area of the team's research focuses on vertical farming, and Greg Shewmaker, one of Target's entrepreneurs-in-residence at the CoLab, says they are planning to test the technology in a few Target stores to see how involved customers actually want to be with their food.
"The idea is that by next spring, we'll have in-store growing environments," he says.
During the in-store trials, people could potentially harvest their own produce from the vertical farms, or just watch as staff members pick greens and veggies to stock on the shelves.
Most vertical farms grow leafy greens, but the CoLab researchers are trying to figure out how to cultivate other crops as well.
"Because it's MIT, they have access to some of these seed banks around the world," Shewmaker says, "so we're playing with ancient varietals of different things, like tomatoes that haven't been grown in over a century, different kinds of peppers, things like that, just to see if it's possible."
The CoLab's Poly technology on display at the White House's South by South Lawn festival Food + Future CoLab Because the CoLab is a research partnership, the projects don't only focus on technologies that could one day be used in Target's stores or supply chain.
For example, the team is currently developing a small vertical farm would allow farmers or researchers to conduct agricultural experiments and trials. A medium sized version, which is being tested in an off-campus MIT facility, would measure a few hundred square feet and could be used to grow produce for a restaurant or store.
The largest vertical farm the team has developed, at just under 8,000 square feet, could grow crops for an entire neighborhood or community. That big farm is currently being tested in India, where the team is attempting to grow non-food crops, like cotton, that often use up soil, water, and resources that could otherwise be used to grow food.
The CoLab team has also used the same research to create a self-contained growing box that can educate kids about how food is grown. On September 30, that product, called Poly, is being given to 35 public school classrooms in Boston and Minneapolis. Shewmaker says the team hopes to eventually make a market-ready version that could be sold to textbook or curriculum companies.
A Poly box Food + Future CoLab Carl says anticipating and shaping the future of food — at Target and beyond — is essential to the company's growth.
"Food is a big part of our current portfolio today at Target — it does $20 billion of business for us," he says. "We need to be able to see more effectively around corners in terms of where is the overall food and agriculture industries going domestically and globally."Team Lebanon member, from left, Shadi El-Aridi, Wissam Malaeb and Kareem Kawtharani fix their robot during the FIRST Global Challenge, international annual robotics game on. (Photo by Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)
As six robots battled it out on the floor of the DAR Constitution Hall’s auditorium during the FIRST Global Challenge competition Tuesday afternoon, a cheer rose above the din of voices echoing across the stands.
“Team Hope! Team Hope! Team Hope!”
The cheering came from a corner of the stadium where a group of boys from Team Lebanon — wearing rainbow clown wigs — stood next to Team Palestine. They, and teams from Libya and Jordan, were lending their voices to support a group of Syrian refugees, known as Team Hope. It was one of many times when teens would spontaneously break out into cheers for competitors.
When they weren’t cheering, hundreds of teens from 157 countries mingled, chatted and leaned in for selfies in the sweltering corridors of the concert hall at the first international Global Challenge competition. In between making final adjustments on their robots, a bonding experience that has become central to this competition, they signed each other’s T-shirts and exchanged pins. If they did not speak the same language, they all understood the thrill, the frustration and the anxiety that comes with competition.
Next year it will be hosted in Mexico City.
Afghanistan team member Kawsar Roshan during the during the FIRST Global Challenge, international annual robotics game. (Salwan Georges/The Washington Post)
These are precisely the kinds of friendships FIRST Global founder Dean Kamen, an inventor, hoped to build — ones that crossed languages, cultures and geopolitical frontiers. His lofty vision is one in which graduates of this program put aside politics to solve the world’s most pressing challenges, like shortages of clean water and the myriad problems wrought by global climate change. In this year’s competition, teams built robots to sort contaminated water from clean water — actually orange and blue plastic balls — to get them thinking about the real-life challenge that many face getting enough clean water.
“If we can get kids from around the world to deal with the same issues … we could compete on the same team,” Kamen said on Sunday evening, in remarks at the opening ceremony. “You don’t have to have self-inflicted wounds created by arbitrary differences and politics.”
This cauldron of competition — with countries sending some of their brightest and best aspiring engineers — forged plenty of unusual friendships. Team Armenia and Team Turkey, who come from countries whose relations are strained — were allied in one match. The Armenian team also helped Lesotho make modifications to their robot.
“You have to put politics aside,” said Lilit Tarumyan, a 16-year-old team member. Her teammate. Maria Ter-Minasyan, chimed in: “They were some cool guys!”
The contest is called a “coopera-tition,” with points given to teams for working together to form alliances.
Under their country’s flag, three young Iranian men tinkered with their robot on Tuesday afternoon, in preparation for the final, nerve-racking matches of the FIRST Global Robotics competition. Just feet away, Team Israel was busily making adjustments to theirs. The two countries have hostile relations. But in this corner of the DAR Constitution Hall, separated by no more than 30 feet, the teens from both countries forged an unlikely bond.
They chatted about robots and politics, and then the two teams huddled together for a group photo with founder Kamen. And then the teens wished each other good luck.
“Please, see us today, we Israelis and Iranians were together and happy,”said Mohammad Reza Karami, the mentor for Team Iran. “You also can see, learn and be together.”
A team of six Afghan girls nearly missed an international robotics competition before their visas were approved just days before traveling to the U.S. (Patrick Martin/The Washington Post)
The competition capped weeks of drama in which two teams — one from Gambia and Afghanistan’s all-girls squad — appeared to be in jeopardy of competing in the U.S. when their visas were initially denied. Their plight garnered international attention and sympathy. The Gambian team finally received their visas in early July, according to the Associated Press. But the Afghan girls did not get their visas until President Trump intervened at the last-minute, granting them passage to the U.S.
Alieu Bah, an 18-year-old Gambian team member from Serakunda, said the team was crestfallen when their visa applications were initially denied. But they did not give up and continued to put in hours of work — sometimes seven hours at a stretch — on their competition robot, with plans to ship it to Gambians living in the U.S., who would compete in their place.
“We worked hard. And even when we didn’t get it, we worked hard,” said Bah, who added that he was just excited to see Gambia represented in the international competition. But he was still thrilled when he heard the State Department had reversed its decisions. “I’m proud to be here.”
[Afghan girls team can travel to U.S. for robotics contest after being denied visas twice]
Tuesday, First Daughter Ivanka Trump came to the hall and met with five other all-girl squads, including the teams from Jordan, Brunei, Vanuatu and the U.S. She then pulled the lever to start a friendly match between the six teams.
Kawsar Roshan, a 15-year-old member of Team Afghanistan, said Trump was welcoming, telling her through a translator: “You’re most welcome. I’m happy you made it to the U.S.”Recently a Shrink4Men Forum member shared a link to an article that’s been making the rounds on social media. Ordinarily, I mock the use of Trigger Warnings. That being said, I feel obligated to issue both a Trigger Warning and a Ridiculous Bullshit Warning as many of my readers, both men and women, are or have been victims of narcissists, borderlines, histrionics, psychopaths, sociopaths and other abusive and predatory personality types. Therefore, consider yourselves warned:
How to Love a Woman Who Has Been to Hell and Back by Kathy Parker.
Oof. Where to begin?
This article could easily be titled, How to Allow Yourself to Be Abused by a Female Narcissist, Borderline or Psychopath and Like It! And If You Don’t Like It, You’re a Heartless, Selfish Jerk! The behaviors of the “hell and back woman” are classic examples of abuse commonly perpetrated by narcissists, borderlines, psychopaths and their ilk.
These personality traits, attitudes and behaviors don’t magically become acceptable, admirable, attractive or laudable when embodied in a woman. They’re evidence of severe characterological pathology whether the individual in question is a woman or a man. It’s nothing to be normalized and romanticized, which is what the author is doing. The author is normalizing and romanticizing abuse when perpetrated by personality disordered women.
And what does the author advise her readers to do in the face of abuse by “a woman who has been to hell and back?” She encourages us to “love her harder.”
First, Love Her Harder sounds like a low budget porno. Second, loving your abuser “harder” makes you an emotional and sometimes physical doormat/punching bag that results in ever increasing and escalating abuse. The phenomena described in How to Love a Woman Who Has Been to Hell and Back are examples of what abuse victims experience during the Devaluation and Discard stages of relationships with narcissists, borderlines and psychopaths.
Abusers don’t respect and appreciate their victims’ willingness to tolerate abuse. Taking abuse |
2004 American League Championship Series, as his Yankees won the first three games and then dropped four in a row to allow the Red Sox to reach the World Series, Jeter hit barely.200.
Or consider Ben Hogan, one of golf's steadiest great players. On the final hole of the 1946 Masters, Hogan needed only to sink a 2-foot putt to win. He completely missed the cup. In another notorious golf gaffe, Arnold Palmer, known for playing well in tight spots and being untouchable once ahead, choked the 1966 U.S. Open twice: He blew a 5-stroke lead in the last four holes of regulation, and in the playoff the next day, he blew 6 strokes in the final eight holes, losing the tournament.
Collapses like these – classic chokes – appear to rise from the process known colloquially as “thinking too much” or “paralysis through analysis,” and among cognitive scientists as “explicit monitoring.” Explicit monitoring, says Beilock, is "conscious attention to normally automatized physical operations that destroys the athlete's normal fluidity."
This is the micromanaged putt, the aimed pitch, the overdirected free throw. This is the screwup your brother is trying to induce when he asks you, as you tee up, "Do you inhale or exhale on your backswing?" By consciously trying to direct a physical action that you've practiced until it's automatic, you botch it.
Bounteous research has confirmed that for polished athletes, the explicit monitoring of destroys performance. Beilock, for instance, demonstrated this by asking expert college soccer players to keep track of which side of which foot was contacting the ball as they dribbled through a series of pylons. When they did, they moved through the pylons more slowly and made more mistakes than they did normally. She regularly gets similar results when she asks good golfers to monitor, say, how far back they take their backswings.
"You need to monitor these mechanics while you're learning an action," Beilock notes. "But once you've learned it, you've got to leave it alone."
The classic advice for avoiding thinking too much is to "not think about it." But this is not easily done. You're better off, says Beilock, if you find something else to think about – a useful distraction, some simple mental task that occupies the mind enough to keep it from meddling.
Rob Gray, a professor of psychology at Arizona State University, demonstrated this a few years ago with an elegant two-stage experiment he conducted with high-level college baseball players in a batting cage. In the first part of the experiment, he asked the batters (whom he had already watched hit in order to establish a baseline performance) to listen for a tone while hitting so they could report where their bat was in the swing when the tone sounded. Unsurprisingly, this explicit monitoring made them hit worse. They missed more often, and their swings got measurably slower and more choppy.
Yet it was not the listening that messed them up; it was their attention to the swing. For when Gray asked the hitters to listen for a tone while batting and report merely whether the tone was high or low in frequency, the hitters swung as fluidly and hit as well as usual. Their bodies knew the hitting process well enough to do it with a distracted brain. But explicitly monitoring the process gummed it up.
Since then, Gray, Beilock, and others working such "dual-task" or "healthy distraction" experiments have shown that attending a modestly demanding outside mental operation can reduce explicit monitoring and alleviate choking. Beilock has found, for example, that golfers under competitive pressure can prevent decrement by counting backwards to themselves while they putt.
"It's what I was doing when I sang during face-offs," says Beilock. "The simple mental task lets your body do what it already knows how to do."
Judicious Attention———————–
Such findings have made explicit monitoring the blanket explanation of choking in sports. It's as if everyone agreed that while a bit of smarts can serve well at times – mostly for catchers, point guards, and quarterbacks – jocks generally best leave their thinking brains in the locker.
Perhaps because she is both brain and jock, Beilock received this wisdom skeptically. As a grad student looking at choking research, it struck her that the prevailing model of performance under pressure rose from experiments that look almost exclusively at physical actions.
"Yet choking," as she points out, "is so clearly mental.
"If you study golf and study only the strokes, you'll have only one idea about how skills fail. But there are crucial skills in sports that rest on processes less physical. Part of sports is thinking." And there are chokes, she asserts, that rise not from overthinking but from poor thinking.
She offers evidence both anecdotal and experimental. For anecdote, consider golfer Colin Montgomerie in the 2006 U.S. Open. Montgomerie, 42 at the time and burdened with the unofficial title Best Golfer Never to Win a Major, began the tournament's last hole having just taken the lead with a gorgeous 50-foot putt.
To take the trophy he simply had to par the 18th. He put his drive in the middle of the fairway, leaving himself a straightforward 170-yard approach shot to the green. But after pulling a 6-iron from his bag – his usual club for a 170-yard shot – he suddenly worried about hitting too long.
He put back the six and pulled out the shorter 7-iron – and hit short. The ball landed in deep rough. His chip landed 30 feet from the hole, and he three-putted to lose by a stroke.
An even clearer example comes from the 1993 NCAA championship basketball game. University of Michigan star Chris Webber gained possession of the ball with 11 seconds left and called a time-out – only to discover that his team had no more time-outs. The resulting technical foul helped seal Michigan’s elimination.
Beilock contends that such failures come not from unwelcome attention, as explicit monitoring does, but from a deficit of needed attention. "Sports aren't cognitively static," says Beilock. "Situations change, and you need to track things and make decisions. You can't just not think. There's a whole skill involved in knowing not just what not to think about, but when to attend things that need tending. You've got to be able to control what you're attending to."
At the Sox-Indians game I saw with her, this made perfect sense. A typical at-bat requires coming to the plate with a plan of attack based on the hitter's skills and the pitcher's strengths and proclivities. Most batters focus on a hittable area of strike zone they suspect the pitcher will find at least once with a particular pitch: fastball outside, perhaps, or slider in tight. As the at-bat progresses and the hitter gains or loses advantage by getting ahead or behind in the count, he must shrink or expand his swing zone.
When hitters step out of the box between pitches, it's usually to perform this recalibration: they zoom out from their deep focus to check the count, regauge their swing zone, then step in and zoom in again. If they don't do this or they think poorly or second-guess, they're more likely to get surprised – and to swing at pitches they should take or take pitches they should swing at.
Beilock holds that such faulty thinking amounts to a different sort of choke: a disruption of quick but vital data-checks, calculations, and recalibrations that the athlete must perform to play at optimum level. It's a failure of cognition. Call it a cognichoke.
Is that what was going on with Konerko? And how did it work?
Why White Men Can't Putt—————————-
Sports psychology goes back to 1898, when psychologist Norman Triplett found that cyclists ride faster in groups than they do alone. Since then, sports psychologists have had the arena of performance and its decrements largely to themselves. No one outside jock psych seemed terribly interested in what made people screw up.
This began to change, however, in 1995, when a Stanford psychology professor named Claude Steele, working with graduate student Joshua Aronson, published a study titled "Stereotype Threat and the Intellectual Test Performance of African Americans." The paper described how Steele and Aronson knocked down by a whopping 50 percent the scores of black Stanford undergrads taking sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) simply by telling them the test measured intelligence.
The paper created a sensation, inspiring a rain of similar studies. Steele and Aronson subsequently showed you could drive down test scores merely by having black students declare their race on a pre-test form. They and other researchers soon found that stereotype threat works on other groups, too. Mention anything about gender or "innate ability" to women taking a math test, for instance, and they'll make more mistakes.
Though these stereotype-threat effects fairly reek of choking, several years passed before anyone examined them in the light of sports performance. Then, in 1999, Jeff Stone, a social psychologist at the University of Arizona, asked both white and black golfers to play a putting game framed as a test of either "sports intelligence" or "natural athletic ability." The results still astonish: Among the golfers considering the putting game a test of "natural athletic ability," blacks did better than usual and whites did worse. Among those framing it as a sort of sports intelligence test, whites did better and blacks worse.
This result, replicated many times since, eerily echoes the GRE test-score plunge that Steele and Aronson induced in 1995. Yet that white golfers suffered a hit while being tested for "natural athletic ability" raises an intriguing question: If white male golfers in Arizona can be so easily derailed by an unflattering stereotype, who on earth is exempt from stereotype threat?
No one. Since those first studies, Stone, Beilock, and others have produced, with almost laughable ease, absurdly task- and stereotype-specific effects in groups of every sort. For instance, if you ask white men to jump both before and after calling the jumping test a measure of "natural athletic ability," they will jump significantly less high after the threat. White male engineers, meanwhile, will ace a math test if it's presented as a test of gender-based or innate math abilities – but tell them they're being compared with Asian male engineers, and they'll choke badly.
"We haven't found anyone," says Beilock, "that we can't screw up by suggesting that some group they're a member of is bad at something."
Stereotype threat, it turns out, is a surprisingly democratic dynamic. Obviously stereotypes such as bigotry and sexism are not applied equitably. But no one is immune to the mechanism that stereotype threat applies. For this reason, some psychologists are starting to call it "identity threat." As Jeff Stone put it, "We all have multiple identities, and they can all be discriminated against. It's the identities we carry that make us vulnerable here."
Emphasize the identity aspect, and the sports implications rapidly expand. The many late-season and post-season failures by the Chicago Cubs, for instance, start to make more sense: In a pressure situation, any simple reminder that you're a Cub (like, say, your uniform) may cause enough decrement to make you drop fly balls, boot grounders, or monitor your way out of an at-bat.
Meanwhile, stereotype "lift" – a performance boost that some studies have found in people doing tasks their stereotyped groups supposedly do well – may lend extra advantage to the Yankees or (now that their two World Series wins in 2004 and 2007 seem to have lifted the Curse) the Boston Red Sox.
But how does stereotype threat work? The initial hypothesis about the Steele and Aronson African-American test-taking results was that stereotype threat created a self-fulfilling image of failure, a sort of role-playing in which the test-taker surrenders to the stereotyped identity by disengaging emotionally and intellectually. In the last five years or so, however, researchers such as Beilock and the University of Arizona's Toni Schmader have done experiments suggesting that stereotype threat fouls performance primarily by occupying working memory.
Working memory is the crucial mental faculty that briefly retains multiple pieces of unrelated data so you can use or manipulate them. You depend on working memory every time you read a paragraph, learn a new definition, perform a multipart math problem in your head, or try to retain a phone number while you finish a conversation. Working-memory capacity is closely tied to general powers of intellect and decision-making. When it's not working well, you're not as sharp.
In late 2007, Beilock found that when women under stereotype threat choked on a math test she designed for them, they choked almost exclusively on problems that relied on working memory; they fell short not because they were thinking too much, but because they couldn't keep in mind the things necessary to the task.
This working memory failure is a much different mechanism than external monitoring (which stereotype threat can also cause); instead of overmonitoring a physical operation, the athlete or test-taker is poorly attending a mental operation. Beilock believes such misattention is at work when athletes commit mental stumbles like Colin Montgomerie's club switch. Montgomerie wasn't stupid to double-check his choice of club; calibrating club selection is essential to high-level golf. His mistake was in not working through the problem fully and leaving out the essential information: that conditions dictated that he should indeed use his regular club length. But with his cognitive machinery slowed by preoccupied working memory, he failed to think straight and miffed it. He cognichoked.
How do you fend off such effects of stereotype threat? As Jeff Stone notes, identity is partly a matter of context and even choice. "Usually, something in the context has to activate a stereotype threat. It has to be turned on. But you can also turn it off. To some extent, you can reframe things yourself." Asian women, for instance, do better on math tests if they focus more on their Asianness than on their gender.
"You can't dictate your genes," says Stone. "But among the many identities you have, you can choose which to operate from." Tiger Woods, for instance, has clearly forged an identity that transcends the potential vulnerabilities of his multiracial makeup. You can wallow in your most negative identity – the slow one, the overthinker, the one who doesn't care – or you can foreground another identity, the one who is ready, the one who knows what's coming, the one who calmly attacks the problem.
Not that this comes easy. As Beilock notes, this second, cognition-based failure under pressure means "there are at least two things going on, running parallel, almost all the time": a physical track and a mental track. "And what might disrupt you – what might crunch under pressure – depends on what you're doing at a particular moment."
You can jump off the physical track by overmonitoring and fall off the cognitive track through inattention. And distraction greases the physical track and kinks the cognitive. To travel both smoothly requires knowing what to attend to and what not to attend to – or to put it another way, understanding what to distract yourself from (your physical mechanics) and what not to get distracted from (the score, the count, how many time-outs you have left).
This is a vision of athletic performance both alluring and daunting. Sports start to look a lot more like real life – and much more demanding.
"It's a lot more complicated than just 'Don't think about it,'" says Beilock.
Showtime————
How did hitters handle this dual track? I wanted to ask Paul Konerko. So late that season of 2008, on August 29th, I went to another White Sox game, the opener of a vital three-game series against the Red Sox in Boston. For pressure, this one easily beat the May game I'd watched with Beilock. Both teams were in drum-tight pennant races; the Red Sox were 4.5 games out of first in the American League East and the White Sox up a game and a half in the AL Central. Both teams needed wins. Both knew they might meet a month later, in the postseason.
Despite the stakes, however, the White Sox clubhouse seemed a remarkably calm place three hours before game time. Several players sat watching a Cubs-Phillies game that ran quietly on a television. Another cluster studied laptops showing films of Boston pitcher Daisuke "Dice-K" Matsuzaka, whom they would face that evening. I found Konerko in a chair in front of his locker doing a crossword puzzle.
Konerko in person projects a warmth and quickness of expression that doesn't come across in photos or even video. He is a smart but modest man, and articulate and open in a way that had long made him a favorite interview target among Chicago sportswriters. He sat alone today, however.
His season had not gone well since I'd seen him strike out in May. After hitting.222 in April and.191 in May, he'd gone.250 in June and.209 in July, and so entered August hitting.214 with just 9 homers, half his normal pace. The White Sox, desperate to produce more runs, dropped him two spots in the order, from the hallowed cleanup spot, fourth, to sixth; the Chicago press, meanwhile, was calling for his head.
On July 31 the team acquired slugger Ken Griffey Jr., and Konerko started seeing his name replaced on the lineup every few days by Nick Swisher, a 27-year-old outfielder-first baseman who until then had played the center field spot now occupied by Griffey.
Whether it was the Griffey trade, the days off, or improving health, however, Konerko had started to heat up the first week of August. He got a hit almost every game that week, including three in one game in Detroit. The following week he went 6-for-20. He entered this crucial Boston series hitting.339 for the month.
In four weeks he'd become a different hitter. Surely, I figured, he would be able to describe some difference in how he felt now versus a month before, some mental or mechanical adjustment that explained his cleaner engagement with the baseball.
"It's kind of strange, actually," he told me. "Fact is, I don't feel any different. I mean, I feel happier when it's going well and I'm helping the team. But I don't really understand what goes on when I'm doing well versus when I'm doing badly. I've had whole years where I had 'good years' – good numbers, helped the team – but felt like I was struggling the whole time. I've had other stretches where I feel completely locked in – and things don't work out."
I asked him how he tried to adjust when things weren't going well or when a situation carried more pressure.
"You try to stay steady. Not change too much. You prepare. You do your work every day, so you're swinging well and you know your pitcher and the situation. Then you go in and try to focus and execute. In the box, keep it simple. I try to concentrate on tracking a pitch into a zone I've chosen to focus on, swing hard at those. Sometimes you get fooled. But you stick to your routine, stay focused. Don't overthink."
This message – sticking to a routine, not overexamining – was echoed by every hitter I talked to that day, on both teams: Boston's free-and-easy slugger David Ortiz ("Don't be changing things!"); his tautly focused teammate catcher Jason Varitek ("Stay with your game."); and Konerko's clubhouse mates Jim Thome ("Be true to your program.") and Ken Griffey, Jr., who simply said, smiling slyly and repeating himself precisely in tone and emphasis, "Every at-bat the same. Every at-bat the same."
These were variations on "Don't think too much." But almost every conversation also addressed, in ways more veiled, the tension between when to think and when not to. The most revealing was a comment Konerko made as I closed my notebook, ready to let him return to his crossword.
"I wish you luck with this," he said. "It's a hard kind of story to get people to talk about this time of year – a team like this, anyway, in the middle of a pennant race. This is really kind of a spring-training story."
Only later did I realize what he meant. During the season, hitters in particular must guard against constant tinkering, or they'll tinker away a season. You save the heavy refashioning – reworking your stance or your swing, changing your focal tactics – for spring training. Once play begins, you stick to your program.
Approaching every at-bat the same does more than prevent external monitoring. It ritualizes the mental processes – the zoom out to check the situation, the zoom back in to focus, the oscillations between thinking and not thinking – that are as vital as the physical execution. It creates a management of attention as proceduralized, if not quite as automatic, as your swing mechanics.
I considered all this later, as I watched Konerko confront the mystery that was Daisuke Matsuzaka. Dice-K, 16-2 entering the game, had all seven of his pitches going that night in Boston. He was always on or near the edges of the plate and never over the center; he threw an untrackable variety of trajectories and speeds; he dipped, zipped darted, and curved; he made the ball do everything but climb. The White Sox managed just two hits, and they never came close to scoring. It was hard not to feel sorry for them.
Yet Konerko, though he went 0-for-3, looked good. Before each at-bat, when he was on deck, he smoothly executed the same stretching and swinging rituals, a sort of meditative entry. At the plate, he stepped out of the box after each pitch with the same deliberation and rhythm every time, took the same easy-ripping practice swing, raised his bat, stepped back in.His body language did not convey the dismay and confusion that it had 14 weeks before. He was more evenly engaged. And he had good at-bats.
He didn't get much to hit, but he took the pitches he should take and swung at the ones he had to, and in the second he drove the one touchable pitch he saw, a nasty low fastball, deep to right-center, where it was gathered in by a sprinting Jacob Ellsbury. He didn't get a hit. But he had righted himself.
Was he in the "zone," that hallowed place of effortless full focus? Perhaps; he certainly seemed to be there in the week that followed, as he went 10-for-28 with 3 homers, and for the rest of the pennant race, as he hit.260 with 9 homers in September, despite a knee injury mid-month. He was the team's hottest bat as they won the American League Central Division by a in a one-game playoff to resolve a end-of-season tie with Minnesota. (They then lost the American League Championship to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in four games.)
The zone is a happy place. Yet if the zone lies at one end of a spectrum and the choke at the other, athletes spend most of their time laboring in the spectrum's inner bands, in a gray area between groove and gag. Playing on the happier end of this band requires almost numbingly proceduralized mechanics both physical and mental – a physical groove of automated motion and a mental groove requiring a disciplined oscillation of attention and thought.
"It'd be nice," as Konerko told me, "if it were as simple as not thinking. But you're always thinking. It's a matter of what you're thinking about."
_____
© David Dobbs, 2008. All rights reserved.
Corrections:
The original version published here placed the events in the wrong year. The games were played in 2008, not 2009. That's been corrected. In addition, the White Sox ended the season by defeating not the Marlins, as originally stated, but the Devil Rays.
Images: 1) Australia's Greg Norman reacts to a bad tee shot on No. 4 during final-round play of the 1996 Masters at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, April 14, 1996. Norman bogied the hole. (Curtis Compton/AP).
2) Cal State Fullerton senior catcher Billy Marcoe wipes his brow following a 3-run Minnesota first inning that helped lift the fourth-seeded Golden Gophers to a 3-1 upset of top-seeded Cal State Fullerton on June 4, 2010, at Goodwin Field during the NCAA Baseball Regionals. Matt Brown/Flickr/Cal State Fullerton.
3) Flickr/eagle102.
4) Fickr/Barb and Dean.
5) Vera Zvonareva at the 2008 Sony Erickson Open. Flickr/LinksmanJD.*
He was the team’s hottest bat as they claimed the American League Central Division by winning on one-game playoff after finishing the regular season tied with Minnesota. (They then lost the American League Championship to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in four games.)The Hexagon
This is an incredible look at the hexagon on Saturn’s North Pole; the first visible-light picture taken of the bizarrely shaped hurricane. The storm’s eye measures in at about 1,250 miles/2,012 kilometers in diameter, making it about twenty times larger than hurricanes on Earth. They are also far more powerful as well, with clouds within the storm traveling at speeds in an upwards of 330 miles/531 kilometers per hour – about twice as powerful as the most powerful hurricanes on our home planet. All of this is contained within the peculiar hexagon shape cryptically referred to as ‘the hexagon.’
Even though the Saturnian hurricane has several differences in comparison to its Earthly counterparts (such as an extremely fast rotation; its proposed multi-decade existence; and an outer wall shaped like a circle on meth) scientists are still able to gain insight into how hurricanes on Earth are generated and how they sustain themselves.
Astronomers have been waiting about nine years for this picture. When Cassini arrived at Saturn back in 2004, the northern hemisphere (and, thus the North Pole) was in the middle of Saturn’s winter. In 2009, Saturn was halfway through spring and light began to illuminate Saturn’s North Pole once again. Once Saturn was around its summer solstice, the entire hexagon lit up, giving astronomers the chance to get a picture that will be admired for centuries to come.
Resources: http://bit.ly/1pi7N7u
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSICLOSE Lochte and three U.S. swimmers said they were robbed at gunpoint early Sunday, with Lochte saying their cab was pulled over by men impersonating police officers.
Ryan Lochte didn't break any laws when he made up a story about being robbed, according to Brazilian attorney. (Photo11: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)
RIO DE JANEIRO — An attorney who has practiced law in Brazil for more than 25 years raised doubt about whether Ryan Lochte broke Brazilian law when he misrepresented what happened during an alleged robbery of Lochte and three other American swimmers during the Olympics.
Even though Lochte has acknowledged fabricating part of his story about what took place during an encounter with Brazilian security guards Sunday, attorney Deborah Srour said Lochte’s actions do not constitute a crime based on a strict reading of Brazilian penal code.
“This crime only happens when you go to the police and you make a report, you file a report,’’ said Srour, who added that she has represented Americans arrested in Brazil. “This did not happen.’’
In Lochte’s case, Srour pointed out, police questioned Lochte and fellow U.S. swimmer Jimmy Feigen after reading published reports about the incident.
Srour cited article 340 of the Brazilian Penal Code that states, “It is a crime to provoke the action of the authorities, by communicating to it the occurrence of a crime or misdemeanor that he or she knows did not happened.” The penalty for such crime is detention from one to six months or the payment of a fine, according to the penal code.
Srour said said an indictment of Lochte would be easily dismissed with help from a local attorney.
Srour also said the matter could haunt Lochte even though the 12-time Olympic medalists left the country before law enforcement officers had a chance to demand money — such as the $11,000 paid by American swimmer Jimmy Feigen to secure his passport and leave the country after the incident.
Srour said Brazilian judges are notorious for pursuing cases such as Lochte’s if charges are filed and that Brazilian authorities could use Interpol and other international organizations to complicate his overseas travel.
“I’m not saying his travel is going to be hindered right now or anything,’’ she said. “But it’s just going to be a nuisance for him. So he should just apologize and pay the fine and that’s it.’’Kentucky Wildcats lose Cole Mosier to season-ending injury UK loses its starting left tackle before the season even begins.
The Kentucky Wildcats have suffered their first major loss of 2017 due to injury.
On Monday, the school announced that offensive lineman Cole Mosier suffered a torn ACL. It occurred during Saturday’s team scrimmage, and it will end the senior’s UK career.
“We’re extremely disappointed about Cole’s injury,” head coach Mark Stoops said in a press release. “He has been with us all five seasons we’ve been at Kentucky. He helped set the example of hard work that is the theme of this program, as he came in as a walk-on and earned a scholarship. We know Cole will continue to support his teammates this season and we wish him the best in his recovery and in the future.”
Mosier has played in 32 career games with 13 starts at left tackle. He came to UK as a walk-on from Walton-Verona High School before earning a full scholarship as a redshirt sophomore.
“Tearing my ACL was a big blow and it’s unfortunate because I wanted to finish my career here at UK with my teammates,” Mosier said. “However, I’m going to have surgery on Thursday and I plan to rehab my knee in order to participate in UK’s Pro Day in March. I want to thank Coach Stoops and Coach Schlarman for everything they’ve done for me. I also want to thank the Big Blue Nation for their support. Coming here as a walk-on and then earning a scholarship was a dream come true. I’m going to continue being around the team to cheer them on and help the team as much as I can.”
This is a very sad way to see Mosier’s inspiring college career come to an end.The Nipple Erectors (also known as The Nips) were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1976 by female punk artist Shanne Bradley and are notable as having been Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan's first musical group.
Career [ edit ]
Initially consisting of vocalist/songwriter Shane MacGowan (known at the time as 'Shane O'Hooligan'), bassist/songwriter/original punk artist Shanne Bradley, guitarist/artist Roger Towndrow and drummer Arcane Vendetta; The Nipple Erectors performed their first gig at The Roxy Club Covent Garden. London in 1977. The band later released four singles and there was one bootleg live album between 1978 and 1981. Inspired by The Stooges, The Nipple Erectors incorporated elements of rockabilly and '60s garage rock into their music.
Following the release of their first single, "King of the Bop"/"Nervous Wreck", in June 1978, on Soho Records, the band renamed themselves The Nips and released the garage punk song "All The Time in the World"/"Private Eye" with Phil Rowland of Eater on drums. By May 1979, the band's line up had changed to include Gavin "Fritz" Douglas, on guitar. The Power pop anthem, "Gabrielle" was released in November 1979, first on Soho Records, and then reissued on Chiswick Records. with John ("Grinny") Grinton (ex Skrewdriver) on drums. By the time of its release, Grinny had been replaced by Roger Travis Williams. Gavin Douglas' guitar playing on this record marked a change in the band's sound to a more melodic style.
A live album, Only the End of the Beginning was released on Soho Records in 1980, from a recording made whilst on tour with the Purple Hearts. Two other live bootlegs have recently appeared, Live at The 101 Club and Live at the Hope and Anchor both recorded in late 1979.
In 1980, The Nips recorded a demo for Polydor Records at their studio in Bond Street. It was produced by Paul Weller. There were four songs recorded for this session, including "Happy Song" "Nobody to Love", "Ghost Town" and "Love To Make You Cry". The Line up for this recording was, Shane MacGowan-vocals, Shanne Bradley-bass, Gavin Douglas-guitar and Mark Harrison (ex Bernie Tormé)-drums. "Happy Song"/"Nobody to Love" was released as a single in October 1981, on Test Pressing Records. The Nips announced to the press that they were quitting after a last gig at London's Covent Garden Rock Garden on 10 March 1980. MacGowan and Bradley did reform the band later that year, albeit briefly. The line up included James Fearnley on guitar and Jon Moss on drums. This line up played a final gig at London's Music Machine with The Jam in December 1980. In 1981 Jon Moss joined up with Boy George to form Culture Club.[2]
During 1981, Bradley took the band in another direction away from the traditional rock band format to incorporate Greek, Cretan and Irish Roots/Folk music.[2] The popular Irish folk and America folk song "Poor Paddy Works on the Railway" had previously formed part of their early live set with Guitarist Roger Towndrow. This line up included Macgowan and Bradley plus John Hasler (ex Madness) on standup snare drum and Scots/Irish Folk Fiddler David Rattray. Later that year Bradley decided to take a break from music. Shane Macgowan and John Hasler went on to play in Pogue Mahone, later shortened to The Pogues. In 1984 Shanne Bradley co-founded The Men They Couldn't Hang to play "The Alternative Country and Western Festival" on March 1984 at The Electric Ballroom in Camden.
In 1987, Big Beat released an anthology LP named Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver, credited to "Nips n Nipple Erectors". It collects both sides of the first three singles issued on Soho, as well as adding two outtakes: "So Pissed Off" and "Stavordale Rd, N5". The later CD edition added another two outtakes: "Venus in Bovver Boots" and "Fuss & Bother".
Reformation [ edit ]
On 6 May 2008, The Nipple Erectors reformed playing a somewhat secret gig at the 100 Club, Oxford Street, London. The line-up consisted of Shanne Bradley, Shane MacGowan, Eric "Le Baton" Baconstrip, and Fritz Douglas. Bradley's daughter Eucalypta sang backing vocals on the final number 'Gabrielle'. The group also performed one month later although this time minus MacGowan who was replaced by Eucalypta on vocals.
Discography [ edit ]
Singles [ edit ]
"King of the Bop" (b/w "Nervous Wreck") (1978), Soho Records
"All the Time in the World" (b/w "Private eye") (1979), Soho Records
"Gabrielle" (b/w "Vengeance") (1980), Soho Records
"Happy Song" (b/w "Nobody To Love") (1981), Test Pressings Records
Albums [ edit ]
Only the End of the Beginning (1980), Soho Records [recorded live March 1980 at Wolverhampton Polytechnic on the Purple Hearts tour]
(1980), Soho Records [recorded live March 1980 at Wolverhampton Polytechnic on the Purple Hearts tour] Bops, Babes, Booze and Bovver (1987), Big Beat Records [Anthology of all soho singles & b-sides with bonus unreleased tracks]
(1987), Big Beat Records [Anthology of all soho singles & b-sides with bonus unreleased tracks] The Tits of Soho (2000), Bovver Boot Company [Bootleg Anthology of all the singles & b-sides plus two unreleased songs and the live tracks from "Only the end..."]
References [ edit ]
Sources [ edit ]George Jones is still serving his country. Navy vet (Korea) and lifetime resident of Virginia, Mr. Jones bused to Richmond to take his message of American responsibility to the governor. That message: no new pipelines, no more fracking, enough already with our dependence on fossil fuels.
The day began in prayer, with an inter-faith rally on Brown's Island. Participants in the March on the Mansion showed again that although religious beliefs and religiously-motivated actions have been complicit in all sorts of ugliness and destruction, there is space within any tradition that champions a good greater and the interests of others for not only repair but also a broad and healthy wisdom. They called for climate justice, said "no" to projects such as the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and Mountain Valley Pipeline, and told the devastating effects of Dominion Virginia Power's dumping a coal ash that contaminates drinking water.
In the stifling heat (index of 107) of Richmond on July 23, Mr. Jones's daughter-in-law Yvette merged his wheelchair into a great crowd marching up from a bend in the James River to the governor's mansion. There, with banners and voices and bodies and sweat, hundreds of protestors demanded that Terry McAuliffe make good on his promises to address climate change, to rebuff the pressure of big money from polluting corporations, and to lead the commonwealth of Virginia into a new era. Energy efficiency and environmental protection isn't a fringe-hippy thing, a series of March-on-the-Mansion speakers told. It's the most fertile ground for job and economic growth, the only sustainable way forward.
And what's so wrong with wanting water we can drink, air the children can breathe, and good land -- farm and forest and river-strewn |
connected, such as an external hard drive. Add an IOGEAR Wireless USB Hub and Adapter and you can put up to 30 feet between your Netbook and other devices, such as printers, scanners or external hard drives, to help eliminate cables and clutter. The Wireless USB Hub and Adapter will give you the freedom to move around your home office with your Netbook and still use all the devices you normally would.Using Apache JMeter™ in non-GUI mode is a useful way to run your load tests, because it takes less machine resources and is quicker. But if you want to monitor these results, you have to use different tools.
In the previous article about JMeter monitoring in non-GUI mode, we covered three ways to easily verify real-time execution of JMeter performance scripts: with out-of-the-box logs, with Taurus and with BlazeMeter.
This time we are going to cover one more way, by using Grafana. This way requires installation of InfluxDB and Grafana. Grafana is an open-source platform for time series analytics, which allows you to create real-time graphs based on time series data. InfluxDB is the time series database which is used as a temporary metrics storage.
As both these tools are designed for time series data, combined they are a wonderful solution for keeping and visualizing real-time performance metrics. That’s why, even though the installation steps might make this way the most complicated one, we highly recommend it. Grafana and InfluxDB provide some unique benefits, which can be very valuable.
First of all, Grafana allows you to store performance reports as long as you want. Grafana reporting is also very beneficial for those who already use InfluxDB and Grafana for other needs. Grafana is a pretty common solution for overall application monitoring. Many companies use Grafana dashboards metrics with the Amazon Cloudwatch integration, which also makes it a commonly used solution.
In addition to that, Grafana allows you to customize your dashboards in any way you want. So we can definitely say that integrating JMeter with Grafana is a reasonable way to monitor your performance scripts - a bit complicated on the one hand but pretty beneficial on the other.
How to Integrate JMeter with Grafana
Install and Configure InfluxDB
First of all, we need a JMeter performance script to test. We can use the same performance script we created in the previous article, which is run against the http://blazedemo.com/ web application. Or, use your own.
As soon as we have the performance script in place, we need to take care of the InfluxDB and Grafana installation. In this article we are going to cover the brief steps of installation based on OS X as a target platform, but you can easily find installation steps for your system by using the appropriate links provided in each step.
First of all, we need to install InfluxDB as a permanent storage space for our performance metrics. Grafana is a scalable datastore for time series metrics. Installation steps for all supported platforms can be found through this link. Installation on the OS X machine is very straightforward and can be done in just a few steps, if brew is installed on your machine. In this case you just need to run these two commands:
> brew update > brew install influxdb
At the end of installation you should see this:
InfluxDB is installed and can be run by these two commands:
> ln -sfv /usr/local/opt/influxdb/*. plist ~/Library/LaunchAgents > launchctl load ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew. mxcl. influxdb. plist
To verify that InfluxDB is up and running, all you need to do is to open a terminal window and run this command:
> influx
If the installation was completed successfully and the database is up and running, you will see an InfluxDB command line interface. This can be used for interacting with the database.
By using the ‘SHOW DATABASES’ command, you can see the list of all existing InfluxDB dabasebases. If you have just installed InfluxDB you should see only one ‘_internal’ database, which is used for keeping different stats about database itself:
At this point we can create a new database to store our performance metrics. For that you need to be logged in influx command line interface and run this command:
> CREATE DATABASE jmeter
After that you should see your newly created database, by using the same ‘SHOW DATABASES’ command we used in the previous step:
Once we have created a database for our metrics, we need to make a few changes to the InfluxDB configuration. Use this reference to find the location of the configuration file, based on your system. In the OS X system, the configuration file is located at this location:
> vim /usr/local/etc/influxdb. conf
In this configuration file you need to find, uncomment and edit the ‘[[graphite]]’ category appropriately:
[[graphite]] # Determines whether the graphite endpoint is enabled. enabled = true database = "jmeter" retention-policy = "" bind-address = ":2003" protocol = "tcp" consistency-level = "one" batch-size = 5000 batch-pending = 10 batch-timeout = "1s" udp-read-buffer = 0 separator = "."
After that you need to restart InfluxDB by applying an edited configuration:
> influxd -config /usr/local/etc/influxdb. conf
To confirm the configuration was applied successfully, you should find this line during the InfluxDB startup:
Congratulations! We have completed the first step of our long road to establish an integration of JMeter with Grafana monitoring. Now it’s time to push the metrics into the database we created.
Push Performance Metrics from JMeter to InfluxDB
To push performance metrics from JMeter to InfluxDB, we need to use the Backend Listener. This listener enables writing metrics directly to the database.
Let’s add the Backend Listener to our performance script:
Configure the Backend Listener:
Backend Listener implementation - this is an implementation class that will be used as a listener for JMeter test metrics. The value for this parameter is based on the protocol we are going to use. If you remember, we used the graphite protocol configuration specified to the InfluxDB configuration. For this we need to use the ‘GraphiteBackendListenerClient’
- this is an implementation class that will be used as a listener for JMeter test metrics. The value for this parameter is based on the protocol we are going to use. If you remember, we used the graphite protocol configuration specified to the InfluxDB configuration. For this we need to use the ‘GraphiteBackendListenerClient’ Async Queue size - the queue value contains metrics for when they are processed asynchronously. It is better not to change this value from the default ‘5000’ value, unless have some specific performance issues.
- the queue value contains metrics for when they are processed asynchronously. It is better not to change this value from the default ‘5000’ value, unless have some specific performance issues. graphiteMetricsSender - the implementation class that will be used as the metrics sender. Just use the default.
- the implementation class that will be used as the metrics sender. Just use the default. graphiteHost - the host where InfluxDB is located
- the host where InfluxDB is located graphitePort - the port we specified in the ‘graphite’ section of InfluxDB configuration file
- the port we specified in the ‘graphite’ section of InfluxDB configuration file rootMetricsPrefix - the basic prefix that will be used for all metrics stored in the database. Keep in mind that the metrics do not have a default separator. This is why it is better to use the ‘.’ symbol at the end of the prefix specified in this property
- the basic prefix that will be used for all metrics stored in the database. Keep in mind that the metrics do not have a default separator. This is why it is better to use the ‘.’ symbol at the end of the prefix specified in this property summaryOnly - use ‘true’ if you want to keep summary results only in the database and do not want to collect all the detailed metrics during test execution
- use ‘true’ if you want to keep summary results only in the database and do not want to collect all the detailed metrics during test execution samplersList - use this field if you want to send specific samplers only to the database. In our case, we want to send all samples, so we will leave this parameter blank
- use this field if you want to send specific samplers only to the database. In our case, we want to send all samples, so we will leave this parameter blank useRegexpForSamplersList - put ‘true’ if you want to specify a regexp in the ‘samplersList’ field to choose the samplers that should be sent to database
- put ‘true’ if you want to specify a regexp in the ‘samplersList’ field to choose the samplers that should be sent to database percentiles - is used to specify the metrics percentiles that should be send to database
Once the configuration is in place, we can run our test execution.
After the test execution is completed, we can check the InfluxDB and verify that our metrics were reported there successfully. To do so, open the InfluxDB command line interface again and use this command:
> influx > USE jmeter > SHOW MEASUREMENTS > SELECT * FROM “jmeter. all. a. avg ”
We should find metrics with a timestamp and an appropriate value:
Now that we see that all metrics were reported successfully from JMeter to InfluxDB, we are ready for out the last step - visualize reported metrics using Grafana.
Monitoring Performance Metrics in Grafana
First of all, let’s install Grafana on our local machine. Installation steps based on your system can be found through this link. For OS X the installation is very similar to the InfluxDB installations steps. Installation can also be performed via the brew package manager:
> brew install grafana
And another one to start the service:
> brew services start grafana
After that, Grafana should be available on http://localhost:3000. Use ‘admin’ as a default username and password to log in.
First of all, we need to specify the data source with our metrics. Click on “Add data source” on the welcome page:
On the next page put the appropriate configuration based on our previous steps, and click on the “Add” button to verify that Grafana can connect to InfluxDB:
Now we can create our first dashboard in Grafana. Open the Grafana menu by clicking on the top left button and go to Dashboards -> New:
I would definitely recommend going over Grafana documentation to understand the main principles and to learn how to create detailed graphs for different needs. You can use this link as an intro step.
But to explain briefly, you can create different dashboards and specify multiple rows that represent time series metrics, in each dashboard. Grafana takes the data from InfluxDB which was collected there from JMeter. By clicking on the top of each row, you can choose which metric that row should represent.
Grafana enables you to customize your metrics and graphs in any way you want. This makes it very flexible for your needs. You can combine all the useful information into one dashboard and use it for real-time monitoring of your performance scripts.
In addition, since all metrics are stored on your server database, you can keep these metrics forever and create performance patterns analysis during your next test executions. Just add more graphs. This will ensure you’re on top of JMeter monitoring!
Congratulations! You now know how to monitor JMeter non-GUI results with Grafana. To start testing and analyzing with BlazeMeter, just put your URL or JMX file in the box below and your test will start in minutes.
To learn JMeter, check out our free JMeter academy.
Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.As Lleyton Hewitt gets set to tackle the Australian Open for a record 19th time, his immediate focus is the future, not his esteemed past.
Hewitt, relaxed but as straight-forward as ever, said that despite his age and his ranking of world No.86, every player has an equal shot at the ultimate prize.
“When you start the tournament, the dream’s still there for everyone, the 128 of us that are in the draw,” he reasoned on Saturday.
Hewitt has suffered first-round defeats at the hands of seeded players like Janko Tipsarevic and David Nalbandian in four of his past six Opens, but will face Chinese wildcard Zhang Ze on Tuesday.
Despite his advanced years, Hewitt isn’t entering his 19th straight Open thinking it will be his last.
“I think once those thoughts sort of enter your mind it can probably distract you and be a little bit of a negative influence when you’re trying to perform at your best out there,” he said.
“I’m that big a competitor. I think once I hit the match court out there my focus will basically be on the one-on-one aspect and to try to get the best out of myself.”The pungent smell of pot that blankets a popular quadrangle at the University of Colorado-Boulder every April 20 is being replaced by the stench of fish-based fertilizer Friday as administrators try to stamp out one of the nation's largest annual campus celebrations of marijuana.
After more than 10,000 people — students and non-students — attended last year's marijuana rally on Norlin Quadrangle, university officials decided this year to apply the stinky fertilizer to the quad to deter pot-smokers. They're also closing the campus Friday to all unauthorized visitors and offering a free campus concert by Haitian-born hip-hop star Wyclef Jean timed to coincide with the traditional 4:20 p.m. pot gathering.
The measures pit Colorado's flagship university, which has tired of its reputation as a top party school, against thousands who have assembled, flash mob-style, each year to demand marijuana's legalization or simply to have a good time.
With more than 30,000 students, Colorado was named the nation's top party school in 2011 by Playboy magazine. The campus also repeatedly ranks among the top schools for marijuana use, according to a "Reefer Madness" list conducted by The Princeton Review.
"We don't consider this a protest. We consider this people smoking pot in the sunshine," said university spokesman Bronson Hilliard. "This is a gathering of people engaging in an illegal activity."
"I do not see any justification for the university shutting it down," said student organizer Daniel Ellis Schwartz, who contends the measures infringe on First Amendment rights to protest. Schwartz, a physics major, and other supporters of the 4/20 smoke out plan to move it to a nearby park off-campus. He suggests there also will be some form of off-campus protest against the measures.
"We do have to play a game of chess with the authorities," Schwartz said.
Many students at the University of Colorado and other campuses across the country have long observed 4/20. The counterculture observation is shared by marijuana users from San Francisco's Golden Gate Park to New York's Greenwich Village.
The number 420 has been associated with marijuana use for decades, though its origins are murky. Its use as code for marijuana spread among California pot users in the 1960s and spread nationwide among followers of the Grateful Dead.
Like most counterculture slang, theories abound on its origin. Some say it was once police code in Southern California to denote marijuana use (probably an urban legend). It was a title number for a 2003 California bill about medical marijuana, an irony fully intended.
Others trace it to a group of California teenagers who would meet at 4:20 p.m. to search for weed (a theory as elusive as the outdoor cannabis crop they were seeking). Yet the code stuck for obvious reasons: Authorities and nosy parents didn't know what it meant.
In Colorado, recent 4/20 observations have blossomed alongside the state's medical marijuana industry. Approved by Colorado voters in 2000, medical marijuana boomed after federal authorities signaled in 2009 they would pursue higher-level drug crimes. All marijuana is illegal under federal law, though Colorado voters this November will consider a ballot measure to legalize it for recreational use by adults over 21.
A larger rally is planned for Denver near the state capitol on Friday and Saturday. Police have suggested they'll be taking a hands-off approach to the gathering, which could draw tens of thousands of people, said chief organizer Miguel Lopez.
Others are rebelling against the gatherings.
In Colorado, several high schools across the state are hosting drug-free events on Friday. The University of Colorado's student government supports the university's anti-4/20 actions this year. And other Colorado students created a Facebook campaign urging their colleagues to wear formal clothing to school on Friday to repudiate the party-school reputation.
Campus police officers will be stationed at school entrances, allowing in only those with university IDs or permission. Anyone on campus without proper ID could be ticketed for trespassing, which carries a maximum $750 fine and up to six months in jail, said campus police spokesman Ryan Huff.
Anyone caught smoking on campus will be ticketed, just as they would any other day, Huff said. That includes anyone with a medical marijuana card, which requires that consumption be in private.
Off campus, Boulder police could also issue tickets for people smoking pot, and the Colorado State Patrol will be watching for any motorists under the influence, Huff said.
"This is not about the war on drugs. It isn't even about marijuana per se," insisted Hilliard, the university spokesman. "Ten thousand to 12,000 (people) doing anything in the academic heart of the campus would be a problem."
___
Associated Press writer Kristen Wyatt contributed to this report.Author’s note – through the remainder of this series the focus will remain on players acquired prior to the recent NHL Entry Draft. As the idea behind the series has been about the players and their development during the season, bringing in newly minted NHL prospects would be unfair to those who have already taken steps under the auspices of their respective rights-holding organizations.
For all that the Flyers system has lacked in forward prospects of significance (Travis Konecny notwithstanding), they have more than made up for it with depth and talent between the pipes and along the blueline. It is not outlandish to suggest that Russian first rounder Ivan Provorov is the best prospect in the system and fellow WHLer and former first rounder Travis Sanheim as the number two. As this series has tried to avoid too much dwelling on CHL prospects, we will instead jump to the third best blueliner in the system now that the extremely exciting Shayne Gostisbehere has graduated, in Samuel Morin – yet another former first rounder. Unlike Provorov and Sanheim, Morin has already graduated from the CHL ranks and now has a full year of AHL experience under his ample belt. Listed on the AHL team website at 6-7”, 227, Morin fits the prototype for big, stay-at-home defender. A bruiser in the Quebec league as an amateur, Morin kept up that style of play with Lehigh Valley as a rookie professional, racking up a team high 118 penalty minutes. Only a handful of true prospects in the AHL spent more time cooling their heels in the penalty box.
Beyond the toughness that is only partially attributable to his size, Morin is a plus skater who shows a good head for the game, as demonstrated by strong positioning and a pretty safe overall game. He can move the puck intelligently, but will never be a point producer. The 19 points he put up as an AHL rookie in 76 is around what the Flyers should be expecting from Morin at his peak. He owns a strong slap shot, but not the instincts for when to use it to his advantage. Guys his size will always get more chances than they deserve on skills and smarts alone, but thankfully, Morin has those. As a plus skater with good hockey IQ, he will earn penalty killing time in the NHL before too long as well as a bottom pairing role. While he could eventually elevate to the second pairing, his lack of puck skills (beyond that first pass) and offensive bent will prevent him from owning a top pairing job or much time on the power play. He could also use another season of professional growth in the AHL with Philadelphia likely to turn to Provorov and Sanheim for NHL time before making way for the big man. On the other hand, with the NHL contracts of Mark Striet, Michael Del Zotto and Nick Schultz all expiring after the 2016-17 season, Morin’s chance to earn an NHL gig will not be too far off into the future.
Robert Hagg, D, Lehigh Valley (AHL) (41st overall, 2013)
Another defenseman of some renown in the Philadelphia is Hagg, a Swedish second rounder who made three appearances in his country’s sweater for the WJC, twice walking away a Silver Medalist. Less physically imposing than Morin, Hagg nonetheless has a limited NHL upside owning primarily to an underwhelming offensive game. Also like Morin, Hagg puck skills extend to making a strong first pass but not much more than that. That said, his first pass is outstanding, one of the best in the AHL according to Hockey Prospectus writer Jason Lewis. While Hagg typically plays a smart, quiet game, he can be prone to the odd high profile gaffe, or other mental hiccup. Furthermore, although he does not lack for size at 6-2”, 201, he plays smaller and can be physically imposed upon by more physical opponents. Hagg should expect a third full AHL season in the offing and likely slots behind Morin in the organizational depth chart. If he can eliminate the inconsistencies that have plagued him, he could be a solid number five at his best.
Mark Alt, D, Lehigh Valley (AHL) (53rd overall, 2010 – acquired in trade with Carolina)
Mark Alt, like Morin and Hagg profiled above, is a relatively safe blueline prospect without much in the way of upside. According to Jason Lewis, he is basically a solid all around defender who does everything well enough but nothing that will excite. He has great size at 6-4” and over 200 lbs and his father was a long-time offensive lineman in the NFL, but his physical game can underwhelm. More worrisome for Alt is his lack of traction over three AHL seasons. After putting up 26 points in 75 games in his first full AHL season, he has combined for only 29 points in 116 games over the past two seasons. There may yet be some untapped potential in Alt, and the Flyers did tender him a qualifying offer as a RFA a few weeks ago, giving him one more year under their care, but this may be his final chance to prove himself worthy of carrying for the Flyers. If he fails to recapture at least some of his rookie production, he may be looking for a new employer by this time next summer.
Reece Willcox, D, Cornell (ECAC) (141st overall, 2012)
If there is a deeper sleeper who could overtake Hagg and Alt on the Flyers blueline depth chart it is recent signee Reece Willcox, a Cornell graduate. Physically resembling Alt at 6-4” and a smidgen over 200 lbs, Willcox was not a big point producer with the Big Red, although some of that is due to Cornell not having much in the way of offensive talent on their roster. Willcox will engage in the offensive end and is a smart, surehanded puck carrier who demonstrates good presence of mind and a high panic threshold. He is not much of a shooter and his puck skills are more appropriate for own zone and neutral zone work, but his plus mobility and hockey smarts give him a legitimate chance. He is a strong skater who can keep a solid gap against very speedy rushers and knows how to use a sweeping stick to break up rushes that would otherwise pose danger to his team. He is not a punishing physical player, but is capable of using his plus size to establish his own position at the expense of his opponent’s. Although Willcox put up three points in a late season six game cameo with Lehigh Valley, I would not expect that level of point production going forward. Between his polish and his skills, I expect Willcox to sneak up on a few observers this year.
Mark Friedman, D, Bowling Green State (WCHA) (86th overall, 2014)
Much further away from the NHL than any of the others profiled above, Friedman is rightfully an afterthought among Flyers’ prospect watchers, although he deserves some mention as his game is much different from those already mentioned here. Simply put, the 20 year old Friedman is a point producer. He first attracted attention as an offensive defenseman with Waterloo of the USHL and has kept up his production in northwestern Ohio. Friedman is confident with the puck and has a strong first few steps that allow him to lead his team on quick breaks. Undersized, Friedman tends to avoid board battles, but has a physical edge to his game, one that emerges most often with the player in motion, using his speed to add force to his motion. He does need significant work in his own zone and with his decision making, however, and the former third rounder should be afforded two more full seasons at Bowling Green to work on those aspects of his game. His panic threshold can be too short, leading him to defer to less skilled teammates even though he has ample room to skate the puck out of potential harm. I would also like to see less caution when trying to create offensively. The puck skills are present, but he needs to commit to action when taking it. His game is not yet ready for the professional ranks, both in terms of the mental game and the physical game, but there are enough flashes of talent that he should be watched closely.
Anthony Stolarz, G, Lehigh Valley (AHL) (45th overall, 2012)
Before analyzing Stolarz, a few thoughts on the recent goalie fetish overtaking the Flyers’ scouting department. Most teams have three or four interesting netminders under team control, including one or two in the AHL and a few others scattered about the planet. Since drafting Stolarz in the middle of the second round in 2012, the Flyers have drafted and/or signed six goalies who still qualify as prospects, including taking the first netminder to be selected this season and three drafted last year. Although I cannot state that this predilection is unprecedented, it is extremely odd and at least two of those six will find themselves unsigned before all is said and done, as the team only has so much ice time it can provide to netminders. While teams roll four forward lines (12 players) and three defensive pairings (six players), they only carry two netminders and only one plays at a time.
Stolarz got the lion’s share of netminding work for Lehigh Valley last year, his second full season as a pro. He showed tremendous improvement in his return engagement with the Phantoms, chopping more than half a goal per game off his GAA and increasing his save percentage from a feeble.906 to a respectable.915, a figure topped only by Juuse Saros (Milwaukee), Matt Murray (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) and Anton Forsberg (Lake Erie) among prospects who with regular roles in the circuit last year. Stolarz is also a massive young man, standing a fleshed out 6-6”. He fills up the net rather well and shows plus anticipation, allowing him to get positioned to make the save before it becomes one of desperation. His lateral movement is strong enough for his size, although he can get caught on occasion as he seems to be assuming that his size is filling every hole, but a slight slump of his shoulder, or another body twist can leave open a gap that will be exploited by good shooters. He makes up for it with plus rebound control, as pucks that he cannot catch cleanly are more often than not either kept close by so as to be corralled quickly, or pushed to the corners and out of danger. The New Jersey native also adds value to his game through strong puck handling, as he is very comfortable pushing the puck up to his teammates to begin the transition.
The Flyers current goaltending pair of Steve Mason and Michal Neuvirth both have one more year under contract and there is a good chance that a spot will open up for one of the Flyers goalie prospects in 2016-17. Stolarz, by virtue of his greater experience and improving game, should be aiming to make himself favored to fill one of those roles after another season honing his game in Allentown.
Felix Sandstrom, G, Brynas IF (SHL) (70th overall, 2015)
Sandstrom, the first of three netminders drafted by the Flyers in 2015 had a shoddy showing at the WJC for Sweden and put up numbers that may seem underwhelming for Brynas in the SHL, but is more than worthy of a spotlight for actually seeing regular crease time in one of the top leagues in Europe. IN fact, he appeared in 25 of the 32 games played by under-20 goalies in the SHL and his numbers were more or less on par with Brynas’ other goalie, veteran Austrian Bernard Starkbaum. According to Hockey Prospectus Swedish correspondent Jimmy Hamrin, Sandstrom is still inconsistent, but has looked very good thus far in his top flight career, exhibiting intermittent NHL potential. He will have one more chance to shine for the Tre Kronor at the next WJC and is favored to be the uncontested starter this time around as Linus Soderstrom will have aged out. He may have more competition in the Brynas net though, as Starkbaum has been replaced on the roster by David Rautio, whose SHL save percentages since the 2011-12 season have gone.929,.931,.922,.921,.916. Trending down to be sure, but after having started from fantastic heights.
Merrick Madsen, G, Harvard (ECAC) (162nd overall, 2013)
After being limited to a single appearance as a freshman at Harvard in 2014-15, Madsen claimed the starter’s job for himself last year as a sophomore, putting up stellar numbers for the Crimson. His.931 save percentage ranked eighth in the nation (although the number two man, Alex Lyon, has since signed as an undrafted free agent with Philadelphia). Madsen has a number of strong aspects to his game, including great size (close, but not quite to Stolarz’ level), the composure to withstand periods of heavy pressure, instincts and anticipation, and rebound control. He could use additional improvement in his lateral movement and puck handling, although his play last season suggests that he was a late round steal who will push for a good spot on the organizational depth chart within a few seasons.Mervyn “Ming Fai” McKinley has taken the first big step in achieving his dream of becoming a football coach. McKinley will spend the next year with the Norwich City Football Club Academy in England. He will join the Championship side’s talent identification and recruitment department, keeping an eye out for young, up-and-coming stars.
“Whether it is coaching, or any other area, it would be a dream come true to work in football,” he says.
McKinley, 19, was determined to pursue a career in football ever since he learned how to play the game at the age of six. “I don’t really remember when I started loving football, but it has just been something that I grew to love as I continued playing,” says the former Sha Tin College student. Whether it was for a club, school, or even training with the national team, he always had something to do with Hong Kong’s football scene.
He was nicknamed “Captain Fai” by his friends because of his potent leadership qualities and skill that brought success to his school, as well as multiple clubs, including Yokohama FC, which won the Youth FA Cup.
“That was one of my greatest moments in football,” he says. “I scored a goal in the final, which was unbelievable. Overall, it is the most hard-earned trophy I’ve ever won.”
McKinley first started training at Kowloon Cricket Club aged seven. He later joined leading Hong Kong clubs like Kitchee, Sun Hei, Tai Po FC, and Yokohama FC.
“What I feel like I got out of playing football in Hong Kong is learning how different teams can play completely different styles,” says the former striker. “I’ve learned how to play under many different coaches and systems with different philosophies, and I’ve learned how to adapt to any environment.”
Despite his potential for success, McKinley gave up his playing career for further studies in Britain. “The opportunities in Hong Kong are very thin compared to the UK,” he says, explaining it was the safer and smarter long-term option. “I realised that my childhood dream of becoming a professional football player wasn’t going to happen, so I’m pursuing a career in coaching instead.”
He is in his third year at Loughborough University, where he studies sports management. “I knew I wanted to study a course that had to do with sports,” he says.
McKinley says he is looking forward to his stint at Norwich City FC and hoping to “gain as much experience as possible”.
He is optimistic about the future of Hong Kong football. “The development of the sport in Hong Kong has been rapid,” he says. Despite the limited opportunities, McKinley says there is a chance he may work in Hong Kong in the future, as the standard of local football continues to rise.
While he always knew he had the talent, McKinley says it was his persistence and passion for the game that helped him land the job at Norwich. “My inspiration begins with my family,” he says, noting that they always came to his matches and supported him.
He also praised his coaches. “Whether it was to score a goal, to keep running, or to work hard, my coaches always motivated me to be the best I could be,” McKinley says. He thanked the local clubs as well as his schoolmates for helping him become a better player, leader and person.
Edited by Ben YoungA lot was made about recent comments from Donald Trump about flag burning. On Twitter, Trump proposed that there should be consequences for people who burn the America flag. Trump tweeted:
Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2016
Many of the left criticized Trump for this opinion, punishments for burning the flag impede on First Amendment rights. Trump supporters immediately tried to deflect the criticism, stating that Hillary Clinton actually proposed some similar during her political career. So, what was proposed by Hillary Clinton regarding flag burning?
Is It Illegal To Burn An American Flag?
First, let’s dispel the notion that there is anything illegal about burning an American flag. Flag burning cases have reached the United States Supreme Court twice. First, in Texas v. Johnson (1989), the Supreme Court ruled that flag burning is protected by the First Amendment. The following year, the Supreme Court invalidated a newly proposed federal law banning flag burning in the United States v. Eichman (1990) decision. Just remember to be careful where you burn your flags. There are plenty of federal and state laws which ban starting fires in various public and private places.
Hillary Clinton on Flag Burning
In 2005, then-Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) co-sponsored the Flag Protection Act of 2005, which would have prohibited burning, damaging, or destroying the flag of the United States. The Flag Protection Act of 2005 called for a punishment of up to twelve months in prison and a fine of up to $100,000. If the flag was property of the United States government, the proposed punishments became more harsh — up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Ultimately, the Flag Protection Act failed to even be considered by the United States Congress and would have likely been struck down by the Supreme Court as an infringement of First Amendment rights.
Considering this is the only public position we have seen Clinton take on the issue of flag burning, Objective News Report rates the claim that Hillary Clinton previously supported punishments for flag burning as TRUE. Although Clinton’s proposed punishments are nowhere near as ridiculous as revoking citizenship, it’s clear that Hillary Clinton co-sponsored an anti-flag burning bill.A German privacy regulator ordered Facebook to stop enforcing its real name policy because it violates a German law that gives users the right to use nicknames online.
Facebook refused to permit the use of pseudonyms on its platform as required by the German Telemedia Act, Thilo Weichert, privacy commissioner and head of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ULD) Schleswig-Holstein said on Monday. The ULD issued a decree forcing Facebook to start allowing pseudonyms immediately, he said.
[Data snatchers! The booming market for your online identity and Me, Myself, and Google’s Me on the Web]
"This decree is binding," said Weichert, who added that it is unacceptable that a U.S. portal like Facebook keeps violating German data protection law. To ensure users' rights and comply with data protection law in general, the real name obligation must be immediately abandoned by Facebook, the ULD said.
The orders were issued on Friday against Facebook USA and Facebook Ireland, which is responsible for all Facebook's activities outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Facebook has always had a real-name policy. Users should use their name as listed on their credit card or student ID, so people know who they are connecting with, Facebook states in its name policy. Any accounts set up under fake names will be removed from the site when discovered in order to keep the community safe, according to Facebook.
While the ULD can only enforce its mandate on behalf of Facebook users in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, the order could be adopted by other German data protection authorities, Weichert said. "We informed our colleagues and most of the supervising authorities agree with us," he said.
However, similar orders weren't issued in the other states because the ULD's order is being used as a pilot case, Weichert said.
The social network has two weeks to object to the order in court, or it could also decide to simply comply, he said. However, Weichert expects Facebook to fight the decree.
"We believe the orders are without merit, a waste of German taxpayers' money and we will fight it vigorously," a Facebook spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. It is the role of individual services to determine their own policies about anonymity within the governing law, she added. Facebook's real name policy complies with European data protection principles and Irish law, according to the social network.
Loek is Amsterdam Correspondent and covers online privacy, intellectual property, open-source and online payment issues for the IDG News Service. Follow him on Twitter at @loekessers or email tips and comments to loek_essers@idg |
I'm going to miss him, SC would be really shitty in the foreign scene if it wasn't for him
so true so true
Grobyc Profile Blog Joined June 2008 Canada 18408 Posts #11 On November 06 2009 13:30 IntoTheWow wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 06 2009 13:28 konadora wrote:
yes
article was too long so i didnt translate @_@
It's ok, I translated it for you 8) It's ok, I translated it for you 8)
o.o I didnt know you spoke korean ITW
thank you though o.o I didnt know you spoke korean ITWthank you though If you watch Godzilla backwards it's about a benevolent lizard who helps rebuild a city and then moonwalks into the ocean.
Mystlord Profile Blog Joined July 2008 United States 10257 Posts #12 Well that sucks. I salute you my good man! It is impossible to be a citizen if you don't make an effort to understand the most basic activities of your government. It is very difficult to thrive in an increasingly competitive world if you're a nation of doods.
Xiphos Profile Blog Joined July 2009 Canada 7500 Posts #13 Man.....now there will be no more talk about Monkey Milk..... 2014 - ᕙ( •̀ل͜•́) ϡ Raise your bows brood warriors! ᕙ( •̀ل͜•́) ϡ
EvilTeletubby Profile Blog Joined January 2004 Baltimore, USA 21699 Posts #14 Moderator http://carbonleaf.yuku.com/topic/408/t/So-I-proposed-at-a-Carbon-Leaf-concert.html ***** http://www.twitch.tv/jojosc2/b/315014581
Ilikestarcraft Profile Blog Joined November 2004 Korea (South) 17648 Posts #15 On November 06 2009 13:30 IntoTheWow wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 06 2009 13:28 konadora wrote:
yes
article was too long so i didnt translate @_@
It's ok, I translated it for you 8) It's ok, I translated it for you 8)
"Nana is a goddess. Or at very least, Nana is my goddess." - KazeHydra
writer22816 Profile Blog Joined September 2008 United States 5065 Posts #16 do you think he penetrated into a new career? 8/4/12 never forget, never forgive.
Athos Profile Blog Joined February 2008 United States 2478 Posts #17 He could write a book and call it:
From E-Sports to Esurance
Seriously I'm going to miss this guy.
konadora Profile Blog Joined February 2009 Singapore 49694 Posts #18 On November 06 2009 13:39 writer22816 wrote:
do you think he penetrated into a new career?
ahahaha ahahaha POGGERS
Heyoka Profile Blog Joined March 2008 Temple of EE-Sama 22468 Posts #19 Too bad, he seemed really enthusiastic about the "secret esports projects" he always mentioned
Best of luck to him! @RealHeyoka | DreamHack Head of StarCraft
omninmo Profile Blog Joined April 2008 2349 Posts #20 Thanks for all the work and effort Mr Lee.
I will miss your commentaries and insight.
1 2 3 4 5 8 9 10 Next AllImage copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Shia militias say they want "to liberate Tal Afar"
Iraq's Shia militia groups say they have launched an attack against Islamic State militants west of Mosul, as the offensive to retake the city continues.
The Hashid Shaabi groups say their aim is to oust IS from the town of Tal Afar, cutting jihadist supply routes to Mosul from Syria.
Tal Afar had sizeable Shia community before IS overran it in 2014. Mosul is a Sunni city, and the Shia militias have pledged not to enter it.
Iraq began the offensive last week.
Iraqi, Kurdish and allied forces, backed by US air power, have advanced in their push to retake Mosul, IS's de facto capital in Iraq.
"The operation aims to cut supplies between Mosul and Raqqa (IS's de facto capital in Syria) and tighten the siege... in Mosul and liberate Tal Afar," Hashid Shaabi spokesman Ahmed al-Assadi told the AFP news agency.
He added that the operation was launched from an area south of Mosul.
During previous military campaigns against IS, Shia militia groups have been accused of committing serious crimes, including war crimes, against Sunni civilians.
As many as 1.5 million people are believed to remain in Mosul.
There are fears IS could use them as human shields as the operation closes in on the city.
On Friday, the UN said that IS militants had abducted tens of thousands of civilians from areas around the city to use them as human shields.
The jihadist group has also killed some 190 former members of Iraq's security services and 42 civilians, apparently for refusing to obey its orders, the UN added.Deadmau5 is heading to the theatre. Kind of.
Toronto Fringe Festival is edging ever closer, kicking off on July 1, and everyone's favourite Purrari-driving Canadian is to be at the centre of a musical. Don't get too excited, though. The man himself won't actually be in the play, he'll be replaced by a guy called Joel Zimmermouse.
The synopsis might read like a huge piss-take ("Deadmouse the Musical is a musical about a mouse who wants to be a house DJ but is discriminated against for being a mouse") but this really is happening.
Apparent best friend David Goudda, "mouse-hating house DJ Avicheese (any guesses who they're based on?) and Cat Von D make up the rest of the characters as he sets on his musical mission.
It's running from July 3 to July 11 at Red Sandcastle Theatre so there's plenty of time to see "Book of Mormon meets Ratatouille".
Find out more information here and check some of the music below.BOSTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The case against Goldman Sachs Group Inc (GS.N) over a 2007 mortgage derivatives deal it set up for a hedge fund manager could be just the start of Wall Street’s legal troubles stemming from the subprime meltdown.
People walk past revolving doors of the new Goldman Sachs Group Inc. global headquarters, also known by its address as 200 West Street, in New York's lower Manhattan April 7, 2010. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Goldman (GS.N) with fraud for failing to disclose to buyers of a collateralized debt obligation known as ABACUS that hedge fund manager John Paulson helped select mortgage derivatives he was betting against for the deal. Goldman denied any wrongdoing.
The practice of creating synthetic CDOs was not uncommon in 2006 and 2007. At the tail end of the real estate bubble, some savvy investors began to look for more ways to profit from the coming calamity using derivatives.
Goldman shares plunged 13 percent on Friday and shares of other financial firms that created CDOs also fell. Shares of Deutsche Bank AG (DB.N) ended down 9 percent, Morgan Stanley (MS.N) 6 percent and Bank of America (BAC.N), which owns Merrill Lynch, and Citigroup (C.N) each declined 5 percent.
Merrill, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank were the top three underwriters of CDO transactions in 2006 and 2007, according to data from Thomson Reuters. But most of those deals included actual mortgage-backed securities, not related derivatives like the ABACUS deal.
Hedge fund managers like Paulson typically wanted to bet against so-called synthetic CDOs that used derivatives contracts in place of actual securities. Those were less common.
MORE LAWSUITS?
The SEC’s charges against Goldman are already stirring up investors who lost big on the CDOs, according to well-known plaintiffs lawyer Jake Zamansky.
“I’ve been contacted by Goldman customers to bring lawsuits to recover their losses,” Zamansky said. “It’s going to go way beyond ABACUS. Regulators and plaintiffs’ lawyers are going to be looking at other deals, to what kind of conflicts Goldman has.”
An investigation by the online site ProPublica into Chicago-based hedge fund Magnetar’s 2007 bets against CDO-related debt also turned up allegations of conflicts of interest against Deutsche Bank, Merrill and JPMorgan Chase.
Magnetar has denied any wrongdoing. Deutsche Bank declined to comment. Merrill and JPMorgan had no immediate comment.
The Magnetar deals have spawned at least one lawsuit. Dutch bank Cooperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., or Rabobank for short, filed suit in June against Merrill Lynch over Magnetar’s involvement with a CDO called Norma.
“Merrill Lynch teamed up with one of its most prized hedge fund clients — an infamous short seller that had helped Merrill Lynch create four other CDOs — to create Norma as a tailor-made way to bet against the mortgage-backed securities market,” Rabobank said in its complaint filed on June 12 in the Supreme Court of New York.
Regulators at the SEC and around the country said they would be investigating other deals beyond ABACUS.
“We are looking very closely at these products and transactions,” Robert Khuzami, head of the SEC’s enforcement division, said. “We are moving across the entire spectrum in determining whether there was (fraud).
Meanwhile, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said in a statement his office had already begun a preliminary review of the Goldman case.
“A key question is whether this case was an isolated incident or part of a pattern of investment banks colluding with hedge funds to purposely tank securities they created and sold to unwitting investors,” Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said in a statement.Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press
Search back to the summer of 2012 and you'll find stories coming out of Seattle that remain relevant in understanding the quarterback competition currently being held by the Minnesota Vikings.
Just two short years ago, the Seahawks—under command of head coach Pete Carroll—embraced competition at the position, giving rookie Russell Wilson a fair roll against veteran Tarvaris Jackson and high-priced free agent Matt Flynn.
That May, after watching his undervalued rookie quarterback impress in minicamp, Carroll conveyed a similar message as the one currently being repeated out of Winter Park, Minnesota.
"It's going to take us a long time to do this," Carroll said of his quarterback competition, via ESPN. "It's going to be frustrating for [the media]. You're going to keep asking and want to know. I'm just going to be more patient than you can imagine as we go through this process, and we'll just figure it out when we do."
In training camp, the Seahawks split reps three ways in an effort to find the best player, regardless of experience level or contract value. Wilson rightly won the job, but Carroll didn't make his decision until the week leading up to Seattle's final preseason game.
Vikings first-year head coach Mike Zimmer is essentially taking a page right out of Carroll's book.
Matt Cassel might be the odds-on favorite to win the job, but he'll first need to win a three-way competition that includes 2011 first-round pick Christian Ponder and 2014 first-rounder Teddy Bridgewater. Zimmer said during Minnesota's mandatory minicamp that his staff has a plan to give all three quarterbacks a "legitimate opportunity" to win the job, via Ben Goessling of ESPN.
And like Carroll in 2012, Zimmer is in no hurry to make conclusions.
"From the day I walked in here, I said I want tough, intelligent, smart football players and I want competition at every position," Zimmer said. "To me, we're still competing; everybody's still competing for jobs. I'm competing to be a good head coach; assistants are competing to be good assistant head coaches. Again, I don't want to rush into anything."
All teams preach about positional competition, especially at this point in the offseason. In the most general sense, competition provides a breeding ground for internal improvement. However, some teams avoid the inherent risks in employing heavy competition at quarterback in hopes of getting the assumed starter the most possible reps before a season while also establishing some sort of offensive continuity. As the old saying goes, if you have two starting quarterbacks, you probably don't have one.
Bob Leverone/Associated Press
Carroll and the Seahawks mostly thwarted that idea, staging a true competition in which all three quarterbacks were given a fair chance—in terms of reps in practice and during exhibition games (save for Jackson, who threw just six passes in preseason play)—to win the job.
And despite Wilson being a third-round pick—no quarterback drafted in the third round had started in Week 1 of a season since 1973—Carroll was undaunted in keeping him in the mix.
The Vikings are doing the same with Bridgewater, who the team doesn't want to rush but who is still very much in play to start for Minnesota to begin next season. Zimmer made that very clear on the final day of the Vikings' minicamp.
"We as the Vikings are not afraid to do anything," Zimmer said when asked about starting a young quarterback, via the team's official site. "We're going to make sure that we're diligent in getting this team prepared the best that we can and we're hoping that we can continue to compete for jobs and we get the best guys out there that are ready to go."
So far, the Vikings are playing the situation perfectly.
Naming Cassel as the starter at any point between now and camp wouldn't make sense. Imagine if the Seahawks had prematurely handed the starter's job to either Flynn or Jackson during the early summer of 2012, keeping Wilson in the "development" stage to start his career. The rookie almost certainly would have overtook the two at some point, but the Seahawks would have also missed out on important on-the-job training for Wilson. Seattle patiently waited, and then decided on the best man for the job only once the whole process had played out.
The Vikings are in a similar position to do the same with their quarterbacks.
Cassel is entering his 10th NFL season. He's started at least six games in six straight seasons, and the Vikings won three of his six starts in 2013. Minnesota would feel very comfortable with him in the stopgap role, which requires a capable player to bridge the time period between the present and some time in the future when Bridgewater is ready to take over fully.
But Cassel would also serve as a fine backup for Bridgewater, especially if the rookie continues to open eyes, much like Wilson two years ago.
In 2012, it slowly but surely became more and more obvious that Wilson was Seattle's best option. While capable, Flynn didn't have the special qualities of Wilson.
Over his first two preseason games, Wilson completed 22 of 33 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 92 yards and another score. Carroll gave him his first start in the all-important third preseason game, and he all but sealed his starting appointment by throwing for 185 yards and a score and also rushing for 58 yards in a 44-14 win. The Seahawks named him the opening week starter shortly after.
This is the path Bridgewater must follow. Keep your name in the competition, impress come training camp and then win the job between the white lines in the preseason.
Through organized team activities and minicamp, it appears Bridgewater can check off the first part of the equation:
Even offensive coordinator Norv Turner, who has historically avoided playing rookie quarterbacks, came away impressed with the improvement of Bridgewater early on.
“I think in the six-to-eight weeks we’ve had him on the field, I think he’s been put in a position where he’s had to make most of the throws he would have to make," Turner said, via Master Tesfatsion of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "I think he can make all the throws he needs to make.”
Turner also praised Bridgwater's ability to throw the deep ball, which was one of his major knocks coming out of Louisville.
The next step in the process starts July 25, when the Vikings report for training camp.
If Zimmer sticks to his plan—and nothing about the way he's run the Vikings so far suggests he's in the lying business—Bridgewater will have every opportunity to earn his way to the top of the quarterback depth chart in August. If Bridgewater's preseason stat line is anything near Wilson's (see chart below), the Vikings may have no choice but to hand over the keys to the rookie.
Russell Wilson vs. Matt Flynn, 2012 Preseason R. Wilson M. Flynn Cmp/Att 40/63 28/39 Completion % 63.5 71.8 Yards 536 204 Yards/Att 8.5 5.2 TD 5 1 INT 1 1 Passer Rating 110.3 81.6 Rushing Yards 150 6 *Flynn and Wilson both started two games
Cassel, on the other hand, will need to be much better than Flynn was in his August audition.
Given starter's level money in March of 2012, Flynn proceeded to throw zero touchdowns and one interception during his two preseason starts. His passer rating in each game sat below 60.0. Flynn then missed the third game before returning to throw for 102 yards and a score in the preseason finale. But by that time, Seattle had already settled on Wilson as the starter.
The blueprint for Cassel is simple: pick up the offense, stay steady in camp and look the more reliable of the three quarterbacks during preseason games. It would then take a special effort from Bridgewater to win the job if Cassel doesn't deviate from the safe execution expected of a veteran player.
Meanwhile, Ponder would need both Cassel and Bridgewater to fall on their faces to realistically win the competition. He'll get reps, but he's the biggest long shot of the three, much like Jackson was for the Seahawks in 2012.
The Vikings now hope their competition yields results similar to Seattle's.
Wilson won 11 games as a rookie and then led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title in his second season. He also had a No. 1 defense and a strong supporting cast on offense, but the Vikings also have pieces on offense and Zimmer will be expected to lead a quick turnaround on defense.
Yet in the end, the final product in Minnesota will still ride heavily on how a smartly designed quarterback competition shakes out.
While no two situations are identical, Zimmer and the Vikings can certainly feel confident that their way of deciding a starting quarterback has worked with great success in recent years. The Seahawks provided the blueprint; it's now on one of the three quarterbacks to take advantage of the process.
Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report.From our community blogs
When we imagine females in video games, a singular humanoid body type comes to mind. Laura Croft, Liara T’soni, Jill Valentine, and Cortana are all popular examples showcasing our fixation on the sexual female form - despite its realistic juxtaposition within the character's race (fictional or not) and environment. Not only are female characters constantly subject to this standard slim, skinny, and busty body type, but as a result this limits the range of characters and creatures that can truly be viewed as female.
On the other hand, male characters are allowed to embody a plethora of imaginative skillsets and body types that perfectly coincide with their areas of expertise. For example, when was the last time you saw a female troll, golem, orc, or even a scary alien? Sure there are females that exist within those races, but they do not even remotely resemble their male counterparts. They have each been molded to the same unrealistic standards as any other female character. Thus, making them not a true representation of that race or class anyway.
Unfortunately, even though studies show 48% of females are gaming, and have been for some time, games are still marketed towards a male audience and include characters that are “appealing” to the male eye. As such, women are often left bored and discouraged both at the stereotypical nature of female characters and the overall lack of variety. Here are a few examples of characters that should be used as an example for female character portrayal.
Qunari - Dragon Age
Why I love her: Female Qunaris are non-traditionally striking and beautiful, but also quite intimidating and deadly strong. As an RPG lover I was thrilled when graced with the chance to be able to actually play a character that doesn’t revolve around cleavage. The Qunaris are a giant race of people, making both males and females a bit scary to outsiders. Rarely do female gamers get to take as much pleasure in making commoners uncomfortable with their presence.
Samus - Metroid
Why I love her: The idea of Samus herself proves that people in general can be badass, regardless of gender. The Samus suit distracted from the regular female form and put the attention back where it deserves, on the functionality of the character and the story. Unfortunately, once it was revealed that Samus is indeed a woman, this fact has been exploited to show a girlish figure in the design of the costume as well as the actual model outside of her suit.
Elizabeta Torres - Grand Theft Auto IV
Why I love her: Although a drug dealer isn’t necessarily the best role model for young females out there, Elizabeta is definitely a strong woman. In addition, an exorbitant amount of cleavage shown on this character in game is really very distracting for the player. Caveats aside, Elizabeta is the most realistic depiction of an average female that I’ve ever seen. Her broad hips and a natural waistline are relatable features for women everywhere. She’s obviously not trying to be anything else but herself.
Daisy - Fallout
Why I love her: Similarly to the Qunaris, I love to see women on screen who scare the living daylights out of everyone. Daisy just doesn’t take anyone’s crap. She is a ruthless general shop owner, selling just about anything you need to destroy your enemies or repair your armor on the go. Her androgynous attire and ghoulish face show that it isn’t your schoolgirl looks or sexualized shape that make you a woman.
Faith - Mirror’s Edge
Why I love her: Is there anything that Faith can’t do? This woman basically defies gravity and defeats evil with her insane parkour skills and fighting maneuvers. To top it all off her body type and wardrobe are actually appropriate for the game. Her slim figure matches that of a runner's body. Her hips to waist and breast ratio all completely make sense for her build and her lifestyle. If they ever decided to make James Bond into a female, I hope it would be her.
Female Build - Sims 4
Why I love her: I love the variation of playable ladies in The Sims 4. Sadly, the few instances of weighted characters in games are usually the center of jokes and torment. I love the idea of being able to build a gorgeous character regardless of size and shape. Other customizable games include a slider dial that allows you to pull from one side to the other, either skinny, average, or fat. With this game, each area can be changed to a player’s liking, leaving a much more realistic and relatable figure.
Needless to say, coming up with this list was difficult. Some of these characters aren’t even playable ones, because most women in games are blatantly objectified in one way or another. Showing women in this light is undoubtedly harmful. These characters promote unattainable standards for ladies and make us feel as though we are only included in video games as eye-candy, which makes females worthless to most video game plots. It’s largely because of such treatment in the media that many women feel inadequate and turn to compulsive behaviors and addictions in relation to their bodies and food. It needs to stop right now.
An increase in awareness is the only way that we, men and women, can show video game developers that we won’t stand for this type of representation any longer. Breaking down these barriers will help to defeat the idea that women are only viewed as objects and we will essentially open the door to an infinite amount of creative possibilities within the realm of female characters and storytelling.
You are logged out. Login | Sign upThe Hollywood sex ring scandal widened this week as Garth Ancier, Gary Goddard and David Neuman were added as defendants in Michael Egan III’s sex abuse lawsuit against director Bryan Singer. All four men deny the charges, but RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that they all share a dark secret: Singer, Goddard, Ancier, and Neuman were all investors in a company accused in a lawsuit of being a veritable “male brothel” and run by a registered sex offender!
According to SEC filings obtained by Radar, Singer, Goddard, Ancier and Neuman were all investors in the controversial Digital Entertainment Network, run by Marc Collins-Rector, a registered sex offender who was convicted of transporting a minor with intent to engage in sexual activities in 2004.
The document listing the men was filed in the spring of 2000 in preparation for a $50 million stock offering scheduled for later that year. The amount invested by Goddard and Ancier is unknown, but according to other records, Neuman invested $617,110 and Singer’s contribution was $30,000 of a planned $50,000 investment.
READ: The Shocking SEC Filing Exposing The Alleged Sex Abusers’ Sordid Ties
But even though the men were still lending their names and their money to the company at that time, both DEN and Collins-Rector had already come under serious scrutiny over multiple allegations of sexual abuse.
DEN was founded in 1996 by 40-year-old Collins-Rector, who ran the company with 17-year-old Disney film star Brock Pierce and his 24-year-old lover Chad Shackley, who he had met when Shackley was just 16.
In 1999, one of Collins-Rector’s former employees, Jacob Walker, filed suit against Collins-Rector claiming that he had subjected him to sexual abuse after hiring him as a “customer service representative” at a predecessor to DEN, after hiring him at the age of 13. The case was settled and dismissed in October 1999.
Less than a year later, a group of DEN employees including Egan, Alex Burton, and Mark Ryan all filed suit against Collins-Rector, DEN and Brock Pierce, alleging that “during the course of plaintiffs’ employment [at DEN]… [defendants] sexually and physically abused plaintiffs, forced plaintiffs through coercion or subversion to consume controlled substances and/or prescription drugs, threatened plaintiffs with physical injury and economic harm, all with the intent to humiliate plaintiffs and subjugate them to their will.”
PHOTOS: Top Celebrity Sex Scandals
In addition, the lawsuit claimed, DEN execs plied them with “valium, vicodin, xanax, percocet, marijuana, hashish, ecstasy, and rufinols” during wild parties at the company’s Encino mansion, which was once owned by Suge Knight — the same mansion at the heart of Egan’s new lawsuit.
The plaintiffs were awarded a default judgment of more than $2 million in that case. (A default judgement is not an admission of liability.)
Were Singer, Ancier, Goddard and Neuman really blind to where their money was going and what kind of behavior it was funding? The attorney who represented the DEN employees, Daniel Cheren, doesn’t think so.
“Some of these investors received in addition to their stock, a piece of a male brothel for their money,” he previously told a reporter. “Anyone who had a dinner at that estate or went to a party there, had to know what was going on.”
PHOTOS: Celeb Sex Addiction
As Radar has reported, Egan’s lawsuit has describe sex-and-drug-fueled pool parties in California and Hawaii, where he said he was seen as “a piece of meat” by guests who allegedly violated him orally and anally at the events.
Other investors named in the SEC documents obtained by Radar include Wonder Years actor Fred Savage, his brother, Ben Savage, Yahoo’s Terry Semel, Arianna Huffington’s ex, former Senator Michael Huffington, super-agent Gary Gersh, Wall Street honcho Mitchell Blutt, A&M Records head Gilbert Friesen (now deceased) — and dozens of other Hollywood bigwigs, none of whom have been in any way implicated in the sex ring investigation.
Story developing.NEWTON, MA—Uneasy to this day over the possibility they consider him a horrible person, local man Will Donnelly is still worried that the parents of his ex-girlfriend from seven years ago hate him, sources confirmed Thursday. “I’m pretty sure Alison’s dad detested me, like I just wasn’t good enough to be dating his daughter,” said Donnelly, in reference to the romantic relationship that amicably came to an end in 2010. “Her mom pretended to be nice to my face, but I could tell she really didn’t like me either. And her brother—man, that dude definitely hated me. I don’t know, it still kind of stresses me out.” Reached for comment, the parents of Donnelly’s ex-girlfriend said they had no strong opinion of him, once they had been reminded of his very existence.
AdvertisementMicrobial communities thrive in close association among themselves and with the host, establishing protein-protein interactions (PPIs) with the latter, and thus being able to benefit (positively impact) or disturb (negatively impact) biological events in the host. Despite major collaborative efforts to sequence the Human microbiome, there is still a great lack of understanding their impact. We propose a computational methodology to predict the impact of microbial proteins in human biological events, taking into account the abundance of each microbial protein and its relation to all other microbial and human proteins. This alternative methodology is centered on an improved impact estimation algorithm that integrates PPIs between human and microbial proteins with Reactome pathway data. This methodology was applied to study the impact of 24 microbial phyla over different cellular events, within 10 different human microbiomes. The results obtained confirm findings already described in the literature and explore new ones. We believe the Human microbiome can no longer be ignored as not only is there enough evidence correlating microbiome alterations and disease states, but also the return to healthy states once these alterations are reversed.The Nets landing D’Angelo Russell essentially for a year of Brook Lopez is a coup, praised in nearly all quarters. The only questions are: Can the point guard coexist with Jeremy Lin? And does the 21-year-old really want to win?
According to Lin and Nets teammate Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, the answer to both is a resounding yes.
Nets general manager Sean Marks made the move Tuesday to get Russell and Timofey Mozgov for the 27th pick and Lopez, who is 29 and has just one year left on his contact and a history of foot woes. Though Lin and Hollis-Jefferson said they will miss Lopez, they each also spoke with Russell and said they can’t wait to play alongside him.
“I’ve always loved two combo guards playing together. I’ve always been an advocate of that, whether it’s me playing alongside Patrick Beverley or playing alongside Kemba [Walker],” Lin told The Post, referring to his time with the Rockets and Hornets, respectively. “Me and Kemba’s pairing was the most fun I’ve had.
“Playing alongside another person who is dynamic makes the game easier. … I’m excited to share the backcourt with him. I’ve already reached out to him. We’ve texted a bit, so it should be cool.”
Coach Kenny Atkinson couldn’t comment on the trade because it isn’t official. But Lin — who was at the Steve Nash Showdown in Manhattan — said he and Russell are different enough that there won’t be any problem playing complementary basketball.
“We’re definitely not the same player. We’re definitely very different, and that’s what’s going to make it work,” Lin told The Post. “The thing I like about him is he’s versatile. He can spot up, he can drive, he can shoot. That’s what makes it hard for the defenses, when you have different looks.
see also Nets and Lakers pull off stunning Lopez-Russell blockbuster Brook Lopez seemingly has been on the block at every...
“He’s really good. He’s really talented. What he showed in LA is probably not the full picture of who he really is as a player. I think we’re going to get him in hopefully a really great situation.”
Lin signed a three-year, $36 million deal last offseason, and can opt out next summer. Russell — the second overall pick in 2015 — may have worn out the Lakers with his immaturity, but he is 21 and the kind of high-end talent the Nets need to speed their rebuild.
“I definitely was shocked. But I also understand it’s the nature of the business. You’re always trying to build and put different pieces together and make the team the best, and you’ve got to understand that,’’ Hollis-Jefferson told The Post. “But from a personal standpoint, [Lopez] being my brother, I’m really sad he’s gone.”
The Nets are hoping the 6-foot-5 Russell can be a huge piece. Big point guards develop slowly, and Steph Curry, Larry Bird, Manu Ginobili, Chris Paul and James Harden are the only players who’ve matched Russell’s points, assists, rebounds and 3-point percentage per 36 minutes over their first two seasons.
“We’re getting really young. D’Angelo is going to come fit right in, because he’s willing to work. He’s humble. I know him already,’’ Hollis-Jefferson said.
“Knowing him, having that relationship, we’ll be able to keep things going aligned and make him feel like a brother.’’
Hollis-Jefferson doesn’t seem worried about Russell’s immaturity or ability to share the ball or the backcourt with Lin.
“Jeremy is one of the most unselfish people I ever met, so he’s willing to sacrifice some things,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “And once our coaches meet with D’Angelo and see his feeling for things, I’m sure he’s willing to sacrifice, too. In the end, people want to win.”How America treats mentally disabled children...
There's something rotten in Rotenberg
Opposition to electroshock therapy for autistic children
(NaturalNews) It appears that the use of electroshock punishment tactics isn't limited to the U.S. military these days: The state of Massachusetts has renewed a special education school's authority to use electric shocks as a form of punishment, even after the school admitted to administering excessive and unfair shocks to two children after being told to do so by a prank caller.Last year, a prank caller believed to be a former student called the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center in Canton, MA, in the middle of the night. Posing as an administrator, the caller told school officials to administer electric shock treatments to two students, one 16 and one 19, for infractions that had allegedly happened more than five hours before. In response to the call, the two students were awakened; one was shocked 22 times, and the other was shocked 77 times."I think it's fair to say that [giving someone] 77 shocks is unusual," school spokesperson Ernest Corrigan later admitted. "It is excessive to what is normal protocol. Giving 22 shocks is also excessive." So why did they give the shocks to children? And why did they do so after merely receiving a prank phone call?According to Nancy Alterio, the executive director of Massachusetts' Disabled Persons Protection Committee, which received a phone tip about the incident, a third person was also shocked based on the same prank call.In response to the incident, the school fired seven people, claiming, "This [incident] happened, we reported it and we've taken steps necessary so that this doesn't happen again," Corrigan said.Rotenberg has approximately 250 students, most of whom live in one of 38 nearby group homes. All the students have mental disabilities that make it difficult for them to function in normal society, and many are low-functioning autistic children. About two-thirds of Rotenberg's students are minors.It is my belief, by the way, that nearly all of these children were put into this mental state through either vaccinations, exposure to toxic chemicals or severe nutritional deficiencies during their mother's pregnancy. In other words, virtually all the children in the facility could have avoided mental retardation if our nation had a healthy food supply and realistic nutritional support for expectant mothers.While much of the behavior modification treatment at the school is based on rewards, Rotenberg remains the only school in the United States to still use electric shock as a form of therapy. The state of Massachusetts has twice tried to have the school closed due to the practice, but has failed both times.According to Rotenberg's Web site, shock therapy is only used "after obtaining prior parental, medical, psychiatric, human rights, peer review and individual approval from a Massachusetts Probate Court." (They forgot to mention it also includes a "prank phone call.") Corrigan dismissed the shock as similar in pain to a bee sting, and the school maintains that the shocks have "no significant negative side effects." You will note, however, that they did not subject their own employees to such electroshock treatment before firing them. That would be cruel, of course.Sixty percent of the school's students have court-authorized treatment plans that include electric shocks as punishment. And autism experts and patient's rights advocates dispute the claim that the shocks are harmless, pointing to the inevitable psychological harm done by such a practice.According to Barry Pizant of the Brown University Center for the Study of Human Development, shock punishment "interferes with [autistic students'] ability [to] trust people who are with them, and these are people who already have trouble understanding people."Yet the Massachusetts Office of Health and Human Services recently extended Rotenberg's authorization to use electric shock by one year. To continue using electric shock therapy, the school must prove that it only uses shocks to punish the most dangerous and self-destructive behaviors, and must also prove that the shocks reduce the occurrence of those behaviors. Shocks must not be used for "seemingly minor infractions" such as swearing or getting out of seats without permission, and the school must show that it is committed to phasing out the treatments, particularly for students who are about to leave the school. Further, the state criticized the school for failing to customize treatments to individual students, and for failing to address the root causes of disruptive behavior.Rotenberg has reportedly also agreed to eliminate the practice of delayed punishment or shocking sleeping students, as occurred in the |
Moo,’ watch on Hulu
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Is idealistic, goofy comedy the best format for exploring systemic racism in policing? And how policing can put black officers in particularly challenging circumstances, both professionally and psychologically? Actually, yeah. When Terry (Terry Crews) is harassed while he is off-duty by a white cop, he struggles with whether to report the incident and gets some conflicting advice. But, you know … funny.
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‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
Best episode: ‘Offred,’ watch on ‘Offred,’ watch on Hulu
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The show lost some juice as the season wore on, but the first episode of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a largely faithful adaptation of the novel by Margaret Atwood, was gripping and absolute, a fully formed aesthetic specimen whose horror-parade of the poisons of misogyny could not have seemed more timely. The red cloaks and anonymizing bonnets became instant icons, but Elisabeth Moss’s quivering performance and haunting narration made the episode a story and not just a symbol.
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‘Jeopardy!’
Best episode: Season 34, Episode 16
Watching Austin Rogers dominate on “Jeopardy!” for 12 games was a dorky joy. During this game in particular, he absolutely smoked, winning $65,000 — including a baller $15,700 Daily Double wager. (What is glockenspiel?)
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‘Last Chance U’
Best episode: ‘Ain’t It a Sin,’ watch on ‘Ain’t It a Sin,’ watch on Netflix
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This documentary series, about a community-college football team, lives comfortably amid conflict: the conflicts between coach and players, between the future and the present — racist conflict, the conflicts of hypocrisy. The fourth episode of Season 2 centers on players’ and coaches’ professed Christian faith, and it includes one player’s being baptized. It’s a beautiful episode, and one that captures both the alluring promise and the seeming impossibility of true redemption.
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‘One Mississippi’
Best episode: ‘I’m Alive,’ watch on ‘I’m Alive,’ watch on Amazon
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Tig Notaro’s disarming, quietly steady frankness is the backbone of “One Mississippi,” the show she created and stars in that is inspired by her own life. The show has always spoken openly about surviving childhood sex abuse, and this Season 2 finale includes a beautiful, devastating monologue. But it doesn’t only include that, it also includes three quite charming love stories, each a testament to the fact that no one has to be doomed by the pain of the past.
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Clockwise from left: Scenes from “Girls,” “Game of Thrones” and “Master of None.” HBO; Netflix
James Poniewozik
Note: I left out episodes from any series that I had on my top-ten list, for variety’s sake. So no “Twin Peaks: The Return” Episode 8 or episodes of “The Leftovers.”
‘Game of Thrones’
Best episode: ‘The Spoils of War,’ watch on ‘The Spoils of War,’ watch on HBO
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When Daenerys Targaryen’s dragons and Dothraki crushed the despised Lannister army, it was not surprising that the producers and special-effects pyromancers of “Game of Thrones” made the long-awaited event spectacular. The real accomplishment was that they also made it horrible: an asymmetrical, merciless, apocalyptic rout. The short seventh season often seemed preoccupied with gratifying fans’ wishes, but its finest moment came from having the audience confront the ghastly results of getting what it wished for.
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‘Girls’
Best episode: ‘American Bitch,’ watch on ‘American Bitch,’ watch on HBO
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When it aired a million years ago, which is to say last spring, a story that built to a renowned writer (Matthew Rhys) taking out his penis in front of a young admirer (Lena Dunham) was the stuff of a daring TV half-hour, rather than the daily news. But this self-contained episode in the final “Girls” season is valuable for much more than its prescient topicality: It remains a nuanced exploration of the power dynamics between a powerful man and a young woman, and of the use of art as an alibi.
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‘I Love Dick’
Best episode: ‘A Short History of Weird Girls,’ watch on ‘A Short History of Weird Girls,’ watch on Amazon
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The fifth episode of this art-world romantic triangle is itself a mesmerizing work of video art, built around a series of monologues in which the series’s female characters describe their childhood sexual awakenings. The director Jill Soloway’s use of light effects accents the idea of eros as a luminous force. It reconceives the usual presentation of sex on TV from something you do into something you are.
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‘Master of None’
Best episode: ‘Thanksgiving,’ watch on ‘Thanksgiving,’ watch on Netflix
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Aziz Ansari’s series is passionate about identity and about food, so it’s fitting that it would tell a richly human story about a holiday when the two come together. Lena Waithe wrote this episode with Ansari, in which her character, Denise, comes into consciousness as a gay woman over decades. It’s partly a coming-out story, involving Denise’s difficult opening up to her mother (Angela Bassett). But it’s also a being-out story, continuing forward to the present, when Denise is able to comfortably be herself with her relatives. You can only really come home, the episode says, when you can bring all of yourself.
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‘Nathan for You’
Best episode: ‘Finding Frances,’ watch on ‘Finding Frances,’ watch on Comedy Central
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In a typical episode of “Nathan for You,” Nathan Fielder shows up to help a company execute an outlandish business scheme. This feature-length season finale involves a different enterprise, as Fielder helps an elderly collaborator from a past episode track down his childhood crush. The elaborate chase — which involves hiring an actor and staging a fake high-school reunion — calls into question whether the man’s quest is romantic or disturbing, and it’s not entirely clear what’s authentic and what’s performance. But it resolves into a sweet, profound reflection on the way love itself may be a performance and on our willingness to believe in it anyway.
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‘Room 104’
Best episode: ‘Voyeurs,’ watch on ‘Voyeurs,’ watch on HBO
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The conceit of Mark and Jay Duplass’s anthology series is that a motel room, the setting for its stories, can be anything — including, in this remarkable half-hour, the stage for a dance. The episode’s director, writer and choreographer, Dayna Hanson, tells a story entirely through movement: An older female housekeeper and a young woman guest weave around the space, the cleaner picking up the residue of the young woman’s stay, until they end up in the bed next to each other, revealing that the maid is the young woman grown older. It’s a striking use of visual storytelling to show how time can render us strangers to ourselves.
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‘This Is Us’
Best episode: ‘Memphis,’ watch on
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TV series often get special attention for killing off characters. But “Memphis” wasn’t a death episode so much as it was a life episode. As Randall (Sterling K. Brown) took his biological father, William (Ron Cephas Jones), on one last road trip, the episode artfully intercut present and past, tracing William’s time on earth from his first moments in his mother’s arms to his last moments with Randall cradling his head. Here, the time-jumping narrative of “This Is Us” added up to a larger point: that events in your life don’t just follow one on the other, they collect and add up to a whole.
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‘Underground’
Best episode: ‘Minty,’ watch on
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This too-short-lived drama stood apart from past TV treatments of slavery by casting the struggle for freedom as a fast-paced action story. This remarkable episode broke the series’s own form by giving Harriet Tubman (Aisha Hinds) the entire hour to recast that struggle as a war. Hinds’s steely, sonorous monologue traced her character’s journey from being a slave girl, who once rebelled by stealing a sugar cube, to becoming an abolitionist general, unwilling to sacrifice equality for peace.
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Clockwise from top left: Scenes from “Insecure,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Legion.” HBO; Fox; FX
Mike Hale
‘Broadchurch’
Best episode: Season 3, Episode 1, watch on Season 3, Episode 1, watch on Netflix
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The signature of this British mystery was the pointed, often cynical banter between the detectives played (perfectly) by Olivia Colman and David Tennant. For the final season premiere, the show did something very different. The episode began with a slow, hushed, 14-minute scene of a woman’s being examined and questioned at a sexual-assault center. It was detailed and devastating, and delicate rather than grim. When the victim, beautifully portrayed by Julie Hesmondhalgh, asked, “Do you believe me?” we held our breath along with her until Tennant’s Alec Hardy replied, simply, “Yes.”
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‘Bob’s Burgers’
Best episode: ‘The Bleakening,’ watch on
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In the spirit of the holiday season, here’s an hourlong musical Christmas episode from television’s best animated-family comedy. Linda Belcher (John Roberts), with her great comic combination of dizziness, touchiness and extreme generosity, investigates the theft of her Christmas tree while her children, fearing their presents will be stolen, set off to find the mythical, antlered holiday beast, the Bleaken. Everything converges at a Christmas rave where the entertainment is provided by a drag queen named Cleavage the Beaver. The frightening mood of today’s America hangs lightly in the background, but no actual people or events are mentioned, although a woman suspected of being a tree thief is referred to as Miss Grabbypuss.
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‘Insecure’
Best episode: ‘Hella Perspective,’ watch on
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Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore’s Los Angeles-set comedy is sweet, melancholy and completely real. It’s also hilarious, though Rae doesn’t write jokes — she just has her vivid, spiky characters say really funny things. In the Season 2 finale (directed by Melina Matsoukas) Rae is completely in command of her collagelike style, rerunning events from multiple points of view, using juxtaposition rather than exposition to locate us in the story and making seamless, surprising use of her main character’s fantasies to show us what life could be like if she were an easier, more adaptable, more forgiving person. Which, we hope, she’ll never be.
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‘Legion’
Best episode: ‘Chapter 4,’ watch on
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The first eight episodes of this Marvel comic-book adaptation, created by Noah Hawley (“Fargo”), were a season-long origin story told in a fragmented, puzzle-box style that mirrored the shattered psyche of its hero, the mild-mannered but monstrously powerful mutant telepath, David Haller (Dan Stevens). The pilot was a flashy tour de force, but this midseason episode (written by Nathaniel Halpern and directed by Larysa Kondracki) is both more complex and more straightforward, as the secrets of David’s past and his abilities begin to slide into view. Jumping between the material world, various characters’ memories and the astral plane David creates — where other people can find themselves trapped, or dead — it’s a joy ride. Bonus: Jemaine Clement in a deep-sea diving suit.
—A plan for Britons to retain the right to live and work in the EU – for a fee – has won the backing of the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator.
As The Independent revealed earlier this month, MEPs will consider a proposal to grant British citizens the right to claim “associate citizenship”, after withdrawal is completed.
Now the idea has won the important backing of Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian Prime Minister who held talks with the Brexit Secretary, David Davis, this week.
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Mr Verhofstadt – an open supporter of a ‘United States of Europe’, has made himself a champion for the “rights of the 48 per cent” of British voters who voted Remain.
“Many say, 'We don't want to cut our links',” he told The Times.
“I like the idea that people who are European citizens and saying they want to keep it, have the possibility of doing so. As a principle, I like it.”
The comments are a significant boost to the campaign, which could also see British citizens retain the right to vote in European Parliament elections after Brexit.
Proposed by Charles Goerens, a Liberal MEP from Luxembourg, Amendment 882 is due to be considered by the Parliament’s constitutional affairs committee on 8 December.
Mr Goerens said: “Between 15 and 30 million British citizens deeply regret Brexit.
“My amendment was tabled in order to get European citizenship for those British citizens who want to keep their citizenship.”
Mr Goerens has suggested the scheme could even be free, but Mr Verhofstadt’s plan is for Britons to pay an annual membership fee to “opt in” to citizenship.
It is thought it would be particularly popular with young people, who stand to lose the most from losing the right to live and work in other European countries.
However, the idea would have to be approved by all EU nations to become part of any exit deal with Britain – and, predictably, has already drawn the fire of some Brexit supporters.
Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, said: “It's an attempt to create two classes of UK citizen and to subvert the referendum vote. The truth is that Brussels will try every trick in the book to stop us leaving.”
Jayne Adye, director of the Get Britain Out campaign, told The Independent: “This is an outrage. The EU is now attempting to divide the great British public at the exact moment we need unity.
“It is totally unacceptable for certain citizens in the UK to subject themselves to laws, which are created by politicians who are not accountable for the British people as a whole.”
Mr Verhofstadt, leader of the liberal bloc of MEPs in the Parliament, admitted there would be opposition from MEPs who “think it is too easy” to allow Britons to choose citizenship.
He added: “I don't know if it will fly or not – there are big differences of view here in the Parliament.” Some MEPs asked, “why stay in the EU if your citizens can have the advantages of European citizenship”.
We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view.
At The Independent, no one tells us what to write. That’s why, in an era of political lies and Brexit bias, more readers are turning to an independent source. Subscribe from just 15p a day for extra exclusives, events and ebooks – all with no ads.
Subscribe now.Hollywood is facing a very bad weekend unless there’s someone who hasn’t seen “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.”
Paramount’s “Baywatch” with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron is a disaster. Currently at 9% on Rotten Tomatoes, our Leah Sydney says it just falls flat. (See her review below.)
Disney’s 5th “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie has a 33, which ain’t much better. After the first night, big things are not expected.
The “Baywatch” situation was predictable. All parties insisted that the “Baywatch” premiere had to be in Miami because of Johnson’s schedule. But he hosted “Saturday Night Live” on Saturday night so he could have attended a Sunday premiere. Instead, the premiere was held away from the glare of New York and Los Angeles press.
Refresh here for Leah’s review.
Ok-truth be told, I truly wanted to love “Baywatch.” But after the first five minutes which showed loyal lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) saving someone while dolphins high five each other, coupled with a catchy soundtrack, trainer toned spray tanned bodies all cavorting and frolicking on the heavenly beach, all seems that you’ll be on a fun kitschy ride.
Alas “Baywatch” quickly starts to sag, bodies thankfully still unaffected by gravity, and just keeps drowning throughout. Zac Efron (when you first see his six pack you do a double take and actually think it’s a special effect) plays screwed up arrogant, yet of course emotionally wounded, ex Olympian Matt Brody. Kelly Rohrbach, Alexandra Daddario, Ilfenesh Hadera and especially Priyanka Chopra (playing evil very well) all do what they can with a limited script and confused direction. Jon Bass has a good turn, as does Cosby outer Hannibal Buress.
The actors aren’t the problem; it’s the filmmakers’ indecisiveness. Unfortunately they never decided what they wanted this movie be, cheesy, serious, R rated comedy. They missed the boat on all. The murder plot line that affects the bay is supposedly the story, but it’s not engaging at all. With that said, there are some funny, albeit few moments.
The audience laughed most at the outtakes at the end. The sense of play, especially with this pop culture icon, the cleverness and irony are just not there. But hell it might do well. There’s plenty of eye candy to go around. As a friend who sat next to me said, “I love the fact that Dwayne’s T shirts are two sizes too small for him. That’s enough for me.” Lets see if audiences agree.Over the past 7 years that the World Pinball Player Rankings have existed, the system has evolved to try and better meet our two most important goals. The first goal is to use the WPPR system as a promotional tool to help motivate players to participate in competitive pinball, get new events created, and get more players interested in the sport. The second goal is to try and rank the world’s greatest pinball players as accurately as possible. Often times we run into issues where these two goals are mutually exclusive.
We typically only make changes to the WPPR system at the start of every calendar year, but in rare circumstances will change things during the year if we feel that the integrity of the WPPR system is in danger of being exploited by tournament directors based on the current rules.
The current change, that will be made immediately, is how Launch Party Tournaments will be handled in the WPPR system. Typically every unique tournament is given a base value of 25 WPPR points to be awarded to the winner. Tournaments that are run multiple times in a year end up sharing those 25 WPPR points across those events.
The Launch Party Tournament was originally created between Stern and the IFPA to be run in Chicago, with at least 3 being run each year coinciding with the launch of Stern’s latest game. The size and scope of this tournament was always on the smaller side, so the plan of making this a local periodic event was something that has worked at the start. Over the years this launch party concept has expanded to multiple cities around the world, and now more recently with the additional Jersey Jack Pinball launch parties as well. We have also seen the start of launch parties being thrown in conjunction with other existing IFPA endorsed events. This again started only in Chicago at Pinball Expo, but has grown to include California Extreme, the Northwest Pinball Show and the PAPA World Pinball Championships.
The result is that there the WPPR values associated with these launch party tournaments now range from 4 WPPR points, to 64 WPPR points, based mainly on factors outside of the promotion of the launch party itself. Because of the impact this has on the integrity of both the world rankings, and the state rankings here in the US, we have decided to adjust the WPPR values of these launch parties based on the original intent of how often they would be run when we created them.
Effectively immediately, every city that has a Launch Party tournament for either Stern Pinball or Jersey Jack Pinball, that base value will only be worth 33%. Any city that continues to run three or more parties per year will not be impacted, including Chicago. Any city that has run less than three launch party tournaments will be impacted by having the WPPR points for those events adjusted appropriately.
We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause for the players impacted as they attempt to qualify for both the IFPA11 World Pinball Championship and the various 2013 State Championships, but feel this is in the best interest for the integrity of the WPPR system.Posh Spice has three, and says she'd love more. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett have three. So do Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Madonna, thanks to adoption. With celebrities breaking the two-kid barrier, big families suddenly seem as trendy as jumbo-sized sunglasses and handbags.
And if you read the news reports, you might think it's not just Hollywood but regular American families that are going super-sized. "Get ready for the new baby boom," proclaims a headline from Life magazine. "For more parents, three kids are a charm," says USA Today.
We decided to cut through the buzz and find out whether big families really are on the upswing, and — more important, if you're one of the 50 percent of BabyCenter moms who want a big family — what life is like for multiple-kid moms. Here's what the experts, both the academic and the real-mom kind, had to say:
Are big broods back?
Not really, says Steve Martin, a sociologist at the University of Maryland. When Martin crunched the numbers from a 2004 government survey — the most recent available — he found that 28 percent of women age 35 to 44, who are winding up their childbearing years, have three kids or more. Ten years ago, it was 29 percent. The numbers for younger women haven't budged much, either.
Martin says it's not so much that big families are back, as that they never disappeared in the first place. "Large families have consistently been common," he points out. "Two is the norm, but for every 34 mothers who stop at two, there are 28 who have three, four, or more."
So why does it suddenly seem like you can't walk down the street without tripping over a double-wide stroller and a few toddlers?
Despite the nationwide numbers, big broods could be a trend in certain areas, says S. Philip Morgan, sociologist and demographer at Duke University. "You do get clusters of behavior that are very real," he says. "But it's not appropriate to generalize them across the country, because there are other pockets that are behaving very differently."
Morgan doubts that America will see a 1950s-style baby boom — when women had four kids, on average — anytime soon. "My forecast is more of the same in the United States," he says. "There are people who want substantially more than the two-kid average, but that's been going on for a long time."
Who's having three or more kids
While the percentage of moms having Brady Bunch-sized broods has held steady, the women who make up their ranks have changed somewhat. These days, professional and wealthy moms are having bigger families — traditionally more common among certain religious groups and poorer women with less education, according to government surveys.
Professional moms have twice as many kids at home, on average, than their high-powered counterparts did back in 1977, according to a 2002 report from the Families and Work Institute. And in a 2000 study, sociologist Martin found that college-educated women who put off motherhood until their 30s are suddenly having families almost as big as everyone else's. "That's historically unprecedented," he says.
Carolyn Moe fits the profile of this new kind of big-family mom. The mother of three is vice president of sales for a global technology company, and says she never doubted she could combine a successful career with more than two kids. "In the past, women may have felt they had to fit some label of what a working woman should be. This generation is all about creating the life you want," she says.
Wealthier families in general seem to be warming up to the idea of moving past a tasteful two. "Our survey from 2002 found that 12 percent of higher-income women had three or more children," says Anjani Chandra, a researcher at the National Center for Health Statistics. "The figure from 1995 is only about 3 percent."
Part of the reason that wealthier people are having more kids may simply be that there are more of them. "In this country there's been a pretty dramatic increase in people with higher incomes," says demographer Morgan. "And if you like kids and can afford them, why not?"
Finances played a role in the Newmarks' three-kid family. Mom Kate says she and her husband, who runs his own engineering business, discussed how they would be able to comfortably afford each child. "We talked about whether I would be able to stay home," she says. "And with each kid we were like, 'Here's another college tuition.'"
It may seem as though women such as Moe and Newmark have nothing in common with the more stereotypical big-family mom — working class, religious. But there is a common thread, says Julie V., who was at one time the moderator of BabyCenter's Large Families bulletin board and mother of four. Julie saw all sorts of women on the board, and the only description that fit them all, she says, is the obvious one: They love kids and want lots of them.
Pediatrician JoAnn Rohyans of Columbus, Ohio, says that's what unites her big-family patients, too. "They just really enjoy their kids and think that two is not enough. They don't want their jobs as parents of school-age kids to end so quickly!"
Why moms want large families
Statistics show that big broods tend to, well, run in families: Women who grow up with lots of brothers and sisters are more likely to have lots of kids themselves. But on our Large Families bulletin board, that's not the case.
"Some of our moms are onlies, and most have just one or two siblings," says moderator Julie V. And at least a few of them are looking to give their own kids the companionship they say they missed out on.
"I was an only child," says Patience Soares, mother of five. "I always get so jealous of people who are close to their siblings. My husband's family does everything together — birthdays, Christmas, cookouts. I want my kids to have that. And they'll always have each other, even if something happens to us."
Others say they wound up with bundles of babies because the more they had, the more they enjoyed it. "I always say that after three, it's all downhill," says Leslie Biskup, who's working on number six. "I'm so much more relaxed and patient than I was with my first two."
Newmark hadn't planned on having any kids, let alone three, but says that once she became a mother she felt a strong urge to expand her family. "It's hard to put into words, but I just didn't feel done," she says. "I felt like there was someone not here who should be here."
What's life like for big-family moms?
In a two-kid country, a basketball team-sized brood can attract attention, not all of it friendly. "I've heard everything from, 'Five kids, are you nuts?' to, 'You do know what causes pregnancy, right?'" says Billie Jean Sheffron.
Almost all the moms in this story report getting at least the occasional nasty comment, sometimes from their own family. "Every time I tell my mother I'm pregnant she rolls her eyes," says Leslie Biskup. "She says she's supportive, but my parents just don't get why I'd want so many kids."
The most common query isn't mean, though, just curious: "You must have your hands full. How do you do it?" The questioners have a point. Five kids may mean five times the love, but it's also five times the mess, the meal planning, and the chauffeuring.
"I think the hardest thing is how relentless it is," says Talitha Gawkoski, mother of seven. "There is always dirty laundry, no matter how many times you do the wash. Someone is always hungry, no matter how much food you provide."
That said, our moms make it clear that a big-family home may take a lot of work, but it's not as chaotic as some small-family parents might imagine. Most mothers we spoke with who have five, six, seven, or even eight kids have spaced them out fairly widely, and often the eldest are grown and out of the house. And even if they're all still at home, the parents are rarely wrangling all of them, from teenagers to toddlers, at once. "In a way it's like having two families, the little kids and the big kids," says Leslie Biskup.
They also say that parenthood goes more smoothly when you have more experience under your belt. "Going from no kids to one kid, and from one to two kids was actually the harder transition," says Melissa Brown. "By the time the fourth came around, it was like, 'Welcome to the family.' No big deal."
Another common question — how do you afford it? — is also worth asking. You don't have to be rich to afford a large brood, but you probably will have to make some sacrifices. Most of our moms spoke of having a smaller house, older cars, and fewer fancy vacations than their small-family neighbors. "Other people have things, we have children," says Talitha Gawkoski.
But Gawkoski and other large-family moms are happy with the trade-offs. They made the decision to have a big family with their eyes wide open, and wouldn't change a thing if they could. "Everywhere I look I see someone I love, and they're all such wonderful people," says Gawkoski.
Are big families good for the kids?
Most big-family moms think that all the sibling togetherness, including the squabbling, teaches their kids a lot about how to love and get along with others. "To me one of the biggest advantages is that they learn so much from each other, and at such an early age," says Sherry Welden, mother of six. "They learn responsibility, how to share, and how to care for each other. I really notice a difference between my kids and kids from smaller families."
The idea that brothers and sisters teach each other social skills is a popular one among big-family moms, and there's research to back it up. A 2004 study of more than 20,000 kindergarteners across the country found that teachers rated students who had at least one sibling as having an edge in social skills: better at making friends, better at helping other kids, and more tuned to the feelings of others. (The catch: having any siblings was what made the difference, and kids with lots of brothers or sisters didn't have any advantage over those who had just one.)
Researchers have also turned up some downsides to big families, although experts argue about how valid they are. About a hundred years of studies — from the 1870s to the 1970s — found that on average, the bigger the family, the lower the intelligence of the kids. One theory holds that as a family grows, the parents have less time and money to devote to each child's education and intellectual development.
But some researchers think IQ scores have more to do with socioeconomic characteristics — large families are still more common among low-income parents with less education, and kids tend to match their parents' academic achievement. "It's factors like income and education that the studies are actually measuring," says psychology professor Joseph Rodgers of the University of Oklahoma.
Rodgers also believes the effect of family size on both intelligence and social skills pales in comparison to parenting styles.
"Imagine two households, one with four children and one with two," he says. "In one household the parents spend a lot of quality time with their kids, the house is filled with books, and the food on the table is nutritious. In the other the parents pretty much ignore the kids and sit around watching TV. What do you think is more important: The number of children or the quality of the parenting?"
BabyCenter Seven: Life lessons from large families
How do you do it? That's one of the questions our big-family moms hear most often. Every family does it differently, but our moms did have this advice to share with anyone contemplating a bigger brood:NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global equities markets rallied on Thursday, with Wall Street surging nearly 2.5 percent, as investors buoyed by policy comments from the U.S. Federal Reserve moved into riskier holdings.
People are reflected on an electronic board displaying a graph showing the movement of Nikkei share average outside a brokerage in Tokyo November 7, 2012. REUTERS/Toru Hanai
The Swiss franc tumbled after the country’s central bank announced a surprise charge on deposits, wary of a flood of money exiting Russia and likely inflows from the euro zone if the European Central Bank starts full-scale money printing early next year.
Wall Street powered higher, with the S&P 500 putting up its best two days of gains since November 2011, according to Reuters data. Health and technology shares were among the strongest U.S. sectors..SPLRCT.SPXHC
“What happened this week was a game-changer. That easy money trade came to the forefront, and it’s so powerful it wipes out all of these concerns that exist,” said Adam Sarhan, chief executive of Sarhan Capital in New York.
The dollar rose against major currencies, and world oil prices resumed a months-long decline after Wednesday’s rally, as asset manager Pimco said cheap oil should help global economic growth next year.
U.S. government debt, a traditional safe-haven for anxious investors, dropped for a second day after the Fed’s upbeat assessment of the U.S. economy.
The Fed’s promise on Wednesday to take a “patient” approach to raising interest rates, while adding clarity on when it might raise rates, also helped boost European and Japanese shares.
Wall Street primary dealers, on average, expect the first rate hike to come in June 2015, according to a Reuters poll.
The Dow Jones industrial average.DJI climbed 2.43 percent to 17,778.15 and the S&P 500.SPX finished up 2.4 percent at 2,061.23 for its biggest one-day percentage rise since January 2013. The Nasdaq Composite Index.IXIC was up 104.08 points, or 2.24 percent, at 4,748.40.
The MSCI world equity index.MIWD00000PUS, which tracks shares in 45 nations, rose 2 percent.
European shares surged with a rise in Greek equities after the leader of the country’s main opposition party said he was committed to keeping Greece in the euro zone should his leftist party take power next year.
The FTSEurofirst 300.FTEU3 index of top European shares closed up 3 percent at 1,356.23, its biggest percentage rise since November 2011.
Oil fell, with Brent crude LCOc1 closing below the psychologically significant $60 a barrel after peaking at $63.70. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 dropped 3 percent, or $1.65, to $54.82 a barrel, after earlier gains drove it up to $58.73.
Pressure on major oil-producer Russia’s rouble remained as President Vladimir Putin tried to cool worries of a financial crisis taking hold. At a news conference, Putin sought to calm worries that the near-45 percent plunge in the rouble since June has left Russia on the brink of a full-blown crisis.
The rouble was roughly 2.5 percent weaker on the day RUB=, though Moscow's dollar-traded stock market.IRTS jumped 6.5 percent.
U.S. Treasury yields rose, with the benchmark 10-year note US10YT=RR down 17/32 in price to yield 2.21 percent. It reached a one-week high of 2.22 percent earlier on Thursday.
The Swiss National Bank's move to introduce a charge on deposits was accompanied by a cut in its main rate band. The franc fell to its lowest level since mid-October against the euro and to a two-year low against the dollar CHF=.
The greenback was last at 0.9806 Swiss franc, and the dollar index.DXY was up 0.1 percent.The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent the views of Townhall.com.
President-elect Donald Trump has warned companies that they are not going to leave the United States anymore "without consequences." He has lived up to his threat by pressuring Carrier to give up its planned move to Monterrey, Mexico, in exchange for a taxpayer handout. It is a safe bet that other U.S. companies will be descending on Washington looking for handouts in the name of "fair trade" and "leveling the playing field."
Part of Carrier's problem is the congressional miracle created for the U.S. metal industry. Import restrictions placed on steel, copper tubing and aluminum extrusions benefit American producers of those products. Not having to worry about foreign steel, copper tubing and aluminum extrusions, American producers of those products can charge higher prices and maintain higher employment. The real cost of import restrictions is the harm they do to steel-, copper- and aluminum-using manufacturers. Companies can |
the Roc a few hundred times, but I’m not in the Illuminati and I’m not about to go take out Chester Bennington, either, you know? Jackson, as you might expect, issued a statement denying any gang affiliation after the release.
Did the Eagles leak that story to help push through Jackson’s release?
That’s certainly not out of the question, especially given how quickly they acted after it came out. The whole timeline surrounding the release doesn’t make much sense. A March 5 report noted that Jackson was “one false step” away from being released, which general manager Howie Roseman responded to by jokingly asking what such a false step might entail.
Rumors continued to flare, but two weeks later, reports suggested that Kelly had called Jackson to let him know that he wasn’t being traded, and on March 25, Jackson apparently contacted teammates to tell them he was staying with the team. The next day, Kelly delivered a telling quote: “I like DeSean, but we are going to do what’s best for the team.” Two days later, the Eagles released Jackson without as much as a press conference or a quote from anybody involved with the organization, quite possibly to protect themselves against possible slander charges. Speaking of which, it’s surprising that the NFLPA hasn’t been more publicly aggressive in defending Jackson.
The Eagles might have been better off leaking positive reports about Jackson’s future (or just telling Jackson nice things to leak on their behalf) during that time to try to keep his trade value up — trade value that, to be fair, was always going to be difficult to create given Jackson’s salary. And once the gang report came out, there wasn’t going to be any trade.
Since everybody else gets to throw out barely founded speculation, let me throw this out, too: I believe that if DeSean Jackson were making $550,000 a year with the same attitude and if the same story about his possible gang ties came out, the Eagles would not have released him. If Jackson were immaculate in the locker room and had no such rumored affiliations, it would have been more difficult for the Eagles to justify cutting their best receiver, but they probably still would have ended up doing it anyway. The Eagles might know more about Jackson than they’re letting on, but my suspicion is that this is more about the money than it is about conduct. After all, this is the same organization that held on to Riley Cooper before re-signing him in February.
Will the Eagles miss Jackson?
Less than you’d think. One of the hallmarks of Chip Kelly’s system at Oregon was its effectiveness while swapping playmakers out of the lineup. Kelly started three different quarterbacks during his four years without skipping a beat. There’s no guarantee he can be as aggressive in changing his personnel at the professional level, of course, but he certainly deserves the benefit of the doubt after what he did with Nick Foles a year ago.
The return of Jeremy Maclin on a one-year deal (torn ACL last offseason) will help offset the absence, and it’s likely that the Eagles will draft a wide receiver, especially given this year’s draft class. There are 15 wide receivers among Scouts Inc.’s top 100 prospects, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Eagles use one of their first three picks (22, 54, or 86) to help replace Jackson. Given Kelly’s known affection for tall athletes, it would stand to reason that they might target Florida State wideout Kelvin Benjamin or Ole Miss receiver Donte Moncrief. They will probably pick too late to have a shot at Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, although they could try to trade up for him.
With that all said, there were times last year when Jackson was the only player who could seem to get himself open for the Eagles, especially when teams had success jamming Philly’s receivers at the line. Kelly definitely prefers to have bigger receivers who can get around that problem, but one quote of his stands out: “One-on-one coverage is a big deal for us … Anybody we are going to look at at wide receiver from the future here on is what is your ability to get open in single coverage.”
For whatever problems Jackson posed in the locker room and whatever size he lacks, he was the receiver the Eagles had last year who could beat one-on-one coverage and make plays. The offense helped get him open, but just like LeSean McCoy, Jackson made the most of his opportunities.
Who else does this affect?
That’s a very convenient question, rhetorical structure! As it turns out, Jackson’s release might very well hurt the market for some of those guys at the top of the wideout draft class. Teams who previously were considering Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans might now see Jackson on the market and wonder whether they’re better off taking a chance on him and using their pick somewhere else.
Take the Bills, who were rumored for a time on Friday to be interested in trading up for the first overall pick. There are not a lot of players who would make sense for Buffalo at no. 1, given that they already have an excellent pass rush (which would take Jadeveon Clowney out of the picture) and used a first-round pick on a quarterback last year (which would seemingly rule out the various quarterbacks on hand). It’s not unreasonable to imagine that they would consider Watkins, alongside Khalil Mack and Greg Robinson, with that first pick. Now, wouldn’t the Bills be better off targeting Jackson in free agency while using their draft pick on a franchise tackle or an all-purpose linebacker? Watkins isn’t going to fall far, and Evans is a drastically different sort of player from Jackson, but this could affect the plan for teams with holes in multiple positions, like Buffalo and Oakland.
What’s next for DeSean Jackson?
He’s going to play football for a lot of money for somebody else. Adam Schefter reported that nine teams had called Jackson’s agent shortly after his release. At this point, given that most of the free-agent money available has been handed out, he’s probably better off signing a one-year deal with a competitive team before attempting to sign a long-term contract next offseason, when the cap is expected to rise by another $10 million. A long-term deal would likely tie him to the Raiders, Bills, or Browns, which doesn’t seem especially appetizing.
Jackson’s first visit will be to D.C. on Monday, which doesn’t make a ton of sense. Washington has less than $7 million in cap space available and they’ve already signed Andre Roberts to a four-year, $16 million contract, so it’s hard to figure that they’ll also find the space to give Jackson a big deal. Then again, this is Daniel Snyder we’re talking about.
If Jackson leaves Washington without a contract, there aren’t many obvious landing spots left. Seattle has been a rumored destination, although I wonder if he might be too similar to Percy Harvin. Denver is probably out after signing Emmanuel Sanders. The Patriots aren’t likely to want to evoke comparisons between Jackson and Hernandez, even if Jackson’s speed would be a perfect fit for what they need. The Chiefs don’t have the cap space. The 49ers could probably carve out enough room to sign Jackson and use him enough as their third wideout to make it worth their while.
The ideal landing spot for Jackson, though, is one that hasn’t really been discussed yet. The Cincinnati Bengals have $27 million in cap space, a yawning hole at wideout across from star A.J. Green, and a quarterback whose future comes due this year. Marvin Lewis even has personal ties to the Jackson family, having grown up with Jackson’s mother and coached college ball in the same area where Jackson went to high school. Cincinnati also has plenty of experience acquiring players with distressed backgrounds and turning them into successes, notably with Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict. I don’t think that Jackson will end up in Cincinnati, but given the current climate? It’s the best fit for him right now.An Iranian military commander says a recent attack that killed 10 Iranian border guards was launched from outside Iran.
On Wednesday, 10 Iranian border guards were killed and two others injured in an ambush attack near the town of Mirjaveh in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan. The so-called Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. The assailants escaped into Pakistani territory immediately after the attack.
Speaking on Saturday, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, who is the commander of the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said there was a time when bandits would ambush Iranian security forces on the mountains of Sistan-and-Baluchestan.
That is no more the case, he said.
“Today, bandits have retreated into their den in... Pakistan and target our forces from there — like what happened to the border guards — and they (the bandits) are no more capable of [establishing] presence deep in our territory,” Brig. Gen. Pakpour said.
He pointed to the insecurity that amply exists in Iran’s neighborhood and said, “Our country is a safe island in this sea.”
“Today, Saudi Arabia, the [United Arab] Emirates and the godfather of them all, America, back counterrevolutionary groups to create instability for us,” he added.
Following the Wednesday attack, President Hassan Rouhani of Iran wrote to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, calling for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The Iranian Foreign Ministry also summoned Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran to convey the Islamic Republic’s strong protest to the Pakistani government.
Read more:
In his Saturday remarks, the IRGC commander lauded the IRGC’s Saberin Special Forces Brigade for its contribution to the nation’s security.I purchased this Keyboard/Mouse combo, as I don't like to use the built in touch pad on my laptop. I purchased this one over other models because of the Multi media buttons across the top of the keyboard. I also prefer the small/tiny nano receiver that plugs into the USB port verses the full size ones that you see on some other models. Only to be disappointed that the Multi Media buttons do not work with my particular lap top. After contacting Logitech because I thought there was something wrong with the keyboard. I was told that it is not compatible with all computers/laptops. So I had the option of either return it and deal with the hassle or just keep it. I decided to just keep it. So far so good. Typing wise the keys are fairly quite compared to previous keyboards I have owned. I like the fact there is a Caps lock light. I also like the fact you can turn off the keyboard and the mouse, although the slide switch is hard to read whether it is on or off. Yes it has the word Off, On but just glancing at the switch, you really can't tell if it is truly off or on. The mouse I would say is averaged size. I don't feel it is to small but then again I am a female with not so large hands. The off, on switch for the mouse is the same issue as the keyboard as I stated above. Overall I do like the keyboard and would recommended. I have not had any working issues with it so far.
Read moreFlow Fields, Part I
Keith Peters Blocked Unblock Follow Following Oct 23, 2017
Maybe you’ve heard the term “flow field” and maybe you’ve seen some neat pictures or animations with the term attached. In this article, I’ll cover what a flow field is, show how to create one, and give a few examples of experimenting with them. Flow fields are also known as vector fields. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vector_field
The Pre-Game Show
I’ll be using HTML5, JavaScript and Canvas for this article, but the concepts will apply to Processing, p5js, WebGL, or just about any other graphics programming platform. That being the case, I’m going to try to focus less on the canvas specific stuff and more on the core concepts.
But, to just lay the foundations, I’m going to go over the files we’re using. It’s all going to be super basic. An HTML file and a JavaScript file. Here’s the HTML:
A bit of CSS, my QuickSettings Panel, which might come in handy eventually, a canvas element and a link to the main script. The script is going to start out like this:
All we’re doing here is getting a reference to the canvas and its context, then resizing the canvas so it fills the browser window, saving the width and height values for later use. Some of the CSS in the HTML file aids in all this being fully possible.
The Main Event: Flow Fields
So, what is a flow field? Well, you can think of a field as just a two-dimensional area. Of course, you could have a 3D flow field, but let’s save that for another day. You can also think of a magnetic field.
In this image of iron filings revealing a magnetic field, you see various lines and loops. The strength and orientation of the magnetic force is different in different areas of the field. You can imagine that an object moving through this field would be influenced by it and tend to move along those visible lines.
Basically, that’s what we want to do — create a two-dimensional area where each point has a different value. But these aren’t just random values. A particular point has a particular value and as you move out from that point to neighboring points, you get similar, but gradually changing values. In flow fields, these values are usually interpreted as directions. So if you map your values so they are between 0 and 360, they can be directly used as degrees of direction. Of course, we’ll probably map them between 0 and 2 PI radians because the computer likes that better.
Once we have values for each point, we can graphically render each one based on it value. For example, we can draw a line pointing in the direction associated with that value.
So that brings us to two different tasks — how to come up with the different values for the field, and how to render the different values on the field. The great thing is, there are no correct answers for either one of those questions. In fact, there are nearly infinite ways of doing either one, so you can explore this technique for quite a while.
Let’s start out really simple, to get the idea of what’s going on. I’m just going to loop through from left to right and top to bottom, every 10 pixels. The value for that point on the grid will simply be (x + y) * 0.01 % Math.PI * 2. Just adding x and y together, scaling it down and modding it by 360 degrees (PI * 2 radians). Then we render that value by translating to that point, rotating by the value and drawing a short line at the point.
Simple as that all is, we already have the start of something interesting going on.
You might now see why this is starting to be something you’d call a “flow field”. As you follow the directions of the lines, you start to see some very directional motion going on.
We can start cleaning this up a bit by extracting the two things that we’ve already determined are going to change a lot — the calculation of the value and how each value point is rendered. We’ll put each one of those into its own function and call them where appropriate.
No change in behavior, but we’ve isolated the things that we now want to change. Furthermore, we don’t necessarily always want this to be in a strict grid. Instead we can grab any number of random points on the grid and render those.
I’ve arbitrarily defined a value of 20,000 for number of points to render. Just looping through that many times, getting a random point and finding its value and rendering it. I’ve changed a few other values as well, such as the length of the line and the scale value that (x + y) is multiplied by. Now we’re getting something a bit more natural looking.
At this point, we can just start messing with the formula we use to get the value. Generally, you’re going to want to use the x and y inputs somehow, but really, just do whatever you want here. Here’s a somewhat interesting one I came up with.
Just taking the sine of x and y and adding them together. Some rendering changes too: reduced the line width and varied the line length at each point. But with just those few small changes, we’re onto something really hairy looking.
Now I could spend all day iterating on this — different formulas, different parameters for the lines it’s drawing etc. I know I could spend all day on it because I have spent whole days doing just that in the past. But let’s move on to something else.
Earlier I mentioned the idea that you could possibly imagine an object moving through a flow field and being influenced by those flows. Let’s simulate that. I’ll start with a single random point. Call it a particle. This particle will actually be an object with not only position, but velocity on the x and y axes. Initially these will be set to zero. On each iteration, wherever the particle is, we’ll get the value at that location — which is a direction, remember — and use that value to influence the particle’s velocity. Then we’ll add that velocity to the position to get a new position. And repeat.
Hopefully the comments explain a bit more what’s going on here. This gives us the following:
What’s interesting in this case is that we no longer actually see the field. We only see the result that the field has on the motion of the particle.
Do run this one on your own. It’s pretty neat to watch the drawing build up over time. You can see that the flow field is influencing the way the particle moves. You can change some of those hard-coded values to see what they do to the motion. Even in just our fifth iteration here, we have a ton of things to experiment with.
Let’s do one more for this article. Where one particle was fun, more particles is… more fun.
Here, I just made an array of particles and arranged them down the left side of the screen. For the algorithm, I used a strange attractor called the “Clifford Attractor”, published by Paul Bourke and attributed to Clifford Pickover. You can see the code for that here: http://paulbourke.net/fractals/clifford/ This gives you a very complex field. The parameters, a-d, are randomized at the top of the file, so you’ll get a different pattern every time.
Again, this is one you want to run on your own and play around with. It’s really quite beautiful to see in action. If you’re curious what the flow field actually looks like for one of these attractors, it’s something like this:
OK, that’s enough for one article. In part two, we’ll look at some other ways to create fields and other ways to render them. If you want to play around with the code itself, you can either grab the gists I’ve embedded here, or just check out the full tutorial repo itself at https://github.com/bit101/tutorials
Also, if you’re looking for other such quality coding tutorials, check out my main site at http://www.bit-101.comBaikal: the very name fills Russian hearts with awe. And it is starting to attract pioneering tourists looking for an extreme wilderness experience
With savage winds whistling off the Angara River and a temperature nudging minus 40, Irkutsk at the dog end of winter is not a hard city to want to leave. It's not just that it's a world drained of colour. Nor is it the grey Soviet-era housing blocks and the grey pallid citizens scuttling to get inside housing blocks out of the cold. Nor is it even the nicotine shroud hanging over the city from the surrounding industry. Though God knows these things combined would test even the most sanguine of men.
No, what really hits you is the sense of isolation. Two thousand miles west of the Pacific, 3,200 miles east of Moscow and south of nowhere, stranded in Russia's great empty quarter, the Siberian city feels as if it is being punished, in exile. I had been there just 24 hours, but that was plenty.
Early the next morning, I headed east. Also in the minibus were a local guide, Alex, and five friends on holiday from Moscow. We rolled across the steppe. Mile after mile of flat, empty earth, punctuated by towns of small wooden houses, clustered around smoking, belching factories. It was a landscape seemingly coated in ash, the Siberia that Maxim Gorky called "a land of frozen chains and ice". Not a benign snowy landscape, but somehow cruel. Irkutsk may have been behind us, but its spirit wasn't.
The road rose gently.
"Wait, wait," Alex said. "Get ready. Here it comes."
We turned a corner, and the taiga forest of birch, fir and larch parted gently, like theatre curtains. The van fell silent as we stared ahead, mouths open. For beneath us, stretching away and framed by snow-capped mountains so perfect they looked like bad stage scenery, was a world as monochrome as the one we'd just left. But not grey. Nor burdened. But dancing in light, shimmering, blinding, like a giant diorama made from mother-of-pearl. For here was Lake Baikal; mystical, revered, sacred Baikal.
At 360 miles long and 25 miles wide, Baikal is more a sea than a lake, with ferocious storms that can whip up 15ft waves and swallow ships whole. From our vantage point, we could see huge spumes of water crashing against the land and angry swells and eddies swirling offshore. But staring closer, the water didn't move, the breaking waves hung frozen in mid-air, like a painting. And then an articulated lorry drove across the painting. Confusion.
"The lake gets colder and colder," Alex explained, "and then, usually in February, it freezes overnight. Whatever was happening on the water at the time, it's frozen like that until spring."
It was as if a wicked ice queen had cast a spell.
We drove down to the lakeside and, threading our way through the frozen breakers, walked a few hundred metres out onto the ice. Beneath our feet, the ice was two metres thick, but such is the purity of Baikal's water that it is as translucent as cut glass, allowing you to see down, past the trapped bubbles, to the kelp forests below. This induced a sense of acute vertigo, not helped by the symphony of bangs and snapping, like the sound of distant gunfire, as the ice shifted. This shifting creates a baroque pattern of lines in the ice, like the smoke trails of an acrobatic display team.
We met our first Baikal transport: five teams of Siberian huskies and sleds. They were tethered and barking like bronchial geese. The guide said they were friendly enough to stroke, but those ice-blue eyes and enormous teeth said something else.
After a very brief, and very Russian, safety talk – "hold on tight" – we loaded up and were off, slithering across the lake, the huskies seeking the snow-covered ice for traction and, when failing to find it, whirling their legs around like cartoon dogs who've run off a cliff and don't yet realise it. From my mushing position, I heard a car horn and turned to be greeted by a toothless man overtaking me in a Lada, using the lake, as locals do in winter, as an ice highway.
We stopped for lunch in a sheltered bay. Mischa, one of the holidaymakers, pulled out a bottle of vodka and buried it in the snow. "Please make a note of the fact that a Russian waited until noon for the first vodka of the day. I don't want to give the wrong impression of my country," he said, retrieving the bottle and dispensing its now gloopy, viscose contents into silver tumblers. "To Russia!"
"To Russia," we all replied and necked it in one. The food was brought out: salo (thick slabs of salted pig fat, served with hot mustard) and pelemi (meat dumplings in a hot, salty brine).
"To friends," Mischa said. My tumbler had miraculously refilled itself.
"To friends," we replied. Another bottle was retrieved from the snow. The dogs settled down for a long wait.
We stopped for the night in log cabins, about 20 miles further up the lake. There is no access here from the outside world apart from via the lake, and the valley where the cabins were nestled was called "Dark Fold", a place the sun rarely penetrates. The silence was immense. So harsh is it to live at the lake that along the 1,600 miles of shoreline, there are barely 80,000 inhabitants in fewer than 50 settlements.
I walked with Alex on to the ice, the lake like silver cloth under a brilliant moon. I asked him about Baikal and its special place in Russian hearts. He reeled off some mind-boggling statistics. It is more than 25 million years old, a thousand times older than any other lake. At over a mile, it is the deepest lake in the world. If you emptied it, it would take every river in the world flowing into it a year to fill. It contains more water than the five US great lakes combined.
To the shamans and indigenous Mongolian Buryat people, it is one of the most sacred places on earth. With 1,500 species of flora and fauna found nowhere else, including the mysterious nerpa, the only freshwater-lake seal, it has been dubbed the "Galapagos of Russia". But, he said, looking solemn, there are problems…
There was a call from the group. The banya was ready. Ah, yes, the banya, what the Russians call a place for physical and moral purification, and in England we call an S&M club. We stripped and donned silly felt triangular hats to protect the ears. Then, to cries of "lyogkogo para" (may your steam be easy), into the parilka, the steam room. One of the guys poured a torrent of Baikal onto the coals and, despite my hat, within seconds my ears were melting and my eyelids peeling back over my head. To the sound of laughter, I ran out screaming, clutching my head, into the snow, where I rolled around like a man on fire trying to put himself out. Which, in effect, I was.
Alex then very kindly beat me within an inch of my life with rough birch twigs. "When you have lost all feeling in your body, you are done," he said. A week later, in London, I could still see the welts.
The next day we took a Hivus, a hovercraft adapted for ice and named after one of the many Baikal winds. The drivers expertly weaved around the frozen whitecaps and through the troughs, getting it wrong occasionally, when we would take off a wave-shaped ramp and become airborne, landing with a crash. Then we came to a smooth section, obviously in the lee of the shore when the freeze arrived, where the craft could really fly – 50, 60mph, outside the window a blur of white.
I took Peter Thomson's superb book, Sacred Sea, from my bag and started to read. Thomson travelled from his native Boston to Siberia in 2000 on a quest to mend a broken heart. He ended up giving it to Baikal. An environmentalist, he describes how the lake's ability to purify itself is down to one creature, an endemic microscopic shrimp called epischura baikalensis. This army of zooplankton vacuum cleaners have, for millions of years, sucked Baikal through their digestive tracts, filtering bacteria and decomposing plants – and tiny specks of pollution. So efficient are they that it's said that corpses, human or animal, are never recovered from the lake – the epischura consume any organic matter in hours.
But their ruthless cleaning routine was not designed with man in mind. Like an alcoholic believing in the invincibility of his liver, the Soviets put Baikal to work: a vast paper mill was built on the southern shore; hydroelectric dams were constructed to power the Soviet industrial machine, raising the level of the lake; air pollutants from the Irkutsk/Cheremkhovo industrial corridor rained down on its pristine wilderness.
So the epischura poison themselves, the olmu fish eat the epischura, and the nerpa, bears, raptors and humans eat the fish. A Unesco designation in 1996 drew attention to Baikal's plight, but a recent study found the nerpa now among the most toxic seals on the planet. And all this in just half a century. It is, as Thomson says, "the nasty irony in Baikal's stupendous self-cleansing act: extraordinary pure water; extraordinary contaminated animals". Put bluntly, if the epischura dies, Baikal dies.
The Hivus landed at the town of Khuzhir, on Olkhon, an island halfway up Baikal's western shore that's of sacred significance for Buryat shamans and Buddhists. In the harbour, rusting fishing boats and hulks, like the exposed carcasses of dinosaurs, lay trapped in the ice. We walked up the main street passing incurious Siberians and stopped off at a house to buy some olmu, the lake's staple food fish, from a babushka. We walked on to a lookout, where, beyond a tree draped in prayer flags and festooned with puja offerings to the spirits – kopeks, shoes, sunglasses, lighters – we see the Shamanka Rock, connected to the shore by a narrow isthmus, a place of veneration for all Baikal and Mongolian shamans and Buddhists.
There, we sat and ate lunch, in a biting but exhilarating wind: the olmu, eaten as you might a banana, by peeling back the skin and biting into the flesh, followed by rasstegay (olmu pie), and ukha (fish soup. No prizes for guessing which fish). All washed down, of course, by vodka.
"To adventure," said Mischa.
We slid down the icy slope to the rock and scrambled up the sheer face, into the sacred cave, home of Baikal's spirits.
"To the Baikal spirits," said one of the guys.
It was unclear whether we should have been drinking vodka in the most sacred cave in the Shaman world, but we toasted enthusiastically. Judging by the vodka bottles on the floor, there'd been a lot of toasting recently.
Back in the Hivus, we headed further up the lake's Maloe More, or shallow sea, passing fishermen dragging huge nets through immense holes cut by chainsaws. Then we stopped to watch some locals fishing in more traditional fashion, with line and hook through a corkscrewed hole in the ice.
We rounded a headland. The ice became rough, contorted into fantastical shapes, like tank traps on a Normandy beach. The Hivus got stuck fast. Had we angered the Baikal spirits? The two Russian drivers got out, scratched their heads, and smoked furiously. Then scratched their heads some more. Then they got a tiny foot pump, as you might use on a lilo, and started pumping.
While we were waiting, we went for a walk. Above us, the insipid sun, with an orange corona, looked like something out of a sci-fi film. But then the sun went out as – seemingly from nowhere – a blizzard descended. It felt apocalyptic. Just in front of us, a huge gash had opened in the ice, and we stood there, on the edge, staring into the icy water, feeling suddenly very vulnerable. There's a saying that a dip in Baikal's waters will add 25 years to your life, but I think they might have got that the wrong way round.
There was the familiar sound of Baikal shifting, creaking, cracking, groaning. But then a quite different noise. We all fell silent, like submariners listening for the sound of an enemy ship. A rumbling, gradual at first, built and built, coming from the depths of the earth, until the ice started to twist, wobbling like jelly. We wobbled with it, trying to keep our feet, dancing a drunken jig to a deafening roar of such elemental anger as I've never heard before. It was over in five seconds. I had never been so terrified.
Mischa produced the bottle from his bag and poured.
"To Baikal! To earthquakes!" he said. "To Baikal! To earthquakes!" we replied.
Some days later, we were back at the southern end of Baikal, where the Angara flows out of the lake. Across the water sat the paper mill. Some 50 miles upwind to the west, the smoking chimneys of Irkutsk.
At the head of the river, in the middle of the channel, stood a rock thrown, according to legend, by Father Baikal in a futile attempt to stop his daughter, Angara, fleeing to join her lover Yenisei, the great river to the west. These days, thanks to the dams, only the very tip of the rock is visible. Baikal lost his daughter. Whether we lose sacred, beautiful Baikal, only time will tell.
Essentials
Mike Carter travelled with KE Adventure (01768 773966; keadventure.com ), whose new nine-night Lake Baikal in Winter package costs £1,895, including all activities – dog sledding, hovercraft trips, snowmobiling and trekking – guides, full-board accommodation and transfers. The next departures are 14 February and 10 March 2010. Flights from London to Irkutsk cost from £470 with Aeroflot (020 7355 2233; aeroflot.co.uk ).Twenty-two to 25 minutes a night. First-unit power-play responsibility.
Keith Yandle being Keith Yandle.
“That’s probably a pretty good way to put it,” Yandle, who has risen to the occasion in Ryan McDonagh’s absences, told The Post following Monday’s practice in advance of Tuesday’s match in New Jersey against the Devils. “I’m sure everyone feels this way, but I feel I’m at my best when I’m playing more minutes.
“The more I have the puck on my stick, the more confident I am with it and the better I see the ice,” he said. “I don’t know how to describe it exactly, but when you’re on for about every other shift, it’s a different feeling and it’s a good feeling.”
For the first time since arriving in a much-celebrated trade with Arizona last March 1, Yandle resembles the dynamic player he was as a top-minutes guy for the Coyotes. The risk-reward quotient inherent in his game has flipped dramatically to the right side of the equation.
That deal with the Coyotes that came at the expense of Anthony Duclair and a first-rounder was made 51 weeks ago. Now there is just under a week to go until this year’s deadline. And there is no doubt Yandle, heading into unrestricted free agency, would be the Rangers’ most valuable chip to play on the market.
Multiple sources report keen interest in the 29-year-old, much of it coming from the Western Conference. Dallas has been dogging the Rangers for weeks. The Blueshirts perhaps would be able to get the Stars’ immensely talented 20-year-old winger Valeri Nichushkin as part of the return package. Such a possibility would surely tempt Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton.
But league sources also say the Blueshirts are no longer signaling Yandle’s availability. No kidding. The Rangers, 7-1-1 in their past nine and 13-5-2, instead appear to be preparing to bulk up for another run at the Stanley Cup that has eluded them since 1994. Subtracting Yandle from the equation would not seem to be in the team’s immediate best interests.
“Of course I hear a lot of the talk whether I want to or not. It’s just about impossible to escape,” Yandle said. “But I wouldn’t categorize it as a ‘challenge’ not to allow it to be a distraction. I come to the rink every day and do my job.”
There are three games to go before the Blueshirts come up against the deadline, set for 3 p.m. Monday. Hours later, the puck will drop at the Garden for a match against the Blue Jackets. And there is no part of Yandle that doesn’t want to be part of it on the Rangers’ side.
“Anyone who knows me, anyone who sees me, they can see how happy I am playing in New York and with this group,” Yandle said. “I even got a text from my mom the other day saying that she has never seen me look so happy.
“That should tell you everything.”
Yandle was averaging 19:11 per game in the 51 games before McDonagh went down the first time. In the eight games since — including the one against Chicago last Wednesday in which the captain returned but Marc Staal was absent so he could be with his wife for the birth of their daughter and the one in Toronto on Thursday in which McDonagh left after the first period — No. 93 has averaged 24:03.
And he not only has finally been elevated to the first power-play unit, he is getting an extended first shift. He was on for 5:33 of the Rangers’ first 6:35 with the man-advantage until inscrutably sent to the box on a coincidental minor during a third-period power play.
Once McDonagh returns, and presuming full health on the blue line, coach Alain Vigneault will face the challenge of reapportioning ice time. Easier said than done, especially because Staal, too, has thrived with increased time. And the coach knows it.
“There are only 60 minutes available to divide on the left side,” Vigneault said. “When Mac gets back, the way he was playing before he got hurt, he’s got to get 23 to 26 minutes, and a lot of times when we face teams with two scoring lines, Marc gets more ice time.
“A lot of it is how guys are playing and how games are going, whether we’re in the lead or behind,” said the coach. “But it’s good seeing guys respond to getting more of an opportunity.”
Yandle has sure responded through the Rangers’ vault back to prominence. Which is why it appears extremely unlikely anyone will wipe that smile off his face before Monday at 3 p.m.Even in the most remedial high school U.S. history class, we are all given a small dose of the great Jackie Robinson. Whether you are an enormous baseball fan or an Emo loner, the breaking of the |
2016. There have also been three new maps for the main game modes as well as four arena maps. Splatoon 2 released three extra weapons and one map for Splatfests since its launch on July 21, 2017, and there are plenty more where that came from according to a datamine of the game. While the new weapons in Splatoon 2 may not be as substantial of an update as a brand new character, it makes the player come back way more frequently. The only reason I ever come back to Overwatch is to try out the new characters and game modes as well as maybe try in vain to snag the special event items before getting bored. With Splatoon 2 changing the game all the time, however incremental (or should I say INKremental), I’ll be joining that game way more.
I’m not saying Splatoon 2 is perfect. In fact, I do complain in my review that having only two maps in each period of rotation can be a bit exhausting. It also kind of sucks that we have to level up once more when we already did that in the first Splatoon. But that doesn’t stop the game from being consistently rewarding.
Overwatch is lucky its community is as big as it is thanks to the sheer fun of its gameplay and loveable characters, because any other game with a microtransaction-based economy like that would have been quickly forgotten, especially one that also charged money up front. Just look at For Honor. The game was also a hyped, triple-A, $60 game with microtransactions, with the game offering a pitiful amount of “steel” every match to buy cosmetic items that could of course be more readily acquired through stumping up the cash. One Reddit user did the math and found that you would have to either spend $732 in steel to buy everything for the original 12 heroes or play the game for two and a half years to grind for the currency in matches if playing for one to two hours a day. That, combined with its rampant network connection problems at launch, has caused the game to lose 95 percent of its player base since its release on February 12, 2017.
I’ll continue to play and love both Splatoon 2 and Overwatch, but I’ll be going back to Splatoon 2 way more. We could debate all day which game is more rewarding to play in terms of gameplay, but it’s clear that Splatoon 2 offers more tantalizing rewards at more frequent rates than Overwatch. That will lead to Splatoon 2 getting much more staying power in the long run, because that’s way happens when you prioritize designing a game to be constantly rewarding over designing a game to monetize the player.
Now if only we could play Salmon Run whenever we wanted.The New York City Police Department announced Wednesday that it will deploy, then track, what it calls “harmless” gases into the city’s subway system over three non-consecutive days this summer.
The plan, to be enacted in July, will investigate New York’s readiness to handle a chemical terrorist attack by dispersing the colorless gas and tracing it as it flows through the city, according to Scientific American. The test is expected to cost $3.4 million and is scheduled to be carried out in all five boroughs and dozens of stations on 21 of the city's 34 subway lines.
“The NYPD works for the best but plans for the worst when it comes to potentially catastrophic attacks such as ones employing radiological contaminants or weaponized anthrax,” police commissioner Ray Kelly said in a statement.
The police will use roughly 200 detectors to monitor the gas. Dubbed the Subway-Surface Air Flow Exchange, the test will be the largest of its kind and organized in cooperation with the energy department’s Brookhaven National Laboratory. They’ll use perfluorocarbon tracer gases (PFTs), which are frequently used to measure potential sites for underground construction.
Despite the science fiction catastrophe a plan of this magnitude naturally conjures, Fernando Ferrer, the acting chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority maintained that it will not impact commuters.
“The NYPD, in partnership with the MTA, is responsible for keeping more than 5 million daily subway customers safe and secure,” he said in a statement Wednesday. “This study will bolster the NYPD’s understanding of contaminant dispersion within the subway system as well as between the subway system and street, thereby improving its ability to better protect both customers and the city population at large.”
The scheduled gas deployment comes years after investigators foiled an Al-Qaeda terrorist plot to bomb the New York subways, the largest public transportation system in the world. Three men had planned to detonate suicide vests just days before the eighth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in what US Attorney General Eric Holder at the time called “one of the most serious threats” to the United States since 2001.About
Hello and thank you for taking the time to review this amazing adventure that I, my crew, and (hopefully) you are about to take. I am creating my 3rd and FINAL Star Wars short film, in hopes of attracting Disney Studios to hire me to create a Live action TV series. Before you laugh, look at the production value of my first 2 films and I hope that you will agree that it could happen... People win the lottery everyday, so why not us?
Having funded my first 2 films myself at a price tag of about 15 thousand per short, you'll see exactly why I need your help this time. So please watch the video and you will see and hear everything you need to know about the subject matter and nature of our film.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for taking the time to review this and if you decide to donate, I want to give you a HUGE thank you for helping us achieve this goal.
God Bless and, "May the Force be with you.... Always..."Washington’s National Airport is, to put it mildly, a highly desirable place to fly. It is mere minutes from downtown Washington and is the preferred airport for many a businessperson and politician. It is also slot-restricted, so rarely do airlines have the opportunity to improve their standing. Recently, however, there was a big change. Now we know which destinations will be happy and which will be crying.
The reason for the big shift was the American/US Airways merger. US Airways already had the most slots at the airport, and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) decided that it didn’t want to allow US Airways to combine with American and become even stronger there. To right this “wrong,” DOJ forced the airlines to sell off 52 slot pairs (one pair = one departure and one arrival per day) to new entrants. JetBlue already leased 8 of those and would get them permanently, so the net result was that 44 slot pairs would change hands.
For American and US Airways, that meant cutting flights in order to fit under the new cap. The new airline announced it would cut 17 cities from its nonstop network at National (though one, San Diego, was cut in favor of adding a second LAX flight, so I don’t count that one). On the flip side, Southwest won 27 slots, JetBlue picked up 12 (in addition to the 8 it already leased), and Virgin America scooped up 4. The last one is a Sunday-only slot pair that Southwest didn’t want and is still unassigned, I believe.
I had assumed that a lot of places would be unhappy with all this. After all, the new American would end up cutting flights to smaller cities while the new low cost carriers would just add to big cities that already had a ton of service. Now that Southwest has unveiled its plans and JetBlue has told us half its story, I have to say it’s not nearly as bad as I thought. Here are the winners and losers.
Let’s start with those airports that are going to be downright pissed. All of the above airports will lose their only nonstop flight to Washington/National. Most of these saw only one daily flight (except Saturday), though Islip, Savannah, and Wilmington each had two. Little Rock can take some solace in knowing that American is starting a nonstop flight to New York/LaGuardia so even though one door is closing, a new one is opening up. The rest of these are just small cities, often with big military ties that helped keep those airplanes profitable. There was little chance that anyone else would step into these markets.
Each of these four markets will lose American/US Airways nonstop service to National entirely, but they still have nonstop flights on at least one other airline (in parentheses). Will Detroit and Minneapolis really be devastated? Probably not. Omaha will now have only a single flight on Delta, but it’s also not a huge loss there. But Montreal had 2 daily flights on US Airways and will now have only two remaining on Air Canada. The Air Canada schedule won’t permit day trips to DC anymore, so that’s a loss. None of the new entrants are putting airplanes here, so this is a net negative for all, even if it’s not a huge one.
One little market won the lottery, and that’s Nassau in the Bahamas. Nassau is losing its US Airways flight, but JetBlue announced it will add a flight of its own in the market with its new slot windfall. JetBlue will add more seats than US Airways pulls out and it will likely do so at a lower fare. The only people sad about this are US Airways frequent fliers and those who like to fly First Class. Overall, I’d say this is a slight positive at worst for Nassau but probably better than that.
There are a couple of markets that won’t see the players change at all but they will get more flights from Southwest. Both Houston and St Louis already have 2 daily flights on Southwest and they’ll get more. We don’t know the numbers yet, but that will be announced in May. Either way, it’s still an improvement since they lose nothing from any other airline as of now.
The biggest grouping on the positive side are those cities that will now gain a new nonstop competitor. All of these cities have American/US Airways nonstop service today and will now get some good competition. Akron/Canton will take its 1 US Airways flight today and add Southwest service. (We don’t know how many flights until May.) The same goes for Indianapolis where US Airways has a much larger presence with 6 a day. Nashville may have lost US Airways and American competing head-to-head but now Southwest will bring 3 daily into the market to compete with the 6 at the new American. New Orleans will get 2 from Southwest and Charleston will get 2 from JetBlue to go up against American’s 5 in each. Hartford will also get 2 from JetBlue to compete against American’s 6. Tampa is the big winner. It goes from 1 to 2 daily on JetBlue and it will also get 2 new nonstops from Southwest. American keeps 5. These guys should all be happy.
The last bracket has the two airports that have no nonstop service today. I say it’s their first nonstop but that’s not really true. Chicago/Midway had ATA service until that airline shut down, so this is just a long overdue return. It’s in a BIG way with 9 daily flights. And Dallas/Love Field, well, it has been prohibited to have nonstop service in this market since the Wright Amendment went into effect. That changes in October, so it’s no surprise here.
Love may end up getting even luckier if Virgin America wins its battle for gates at the airport. If it wins, then Virgin will start four daily flights to National from Love. If it fails, then Virgin will have to look elsewhere to determine how to use its 4 slots. And these slots can’t go to hubs in San Francisco and LA because of the perimeter rule.
JetBlue still has 6 slots that it hasn’t allocated yet, but I bet those go to existing Florida markets. The smart plan is to announce the cities that get new nonstop service first – makes a bigger splash. But maybe I’ll be surprised here as well. So far, I’ll certainly admit that more mid-size cities are getting service than I expected. But the small cities are once again left out in the cold.
(Visited 727 times, 1 visits today)Last night, Bernie Sanders made some history by becoming the first Jew to win a presidential nominating contest held by any major political party.
Hillary Clinton’s campaign responded by calling him a fake Jew.
From Haaretz:
In a message tailored specifically to Jewish voters, [former congressman Paul] Hodes, who has been working closely with the Clinton campaign in New Hampshire, zoomed in on Sanders’ apparent lack of interest in Israel as a factor that should cause voters from the community to re-think their support for the Jewish American who has just climbed higher than most others in Democratic politics. “Bernie is a secular Jew and I don’t think his religion influenced his stance on Israel,” said Hodes. “We know Hillary and we know she has an unshakeable bond with Israel, so this shouldn’t pose a great dilemma for Jewish voters.”
UPDATE 2/11: I guess the trial balloon didn’t go over so well. The Clinton campaign is now saying that they have no plans to attack Sanders on his record with Israel.
This is a particularly offensive attack from a Clinton surrogate, and would be a particularly stupid road for Clinton’s campaign to go down, as Haaretz suggested her campaign plans on doing. To be clear, “secular Jews” such as myself are used to hearing that our failure to be sufficiently supportive of the Israeli government makes us fake Jews, but we’re used to hearing it from Republicans like Steve King, not fellow Democrats. (And, for what it’s worth, some of us actually prefer “cultural Jew” or, if we’re being particularly cheeky, “Jewish atheist.”) What’s more, mountains of polling data have shown that American Jews, particularly in the Democratic Party, are if anything closer to Bernie Sanders than they are to Hillary Clinton on Israel/Palestine.
Like many if not most American Jews, Bernie Sanders is in favor of a two-state solution and supports Israel’s right to exist, but avoids describing himself as a Zionist. He is at times critical of the Israeli government, but he certainly doesn’t have nice things to say about Hamas (quite the contrary). As is the case with his broader foreign policy platform, Sanders is slightly to the left of center on Israel, but doesn’t make a big deal out of it. He’d simply rather talk about other things like social welfare and equality — things that American Jews happen to think are incredibly important. This means that, unlike Hillary Clinton, Sanders has not made promises to donors to undermine pro-Palestinian groups on college campuses. And when Israel-specific issues have arisen — say, the issue of using cluster bombs on children in order to prove one’s pro-Israel bona fides — Sanders has often come down on the right side of them. Hillary Clinton has not:
Hillary voted against ending use of cluster bombs on civilians bc bill seen as anti-Israel https://t.co/7qnCk6CWZ3 pic.twitter.com/RIaNBoFjVm — Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) February 10, 2016
In other words, when it comes to broad strokes, there isn’t actually much separating Sanders and Clinton on Israel. Neither would change the United States government’s official position in favor of a two-state solution. Due to the increasingly deteriorating relations between Israel and its occupied territories, neither Sanders nor Clinton would be very likely to successfully broker a peace agreement. But when it comes to specifics, Clinton has gone out of her way to be part of the problem. Sanders has mostly just gotten out of the way. For an American Jewish electorate that is becoming increasingly skeptical of their leaders bromides regarding a two-state solution, it isn’t too hard to imagine them siding with the candidate who simply doesn’t want to do any harm.
All this is to say that it would be particularly offensive to hear Hillary Clinton, a devout Christian, tell me as a Jew that I’m not actually Jewish if I don’t adopt her specific Israel/Palestine politics. It would arguably be even more offensive for her to tell me as a Jew that I am supposed to base my vote on that issue and that issue alone. When you actually ask American Jews what they care about, making sure that the Palestinian people are perpetually denied a homeland is pretty far from the top of the list.
If this is the lesson her campaign learned from last night’s drubbing in New Hampshire, she’s in more trouble than I thought.Documents about the expenses for former prime minister Stephen Harper’s 2012 trip to India, approved for public release this year by the RCMP, have disappeared, and the Mounties believe they have “purged” the papers.
The Mounties claim they were following policy from Library and Archives Canada for disposing records.
However, when asked for comment, the RCMP wouldn’t explain why the records were “purged.”
The 219 pages dealt with the cost of flying Harper’s armoured limousines to India, and were approved for release under an access-to-information request earlier this year. The name of whoever made that request is confidential under federal law.
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Under access laws, once a document is released to the first person who requests it, it becomes freely available to everyone.
The Citizen asked for a copy. Some information is already public — it cost $1.2 million to fly the limos — but we were hoping that the 219 pages might have more detail.
But a month-and-a-half later, the RCMP sent the following email: “Based on the information provided, a search for records was conducted in Ottawa, Ontario.
“Unfortunately, we were unable to locate records which respond to your request. Please be advised that it is our responsibility to abide by governmental policies, including the disposition schedules established by Library and Archives Canada. It is likely that any RCMP record that may have existed has been purged.”
The RCMP directed any further questions to their own access office, which hasn’t yet responded.
This doesn’t mean that all RCMP documents on the topic are gone, but the ones approved for public release are no longer available.
There’s more. All access documents released this year by the RCMP have disappeared from the government’s Open Government website, which lists completed access-to-information requests so that the public can find them.
The RCMP released more than 300 sets of access documents in 2014, and more than 800 in 2015, but all the 2016 documents are gone. When the website was checked as recently as late May, a long list of RCMP documents existed on the site.
Dozens of other federal departments and agencies remain on the list. (There’s also a listing for the RCMP External Review Committee, but this is different from the RCMP.)
However, Library and Archives says it does not tell the RCMP or anyone else to destroy any documents, and has no policy on destroying them. The department gives authorization to destroy documents once they “no longer have operational utility,” it said in an email, but this “does not constitute a requirement to destroy, nor does it provide direction regarding the timing of records destruction.” It said the timing of records disposal is left up to individual departments.
An official at Treasury Board, which oversees the Open Government site, referred questions about why the documents were purged to the RCMP.
“It does matter,” said Bill Waiser, a veteran University of Saskatchewan historian who has used access to information to get research material.
“If you are going to have an accountable government, then transparency is part of that. So why are these records being deleted from the website?
“It’s very curious, especially when this government promised a more open and more transparent government as part of their election promise.
“You never know today what is going to be historically important tomorrow. If you look at Indian residential school students or Japanese evacuees (during the Second World War), if you decided decades ago that those records were not important and were destroyed, where would be today?” he said.
Even though the original documents may still be stored somewhere, he said destroying the package available for public release is important.
“How can you have government accountability without access?” he said.
“That is very concerning.”
Internal documents “tell the true history of the dynamics of the government of Canada, not the official version they would like us to have,” said Ottawa researcher Ken Rubin. He has done many thousands of access requests over several decades and said he has never heard of records being purged.
The request about Harper’s limousines “may not have historic value but it has value. It’s not some trivial kind of fact,” and could be useful “the next time somebody wants to ship some special stuff for the PM.”
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says purging public documents deprives the public of information on government.
“These (the purged papers) are documents that had already previously been released?”
“There is something wrong here,” said federal director Aaron Wudrick. “There is no point in having a document publicly released and then there being some sort of expiry date on that,” he said. “If it is in the public sphere, it should be there permanently.
“If under the access-to-information laws it is deemed to be appropriate to release to the public, it doesn’t make sense to say you can only access this if you look at it in the next six months, or otherwise we are going to destroy it.”
Purging the papers creates inequality, he said. “The people who received it at the original time, who are in possession of it, now have a privileged position because they now have a record that you cannot get, and this doesn’t make any sense.”
Wudrick said public access to information “is extremely important. We are a group that believes that the default position should be freedom of information,” unless there’s an obvious need for secrecy, such as national security.
“The public is the boss, the public pays the bills. They have a right to know what is going on inside their government and how decisions are being made inside government.”
An official in the office of Information Commissioner Suzanne Legault wouldn’t comment in case the office is asked to investigate later.
tspears@postmedia.com
twitter.com/TomSpears1This article is over 2 years old
Biggest and second-biggest winners both fail to pull together a government, with third-placed Pirate party now offering to try
Iceland’s Left-Greens have suspended talks with four other parties on forming a coalition government, according to the movement’s leader, after disagreements on issues including health and education funding.
Katrin Jakobsdottir said she had not decided whether she would give up on trying to form a new government by handing back the mandate given to her by Iceland’s president.
After the talks to try to resolve differences over to how fund increases in spending on welfare and education, as well as other issues, Jakobsdottir told Icelandic television that “not all the parties... have the necessary conviction to continue to these talks to form a government”.
“Therefore I have decided that these talks are over.”
Pirates edge closer to role in Iceland's next government Read more
The Independence party was the biggest after the 29 October vote, with the Left-Greens the second largest. The Pirate party, which polls had forecast could upset the traditional political order, was third.
The Pirate party’s head, Birgitta Jonsdottir, told Icelandic television she would try to form a government if Iceland’s president asked her to do so.
“But then we must find some other way than the one we are faced with now, for the reason that none of these parties seems to be able to work together,” she said.
Five parties – the Left-Green Movement, Pirate party, Bright Future, Reform and the Social Democratic Alliance – have been in discussions after the centre-right Independence party failed to form a government following October’s election.
The Left-Greens want to hike taxes to pay for welfare and education.
Iceland went to an early election after the Panama Papers revelations led to the downfall of the prime minister.Restina Horo, a 60-year-old widow, was hacked to death on Friday by her nephew Muni Horo in Dahkela village in Jharkhand's Khunti district, barely 75 km from the state capital Ranchi. Restina was just about to retire for the night on June 17, when Muni barged into his aunt's hut and hacked her to death. The murder weapon - a pickaxe - was later recovered from the youth.
A jobless Muni, 25, had been nursing a grudge against Restina - the widow of his paternal uncle - who he blamed for his undiagnosed disease. He suspected Restina practised black magic, leading to his illness. This was second incident of witch killing reported from Khunti within a month after another woman, Mangri Mundain ( 65) was beaten to death in Arki area of the district on May 26.
HOTBED OF WITCH-HUNTING
Jharkhand, a state carved out of Bihar in November 2000, has clearly emerged as the hotbed of "witch- hunting" in India. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) records maintain that as many as 464 women, majority of them from tribal communities, have been branded "witches" and killed in cold blood in Jharkhand between 2001 and 2014.
India has seen killings of 2290 persons, mostly women for practicing witchcraft, in the same period. Jharkhand clearly the worst affected State, accounting for more than one fifth of the victims.
While the NCRB is yet to post updated figures for the subsequent years after 2014, it is unlikely to present a better picture in Jharkhand, which has continued to witness mindless killing of women. On June 14, septuagenarian Jugni Devi was axed to death in Kersai area of Simdega district. On June 10; a 46-year-old woman was stripped and gangraped in Tonto area of West Singhbhum district. While majority of these crime have been reported from Southern Jharkhand,, the menace is also seen in north east Jharkhand, called Santhal Paragnas, which borders Bihar and has a different tribal dialect.
On May 30, a 60-year-old tribal woman Bitia Hansda was killed for practicing witchcraft in Jarmundi area of Dumka district; Jharkhand's second capital.
GOVT FAILS TO CHECK WITCH-HUNTING
Government officials believe that their strategy to create awareness to check the menace of witch-hunting has not really worked. In many cases, relatives of the victims have been found to be the conspirators, who got the widows branded as witches and killed to usurp their properties.
The victims, nearly all of them women, have been swept up in motivated witch hunts. The tipsy crowds are often instigated by a neighbours or relatives to pick single women and punish them for "devious sorcery." The women have been blamed for everything from a bad harvest to an unexplained illness.
With lowest literacy, child malnutrition and maternal mortality, the tribal communities, which has seen maximum of such killings, are miles away from social mainstreams in Jharkhand. They have often been found sandwiched between government apathy and Maoists insurgency, both contributing to their consistent neglect by successive governments.
Social interactions at micro levels have also confirmed that that superstition is deep seated in Jharkhand, which easily prompts villagers to murder the witches.
The tribal villagers believe in superstition, as they don't have easy access to health care. They are uneducated as well. It requires constant efforts to eradicate the evil practices," says Ganesh Reddy, Chief of a noted NGO Citizen Foundation. Created in December 2000, Jharkhand--- which is twice bigger than Kerala in terms of area but with a per capita income that is less than half of the southern State--- has been continuously ranked at the bottom of economic and human development indicators.
CURIOUS CASE OF HARYANA
A comparative study of the NCRB factsheet throws up curious details. At the beginning of the decade, from 2001 to 2004, not a single case of witch-killing was recorded in Haryana. But things turned for worse from 2005 to 2010, a period when as many as 204 women were branded witches and killed. In fact, in 2010, Haryana with 57 cases of witch killings was at the top. But, the State has once against scripted a turnaround, and after recording 5 such deaths in 2011, Haryana has managed to keep its slate clean in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Witchcraft Killing : Worst StatesWe coordinate emergency management, emergency preparedness, and homeland security planning for the City of Boston. Our mission is to enhance the City's capacity to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from major emergencies.
Working in close partnership with Boston's public safety and public health agencies, our department:
plans and prepares for emergencies
educates the public about emergency preparedness
conducts training exercises and drills, and
performs other services to support the City’s preparedness.
We follow an all-hazards approach, preparing for various types of emergencies – whether they are natural or man-made.
We also manage the Boston Emergency Operations Center, which facilitates planning and aid in the aftermath of a disaster. The center is made up of a staff of professionals and liaisons from City public safety agencies. Learn more about our work.The federal government has spent more than $1.3-million in legal fees to prevent new mothers who fell seriously ill while on maternity leave from collecting disability benefits in addition to the employment insurance that is paid to new parents.
A class action lawsuit was launched in Federal Court in 2012 by two Calgary women on behalf of an estimated tens of thousands of new mothers who were denied the EI disability benefits or dissuaded from applying for them. It is seeking more than $450-million in compensation.
To date, there have been just four days of hearings on preliminary matters – one to deal with a legal issue raised by the government, and three spent in arguments about whether the case can be certified as a class action.
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But, by Jan. 26, the government had spent $1,333,413.95 on the work of its own lawyers to prevent the women from being able to claim both benefits, the Employment and Social Development department said in response to written questions from Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner.
"When you are spending that kind of money battling a group of sick mothers for a benefit that they rightfully deserve, obviously most Canadians would question the wisdom in that," Mr. Cuzner said.
The federal employment insurance plan pays new parents as much as 50 weeks worth of benefits after the birth of a baby. It also pays as much as 15 weeks worth of benefits to someone with a sufficiently serious illness or injury.
Under a Liberal government, the Employment Insurance Act was amended in 2002 with the intention of allowing women who are disabled by illness or injury while receiving parental benefits to halt the parental benefits, collect the sickness benefits to which they are entitled, and then to be paid the remainder of the parental benefits once they have recovered.
But bureaucrats continued to refuse both benefits to women who were in that situation because of a clause that says disability benefits are available only to people who would otherwise be available for work. Mothers on maternity leave are not considered to be available to work because they are taking care of their babies.
After one new mother obtained a ruling from an EI tribunal that she should be paid both the disability and the parental benefits, the Conservative government rewrote the law in 2013 to remove the clause about being available for work. Government officials estimated at that time that the change would affect as many as 6,000 Canadian families every year.
Ottawa also quietly paid benefits to an estimated 350 women who had been denied the disability benefits while on maternity leave and who were still in the process of appealing those denials when the law was changed.
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But thousands of other women who had exhausted their appeals or simply dropped their cases have never been compensated.
A spokesman for the Employment and Social Development department said in an e-mail on Friday that the government sympathizes with parents who find themselves in these types of situations.
"As this issue is currently before the courts," he said, "it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of the case."
It is unclear how long the employment insurance case will go on, or how much more it will cost Canadian taxpayers.About
Interview with Dana Cowley from Unreal Engine
Interview (in Spanish) with Real o Virtual
- Update #1: NZD to USD currency clarification and Rewards Update notify
The Hum is a horror game that puts the player in the aftermath of a sudden alien invasion. The player will have to find not only a way to survive by providing his own basic needs, but also will have to unravel and increasingly involve himself in the mystery behind this nightmare. His own perception of reality will have to evolve while he experiences an important transformation.
Dev Video Blog Update 2 with Gameplay Scenes
Tailer #2: Story Introduction
Tailer #1: First Approach of Gameplay
GAMEPLAY
The Hum is being developed completely by an indie team and we hope it continues this way since it allows us full creative freedom. We won’t hesitate to explore every possible variant and taboo to achieve an idea that really blows your mind. We want The Hum to be different from those cloned shooters, jump scary games and "walking" simulators. Many things that have explored or we want The Hum has as a game: Survival Mechanics: inventory / items / crafting, stats and needs (hunger, madness, warm..).
inventory / items / crafting, stats and needs (hunger, madness, warm..). World Interaction: The goal is that the player feels really inmmersed, so interaction with everything is very important.
The goal is that the player feels really inmmersed, so interaction with everything is very important. Puzzles?: The Hum is not (at least by the moment) based on puzzles. But the aliens will put you in some specific situations where you will need to solve them. Maybe they are testing you. But not only your intellect.. but your psychology too.
The Hum is not (at least by the moment) based on puzzles. But the aliens will put you in some specific situations where you will need to solve them. Maybe they are testing you. But not only your intellect.. but your psychology too. Gameplay Changes and skills changing over the time: The aliens are playing with you. Maybe experimenting, maybe toying. The player will suffer changes in the perception of the time (acceleration for example), on his senses (improve vision or hear) or be victim of illusions.
The aliens are playing with you. Maybe experimenting, maybe toying. The player will suffer changes in the perception of the time (acceleration for example), on his senses (improve vision or hear) or be victim of illusions. Illusions: When player's character is close to madness, many situations can happens in small gameplays along nightmares.
When player's character is close to madness, many situations can happens in small gameplays along nightmares. Can character fight? It's the idea that he/she be allowed to fight against the aliens. We are trying to balance the fact that they are really superior to humans with your real possibilities of defense.
It's the idea that he/she be allowed to fight against the aliens. We are trying to balance the fact that they are really superior to humans with your real possibilities of defense. Will be there NPCs in the game? Yes. In The Hum, human race was decimated but not exterminated. They still need a few humans for their purposes.
Yes. In The Hum, human race was decimated but not exterminated. They still need a few humans for their purposes. Procedural Generation: I don't want The Hum to be a linear experience. But I don't like when random generation breaks ambience. That's why we were exploring some intermediate solutions based on servers or updates.
The Hum: Strong Points
Virtual reality:
Unlike other games which support Oculus Rift, The Hum places a lot of importance on the virtual reality experience.
While everybody will be able to enjoy the game without it, those who have access to a virtual reality device such as Oculus Rift will experience what we are really want them to feel. We will try to provide support for a diverse variety of VR devices as to allow the most people to enjoy The Hum.
Unreal Engine 4:
The Hum is being developed on Unreal Engine 4, which we find to be an incredible game engine. This gives us enormous possibilities when trying to offer graphic and technical quality, while we focus on getting the idea and gameplay down.
We are making our dreams come true and we don’t want a mediocre game:
Personally, I work day and night on The Hum, only taking time off to attend my needs and my family’s.
This project is to me my lifelong dream and I’m not going te be pleased with a mediocre result. I’m going to rely on you, backers (who will have access to exclusive assets) and on your feedback as we develop, to improve the game to the point in which every detail is polished, just ready to be published.
What are The Hums?
According to Wikipedia: "The Hum is a phenomenon, or collection of phenomena, involving widespread reports of a persistent and invasive low-frequency humming, rumbling, or droning noise not audible to all people."
Now, thanks to The Hum Game, you know what is actually happening..
Hum Sounds Samples from our sfx designer Christian Perucchi:
Press LInks and Interviews where you can read more about how he is thinking The Hum:
In the first place, we're raising funds so we can dedicate ourselves 100% to the project. We have been developing the game with our personal savings and resources, working part-time in other projects in order to be able to afford the development process.
This situation, then, is not sustainable over a long period and won’t allow us to improve the game as we want and reach our goals. Also, we want to incorporate new artists for 3D, animators, a new programmer, great freelance voice actors, add new licensed tools, cover costs from servers and office logistic and much, much more! (Added on August 7th)
Money Breakdown / Explanation A good programmer in some countries costs 3k per month. In others, 6k per month (or even more). We have one programmer right now and one collaborator. Would be great to add another one.
A good 3D generalist costs around 1k per month in our country. We have 2 right now, but we want to join at least one more. The Hum relies a lot on its visuals.
3D Freelancers for stunning models for ships and aliens. One 3D alien model (with no animations, only model) costed to us around 1.5k usd with a great artist. Some very professional artists asked to me around 4k usd for one ship. In The Hum we have many ships, many aliens.
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dozen times in the lie-filled-dossier and so within moments of BuzzFeed's publication, false allegations about me were plastered all over the national and international press. The accusations are entirely and totally false.
A core accusation was that I had traveled to Prague to meet with Russians regarding interfering with the election.
I have never in my life been to Prague or to anywhere in the Czech Republic. I might also add that I only have one passport (a United States Passport). I have to say that to you today - that I only have one passport - because another media outlet suggested that - as a Jew - I must also have an Israeli passport!
Aside from such an allegation being incredibly offensive, it is also totally wrong.
Let me tell you where I was on the day the dossier said I was in Prague.
I was in Los Angeles with my son who dreams of playing division 1 baseball next year at a prestigious university like USC. We were visiting the campus, meeting with various coaches, and discussing his future. Media sources have been able to confirm these facts and I can provide you with proof.
My wife and I have been married for 23 years, and are now entering into the season of our lives when we get to watch our children become adults themselves. My daughter, who is at an Ivy League school, and my wife, who is of Ukrainian descent, have especially been subjected to harassment, insults and threats... some so severe I cannot share them in mixed company.
You might say that the experiences I am living through are the cost of being in the public eye, but they shouldn't be as I am not a government official. Many Trump supporting Americans are also paying this cost, like the twelve year old child in Missouri who was beaten up for wearing a Make America Great Again hat.
You can oppose the President's points of view and his policies, but not raise false issues about the validity of his victory.
I assume we will discuss the rejected proposal to build a Trump property in Moscow that was terminated in January of 2016; which occurred before the Iowa caucus and months before the very first primary. This was solely a real estate deal and nothing more. I was doing my job. I would ask that the two-page statement about the Moscow proposal that I sent to the Committee in August be incorporated into and attached to this transcript.
I'm very proud to have served Donald J. Trump for all these years, and I'll continue to support him.
If we really are concerned about a Russian attempt to divide our country and discredit our political system then the best thing we can do is put aside our infighting, stop presuming guilt rather than innocence of American citizens, and address this national security threat as a united people at its source.
Otherwise, the priorities of the American people will continue to be neglected, and the Russians will use our distraction to continue to harm us from the shadows while we harm each other in front of the camera lights.
I look forward to answering all of your questions today.Another Beta Weekend Event has come and gone, and on this occasion I could be a little more experimental in how I approached the game. Aside from being able to finally record and process video, I was able to get my hands on a lot of the new content introduced to World vs World over the course of the past six weeks. One of the key features I know a lot of people were excited about was the WvW Mini-Dungeon, announced shortly before the weekend by Eric Flannum, the Lead Game Designer at ArenaNet.
“One of the coolest things that we’ve added to WvW recently is a persistent mini-dungeon that can be accessed through the three keeps in the center map. This area is designed with multiplayer PvP in mind and players can do things like activate the traps in the mini-dungeon to defeat enemy players. Of course, at the end of the area there’s a chest full of rewards.”
While we got exactly what he stated, I and many other players were expecting something a bit different. When I say different, I mean less "Puzzly". And when I mean less "Puzzly", I mean the Mini-Dungeon is a giant Jump Puzzle. So far, at least from my prospective, there is a miscommunication in terminology between the developers at ArenaNet and their audience. For Eric Flannum, clearly the word Dungeon is very literal — as the area beneath Eternal Battlegrounds is a giant, sadistic set of pain chambers that are frustrating to deal with. Players on the other hand may think differently when they think of the word "Dungeon". For them, Dungeons have long been places filled with monsters and bosses, rare loot and precious rewards worth fighting over. But sadly, there is nothing worth fighting for in the sunken city beneath the Eternal Battlegrounds
This miscommunication did lead some people to expect that the "Mini-Dungeon" would be something like Dark Age of Camelot's Darkness Falls, a contested dungeon with three different avenues of advancement which meet in the middle for a rough and tumble grudge match to have rights to bosses and loot drops. I believe ArenaNet should take this as a clue, perhaps when they are to describe a Jump Puzzle, they should exclusively refer to it as a Jump Puzzle --- not a "Mini-Dungeon".
Late Sunday, my server fully conquered WvW and gained rights to the Mini-Dungeon and or the very first time I could venture down and see it for myself. With hopes of banding together with my teammates to gain some extra Experience Points and do something fresh and interesting as a cooperative group --- instead we got something beyond what anyone of us could have imagined. After crossing through the Mystic Portal, I found myself standing on a platform looking at two other Mystic Portals. Instantly I knew that the additional portals were from the other two Keeps within Eternal Battlegrounds, all within firing distance of one another. There were no three unique paths to fight through, no individual experiences based on which Keep you entered. All Keeps could spawn me at the exact same starting position.
Before me was a massive chamber beneath the Eternal Battlegrounds, very much like the Caves of Planetside. The area was huge and the cleverness of the design was instantly apparent. Right in the middle of the chamber was a ray of bright purple light. It shot down diagonally from the ceiling, emitted from a huge purple crystal at the highest point on the map. The light rays bounced off a smaller crystal in the middle of the room, which pointed a ray of light off to the left --- clearly saying "Go That Way". So I did.
At this point my eyes were keenly looking around for something to fight. Some sign of activity, some creature or boss or baddie of some sort. But nothing was there, just a huge empty room with slender ledges and platforms. Soon it sunk in, and it was clear that this was going to be a long and painfully complex jump puzzle to solve. And indeed, it did take a good time to solve. I spent three hours recording the whole experience. But I realized I lost about an hour of footage, having failed to notice I didn't record for a while — I was too focused on solving the puzzle I admit. But in the end, I only lost a minor portion of the overall dungeon and can safely say I recorded 90% of it.
At this point I've taken the time to edit the video down considerably, only really show casing at lot of parts that didn't go horribly wrong or were hindered too greatly by PvP combat. At the conclusion of this experience, I realized that what I just went through really wasn't very much fun at all.
The only person who seemed to have a great time was the Mesmer in our party, which is no shock to me at all because they have a built in "Reset Button" so they can just Portal back up if they mess up. Unlike most of us who play, who have to backtrack about five or ten minutes to repeat the same portion of the maze over and over again while the Mesmer just keeps going forward without a problem. I can see how he didn't find it difficult or frustrating; he's playing a ridiculously convenient class that has all of the best abilities in the game at present.
What truly alarmed me and made me really feel a shock and awe, was when I first ventured down into the Third Stage of the puzzle. You venture down a stairway which takes you into a pitch black chamber where the puzzle is completely done under cover of perfect darkness. The only way to venture through was to illuminate the way with torches and Area-of-Effect-Ground Target abilities to help physically "See" where to go next. I found this to be a needless frustration, as in the end I could see just fine with my abilities and the torches felt like a PvP handicap that forces you to do something you don't want to do in order to endure the trial.
But the first time I went down, I didn't realize I even needed a torch. So I did it all in perfect darkness. Eventually when my team mates came to join me, I informed them of the torches at the entrance and things went a little easier. Yet still, even a minor mess up to any jump at any portion of the puzzle meant you had to reset back to the beginning of each Level. In all, there were five levels to the dungeon. In reflection, I can say that the Jump Puzzle doesn't make a good PvP space. I could find myself just boiling over with intense frustration while trying to work my way through this if I had enemies always a few steps ahead of me manning traps.
That is another thing which bothers me, the traps. It seems silly to me that there are platforms where one person can man several traps at once — giving one person the ability to hinder everyone who follows them, even if they are on your own team. This looks to me like it can be a huge problem when the game goes live, as seeing there are people out there who just love to grief and this seems like the perfect place to do it. You can create a living hell for members of your own server, and they can never, ever kill you either.
But after all of that, spending hours of going through and gaining a little bit of ground after a while — the only real reward at the end is to just say "You Did it". Seriously. Of course there is a chest at the end, but it's nothing special. You can earn the same rewards from Mistrought Vault in each of the Server Borderlands, and since there are three of those you can better spend your time getting three times the reward just pushing Mistrought every two weeks. Beneath Eternal Battlegrounds resides a huge puzzle that is even more difficult, but doesn't really net any rewards that value the effort. Even worse, once you finish it -- the thrill of discovery is gone. Any repeat process through it feels more like going through the motions rather than a fun experience.
So in the end I wonder, what's the point? Was it fun to do? In a way, yes. But I found fun in it only as way to spend time with my guild mates and get to know them more. Do something other than fight and do something which involves team work and cooperation to get to a goal at the end. That was fun for me. But I could not and do not want to imagine this place as a shelter for PvP, especially if every team starts at the exact same location. You will have to constantly watch your back and man traps for long periods of time, likely not even killing those who venture through them and net you no real reward or experience points - only the minor thrill of ruining someone’s day. I feel ArenaNet can do better, and this just doesn't feel like it deserves to be part of World vs. World. It doesn't feel critical or exciting, heck it doesn't even feel relevant — because frankly it isn't.
Class balance is huge as well, as many classes can easily breeze through this as others have to struggle considerably. Fairness becomes an issue, and if Mesmers do not see a massive change in their skill sets — then we'll likely see these puzzles turn into an industry for Mesmers to make a butt-load of money teleporting whole teams instantly to the end of the Dungeon using their Mesmer Portals. We tested it, it is possible, and that's just stupid. But I give ArenaNet credit. I like it and feel it does need to be in the game — just not in WvW. I share this with you all now so you guys can get a taste of just what this really was. I hope a lot of the feedback from this weekend's BWE will result in a lot of changes to change this dungeon, and perhaps to actually make it a dungeon.
In all honesty, I think ArenaNet has accidentally stumbled on something very promising here. People do like doing puzzles in MMORPGs, and these are good and tax the brain in a healthy way. I'd like to see more of these, in fact a lot more. A huge portion should reside in some off-the-grid location where I can invite team mates to come with me as we tackle Jump Puzzles. We can adjust the difficulty, turning on Traps ourselves for greater rewards. Maybe even be able to find items scattered around in hidden locations for special rewards and achievements. That seems like a great thing to do and may be a better use of this map. I just hope ArenaNet and the player-base agrees with me, who knows — time will tell.Local 2010 Advises Public to Avoid UCLA Campus and Medical Centers
(Westwood, CA) Over 600 UCLA skilled trades workers began a five-day strike today in protest of the University’s numerous violations of state labor law and unfair labor practices. The strike is expected to have significant impact on critical services, and will affect students returning from winter break, as well as the public.
Teamsters Local 2010 is advising the public to reschedule all nonessential medical appointments and to avoid the UCLA campus and medical centers on Friday, January 6 through Tuesday, January 10. Saturday’s UCLA versus Stanford men’s basketball game may be affected as well.
Local 2010 represents the 600 skilled trades workers and more than 3,000 clerical workers at UCLA. The striking skilled trades workers provide critical services to UCLA, including the maintenance and operation of patient care facilities at the UCLA Center for Health Sciences and UCLA Santa Monica Hospital, and UCLA’s research and instructional facilities.
Teamsters skilled trades workers struck previously for one-day in November 2016, causing disruptions throughout the medical centers and campuses at UCLA and UC San Diego with pickets shutting down construction sites and turning back deliveries.
The administrative, clerical, and support workers at all ten campuses, five medical centers, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab will be conducting a legal and protected system-wide strike on Tuesday, January 10, both protesting ULPs and in support of striking UCLA skilled trades workers.
Teamsters Local 2010 represents approximately 12,000 administrative support workers system wide, as well as the approximately 800 electricians, elevator mechanics, plumbers, and facilities workers at UCLA and UC San Diego. The Union gave significantly more than 10-days notice of the strike to give UC the opportunity to protect students, patients and the public from harm.
UCLA skilled trade workers have gone over four years without a raise with the University refusing to bargain wages for past years, despite admitting to budgeting for those unpaid wages.Hi *|FNAME|* *|LNAME|*: Eddie Vedder is heading down under in 2014 for an Australian solo tour kicking off on February 7th in Perth, WA and ending on February 23rd in Brisbane, QLD. We are happy to announce a special Ten Club only ticket pre-sale drawing for members active as of Wed, December 11th 6:59am Australia AEDT (that's Tues, December 10th at 11:59pm PST in the US). If you are not already a member, you will not be eligible for the pre-sale. Sorry, tickets are very limited.
Eddie Vedder Solo Tour Dates:
DATE CITY VENUE
Feb-7 Perth, WA Riverside Theatre
Feb-8 Perth, WA Riverside Theatre
Feb-11 Sydney, NSW State Theatre
Feb-13 Sydney, NSW Opera House
Feb-16 Melbourne, VIC Palais Theatre
Feb-18 Melbourne, VIC Palais Theatre
Feb-22 Brisbane, QLD QPAC Concert Hall
Feb-23 Brisbane, QLD QPAC Concert Hall
For your convenience, you have 4 days from today to enter before names are drawn. This drawing entry period opens today, Thu, December 12th at 9am Australia AEDT time (that's Wed, December 11th at 2pm PST in the US). Names will not be drawn until Sun, December 15th noon Australia AEDT (Sat, December 14th 5pm PST in the US). Please reference this site, for time zone conversions if necessary: http://www.timeanddate.com Eligibility: Members active as of Wed, December 11th 6:59am Australia AEDT (Tue, Dec 10th 11:59pm PST) are eligible for the Eddie Vedder Solo 2014 Australian Tour Ten Club ticket drawing. New memberships and membership renewals purchased now are not considered eligible. Ticket Locations: Ten Club tickets for the EV solo tour will NOT be seniority based. Tickets are being held in unspecified locations throughout the venues and are mixed in with the general public tickets. Seat locations are not given out in advance. You will find out your seat location when you pick your tickets up the day of the show. Wheelchair accessible seating: Please email tickets@tenclub.net with the subject “Australia Tour Disabled Seating†no later than Sun, December 15th noon Australia AEDT (Sat, December 14th 5pm PST in the US). Do not enter the online drawing online as there are no disabled tickets being offered through the site. Drawing Rules: - Since these shows are small, there is a limit of one pair of tickets per member for the whole tour. - You may enter the drawing for as many shows as you like, but can only possibly be drawn for one pair max. - By entering the drawing for any show, you are committing to purchase the tickets should your name be drawn. Do not enter the drawing for a show you are not prepared to travel to and attend as the tickets are non-refundable. - Members entering a drawing will have a $1 authorization held on their cards. If selected for a show during the drawing, this $1 authorization will become a final sale charge of $261.00 USD for one pair of tickets. If not selected, the $1 authorization will be canceled and released back to your card. - Names will be selected for each city taking your priority into consideration. However it is not guaranteed members will always get their first choice. Again, please do not enter the drawing for a city you do not intend to travel to. - If you cancel your drawing entries, the $1 authorization will be canceled releasing the funds back to you. Please note that some banks do not make the funds available to you immediately upon cancelation, so check with your bank to make sure you have funds available before resubmitting a new entry. How to enter the drawing step-by-step: Check out our instructional video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQTcSylC8Rw&feature=youtu.be Step 1. Visit www.pearljam.com and login to your membership account. Step 2. Click “My Account†at the top of the screen. On the drop down menu, click “Ten Club Ticketsâ€. Step 3. Read all the information on this page including the drawing rules for the tour, and then click on the "EV Solo 2014 Australian Tour" to enter the drawing to proceed to the next page. Step 4. Click “Choose This Show†for each show you would like to enter the drawing for in order of priority then click “Continueâ€. Step 5. Review your drawing entry selections and edit if necessary. Step 6. Fill in the billing information and click “Submit My Entryâ€. You will be immediately directed to a page confirming receipt of your entry. You will receive an email confirming your drawing entries and you can also view your entries on the “My Tickets†page. Step 7. You are all done. On Sunday, December 15th at noon Australia AEDT the ticket drawing will close. Once names have been drawn, the “My Tickets†page will be updated to indicate for which show your name has been drawn and for which show(s) your name has not. Also, you will receive an email that day confirming your drawing status and any show your name has been drawn for. Ten Club Policies:
- Tickets are limited and not guaranteed. - All ticket sales are final. No refunds, name transfers or exchanges. No exceptions. - Two (2) tickets per member for this tour. No single tickets. No group seating. - Tickets are not mailed in advance. Tickets are distributed at Ten Club Will Call on the day of the show. - You must show a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, school ID) to collect your tickets at the box office. No exceptions. - The Ten Club member whose account was used to purchase the tickets must present their photo ID in person to collect the tickets on the day of the show. No exceptions. - Seat location is not revealed in advance of the show. You will find out your seat location when you pick up your tickets up at Ten Club Will Call. - Reselling of Ten Club tickets will result in cancelation of ticket purchase and possibly loss of membership. - When entering the drawing you will be required to check a box stating that you agree to the Ten Club ticket policy, which can be found at http://pearljam.com/tenclub/tickets Follow the drawing on the event page. This page will be updated in real time as the pre-sale progresses. You can check this link for immediate updates from Ten Club on where we are at in the ticket drawing process each step of the way. Visit http://pearljam.com/tenclub/events for the Pre-sale Timeline. You can find the answer to many Ticket-related questions by visiting: http://pearljam.com/tickets/faq or by emailing tickets@tenclub.net General Public Tickets: Go on sale at 10:00am local time on Wed, December 18th at the following sites: Perth- Riverside Theatre: www.ticketek.com.au Sydney- State Theatre: www.ticketmaster.com.au Sydney- Opera House: www.sydneyoperahouse.com Melbourne- Palais Theatre: www.ticketmaster.com.au Brisbane- QPAC Concert Hall: www.qtix.com.au
Thanks and good luck! 10cBell Smith Springs
Bell Smith Springs is one of the most beautiful recreation areas the Shawnee National Forest has to offer. It contains a series of clear, rocky streams and scenic canyons bordered by high sandstone cliffs and an abundance of vegetation unique to Illinois. The trail system consists of eight miles of interconnected trails featuring strange and wonderful rock formations, such as Devil’s Backbone, Boulder Falls and a natural rock bridge. Hiking this system of trails is a favorite activity because of the rock features, scenic overlooks, hidden springs and lush flora and fauna. Video
Location on map Near Eddyville
Trail map Bell Smith Springs is one of the most beautiful recreation areas the Shawnee National Forest has to offer. It contains a series of clear, rocky streams and scenic canyons bordered by high sandstone cliffs and an abundance of vegetation unique to Illinois. The trail system consists of eight miles of interconnected trails featuring strange and wonderful rock formations, such as Devil’s Backbone, Boulder Falls and a natural rock bridge. Hiking this system of trails is a favorite activity because of the rock features, scenic overlooks, hidden springs and lush flora and fauna.
Bork Falls and Ferne Cliffe State Park Ferne Clyffe State Park is on 2,430 acres in Johnson County near Goreville. Ferne Clyffe’s acreage holds a number of notable geographic features including limestone bluffs, cliff caves, naturally forested woodlands and small seasonal waterfalls. The “waterfall” hike is beautiful and a must see while you are in the area. Video
Info
Trail Info
Burden Falls
An intermittent,seasonal stream spills over Burden Falls in a picturesque series of waterfalls with a total drop of about 100 feet and the greatest single drop a distance of around 20 feet. The Wilderness shares a boundary with Bay Creek Wilderness to the south, and both exemplify the scenic characteristics of the Shawnee Hills: sandstone ledges, bluffs and cliffs on which grow red cedar, farkleberry and blackjack oak. At the bottom of the bluffs, you will find greater soil depth supporting post oak and, as you move away from the cliffs, even deeper soil where white oak grow. Video
Location on map near Delwood An intermittent,seasonal stream spills over Burden Falls in a picturesque series of waterfalls with a total drop of about 100 feet and the greatest single drop a distance of around 20 feet. The Wilderness shares a boundary with Bay Creek Wilderness to the south, and both exemplify the scenic characteristics of the Shawnee Hills: sandstone ledges, bluffs and cliffs on which grow red cedar, farkleberry and blackjack oak. At the bottom of the bluffs, you will find greater soil depth supporting post oak and, as you move away from the cliffs, even deeper soil where white oak grow.
Cache River Wetlands
Cache River State Natural Area is situated in southernmost Illinois within a floodplain carved long ago by glacial floodwater of the Ohio River. When the Ohio River adopted its present course, it left the Cache River to meander across rich and vast wetlands. Among the outstanding natural features found within the area today are massive cypress trees whose flared bases, called buttresses, exceed 40 feet circumference. Many are more than 1,000 years old, including one that has earned the title of state champion bald cypress because of its huge trunk girth, towering height and heavily branched canopy. The National Park Service has designated two National Natural Landmarks within its borders – Bottomland Swamp and Heron Pond. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has identified three Nature Preserves here – Section 8 Woods, Heron Pond-Wildcat Bluff and Little Black Slough – and registered 10,367 acres of the area’s 14,791 acres in the Land and Water Reserve Program. These designations assure that the site management will emphasize restoration and preservation of the area’s natural characteristics. Video
Map Cache River State Natural Area is situated in southernmost Illinois within a floodplain carved long ago by glacial floodwater of the Ohio River. When the Ohio River adopted its present course, it left the Cache River to meander across rich and vast wetlands. Among the outstanding natural features found within the area today are massive cypress trees whose flared bases, called buttresses, exceed 40 feet circumference. Many are more than 1,000 years old, including one that has earned the title of state champion bald cypress because of its huge trunk girth, towering height and heavily branched canopy. The National Park Service has designated two National Natural Landmarks within its borders – Bottomland Swamp and Heron Pond. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has identified three Nature Preserves here – Section 8 Woods, Heron Pond-Wildcat Bluff and Little Black Slough – and registered 10,367 acres of the area’s 14,791 acres in the Land and Water Reserve Program. These designations assure that the site management will emphasize restoration and preservation of the area’s natural characteristics.
Cave in Rock State Park
Wander along the Ohio River and step into the large Video
Location 5 Wander along the Ohio River and step into the large Cave In Rock cavern steeped in history of river pirates. The first European explorer encountered the cave in 1729. It was a conspicuous curiosity frequently mentioned by later travelers in diaries and journals. Beautiful vistas. Enjoy the spectacular river view from the lodge perched atop the overhanging bluffs. Cabins, picnicking, showers and camping are available.
Dixon Springs State Park
786 acre state park situated on a giant block of rock. Cliffs, wet weather waterfalls, large boulders and a running stream are just some of the sights to see when hiking, picnicking or visiting this beautiful park. A modern swimming pool with a 45-foot water slide is provided for swimmer’s enjoyment. Chocolate Factory and ice crème parlor nearby. Video
Location near Golconda 786 acre state park situated on a giant block of rock. Cliffs, wet weather waterfalls, large boulders and a running stream are just some of the sights to see when hiking, picnicking or visiting this beautiful park. A modern swimming pool with a 45-foot water slide is provided for swimmer’s enjoyment. Chocolate Factory and ice crème parlor nearby.
Garden of the Gods
Explore the rock formations, cliffs and trails of the most visited site in the Shawnee National Forest. See Camel Rock, Anvil Rock, Devil’s Smokestack and many other fascinating formations. Listed in USA Today as “One of Ten Great Places to Photograph”, the site is adjacent to a 3000 acre wilderness area which is relatively undisturbed. Connects to River to River Trail. Will appear on American the Beautiful 2016 quarter representing Illinois. Video
Location 12
Trail Map Explore the rock formations, cliffs and trails of the most visited site in the Shawnee National Forest. See Camel Rock, Anvil Rock, Devil’s Smokestack and many other fascinating formations. Listed in USA Today as “One of Ten Great Places to Photograph”, the site is adjacent to a 3000 acre wilderness area which is relatively undisturbed. Connects to River to River Trail. Will appear on American the Beautiful 2016 quarter representing Illinois.
Glen O Jones Lake and Saline County Conservation Area State Park
Saline County State Fish & Wildlife Area, 5 miles southeast of Equality in southeastern Illinois, was the site of springs and wells that furnished brine for one of the two salt works. Although the springs and wells are not visible today, the area primarily is a recreational site. The initial acquisition of 524 acres of land was made in 1959 by the state of Illinois, and the total acreage now totals 1,270 acres, including a beautiful 105-acre lake. Video
Location 13
Map Saline County State Fish & Wildlife Area, 5 miles southeast of Equality in southeastern Illinois, was the site of springs and wells that furnished brine for one of the two salt works. Although the springs and wells are not visible today, the area primarily is a recreational site. The initial acquisition of 524 acres of land was made in 1959 by the state of Illinois, and the total acreage now totals 1,270 acres, including a beautiful 105-acre lake.
High Knob Vista
Enjoy a panoramic view of the great Shawnee Forest and its vast, wooded hills and pastoral landscape. This area is a mecca for hikers and horseback riders. Located on the River to River Trail. Video
Location 3
Enjoy a panoramic view of the great Shawnee Forest and its vast, wooded hills and pastoral landscape. This area is a mecca for hikers and horseback riders. Located on the River to River Trail.
Jackson Falls
Jackson Falls offers many opportunities for technical climbing and is a beautiful scenic area on the Shawnee National forest. To reach Jackson Falls from Harrisburg, turn south on Highway 145 to Delwood. Turn right (west) toward Bell Smith Springs. Pass through Mccormick, then Zion Hill Church. Turn left (south) on forest road 494. Road is rough until the unmarked recreation area on the right, just before the creek. There is an outhouse there and a bulletin board with information supplied by the Illinois Climbers’ Association. Camping is allowed here. A trail follows the top of the bluff (southeast) around to the “dog leg” where you can walk into the canyon, or you can tie up and rappel. Video Jackson Falls offers many opportunities for technical climbing and is a beautiful scenic area on the Shawnee National forest. To reach Jackson Falls from Harrisburg, turn south on Highway 145 to Delwood. Turn right (west) toward Bell Smith Springs. Pass through Mccormick, then Zion Hill Church. Turn left (south) on forest road 494. Road is rough until the unmarked recreation area on the right, just before the creek. There is an outhouse there and a bulletin board with information supplied by the Illinois Climbers’ Association. Camping is allowed here. A trail follows the top of the bluff (southeast) around to the “dog leg” where you can walk into the canyon, or you can tie up and rappel.
Mantle Rock Kentucky
Just a few minutes across the Ohio River from Cave in Rock, Illinois using the Cave in Rock Ferry is Mantle Rock. Mantle Rock is on the infamous Cherokee Trail of Tears and is where many Cherokee were forced to spend two bitterly cold weeks encamped. They were waiting for the frozen Ohio River to thaw enough for the ferry to carry them from Berry’s Ferry, Kentucky, to Golconda, Illinois. You are invited to walk along the same path the Cherokee traveled in 1838-1839. The loop trail is 2.75 miles long. Info Just a few minutes across the Ohio River from Cave in Rock, Illinois using the Cave in Rock Ferry is Mantle Rock. Mantle Rock is on the infamous Cherokee Trail of Tears and is where many Cherokee were forced to spend two bitterly cold weeks encamped. They were waiting for the frozen Ohio River to thaw enough for the ferry to carry them from Berry’s Ferry, Kentucky, to Golconda, Illinois. You are invited to walk along the same path the Cherokee traveled in 1838-1839. The loop trail is 2.75 miles long.
Millstone Bluff
National Historical Registry. Got its name from the millstone for pioneer mills dug from a small quarry on this hill. Before that however, it was a very interesting Mississippi Indian Village. (The same as is found in Cahokia). Vistas, scenic. Near city of Glendale. Location near Glendale National Historical Registry. Got its name from the millstone for pioneer mills dug from a small quarry on this hill. Before that however, it was a very interesting Mississippi Indian Village. (The same as is found in Cahokia). Vistas, scenic. Near city of Glendale.
Old Stone Face
Stone Face is about ½ mile but strenuous at the end you are rewarded with scenic vistas and of course Stone Face. The Stone face Trail continues to Glen O Jones’ Lake for a total of about 3 miles. Ends at the Chief Tecumseh statue in the wildlife area of Glen O Jones. Marvel at nature’s handiwork. The likeness is one of the finest, most natural you will find. Stone face is north of the small town of Herod. Go North on Illinois Rt 34 to the town of Rudiment From here follow the signs to Stone Face Road, about 4 mile from Rudiment. The entrance to Stone Face is Forest Service road 150 and is about.25 miles long. Video Stone Face is about ½ mile but strenuous at the end you are rewarded with scenic vistas and of course Stone Face. The Stone face Trail continues to Glen O Jones’ Lake for a total of about 3 miles. Ends at the Chief Tecumseh statue in the wildlife area of Glen O Jones. Marvel at nature’s handiwork. The likeness is one of the finest, most natural you will find. Stone face is north of the small town of Herod. Go North on Illinois Rt 34 to the town of Rudiment From here follow the signs to Stone Face Road, about 4 mile from Rudiment. The entrance to Stone Face is Forest Service road 150 and is about.25 miles long.
One Horse Gap Visualize an ancient Indian tribe passing through “One Horse Gap” a nearby narrow rock crevice that extends downward from the top of a sheer bluff near this 26-acre lake. Video
Location 15 Visualize an ancient Indian tribe passing through “One Horse Gap” a nearby narrow rock crevice that extends downward from the top of a sheer bluff near this 26-acre lake.
Pounds Hollow Lake Recreation Area
A picturesque setting, Pounds Hollow campground and lake are tucked away amongst the Shawnee Hills, where you can relax and get away from it all. Completed in the early 1940’s, Pounds Hollow Lake is popular for the same reasons it was 60 years ago and continues to provide opportunities to picnic, fish, swim, camp and hike. Pounds Hollow Recreation Area is a popular destination for wildflower enthusiasts, hikers, picnickers, and folks who enjoy swimming and relaxing on a beach. There are two interesting trails that traverse the area allowing visitors to experience a wide variety of natural communities and marvelous geological settings, such as sandstone glades and cliffs, and a sandstone canyon with a gentle stream flowing through the canyon and into Pounds Hollow Lake. Rim Rock National Recreation Trail has a separate parking lot just west of the entrance to Pounds Hollow Recreation Area. From Rim Rock trail visitors can descend the tall cliff face by means of a staircase that takes you through a narrow pathway between giant sandstone cliffs. Video
Location 2 A picturesque setting, Pounds Hollow campground and lake are tucked away amongst the Shawnee Hills, where you can relax and get away from it all. Completed in the early 1940’s, Pounds Hollow Lake is popular for the same reasons it was 60 years ago and continues to provide opportunities to picnic, fish, swim, camp and hike. Pounds Hollow Recreation Area is a popular destination for wildflower enthusiasts, hikers, picnickers, and folks who enjoy swimming and relaxing on a beach. There are two interesting trails that traverse the area allowing visitors to experience a wide variety of natural communities and marvelous geological settings, such as sandstone glades and cliffs, and a sandstone canyon with a gentle stream flowing through the canyon and into Pounds Hollow Lake. Rim Rock National Recreation Trail has a separate parking lot just west of the entrance to Pounds Hollow Recreation Area. From Rim Rock trail visitors can descend the tall cliff face by means of a staircase that takes you through a narrow pathway between giant sandstone cliffs.
Rim Rock Recreational Trail
Hike the Rim Rock trail which meanders through native hardwoods, past the remains of an old Indian Wall. Take the rock stairway to the valley leading to a huge rock shelter bluff called Ox-Lot Cave. Pass through “Fat Man’s Misery”, a narrow passageway rough massive cliffs and huge boulders. Top trail is paved. Lower trail leads to Pounds Hollow Lake. Video
Location 2
Trail Map Hike the Rim Rock trail which meanders through native hardwoods, past the remains of an old Indian Wall. Take the rock stairway to the valley leading to a huge rock shelter bluff called Ox-Lot Cave. Pass through “Fat Man |
national alphabet.[4] The city was originally called Yeongi County (연기군; 燕岐郡).
History [ edit ]
In 2003, former President Roh Moo-hyun of the Democratic Party (now Together Democratic Party) sought to relocate the national capital of South Korea from the metropolitan city of Seoul to a new multifunctional administrative city in the centre of the country. The goal was to reduce the influence and dominance of Seoul on national governance and economics, whilst promoting the regional development of other areas of the country.[5] According to former Home Administration Minister Maeng Hyung-gyu in 2012, “Sejong is a symbol of the country’s efforts toward more balanced regional development,” helping to decongest Seoul and spur investment in the country’s central region.
In October 2004, the Constitutional Court dealt a setback to President Roh's plans, ruling that the capital must remain in Seoul in response to a complaint filed by the main opposition Grand National Party (now Liberty Korea Party). As such, the Roh administration was forced to modify the project to relocate the majority of ministries and government institutes to Sejong, which would become a special administrative city instead of a new capital. The revised plan was approved by the parliament in March 2005. Challenges to the new plan were rejected by the Constitutional Court in November 2005.[5]
When the Conservative Grand National Party retook the presidential office in 2008, President Lee Myung-bak opposed the idea of moving government agencies, claiming that it would hurt the capital’s global competitiveness and result in inefficiency.[5] Plans were made to make Sejong an industrial, science and education hub instead. This plan was opposed by many, including Roh’s allies and some members of the ruling Grand National Party, including Lee’s archrival and eventual successor Park Geun-hye. Defeat in the mid-2010 local elections forced Lee to present the proposal to the National Assembly, which voted them down.
As of 2014, 36 central government offices, including nine ministries, and 16 state-run organisations have moved into the city. However, the national assembly and many important government bodies are still in Seoul.
In July 2012 Sejong was created incorporating all of Yeongi County, three townships of Gongju[6] and one township of Cheongwon County.
In April 2013 the government of Putrajaya, Malaysia signed a letter of intent (LOI) with the government of Sejong City to mark cooperation between the two cities.
Geography [ edit ]
Sejong is located between three other major Korean cities: Daejeon, Cheonan and Cheongju.[citation needed] It is about 121 kilometres (75 mi) from Seoul,[7] and is notably further from the DMZ in the event of a North Korean attack.
Cityscape [ edit ]
As of 2012 much of the city was under construction. The residential area, by 2012, had several high-rises built for transferees. At that time the residential area was cordoned off from much of the under-development governmental area and had some restaurants, six schools, and one grocery store.
Administrative divisions [ edit ]
The 9 haengjeong-dong and Jochiwon-eup is the city main urban center. Sejong is divided into 9 haengjeong-dong (administrative neighborhood), 1 eup (town) and 9 myeon (townships).
Notes There are no Hanja for Hansol, Dodam, Areum, Goeun, Boram, Serom, or Sodam.
Population and demographics [ edit ]
The city aimed to have a population of 200,000 in 2012, 300,000 by 2020 and 500,000 by 2030.[8] As of 2017, Sejong had a population of 281,120.[2]
As of 2018, Sejong had a higher proportion of children compared to the South Korean average.[9]
Government and infrastructure [ edit ]
The South Korean government plans to move 36 government ministries and agencies to Sejong City.[7]
Government Complex Sejong is located in Sejong City. The complex, on a 213,000-square-metre (2,290,000 sq ft) plot of land, has seven stories and one basement. Construction began in November 2011 in what was South Chungcheong Province, and the complex was completed on November 16, 2013. The ceremony to mark the movement of several government agencies to the complex occurred on December 23, 2013.[10]
Government Complex Sejong includes the head offices of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE), the Ministry of Environment,[11] the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries,[12] the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), the Ministry of Education,[13] the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA),[14] and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL).
Several MOLIT agencies, the Korea Office of Civil Aviation (KOCA), the Korean Maritime Safety Tribunal (KMST), and the Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (ARAIB), have their headquarters in Government Complex Sejong.[15]
The South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare is also located in Sejong City.
Educational facilities [ edit ]
Universities
Senior high schools
Transportation [ edit ]
Air [ edit ]
Sejong is also served by Cheongju International Airport in Cheongju, the nearest airport to Sejong.
National railway [ edit ]
Sejong is centrally located on Gyeongbu Line operated by Korail. It's a 90 minute journey on the Mugunghwa-ho to Seoul and trains run approximately every 30 minutes. Also just outside Jochiwon-eup limits in Osong, Cheongwon has a new KTX station Osong Station which is a Korea Train Express bullet train that frequently travels 300 km/h (190 mph).
In popular culture [ edit ]
The 2015 tvN television series Let's Eat 2 is based in Sejong city.[17][18][19] During the month of April, various Sejong Spring Festival festivals will be held in various places in the city such as cherry blossoms, peach blossoms, and flower arrangements. Open the 7th cherry blossom festival. On the 14th, we will hold the 'Daehwangang and Ewha Rangwang Hanmadang' on the theme of peach blossoms and flower blossoms. The 2018 Peace Spring Flower Festival of the Sejong Restoration Center will be held under the sponsorship of the Jochiwon, Peach Festival Promotion Committee. It was prepared as a five-sensory satisfaction program to enjoy and enjoy nature such as peach flower, pear flower, rape blossom, and to escape from the performance-oriented festival method.[20]
References [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ]
Coordinates:Recent talk of robot police and the prescient sci-fi films that have complicated feelings about them inspired me to rewatch RoboCop, which inspired me to look up the film’s Dallas shooting locations ahead of the 30th anniversary of its July 1987 release.
The Dallas Film Commission made it easy, comparing stills from the film with 2012 photos of each identifiably local location. Those comparisons are fascinating, if only to see how each one has changed over the years. Convention centers and DART rail stops and new parks are now illusion-breakers to imagining the blasted cityscape of a dystopian future Detroit. At this point in 2017, even a few of the “after” pictures from 2012 are significantly different.
Most of the locations, including I.M. Pei’s Dallas City Hall and the old municipal building downtown, as well as a couple Deep Ellum parking lots, are easy to find, and within walking distance of each other. Zouk, in the space that once housed the famed Starck Club, is now closed, and I’m not sure who currently occupies the 40th floor of Renaissance Tower, which you’d need to get to for this view. But you could knock the rest of these out in an afternoon, no sweat.
I fed some of the addresses into Google Maps, and learned that it actually makes for a nice little tour of downtown Dallas. Google Maps, which always oversells it, puts it at about six miles and two hours on foot. Here’s a suggested route. (I thought about saving this for July, but by then it’ll be 100 degrees outside and neither man nor cyborg should walk the city for that long in that heat.)
As you walk and explore the city center, meditate on the lessons of Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop: the ethical problems in policing presented by new technological advancements, and the perils of ceding too much power to private interests. Also the part where the RoboCop hits the shooting range, which is pretty cool.If you’ve taken out student loans to invest in your education, you know that paying interest on those loans is simply part of the deal. But while “interest” can seem like an abstract notion when you first take out loans, over time it can become a force to be reckoned with —particularly for the many MBA, law, and med school grads with six figures worth of education debt to repay.
For example, a borrower with $100K in student loan principal at a 6.8% weighted average interest rate and a 10-year term can expect to pay an estimated $38K in interest over the life of the loan. And that’s if they make every payment on time.
There are a few mistakes that can cause some borrowers to pay more interest than they need to.
Paying interest on student loans may be unavoidable, but there are a few mistakes that can cause some borrowers to pay more interest than they need to. Read on for tips on how to prevent these blunders from affecting your bottom line.
Mistake #1: Using Forbearance When it’s not Absolutely Necessary
Most federal loans and some private loans may allow borrowers to use forbearance to temporarily reduce or suspend loan payments in the event of qualifying financial or medical difficulties. But in most cases interest continues to accrue while payments are on pause—which means that the longer you remain in forbearance, the more you may have to pay in the long run.
Bottom line: If your goal is to minimize interest expenses, it’s a good idea to use forbearance only in cases of extreme financial hardship—and resume regular payments as quickly as possible.
Mistake #2: Unnecessarily Extending the Repayment Period
Federal loan consolidation with a Direct Consolidation Loan allows borrowers to combine two or more eligible federal loans into just one loan, helping to streamline their monthly bills. When you consolidate, you’re typically given the option to lower your monthly payment by extending your repayment period.
However, those smaller bills can come at a price. Extending the payment term from 10 to 30 years, for example, would mean the borrower has to pay considerably more interest over the life of the loan. (Because the borrower would be accruing 20 additional years of interest.)
Mistake #3: Not Prepaying When Possible
All education loans, whether federal or private, allow for penalty-free “prepayment”, which means that you can pay more than the minimum and pay off your loan balance early, without incurring any extra fees. Even paying an extra $100 per month could go a long way.
Every little bit helps to drive down total interest.
Whether it’s increasing your monthly payments when you get a raise or putting half your bonus toward your loans each year, every little bit helps to drive down total interest. (Just be sure you tell your lender this is what you’re doing and verify that your prepayments will be applied to your loan principal.) You can use this calculator to see how prepayment could help you get out of student loan debt sooner.
Mistake #4 Neglecting to Explore Refinancing Options
One of the best ways to stick it to your student loan interest is to refinance your loans at a lower interest rate and shorten your repayment term. This option is typically available to borrowers who have a solid financial situation —for example, a comfortable income-to-debt ratio.
However, before refinancing federal loans, you should check to see if you qualify for any forgiveness programs or other federal benefits that are forfeited when refinancing student loans with a private lender.
Bottom line: Refinancing to a shorter term with a lower interest rate can help eligible borrowers take a big bite out of total interest.
If you’re interested in what your student loan interest rate would be after refinancing, you can check in two minutes or less with SoFi.CHICAGO, IL — The offer of a $1 reusable bag erupted into a meltdown by a woman who proclaimed she had voted for Donald Trump and was being discriminated against by African-American employees at a Chicago arts and crafts store.
The incident happened on Thanksgiving Eve at the Michaels store at 3131 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. A video shot by Jessie Grady titled "Racist White Woman Trump Rant in Chicago Store" has received more than 57,000 views on YouTube since being posted on Nov. 23.
As of Monday afternoon, a GoFundMe campaign established by Grady for the Michaels clerk had raised $6,700. The goal was $400.
Grady said she had just gone through the checkout line at Michaels and was standing at the exit showing her 2-year-old child a Christmas ornament. According to Grady, the customer, who is white, went into a "30-minute racist rant complete with yelling and cursing and repeated references to the fact that both employees were African-American."
Warning: Graphic language and profanity
The customer says in the video that the store associate was trying to "force me" into buying a reusable bag for her larger items.
"Yes, I voted for Trump, so there. You want to kick me out because of that? And look who won," the customer said.
Grady said the yelling had been going on for several minutes before she started recording the confrontation on video because she wanted to document it for store employees to "keep them from getting in trouble for no reason" because "the customer is always right."
In the video, the customer can be heard telling the Michaels employee "you want to discriminate against me and name call me?" The customer also starts recording the employee on video.
"What, you don't want to be videoed? You don't want to be on TV," she says.
The customer also confronts Grady when she notices Grady recording her. The woman also accuses Grady's 2-year-old child of stealing store merchandise.
"I don't know what you think you're videoing, lady," the customer says. "I was just discriminated against by two black women and you being a white woman and you literally thinking that's OK … why don't you go home to your husband who's cheating on you."
The African-American store manager can also be heard calmly telling the woman to stop using profanity because there are children present.
"This woman [the cashier] screamed at me across the [deleted] store like an animal … you're an animal … I told you as the manager to reprimand … Michael is going to hear about this first thing Friday morning," the customer says.
Grady said multiple customers and store security had called police during the tirade. By the time police arrived, the customer had already left the store. Throughout the confrontation, Grady said the Michaels employees were professional and courteous.
"There were about 10 customers standing with the manager and most of (us) stayed the entire 45 mins to make sure we spoke to the police," Grady said via email.
Grady was so upset by the incident that she started the GoFundMe campaign because the store manager, who took the brunt of the customer's anger, has three children and Grady wanted to make the family's holidays a little brighter.
"I'd like to do something to try to make it up to the employee who was the main target of this racist attack. I'd like to show her that many people are horrified by how this woman treated her, and that we stand with her and appreciate her hard work. She inspired me because despite the hateful words that were being hurled in her direction, she stood in that entrance way calm and unmoving to protect her staff and customers... In the current climate I believe it's very important that we go out of our way to treat each other with dignity, kindness and politeness, and that we stand up for each other when we see people being mistreated."
As of Sunday evening, the GoFundMe account was at $1,140. A call to Michaels' corporate headquarters in Irving, Texas, was not immediately returned.Promotion vs. Promotion is HAPPENING May 8th! Mark those calendars! @RFAfighting vs. @legacyfighting More on @InsideMMAaxstv after this! — AXS TV Fights (@AXSTVFights) March 21, 2015
Legacy FC vs Resurrection Fighting Alliance to take place May 8th
For the first time in AXS TV FIGHTS history two promotions are going head-to-head in a co-promoted live event broadcast May 8. AXS TV FIGHTS tonight announced that Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) and Legacy Fighting Championship (Legacy) have agreed to put their top fighters to the test for AXS TV FIGHTS: RFA VS. LEGACY SUPERFIGHT on Friday, May 8 at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
The full main card is as follows (subject to change):
Flyweight Superfight Championship RFA’s Alexandre Pantoja (14-2) versus Legacy’s Damacio Paige (19-9).
RFA Bantamweight Title Fight RFA Champion Luke Sanders (9-0) versus RFA Contender Terrion Ware (11-3).
Legacy Lightweight Title Fight Legacy Contender Dave Burrow (13-5) versus Legacy Contender Mike Bronzoulis (17-8-1).
Heavyweight fight RFA’s Jan Jorgensen (6-1) versus Legacy’s Joe Cason (9-1).
Welterweight Fight RFA’s Bojan Velickovic (9-3) versus Legacy’s Charles Byrd (7-3). Lightweight Fight RFA’s Adam Townsend (12-3) versus Legacy’s Chris Feist (8-1).
Flyweight Fight Legacy’s Brian Hall (8-2) versus an RFA fighter to be determined.
“We are excited to be a part of a series that is the first of its kind,” said Mick Maynard, CEO of Legacy Fighting Championship. “Both of our organizations have been instrumental in catapulting fighters to the next level in their careers for the last several years and this will be an even more entertaining and unique way to continue that legacy. Many have talked the talk, Legacy and RFA will now be walking the walk.”
Stay tuned right here at MMA Sucka for more live streams as well as videos highlighting the top fighters, commentators, coaches, promoters and other names in mma and combat sports. You can also subscribe to our youtube channel for regular updates and all the latest fight news. You can also check out our sister site, at TheFightBuzz.com for the latest from the world of mma and other combat sports.Fuel theft is unfortunately an all-too-common problem on farms.
As operations grow larger, and with more uninhabited farm yards, thieves may find fuel tanks unsupervised and unprotected.
To keep fuel where it’s supposed to be, Kenneth Johnson and Jace Ericson of Estevan, Saskatchewan came up with their own solution: a steel cabinet for fuel transfer pumps on tanks.
Their creation — the Defender Pump Guard — has caught interest from retailers, as well as the judges in the 2016 Farm Progress Show Innovation Showcase, winning the gold award at this year’s show in Regina.
“It’s your first line of defense to protect you from theft, vandalism and from the weather that breaks down your equipment,” explains Kyle Wiebe of Maverick Industries in the interview below. The Morden, Manitoba-based company now manufactures and sells the Defender Pump Guard.
Watch more from Canada’s Farm Progress Show ’16
The steel locker comes with a solar power option for transferring fuel in remote locations. As Wiebe explains, it’s also designed to mount to the tank to prevent having thieves detach the entire pump and cabinet by spinning it out.
Related: Are You Doing Enough to Secure Your Farm?Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether there was any collusion with the Trump campaign has cost taxpayers more than $5 million, according to a report.
The expenses, since the special counsel was appointed in May, include money for a staff of more than 16 attorneys, dozens of FBI agents, support staff, travel,and office supplies, according to ABC News’s Pierre Thomas.
A detailed breakdown of the costs is expected to be released by the Justice Department in coming days.
That does not include taxpayer costs incurred by congressional committee investigations by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate intelligence committee, and the House intelligence committee.
So far, there have been indictments against three Trump campaign officials and one Trump transition official, and none of the charges have to do with collusion or conspiracy to collude.
Mueller in October charged Paul Manafort and his business partner Rick Gates of lobbying and tax-related crimes, to which they have plead not guilty. He also charged former foreign policy campaign adviser George Papadopoulos with lying to the FBI, to which he pled guilty.
On Friday, Mueller charged former National Security Adviser Ret. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn of lying to the FBI, to which he pled guilty, as part of a plea bargain whereby he would cooperate with the special counsel.Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHouse committee believes it has evidence Trump requested putting ally in charge of Cohen probe: report Vietnamese airline takes steps to open flights to US on sidelines of Trump-Kim summit Manafort's attorneys say he should get less than 10 years in prison MORE had a tepid response when asked if he would consider GOP presidential rival Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzTrump unleashing digital juggernaut ahead of 2020 Inviting Kim Jong Un to Washington Trump endorses Cornyn for reelection as O'Rourke mulls challenge MORE for the Supreme Court should the businessman win the White House.
"I don't know, I'd have to think about it," Trump told the Daily Mail in an interview Monday.
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"There's a whole question of uniting and there's a whole question as to temperament," Trump continued. "He's certainly a smart guy, but there's also a temperament issue."
"He's got a tough temperament for what we're talking about," Trump said. "You have to be a very, very smart, rational person, in my opinion, to be a justice of any kind."
Trump told The Washington Post that he plans to announce upward of a dozen judges from which he'd pick to fill Supreme Court vacancies.
Cruz, a former Texas solicitor general, has been mentioned by Republicans as a potential replacement to fill the vacant seat previously held by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidBottom Line Brennan fires back at'selfish' Trump over Harry Reid criticism Trump rips Harry Reid for 'failed career' after ex-Dem leader slams him in interview MORE (D-Nev.) on Monday described such a scenario as scary.
For his part, Cruz insisted in March that he was more focused on nominating justices to the court than becoming one.
Trump made his comments to the Mail as he and Cruz battle in Indiana heading into the state's primary on Tuesday. The Hoosier State is viewed as a last chance for Cruz and fellow candidate John Kasich to prevent Trump from reaching the 1,237 delegates needed to secure the nomination before the Republican National Convention in July.The 2015 ‘Amnesia Rock Fest‘ lineup has been announced and remains as impressive as ever. Taking place on June 18th-21st in Montebello, QC, the roster for the fest runs as follows:
Linkin Park
System Of A Down
The Offspring (performing “Americana“)
Slayer
Snoop Dogg
Pixies
Rob Zombie
Deftones (performing “Around The Fur”
Sublime With Rome
Rancid (performing “…And Out Come The Wolves“)
Tenacious D
Bad Religion
Refused
Goldfinger
Floggy Molly
Gogol Bordello
Thrice
Coheed And Cambria
Story Of The Year
Ministry
Skinny Puppy
Parkway Drive
Down
Fear Factory
Atreyu
Hatebreed
Propagandhi
Less Than Jake
Good Riddance
The Bouncing Souls
Melvins
Banileue Rouge
Les Cowboys Fringants
Groovy Aardvark
Mononc Serge
Subb
Reset
Descendents
All
Buzzcocks
The Exploited
GBH
Michale Graves of Misfits
Ten Foot Pole
Tom Green
Mike Ward
Steve-O
CKY
Rejlaplanche
Unwritten law
Operation Ivy (tribute)
Satanic Surfers
Raised Fist
No Fun At All
Randy
Bigwig
Map
The Planet Smashers (tribute)
Big D And The Kids Table
Mad Caddies
Catch 22
Voodoo Glow Skulls
Suicide Machines
Rufio
Carcass
The Dillinger Escape Plan
Bolt Thrower
Evergreen Terrace
From Autumn To Ashes
Blind Witness
Sick Of It All
Cro-Mags
Snapcase
First Blood
Walls Of Jericho
Slapshot
The Real McKenzies
Penelope
Bald Vulture
Colectivo
Overbass
Les Ekorches
Miracles
Captaine Revolte
UKKO
Slaves On Dope (performing “Inches From The Mainline“)
Caravane
Bodh’aktan
Get The Shot
Barrasso
Bookakee
Rage Against The Machine (tribute)
Yessir Miller
Sharpie ManGreetings Festive Pagans – and Happy Solstice!
Back in 1998, I published one of my earliest articles: The Ancient Gods and Neopaganism. I wrote it during the period I was discovering the Old Magick that would revolutionize my spiritual practice, and the essay is a great reflection of that transition.
To this day, The Ancient Gods and Neopaganism remains one of my most popular essays – especially around Christmas. And the reason is the Santa Template.
Essentially, I point out that the modern Neopagan methods of working with Gods are very different than how the ancients did it. Ask a modern practitioner how to go about invoking a deity, and you’ll hear about casting circles and inscribing sigils and wielding magickal tools. But when we look at records of ancient civilizations, we find their methods of invoking deities were based upon specific feast days and religious celebrations. In other words, the manner in which we celebrate Christmas today is much closer to how gods were worshipped “back in the day” than how most moderns are going about it now.
And so it is in the spirit of the season, and on the off chance you haven’t already read about my Santa Template, I offer it again:
The Santa Template for Pagan Worship
(Adapted From “The Ancient Gods and Neopaganism”)
It will surely amaze you to find out that Santa Claus is a modern deity who fits each and every requirement of ancient Pagan deity worship. What follows is not about the well-known Pagan origins of the Santa Claus image (aka, Father Christmas – who has close ties to Germanic images of Odin). Instead, this is about the modern incarnation of Santa himself as a Western deity.
The manner in which we moderns deal with Santa Claus, and Christmas in general, is exactly how rites to Gods were performed in ancient times. Knowing this, it can provide an awesome sounding board against which to test our methods of dealing with any God we choose. At the very least, it offers us a glaring contrast to our normal Neo-Pagan methods.
To begin with, Santa is certainly old enough. He is not young enough to be a new thought-form creation (like- say- Cthulhu). Nor is he the soul of someone recently dead. He was, however, a once-living human. Nicolas of Myra was a Greek bishop who lived in fourth century Greece (in the area of modern Turkey). He made such an impression on the people around him – especially his legendary kindness to children – that he was eventually canonized into Sainthood by the Church. From a practical standpoint, a Saint and an Angel are much the same kind of creature – and one can erect altars and perform invocations to either one in times of need. You can even find religious icons painted in his honor:
Much as we see in the most ancient forms of ancestor worship, St. Nicolas’ spirit was captured after his death and never allowed to escape. Honoring this spirit, the people gave it strength and nourishment. Now he is known round the world, and even invoked in a religious context.
But that’s all very Orthodox stuff. What interests us here is how our modern western culture honors this deity today:
We start by having a Holy Day for him- every Christmas. Oh, I know they say that the holiday is to honor the birth of the Son of God. Or, as some know it, the Sun God. But, think way back to your childhood: Jesus might have been the Sun of God… But to a kid, God’s Name at that time of year was “Santa Claus.” His image was everywhere. You yearned for his coming. You wrote him letters and even offered prayers. I would hazard to say that not one of us as children ever cared about some guy born in a desert two thousand years ago. It was Santa we were focused upon.*
[* – Note that I do not mean to discount the honoring of Jesus (for Christians) or the Sun God (for Pagans) at this time of year. I could write at length about either. But this particular essay is about Santa.]
But we weren’t alone! Our god here is not lacking in priesthood any more than he lacks worshippers. He certainly had Prophets; men who would assume his form and have full authority to speak on his behalf. We saw them on street corners, we saw them in malls. The malls were where we could gain audience to the Prophet and ask him what the God had to say about our wishes. It was a divination plane and simple. We all knew that it wasn’t the real Santa, but we all played our roles for the divination so that the Prophet could properly invoke Santa’s essence and speak with his voice.
Mind-altering drugs were not absent. The insane amounts of sugar we ate throughout the holidays altered our consciousness, and contributed to the euphoric feeling we associate with the season. All the sacred cookies and candies – often in the shapes of Santa, reindeer, snowmen and other icons – were especially consumed before traveling to consult the Prophet at the mall.
Yet Santa has a Secret Priesthood as well; the priests who are never seen, but are responsible for making sure all the “miracles” associated with the deity are accomplished. Today we know they were our parents, but as young children we didn’t. We still thought that the God himself was manifesting bodily and performing the miracles of Christmas morning. Each Christmas Eve our parents would usher us off to bed, and claim to go to bed themselves. Then, they would enter the Temple and perform Santa’s role. They would lay out the presents, and eat the milk and cookies. Sometimes they leave “evidence” that “Santa” had been there.
Why, I was once mystified by the sound of sleigh bells outside my window on Christmas Eve as I struggled to fall asleep. I lived in Florida, so of course these were not among the usual sounds of wintertime. I knew that no car was driving by, and that no one was walking or running by with them, for the sound had been too brief. Yet it had been long enough to be obvious- it was sleigh bells!
That event mystified me until I reached adulthood. Then one Christmas, when I was visiting home, I saw my mother do this to the children in the house (among them my own son). And now, I do it every year for my daughter. I pray it has effected them like it did me.
These are the priests of Santa- both those of the inner sanctuary and the outer prophets. The Temple I spoke of above is, obviously, your living room. It is decorated in very specific colors, with trimmings of specific kinds and shapes. Holly is sacred to him, as was mistletoe, and the mistletoe has important rites associated with it. Santa’s image must to be there, as well as his sacred tree. Every decoration hung on that tree, and in the temple, has a reason for being there. Each has it’s own rituals and tradition, which reflect family history and culture. And everything has to be “just so”; the instructions for that are no less involved than what one might find in Exodus ch. 30, where the Tabernacle of Worship was outlined.
Santa is even to be nourished with offerings sacred to him: pure milk and the sweet pastries known as “cookies”. Or at least some variation thereon. These were always consumed by one or both of the inner sanctum priests of your specific cult (family). It is a Eucharist for them. A similar Eucharist for worshippers in general (the rest of the family, friends) consists of more cookies and eggnog.
We even sing songs to Santa in the temple for the rather specific purpose of invoking and strengthening his presence into the room. This increases steadily all season until it hits its peak on the twenty-fourth, where the invocations are accompanied by specific rites on the holiest of nights. There are very intricate rituals that must be enacted on Christmas Eve, finally ending in the worshippers laying down to sleep. More than sleep- entranced into having visionary dreams. The sacred literature instructs that we should envision sugarplums if we do it right. We never do. Even more intricate and specific rites have to be performed the following morning and day. A description of that could fill chapters!
Not only this, but Santa can be offended and driven away. Bad behavior from children is at the top of that list. Although, anyone can offend him enough with an attitude that we have termed “Scrooge” or “Grinch.” We even have sacred literature about those kinds of people: such a person would end up alone and sad, and far from what Santa has to offer. But those stories always ended with the villain being converted and made a holy man at last! Of course, our sacred scripture incorporated much more than that. It also contained our whole mythos concerning our sacred heroes- Frosty and Rudolph for example. And the instructions for the visions of sugarplums.
As children during Christmas season, every day and in every way we lived, loved, and worshipped Santa Claus. We gave ourselves to him in pure faith, in perfect love, and in perfect trust. It was that simple. There were no circles. There were no “correspondence charts”. The rituals throughout the holy season weren’t technical, they were devotional. And they were so much a part of you that you never even thought much about them.
This is what it was like for the pagans of the ancient world as they honored their Gods. We Neo-Pagans have so very far to go.
St. Nick – The Template
Therefore, I have created what I call the “Santa Template for Pagan Worship.” Any time you feel you have a need to honor a specific God or Goddess, you might first wish to lay the Santa Template over them first. See how your own knowledge of the God in question lacks before you even get started. I will give an example. First, let me highlight the Template. Santa possesses all of the following:
• Sacred Images • Holy Days • Numerous and very specific rites and rituals. • Specific Eucharist/Communion (and for other gods, Baptism and other religious observances as well). • Sacred foods, plants, colors, trees as well as: • Specific temple lay out and sacred objects as decoration. Traditions, mythos, and rites associated with all. Each to be properly maintained. • Specific dances and music. Even specific musical instruments. • Divinations, Visions, and petitions for the God’s aid or blessing. • Sacred scripture and Mythology. • Specific “sins” and offenses against the commandments of the God. Or, making yourself ritually unclean. • An organized priesthood who take care of most of the above details, perform the important and most secret rites, and are also our direct link to the God by invocation of Him. • Altered consciousness. • Total and faithful dedication and love toward the Deity. If the God’s holy day doesn’t feel like Christmas, then you’re doing it wrong.
I do not believe that even one of the above points was missing from the temples of the old gods. Not only the above, but even more that I’m sure we’ll never even guess. Imagine a person five thousand years from now trying to observe Christmas from what he reads in maybe four or five surviving copies of our modern books on Christmas. Or even only commentary and short quotes about our Christmas from people who came after us. Or maybe (worse yet!) from old television commercials that have been recovered! Do you think he would capture what our children feel today? Not a chance- and that is what you are up against in attempting to re-establish contact with one of the ancient gods.
When dealing with a God other than St. Nick, we have to ask ourselves how many of the above points are we capable of fulfilling? How much information did we recover from those eras and the God’s cult (to be found in archeology books, not Neopagan beginner’s manuals), and how many points of our Template will be left empty?
Marduk – An Example
Let us assume that we wish to honor Marduk of Babylon. How many points of the Template can you fill out for him? What does our current knowledge of Marduk contain? Holy days? Yes, a few of those have been figured out. Certain rites and rituals? No- we can only connect Marduk to the opening recitations of some exorcism rites, and that’s all.
Very specific foods, plants, sacrifices, and other materials? Aside from Lapis Lazuli (which Marduk is often associated with), none.
At least we know what he looks like in one of his forms – thanks to a surviving image of him from Babylon. We also know he was associated with a strange dragon-creature that we can see resting at his feet (the same dragon depicted on the Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylonia) – though no one is sure |
the ivory tower, and imagine taking their own lives.
For her part, 9-year-old Abbie likes "to pretend and work herself up to peak fearfulness," Bishop writes—a quality that more than one of Bishop's friends tell me they recognized in Abbie's creator. Sometimes Abbie is confused by her gory fantasies but reassures herself: "My imagination strikes again." Friends of Bishop say that statement also rang true: Bishop had a habit of making things up and presenting them as facts. "I sometimes didn't believe everything that came out of her mouth. I can't describe exactly why," Dinsmoor says. But he admired her suspenseful prose: "She did dread real well."
Abbie felt cold metal pressed against her forehead... [She] opened her eyes. Inches from her face the red head's finger curled around the trigger of a revolver. "Surprise." He pulled the trigger. — from The Diary of Abigail White, by Amy Bishop
December 19, 1993—the Home of Paul Rosenberg
14 Standish Street, Newton, Massachusetts
Paul Rosenberg was in his kitchen, opening the mail. It was about 11 pm, and the neurologist and his wife had just returned from a week's vacation. He looked at the package on the counter—the house sitter had found it inside the front storm door. The white cardboard box was about a foot square and 3 inches deep. There were six 29-cent stamps on the box. They had not been canceled.
A medical researcher, Rosenberg had recently attended a seminar on letter bombs—the Unabomber had struck twice that year—and this heavy package looked suspicious. So, gingerly, he cut the tape around the edge with a knife and peeked inside. Two pieces of pipe, each about 6 inches long, were fixed in place. Wires were visible. He carefully shut the box, alerted his wife, and fled.
When the bomb squad arrived, they found that the contraption was designed to go off when the lid was pulled open. Rosenberg hadn't done that. It probably saved his life.
Less than a month before, on November 30, Bishop had quit her job as a researcher in Rosenberg's lab at Children's Hospital Boston. She'd been there just a few months, but Rosenberg told investigators that he'd been instrumental in her departure. Rosenberg told authorities that despite Bishop's credentials—she'd gotten her doctorate in genetics from Harvard earlier that year—he felt "she could not meet the standards required for the work." One person told investigators that the episode had left Bishop "on the verge of a nervous breakdown." Rosenberg said Bishop just didn't seem stable.
Then there was her husband, James Anderson. One witness told investigators that the round-faced computer engineer with tentative blue eyes had it in for Rosenberg. He had said he "wanted to get back" at Rosenberg for his treatment of Bishop, according to case records from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms—"to shoot him, bomb him, stab him, or strangle" him. Another witness told investigators that Anderson had trouble keeping a job. Anderson and Bishop were questioned in the attempted bombing of Rosenberg, but no one was ever charged.
Beth remembered what Jack was like when they met and fell in love, alive... Over this last year, he'd metamorphosed into a flaccid, bed-loving loser... Jack wasn't always that way, ambition-challenged, but he was now. — from Easter in Boston
Beth Israel Hospital Cardiology Department
330 Brookline Avenue, Boston
Bishop was the very definition of stressed out. By now, she had three kids under the age of 6: Lily, born in 1991; Thea, in 1993; and Phaedra, in 1995. Anderson was working sporadically, helping rebuild scientific laboratories or taking the occasional computer programming gig. The couple had constant money problems, friends say, and would soon consider filing for bankruptcy.
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Bishop cared intensely about appearances, particularly those that connoted status. She wanted an address in Ipswich, she told friends, because the area north of Boston seemed classier than the city. Then there was the matter of her husband's first name. He was christened Jimmy Jr., after an ancestor who was a Greek ship captain. But Bishop told him that combined with his Southern accent, "Jimmy" made him sound low class. "They think you're a mechanic or something—a hick," Arrogant Amy told Anderson, insisting that the former Eagle Scout call himself James. So he did. "James was a name that Amy gave him," says Jimmy Anderson Sr., Bishop's father-in-law, who lives in Prattville, Alabama. "He deserves some kind of a medal for living with her. She was the extreme end of bossy."
By 1996, Bishop had found employment as a researcher at a Harvard teaching hospital, Beth Israel. She was also doing work at the Harvard School of Public Health, but it eventually began to dawn on her, friends say, that she was not going to rise through the university's ranks. She had taken multiple maternity leaves. She also had to deal with her severe allergies, which required her to take steroids that sometimes made her "zone out," she told friends, and lose track of reality.
Bishop was starting to wonder whether it might be a good idea to take her Harvard credentials where she'd be a bigger fish in a smaller pond. Maybe then, she confided to friends, she'd get the recognition she deserved.
As it was, her resentment flared when she felt slighted. Hugo Gonzalez-Serratos, currently a professor of physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, collaborated with her on a 1996 paper about deficient cellular cyclic AMP while they were at Beth Israel's cardiology department. The paper had nine authors; Bishop was listed second. "She was very angry because she was not the first author," Gonzalez-Serratos, who was listed eighth, told The New York Times. "She exploded into something emotional that we never saw before in our careers." Again, Angry Amy had seized control, this time with self-destructive results: Her contract, the Times reported, was not renewed.
Beth's temper flared and she couldn't stop herself even though she knew it could be the death of her career... The thought of being some unemployed loser, a non-Harvard, a non-scientist made her shiver at her loss of identity. — from Easter in Boston
1999—Hamilton Public Library
299 Bay Road, Hamilton, Massachusetts
In her writing group, Bishop said what she thought, whenever it occurred to her, and then was surprised when people didn't take it well. "She's kind of clueless socially," says Rob Dinsmoor, who was a regular. "She would read someone's story and say, 'Second paragraph. Doesn't help. Kill it.' Or 'I don't like this character. Kill it.' It really wasn't tactful."
At one meeting not long after she'd joined the group, Bishop arrived toting hefty manuscripts. Usually, people brought passages or maybe chapters to share. But here was Arrogant Amy, distributing a massive tome—her first novel, the one about Abbie. "She said, 'I'm sorry to spring it on you like this, but I wanted everyone to look at it before I gave it to my agent,'" Dinsmoor recalls. This was more than the group leader could bear. "He goes, 'Agent? I don't think you're ready for an agent.' He just went ballistic."
Bishop didn't care. She'd hatched a plan that would allow her to escape academia: Writing best-selling novels, Dinsmoor says, would be her ticket out of the drudgery of grant-writing and research that occupied her days and nights.
She aimed high in her role models. Lenny Cavallaro, a friend and writing teacher, recalls that when he told Bishop she could be marketed as "a female Michael Crichton"—Crichton also went to Harvard—"she was very excited. She was almost foaming at the mouth." Soon she was hosting the writers group at her home. It was easier, what with three small kids and a fourth on the way.
As in many demanding professions, it's difficult for women in science to climb the ladder while raising children. But Bishop was determined to master both. In one of her novels, she observes that "in this era of the supermom who's a great wife, mother, and CEO," if you're not all three "you're a failure." Maybe the life of a writer would be more accommodating to motherhood than doing research had been.
To read Bishop's books back-to-back is to be struck by a recurring plot point in all three: a little brother who has died too young. He's called Luke in two of the novels, and ghostly memories of him appear frequently to those who've outlived him. Abbie suffers most from these visions. She is sure she killed Luke by throwing a "fist-sized rock" that hit him in the head. She "fired" it in anger, she admits, but she immediately feels remorse. Now Abbie is doomed to relive the moment of impact, again and again. It's hard to escape the conclusion that Bishop was channeling her own awful memories of her brother's death.
By all accounts, Seth Bishop had been his sister's doting companion, her fellow brainiac, even her savior. Years before his death she was quoted in the Braintree Forum and Observer as saying, "One day when he was about 7 and I was with him, I fell down a small cliff and couldn't get up." According to the account, Seth managed to hoist her to safety. "He saved my life that day," Bishop said.
But as an adult, friends say, she never mentioned his name. Members of her writers group had no idea she'd even had a brother. It was as if Seth Bishop had never existed. But on the printed page, at least, he was always there.
Abbie closed her eyes and saw, almost like a film, the rock hit Luke's head over and over again. Abbie opened her eyes then closed them again. The eyelid film still played. — from The Diary of Abigail White
March 16, 2002—International House of Pancakes
Peabody, Massachusetts
It was Saturday morning, and Bishop was about to have a meal with her kids. She asked for a booster seat for her youngest—her only son, then an infant—but was told that the last one had just been given to another woman.
Bishop exploded. "I am Dr. Amy Bishop!" she screamed, launching into a tirade. The manager asked her to leave, but before she did, Bishop punched the other woman in the head. Several witnesses said Bishop seemed to have initiated the dispute. But when an officer followed up later, Bishop insisted that the other woman was the aggressor.
She told friends the same thing, explaining that the woman was neglecting her child and that she, Amy, was simply trying to help. She also said that she'd beat the rap by wearing her white lab coat to court, trumping the woman by looking more professional. "She's like, 'I'm going to make it go away,'" one friend recalls. Bishop was eventually charged with assault and disorderly conduct, but the charges were dismissed. Her record was still clean.
Bishop's Ipswich neighbors didn't know about the booster seat incident, but it probably wouldn't have surprised them. To hear Arthur Kerr tell it, the problems had begun in 1998, the day Bishop and her family moved to 28 Birch Lane. Their rented moving truck backed into the freestanding basketball hoop where all the neighbor kids played, knocking it down. "At first we thought it was just an accident," says Kerr, a Boston tax lawyer who lived next door at the time. "But it turns out they did it on purpose. It was just the start of a long, long battle with them."
In the four-plus years that Bishop and her family lived on Birch Lane, they called the police more than a few times to complain about their neighbors. They didn't like noise: A boom box on low volume, the sound of bouncing balls, even the ice cream truck was an affront. Bishop "would harass the driver," Kerr says. "Finally the truck just stopped coming down our street."
But on Birch Lane, bizarre behavior wasn't considered normal or acceptable. From the moment he met Bishop, Kerr says, he "could just tell she wasn't right. I said to my wife right away, stay away from her. She's bad news." There was something about her eyes, he adds—something off.
One night, after a new portable basketball hoop in the neighborhood had prompted a series of altercations with Bishop, a couple of parents asked her why the sound of kids playing bothered her so much. The argument almost escalated into a fistfight. "She was belligerent, confrontational, a bully," Kerr says.
When word spread that the Bishop-Anderson family was moving to Alabama and their home was up for sale, neighbors rejoiced. Everyone agreed: While the house was on the market, they'd keep their lawns immaculate—if only to make the neighborhood as appealing as possible to potential buyers.
Kerr remembers the afternoon in 2003, when he came home to see their moving truck pulling away. "Everyone was out in the street, and someone said, 'Ding, dong, the witch is dead,'" he says. Pizza was ordered. Someone brought beer. It was, Kerr said, "a party to celebrate: Good riddance, Amy. We had a period of darkness, and it was really unpleasant. And then they left, and we were happy again."
Every time Bishop had gotten into scrapes with the law, she emerged unscathed, her record never seriously marred. Now she had a new job. She was on her way to a tenure-track position at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Since the killings last February, university administrators have reviewed the process by which they hired Bishop. President David Williams, who hadn't yet been appointed when Bishop arrived, says he worried that perhaps her Harvard credentials made some at UAH—a well-respected but second-tier school—turn a blind eye to problems that should have given them pause.
Faced with a candidate who had a doctorate from Harvard, he says, "the natural reaction of a small university trying to grow is to think, wow." But a review of the file, Williams says, showed no corners had been cut. "We got recommendations from leading academics," he says. "We went through the process that we go through for everybody we hire."
Williams acknowledges that no criminal background check had been performed on Bishop before she was hired. It's not standard procedure. But the week after the killings, he asked the Huntsville Police Department to put Bishop into their system, just to see what they would have found. The review came up clean: no prior convictions.
In the wake of the massacre, plenty of scrutiny was aimed at the Braintree Police Departmet, whose investigation of the 1986 shooting of Seth Bishop many felt was incomplete. Had Bishop been charged, tried, and convicted for that incident, three UAH professors could still be alive. "At some point in this woman's life, her bad behavior should have been recognized before she got to UAH," Joe Ritch, a member of the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, told The Huntsville Times. "People kept sweeping her bad behavior under the rug, and now we're paying a tremendous price for that."
But once Bishop was in Alabama, working in her own lab, conducting research that she hoped would address devastating neurological diseases like Lou Gehrig's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis, was there any way her colleagues could have known? She could be rude and dismissive to students and colleagues alike, and her teaching was often seen as disjointed. Was her unusual behavior and abrasive manner a red flag that got missed because some of her fellow academics could be just as odd? The truth bears repeating: Eccentrics are eccentrics; murderers are murderers. One does not imply the other.
If Bishop stands trial—presumably sometime in the coming months—jurors will be asked to consider her psychological makeup. If convicted of capital murder, she will face either the death penalty or life in prison without possibility of parole. To spare her the harshest punishment, her lawyer must show that Bishop did not know right from wrong. But he has yet to reveal what exculpatory diagnosis he plans to offer.
According to Brenda Wade, a clinical psychologist who has followed this case closely, Bishop's feelings of insecurity—her fear of being slighted, her mood swings, her lack of impulse control—are symptoms of borderline personality disorder. People with this condition often toggle between two extremes, experiencing love-hate relationships, idealizing someone one minute, then being furious with them the next. But they aren't typically violent. "She's got something else going on: a remarkable lack of remorse," Wade says. "That's a huge feature, and it makes me wonder whether she also has what we used to call sociopathic or psychopathic behavior. Psychopaths have no remorse. In some way, they are disconnected from real life and real relationships."
While the maze of Bishop's mind will surely be explored in court, it may never be fully mapped. This much, though, seems clear: The memory of her brother, Seth, haunted her.
They had been friends for years before Luke and after, although after Luke, Ian was ticking. She could hear the ticking in his eyes. She knew how far to push him and usually didn't go too far but now she was sure she had. — from Easter in Boston
March 2008—McDowling Drive
Huntsville, Alabama
The two-story green clapboard house that Bishop and Anderson bought when they moved to Huntsville had a strange defect: a split personality. Though their address in the Tara subdivision is listed as McDowling Drive, half of the house actually sits on Greenview Drive. If you stand facing the front door, McDowling heads left, Greenview right. Even Bishop's house showed two faces to the world. "They'd lose mail all the time," Bishop's father-in-law says.
That ongoing confusion proved more than an inconvenience in the spring of 2008, when Anderson Jr. collided with a police car, totaling it. After the accident, police discovered he had an unpaid traffic citation—which had never arrived in the mail—and he was taken into custody on the spot. His father remembers getting a call—not from his daughter-in-law but from a bail bondsman.
Anderson Sr. drove three hours from Prattville and bailed out his son. Even before this, he acknowledges, he didn't feel particularly warmly toward his daughter-in-law, mostly because of how she mistreated his wife, Sandy. Bishop, who has a fear of the herpes virus, wouldn't let the woman near her grandchildren because she sometimes got cold sores. "My poor wife—shunned," Anderson Sr. says.
Anderson Jr. always chalked up Bishop's weirdest behavior to the pressure she was under. He knew his wife could seem brusque. "She's a Harvard grad," he says. "You're not going to get 'gushing' out of somebody like that, sorry." But he believed they were a team. "We were going to do a lot of work side by side and bring the kids in on it, just like the Curies did," he says. In the meantime, he'd run the house while she focused on getting tenure.
But by 2008, Anderson Sr. says, when he came to town to pay his son's bail, the arrangement seemed to be breaking down. The house was "a disaster," he says—unopened mail amid a storm of clutter. Over a few days, he says, he tried to excavate and set things right. But he cut the visit short after a chilling altercation with Bishop. They were talking in the kitchen—about what, he can't remember—"and suddenly I said something that set her off, and she just totally changed. I have never seen anyone before or after whose face, whose body language, changed so 100 percent. I saw a major difference in her eyes. The color of her skin even changed. It was menacing."
He takes a deep breath, remembering how the hostility in Bishop's face made him pack up and head back to Prattville that day. I remind him that right after the killings, he told a reporter he'd called his daughter-in-law "evil," saying he'd seen "the devil in her eyes." He nods. "It definitely was frightening," he says. "I didn't know who I was talking to." Until last year, when Bishop was put in jail, he didn't visit Huntsville again.
In short, Olivia's career was DOA. — from Amazon Fever
March 2009—The Provost's Office
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Bishop sat at the table in provost Vistasp Karbhari's office. On the wall in front of her were three of those stylized motivational posters that herald an attribute to which we should all aspire: "Commitment." "Vision." "Imagination."
At times, Bishop had exhibited all three. And yet, her overall academic achievement was lacking, her colleagues felt. Her teaching was scattered; her publication record thin. And when she did publish, the output could be bizarre, as in the case of a paper titled "Effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on motor neuron survival," which would soon appear in the International Journal of General Medicine. It listed five authors: Bishop, her husband, and three of their four children: Lily B., Phaedra B., and Thea B. Anderson. The B, of course, stood for Bishop. The daughters were kids—none out of their teens. "It was creepy and kind of weird," says Moriarity, the professor who survived Bishop's shooting spree.
Bishop was not without her successes. Much of her research had focused on nitric oxide, which acts as a sort of carrier pigeon between cells, communicating information. But in large amounts, it can turn toxic—a phenomenon thought to be connected to the onset of certain cancers as well as MS and Lou Gehrig's disease.
She was researching genetic therapies that might lead to treatments for these neurological disorders by turning on cells' ability to resist nitric-oxide toxicity. This work had yielded her a $219,750 grant from the National Institutes of Health in 2008. And then there was the new kind of cell incubator, called the InQ, which she and her husband had invented together. UAH president David Williams had highlighted the invention on his blog in November 2008, calling it "remarkable."
Still, the tenure committee voted Bishop down. Now Karbhari was letting her know: She was out. Asked to describe Bishop's reaction, he said she seemed disappointed but not angry. "Normal," he says. (The families of two professors killed in the shooting have since filed wrongful death lawsuits against Karbhari, Bishop, and Anderson.)
When Bishop found out that a member of her tenure review committee had referred to her as "crazy," however, she filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging gender discrimination and citing the professor's remark as possible evidence. According to court papers filed in a lawsuit against Bishop and her husband by some of the victims of the shooting, the professor was given a chance to back off from the comment, but he did not. The court filing states, "I said she was crazy multiple times and I stand by that... This woman has a pattern of erratic behavior. She did things that weren't normal... she was out of touch with reality."
It was a wonder none of his ex-employees didn't come back to the lab shooting. Getting fired was bad enough, but to have everyone but her know about it for perhaps weeks in advance was worse. — from Easter in Boston
Summer 2009—An Indoor Shooting Range
Huntsville, Alabama
Target practice would be fun, James Anderson says his wife told him. "It's a sport," he recalls her saying. "And I'm like, you can do this?" If the thought of her brother, Seth, dead from a shotgun wound to the chest, crossed his mind then, he doesn't say so. But Anderson confirms he did accompany his wife to aim and shoot guns. "I'll just try it," he remembers her saying.
2:30 pm, February 12, 2010—Tara Subdivision
Huntsville, Alabama
After spending the morning on campus, Bishop drove her classic scarlet 1991 Cadillac back to Tara, to the green clapboard house with the confused identity. Later, Bishop would say she didn't remember a thing about what she was about to do.
Around 3 pm, her husband took her back to campus. She had a faculty meeting to attend. And when she took her seat, she was carrying a bag with a 9-mm Ruger inside.
The empty clip slid into the 9mm easily. Beth sat on her bed, the gun and its paraphernalia, strewn about, while she worked on it... [She] sat back down with the dictionary. She mulled over words like love, loneliness, hopelessness, despair. She looked at words like suicide and murder. — from Easter in Boston
3:56 pm, February 12, 2010—University of Alabama in Huntsville
Shelby Center for Science and Technology, Room 369R
When she heard the first deafening boom, Debra Moriarity thought the walls were caving in. "What's falling?" she wondered as she looked up from the notes she'd been taking. She could hardly make sense of what she saw: Bishop was firing a pistol at her fellow scientists. For the better part of an hour, Bishop had been sitting at the end of a long conference table, listening to a dozen people discuss the biology department's budget and other matters. Now standing near the room's only door, she was transformed. Aiming at one colleague's head after another, she pulled the trigger again and again. Boom. Boom.
Gopi Podila, the department chair who specialized in the molecular biology of plants, was already down and bleeding. So was Stephanie Monticciolo, the staff assistant who'd attended the 3 pm meeting to keep the minutes. Those two had been on Bishop's right. Now she turned left and shot the person nearest to her: Adriel Johnson, an expert in gastrointestinal physiology. Next to Johnson was plant scientist Maria Ragland Davis. Bishop shot her, too. Then the department's newest faculty member, molecular biologist Luis Cruz-Vera, was wounded in the chest by a ricocheting bullet or bone fragment. As Joseph Leahy, whose research focused on the biodegradation of hydrocarbons, ducked for cover, a bullet tore through the top of his head, severing his right optic nerve.
Moriarity had dived under the table. Now, kneeling on the rug, she grabbed hold of Bishop's blue-jeaned leg. "Amy, don't do this," she pleaded. "Think about my grandson. Think about your daughter." Bishop's eldest daughter, Lily, was a student at the university; she studied biology with some of the people trapped in this room. "Please snap out of this," Moriarity thought. "This has to stop." As if in response, Bishop pointed the gun at Moriarity and pulled the trigger. Click. It didn't fire. Moriarity, still on hands and knees, half-rolled, half-crawled toward the door, Bishop right behind her. Bishop's eyes seemed cold and "very, very evil-looking."
Just a few weeks before, Bishop had invited Moriarity, an expert on growth-factor signaling, to collaborate on a grant application to study an enzyme that might inhibit breast cancer. "You know, no matter where I end up, we're going to write that grant together," Bishop had said. Because she'd been denied tenure, Bishop would be leaving UAH soon. Still, she'd told Moriarity, "I really want to do that project." Moriarity thought they were friends.
Now they were in the hall. Bishop took aim at Moriarity again, and again squeezed the trigger. Click. The gun still wouldn't fire. "Somebody help us!" Moriarity screamed and threw herself back into the room, slamming the door. In the few seconds she was in motion, she could hear Bishop trying but failing to get her weapon to work. Click. Click. Click.
With six people wounded, there was blood everywhere—on the table, on the chairs, on the white drywall. Someone used a coffee table to barricade the door. Someone else found a cell phone and dialed 911.
Moriarity and the five others who were unhurt tried to aid their ravaged colleagues, but all they had to stanch the bleeding were napkins and their own clothes. Podila—the affable 52-year-old department chair who had been one of Bishop's biggest supporters—was on the floor. He would soon die from his wounds. So, too, would associate professors Johnson, also 52, and Davis, 50. Three of the six injured would survive. Cruz-Vera would be hospitalized briefly. But the other two wouldn't be so lucky. A bullet had entered Monticciolo's right cheek and exited through her left temple. Her sinuses were shattered, the teeth on the right side of her mouth knocked out. The shot left tooth fragments in her airway. She would be blind in her left eye. Leahy had numerous fractured facial bones that would require wiring his jaw shut, implanting a feeding peg into his stomach, and affixing a titanium plate to his forehead. Eventually he would develop an antibiotic-resistant staph infection. But that would come later. Right now, they huddled in the windowless, fluorescently lit conference room. Just 17 by 21 feet, it was their safe house and also their prison. They had no idea whether Bishop was coming back.
June 16, 2010—Norfolk District Attorney's Office
Canton, Massachusetts
Norfolk district attorney William Keating didn't mince words. "Jobs weren't done, responsibilities weren't met, justice was not served," he said in a news conference where he made an announcement: Nearly 24 years after Seth Bishop's death, a grand jury had indicted his sister, Amy, on a charge of first-degree murder.
Keating said law enforcement officers in Massachusetts had failed in 1986. Police never told the district attorney's office that after Bishop shot her brother, she tried to commandeer a getaway car at gunpoint and that she refused to drop her gun until officers repeatedly ordered her to do so, Keating said.
After Keating's media event, William Delahunt, who was district attorney in Norfolk at the time of the 1986 shooting, released a statement along with his former top assistant: They would have prosecuted Bishop back then, but the Braintree police did not provide them with necessary reports and photos from the crime scene.
One photo of Bishop's bedroom showed a National Enquirer article on the floor. It was about the killing of the parents of actor Patrick Duffy, who played Bobby Ewing on the television show Dallas and also involved the use of a shotgun and the commandeering a vehicle from a car dealership.
Sam and Judy Bishop made their first lengthy statement since the Alabama killings, releasing a pointed four-page statement that reasserted their daughter's innocence in the killing of their son, accused the news media of sensationalism, and scolded law enforcement for seeking a scapegoat. "This prejudicial, biased review of the 1986 facts is an enormous waste of public resources that does not in any way provide a benefit to the public and proceeds only for the purposes of assessing blame where no blame was involved," the Bishops said. While they felt "a deep, unremitting sorrow for the families involved" in the Alabama shootings and could not explain what happened there, they said, "we know that what happened 23 years ago to our son, Seth, was an accident."
"I'm sorry I was spared! I'm sorry I was spared! I'm sorry I was spared!" — Olivia in Amazon Fever
June 18, 2010—Madison County Jail
Huntsville, Alabama
Two days after being indicted in Massachusetts, Bishop slashed her wrists with a razor blade. She'd imagined, in Easter in Boston, "how easy it would be to just step over the railing and fall backwards onto the parking lot below... Six stories should be high enough." But killing oneself wasn't easy after all; she survived. "I tried to kill myself because I was hallucinatory/delusional and could not take UAH and being indicted for my brother's accident," she said in a letter to her friend Dinsmoor.
The two had kept in touch after she'd moved to Alabama. She would call him sometimes late at night, just to talk. They'd spoken about two weeks before the killings. She was upbeat about a new project, he said. "She was working on the cell incubator, which I think was going to segue into something called the neurister, which was going to be a computer made of neurons," Dinsmoor says. It sounded like something right out of a Crichton novel.
Months later, Bishop began calling Dinsmoor frequently from jail. But it was a different Bishop, neither arrogant nor angry. This Bishop was beseeching. She wanted him to try to sell her writing—the three existing novels as well as a diary she was keeping about life behind bars.
Bishop's dream of being a famous writer hadn't died. Recently, she asked Dinsmoor to try to sell a poem, written—improbably—in rap style. Once, she mentioned sending some money to the families of her victims. "Here we are sitting in jail. Let me go ahead and tell you our tales," goes the poem "Jailhouse Rap," which, Bishop told Dinsmoor, has been adopted by her fellow inmates as a sort of anthem. "We sleep and dream our way out of here. Our powerlessness is very clear. "
She wondered whether she could survive her boy's childhood. She wondered if she could, without crying, watch her child that looked like Luke run and play. She wondered if she would fear losing Luke again so much that she would wish she were dead. — from Easter in Boston
Jim Anderson's house—McDowling Drive
Huntsville, Alabama
Bishop's framed Harvard diploma still hangs in a cubbylike office off the laundry room in the home that her husband hopes like hell he won't have to sell. With his four children to feed and a wife—the family's main breadwinner—awaiting trial for murder, money is tight. "Might even go get food stamps," Anderson says, shaking his head.
He's calling himself Jim now. Not James. Not Jimmy. Just Jim.
Lately, Anderson says, his family has spent more time than usual in this house. The kids still go to school, of course. Although she's sitting in a jail cell, their mother remains adamant about that. "Are they doing their homework?" she quizzes her husband when she calls from lockup. "Are they getting out and exercising?
On this night, their three teenage daughters and 9-year-old son have shared a pizza after attending a martial arts class. They're not shut-ins—Anderson seems to want to make that clear as he sponges down the blond-wood table in his white-paneled kitchen. Still, he says, it's often easier to stay close to home.
With the kitchen cleaned up, Anderson leads a tour. First stop is the tiny office where the diplomas hang. Smiling, he points out Bishop's two and his own "lonesome" one from Northeastern. He leads me past a corkboard that displays a bumper sticker—I Love My Country, But I Fear My Government—and out to the garage.
"That's where they blew up the pipe," he says, his voice dismissive. He's talking about investigators who executed a search warrant back in March. He points to a spot on the floor where they found something suspicious. "They're like, oh, my God, what's this? It's a piece of pipe. Quick, call the robot out. What didn't get their interest was right above it," he says. He'd been looking for a way to sterilize cartridges for the InQ cell incubator. He'd built a little chamber that was clamped in the vice. "Gauges, knobs, with a tube leading down to this tank of compressed gas on the ground. I had it labeled so it would be scary: "Do Not Stand In Front of This Device". And guess where they were standing? I felt like saying, guys, you didn't notice I had a tank of compressed oxygen in there? And two tanks full of propane?"
He rolls his eyes. Then he heads to his workshop, which doubles as a playroom. There is a low table covered with Legos, a huge periodic table on the wall, a terrarium filled with frogs. On his workbench sits a device that looks like a canister of gas with wires sticking out of one end. Anderson has affixed a handwritten label, block letters on blue packing tape: "This is NOT a Bomb". He added the label after the search warrant was served, he says, "just in case they showed up again."
Back in the kitchen, I ask him whether he or his wife ever kept a gun in the house, as has been alleged. "No, no, no. Not with three teenagers," he says, chuckling faintly. I ask him about the 2008 incident his father describes, when Anderson Sr. and Bishop faced off in the whitewashed kitchen. Does Anderson recognize the kind of transformation of his wife that his father witnessed? "I think I've seen it once or twice," he says, looking down. "But maybe it was just the angry—you know, some people get the angry face."
I ask Anderson about whether he thinks eccentricity and scientific aptitude go hand in hand. He doesn't hesitate. "Yeah, I think there's a certain brilliance and a certain insanity that goes along with it," he says matter-of-factly. "People ask, well, didn't you see that in her? Didn't she act unusual? It's like, she acted no more unusual than any other scientist I've ever been with. You sit down with a bunch of scientists and—I hate to say it, but—their demeanor is more like him." He nods toward his only son, curled up in a worn armchair in a corner. "You know, like a 9-year-old. Impulsive. Selfish. Me-first."
Anderson and Bishop's son, introduced to me earlier as "Kid Number Four," is bright-eyed and skinny, like he's going through a growth spurt. He has a drawing pad and a picture book about scary monsters in his lap. His face is rapt as he uses a pencil to copy a plaintive-looking creature, with its arms outstretched.
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Current events have been begging for direct, pragmatic commentary. This serial essay is therefore cutting into the "Empire of Yin" series, which is more philosophical. Apology to my long-suffering readers. "Empire" will resume in a few weeks.
European Commissioners opine that “Immigration Is Moral Necessity” and “Islam Is Welcome.” A French President predicts that “Arabic Is the Language of the Future.” A Moroccan becomes Mayor of Rotterdam. Europeans who wish to assert their ethnic identity and interests versus those of aliens are roughed up.
In the United States -- a country that has ruined itself through its own naïveté about human nature, about the world and about itself, the presidential election is being contested between a right-liberal candidate of the Stupid Party and a left-liberal candidate of the Evil Party. The latter’s position’s is that America’s wealth should be redistributed to the Afro-American “community” so that the country can have its salvation. He may have rephrased this idea in more unctuous words as his political shrewdness was increasing over the years, but essentially this is still the intention.
Yet, Mr. Obama is likely to win, partly due to electoral fraud of his supporters and fawning adulation by mainstream media that disseminate news and opinions filtered to put him in the White House.
With Barack Obama in the White House and his party on the way to a supermajority in Congress, soon enough the United States will be turning from a stupid form of capitalism to a stupid form of socialism, and from a stupid form of multiculturalism to an evil one – of the Eurabian kind. It will be Sweden West, without the virtues that ethnic Swedes still possess.
Indeed, Mr. Obama would fit seamlessly as Norway’s Prime Minister or France’s Minister of Housing, give or take a language or two. He has vowed not only to transform America but also to “change the world.” Many millions in the United States and around the world are waiting for this changin’ and rearrangin’, ignorant that Lenin also promised to change his country and the world – which he did.
Keeping Lenin in mind, what are people like us to do? Here are one man’s answers, based on years of acquaintanceship with “people like us” in a dozen countries over many years. To begin with, who are “we”?
One Identity
We are the ethno-conservatives -- perhaps 60 million people in Western Europe, North America and Oceania. There are probably four times that number who are like us, but they are latent, unable at this time to cut through the fog of suppressive propaganda and inertia.
In every Western country, we are a minority encircled by brainwashed zealots discharged at a steady rate from the left-only assembly line of public education. The conveyor belt’s propulsive power is multiplied many times over by the giant dynamos of Mainstream Media (MSM) and manufactured pop culture. Our own propulsive power comes from inner conviction, books by Dead White Males, and – to steal a phrase from Abraham Lincoln – the mystic chords of memory.
We are vastly outnumbered, and have few friends among the leading elites of the Western world. But it helps to remember that 185 million ex-Russia, non-Muslim Eastern Europeans are behind us. Living under Soviet tyranny has immunized them against the terrible mental virus that has ravaged the West. They have their own problems, related to economic development, but their combined weight is on our side. We ought not to forget who came to the rescue of Vienna and Western civilization in their hopeless encirclement in 1683.
Over 1.5 billion East Asians are of the same mind as we are with regard to their own answers as to who they are. But they are busy beating us at our own game: technology, industry, innovation, commerce. And the reason they are beating us is that the same elites and their remote-controlled supporters who have brought us Eurabia and Multimerica have also brought us a stifling socialism in Europe and a dumb and self-defeating capitalism in America.
Our common denominator is not white, for our most numerous and powerful opponents are also white. Rather, it is our opposition to our disfranchisement, marginalization and impoverishment by our own ruling elites in government, media, education, culture and business.
In America, we steam for having been abandoned by our government to mayhem and rape by illegal aliens. The two parties and their presidential candidates leave us a choice only between the details of how they will legalize the 12 –18 million illegals, with all the terrorists and vicious criminals embedded among them. We have nothing left but festering rage and memorials to the victims on YouTube.
But that’s exactly the same experience relayed through innumerable news items posted by Brussels Journal about Europeans victimized and terrorized by Muslim or just plain-African immigrants who are under European governments’ sponsorship and protection while the choices left to the rightful owners of Europe are to stew in terminal frustration, read The Camp of the Saints under cover with a flashlight, or emigrate.
We are unwilling to shut up about the de facto culling of whites by black and brown (1) crime and Muslim terrorists. We are angry at the authorities’ cowardice in confronting these problems.
We are not Islamophobes, not really. Anyone who has spent time in, say, Qatar, Kazakhstan or Brunei, has experienced values and features of a society that challenge one’s notions of the superiority of Western democracy and the wisdom of the Western über-value of hedonistic freedom. It’s just that these people do not belong in the schoolrooms and supermarket aisles of Rome, London or Charlottesville, just as we don’t belong in Islamabad, Mecca, or Batna.
This is so obvious, that our ruling elites’ willful subversion of this precept is the greatest act of mass treason and insanity in the history of the world. In America’s case, it even has a farcical dimension, for here is a country that’s invading the Muslim world in the name of spreading freedom, while inviting Muslims from all over the world to live within its borders, thereby curtailing its own citizens’ freedom.
Nearly all the 9/11 Muslim terrorists had US-issued drivers licenses that enabled them to carry out all the preparations and the boarding of the planes that they would crash into the country that had welcomed them. It’s relevant too that Mr. Obama’s main accomplishment in his all-too-brief legal career was his lawsuit on behalf of ACORN to implement the Motor Voter law in Illinois in the mid-1990s. For all we know, Mohammad Atta @ Co. voted in American elections, as can millions of illegal aliens with American drivers licenses. And they vote Obama.
It’s our own ruling elites that have put us on a collision course with Muslims, by importing them to our countries and subjecting us to a gross devaluation of our social capital through constant friction with people too different for us to absorb and digest, with alien ways and mores that we cannot condone.
Moreover, it’s our own ruling elites and the suprastructures they support such as EU and UN that have put us on a collision course with Islam. Jihad is an opportunistic infection that lay dormant as long as the West was strong and self-confident. The West's own impairment of its cultural immune functions and the related importation of millions of Muslims has allowed the dormant jihadi virus to thaw and flourish.
We are not racist. Nature’s strength is in diversity, and so is Humanity’s. But we are not Nature or Humanity. We are particular people trying to live our particular lives. And for that, we need our particular ethnicity and our singular culture, as other peoples need theirs.
Our ethnicity has a universal component: we are all Europeans, or descendants of Europeans. This is implanted in our cultural, spiritual and moral makeup. The molded life-forms encircling us charge that this amounts to a fixation on whiteness, blondness, disdain for other skin colors, cultures etc. But that’s absurd.
There are undoubtedly some people sitting right now in a bierstube in Leipzig or Baton Rouge who are classical racists. But that’s a small minority. Of all the people on earth, none are as fixated on skin color, and as racist as Africans and people of African descent are. People whose main political expression is an organization called La Raza certainly are not far behind, with the rest of non-whites in the world exhibiting ethnocentric and racist attitudes far beyond those of whites.
One wanders what would be the public reaction if the university graduation thesis of the white wife of the candidate for the U.S. presidency contained the sentence, “As a member of the white community, I am obligated to this community and will utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit the white community first and foremost.” Yet these are the words of Michelle Obama, with “white” substituting for her original “black.”
European ethnicity is bound predominantly with white racial characteristics, but no one sound of mind and soul would exclude from it the part-black Pushkin and Dumas families, with all their distinguished members. Nor are there many among us who split hairs as to Aryan–Caucasian-Semite differences, what with sizeable Jewish presence in Europe going back to 400 BCE, and the Jewish imprint on Euro-Western culture ranging from Moses, Jesus, Peter and Paul to Mendelssohn, Kant, Disraeli, Einstein, von Mises and Salk.
I say to liberals who accuse me of “racist” objections to Barack Obama that if Thomas Sowell ran against John McCain, I would be voting for the black man. But ultimately, one cannot convince a life-form spewed from a conveyor belt. I think we ought to accept the charge of “racism” calmly and not run for cover. For Nature itself is “racist.”
Racial differences are real, and not only in obvious physical features but in cognitive and psychological ones as well. This is increasingly moving from the realm of behavioral and cognitive statistics to hard genomic science.
Many of the differences do not favor whites, e.g. mean IQs versus East Asians or bodily-kinesthetic and musical intelligence scores versus those of blacks. But whites score far better than blacks and browns do in areas of intelligence like Logical-Mathematical and Verbal-Linguistic that are prerequisite for well-paying jobs in the modern economy. And since liberalism starts from the premise that all people would be equal in education, status and income but for malign social structures that hold back “minorities,” liberals spare no effort to stop contrary science.
We are not xenophobes. Most of the people I know on our side of the political divide – including in Japan – like to have foreigners among them. Life in Tokyo without pastry shops operated by the best of German and French patissiers would be as dull as French or Dutch football might be without black midfielders.
It’s a question of balance. 4% -5% of foreign-origin residents seems to be the level at which the marginal utility of diversity becomes zero, with negative values beyond that. And that in a unicultural but cosmopolitan society, which seems to be the optimal model. Even then, additional restrictions ought to apply on foreigners who are certain that they alone have a direct, exclusive telephone line to God, and those who do not are enemies to be subdued.
In contrast, the ruling American elite – including Republicans – has gone mad to such an extent that “minorities” are now over 1/3 of America’s population, soon to be half. And the EU ruling elite is welcoming, nay, soliciting, an Islamic wave that will accomplish what it failed previously at Tours, Lepanto and Vienna.
Together, they have brainwashed two generations of Westerners so effectively that the majority of whites in the world, notably among the young, celebrates “diversity” -- i.e. their peoples’ and Western Civilization’s inevitable dissolution – as their core value. It is against this part of the population, and the politicians and subversive intellectuals who hold their puppet strings, that I believe we ought to define ourselves.
The Pods
Most contemporary whites are docilely or actively complicit in their own displacement, disappropriation, and disproportional share of rape, battery and murder by more savage peoples who have fewer scruples.
The epitome is the Amy Biehl Syndrome. Amy Biehl was a young poster-girl “progressive”: blonde and upper–middle class, young and pretty, Stanford graduate and Fulbright scholar on a mission to help South Africa.
One day in 1993, Amy drove to the shantytown of Gugutelu, on a do-good mission. A mob of 80 black men started throwing rocks on her car. She got out of the car and was stabbed and killed on the spot.
Four men were convicted of the murder. They spent five years in prison before applying for pardon. Amy Biehl’s parents came to the pardon hearings, in her father’s words, “as Amy came, in a spirit of committed friendship."
The Biehls not only forgave their daughter’s killers. They established a charitable foundation for the benefit of Gugutelu’s youngsters, and employed two of Amy’s killers in it. Mrs. Biehl has said about her daughter’s murderers, "It was like an adoption. These were just children who didn't have a chance to have a childhood."
The Biehls are not monsters, but loving parents who decided to upend the laws of gravity in the social and moral realms. Except for small and esoteric sects like the Indian Jains, this particular inclination appears only among whites. And, except for one, no analogy conveys this bizarre refusal to perceive reality, as though the act of suspending an idea could suspend the object of the idea. Indeed, no true leftist – whether Marxist, cultural Marxist, Christian social penitent, New York liberal or Amsterdam libertine -- will ever let reality interfere with a good theory.
That’s why I think of them as “Pods” and of us as “Nonpods.” I use these words in the context of one of the great masterpieces of American cinema, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, released in 1956 and directed by Don Siegel, based on a novel by Jack Finney. In it, a doctor returns to a small California town to find out that one by one, its people, most of whom he has known all his life, have been replaced by dopplegängers.
These emotionless beings animated by a single instinct – proliferation -- develop from large, foaming seedpods; in effect a biological production line for lifelike automatons, set up by evil space aliens.
One by one, real people disappear – acquaintances, friends and ultimately the protagonist’s girlfriend, until he remains the sole nonpod, encircled by human-like, giant legumes: the Body Snatchers.
Pods whose previous identities have been snatched and extinguished seem to be multiplying in our world too, and they are passionate in their hatred -- of us. Middle-aged men and women who demonstrate publicly their desire for Europe to remain European are beaten up by Antifa gangs half their age and twenty times their number. The few Americans who have the courage to demonstrate their support for the alternative to a crypto-Marxist disciple of Black Theology are heckled, beaten up, or firebombed in the Country of the Free.
Pods are deeply committed to the idea that freedom and equality are not mutually exclusive. They are the emotional children of the French Revolution and worship its motto so much that they are willing to install PC tyranny in the name of Liberté, enforce racist and gender discrimination and robbery of private property in the name of Egalité, and stop at no fraud, libel and persecution of their opponents in the name of Fraternité.
Pods view biological race and gender differences as social constructs, and therefore social group differences as an unjust inequality that must be rectified by reconstructing society. They view nation, ethnoculture, and private property as obsolete obstacles in the way of freedom, equality and fraternity of all people. Therefore, the right of anyone to immigrate anywhere precedes the right of the one suffering the destruction of his social capital by this immigration. The right of a slacker to home, sustenance, and self-esteem counseling precedes the right of the 80-hours-a-week worker not to have his earnings confiscated to float the slacker in splendid idleness.
They view the refusal to tolerate the intolerable as unacceptable intolerance, and the desire to protect and preserve one’s family, community, country and culture as racism and xenophobia. And lastly, they have stood Jesus’ metaphor on its end, so that they fail to see the beam in the nonwhites’, non-Christians’ eye, but they see and greatly magnify the speck in their own peoples’ eye.
This is deep, delusionary dementia. A recent headline conveys the essence of this syndrome: Cyclists 'braved freezing cold temps' to promote global warming awareness...
This mental disorder is now the dominant orientation of the Western peoples, with its triumphant apotheosis, The One We Have Been Waiting For, coasting on the final approach to the most powerful job in the world, so that he can change the world into Pod kingdom.
The dementia’s hold on the brains of the majority of the white population is such that the vile Afro-American racism that America’s probable 44th president imbibed during most of his adulthood goes unmentioned and uncriticized by the MSM. Even Mr. Obama’s opponent in the presidential election remains paralyzed by the possibility that anything he might say would be deemed "racist."
Barack Obama is expected to receive 75 - 80% of the white vote in many urban areas of the United States. If this is not having one’s body and soul snatched, nothing is.
Podism in history
Mass dementia across wide swaths of the population occurs only once in several hundred years. In the early 13th century, tens of thousands of Europeans, including many children, set out for the Holy Land, to convert Muslims to Christianity through love. They were convinced that the Mediterranean Sea would part to let them through. Most of them would be killed by disease and shipwreck, and the rest were sold into slavery in Tunisia.
In mid-17th century, European Jews were gripped by messianic fever. The One They Had Been Waiting For was Shabbetai Tzvi, a Syrian Jewish kabbalist with delusions of grandeur and a taste for the good life.
In 1648, Shabbetai declared himself as the true Messianic redeemer, designated by God to change the world. His fame swept throughout Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities. He acquired wealth, a beautiful wife, and a veritable court. He was issuing edicts that were circulating throughout the synagogues of Europe, and wherever he went, crowds of Jews greeted him with, "Long live our King, our Messiah!"
In 1666, “the Messiah” traveled to Istanbul, expecting the fulfillment of the prophecy of his campaign manager, one Nathan of Gaza, that he would be crowned as the sultan. Instead, the actual sultan had him put in chains and imprisoned, but on lenient terms. The lenient incarceration allowed The One to live in the prison castle in splendor -- financed by a huge stream of contributions from his many ardent followers.
Nathan of Gaza, a brilliant propagandist, kept disseminating fanciful reports about the miraculous deeds "the Messiah" was performing while incarcerated. Therefore, the incarceration, instead of proving to the adherents that Shabbetai was an impostor, strengthened their Messianic delusions instead.
But the charade had to end. Under the sultan’s pressure, Shabbetai, still a prisoner, converted to Islam. He received his freedom and various favors in exchange. Some of his followers also went over to Islam, but largely the conversion of the Jewish Messiah to Islam was so devastating to most of his myriad followers that echoes of the damage persist among traditional Jews to this day.
It is significant that despite Shabbetai's apostasy, Nathan’s astute propaganda campaign turned what should have been the spike of death for Shabbetianism into just a bump on the road to self-perpetuation. Many adherents –by then certified Pods—continued to cling to The One, asserting that his conversion was a part of the Messianic scheme.
Paul Johnson writes in his (philosemitic) A History of the Jews that Nathan of Gaza was an outstanding example of a “highly imaginative and dangerous Jewish archetype.” Like Marx and Freud, Johnson adds, Nathan could construct a system of explanations of events that was both highly plausible and sufficiently imprecise to accommodate new, contrary events. And he could do it with tremendous conviction and aplomb. (2)
We will look into the eerily similar role of Barack Obama’s campaign manager, David Axelrod, in a later chapter. But the talent for Body Snatching is found not only among Jews, for it is fundamental to phenomena such as mass advertising and pop culture, Islam and other forms of extreme religious fundamentalism, Fascism, Maoism, Peronism, and more.
Not to forget the Third Reich. What can be said about Hitler’s Germany that has not been said before? How could the country of Gutenberg, Goethe, Schiller, Mann, Bach, Beethoven, Kepler, Heisenberg, Bonhoeffer– and thousands more -- follow in ecstatic obedience to its doom and infamy an obvious, raving mad housepainter from Braunau?
Only Podism can account for that. One by one, your friends, your children, your wife, come home changed by an overwhelming force of propaganda they are unable to resist. And then you are left alone, doubting your sanity or preparing to emigrate. Just as we do now.
The Road from Meccania
Muslim fanatics and La Raza are easy. But the difficulty facing us versus the Pods is enormous. Because these are not space aliens but neighbors, wives and children. And they are not only on the identifiable left but also on the misidentified right, including such leaders of the right as George Bush and John McCain.
Readers of this website know about the attacks perpetrated on it by a section of the “anti-jihadist” blogosphere. There is much credence as well given by ostensibly reasonable Americans to leftist propaganda about the “extreme right” European parties, while the latter are in fact a thin red line standing alone in the way of a nascent Eurabian Caliphate. One can see Pod dementia even among libertarians, e.g. in this attack on two respected and scrupulous ethno-conservatives, slinging trope like “white nationalist,” “racist,” “crackpot” and “nonsense.”
Seeing that Eurabia and Multimerica may be merging into one ideological superstate, if not yet a formal one, naming it would be usefu so that it remains an easily identifiable concept.
A good name already exists in literature’s archives. It is the fictional Meccania – an oppressive police tyranny regimented and controlled by the government as much as errant garbage recyclers are monitored by CCTV cameras in the UK, cartoonists are kept in check by the PC compliance pashas of Eurabia, and unruly bananas are proscribed by EC Commission Regulation No 2257/94.
The neat thing is that Gregory Owen’s Meccania, the Super-State was published in 1918. And the other neat thing is that Meccania, probably attempting to conjure a mechanized society of the future, has the name Mecca in it.
Maybe it’s time to start thinking about the common denominator of the besieged ones in Meccania, and develop a joint course of action. Maybe Benjamin Franklin was right when he said that we must all hang together, or we shall all hang separately.
A European who cares about Europe ought to care about America or Australia. Because when America goes, so does his freedom, whatever remains of it. And if Australia goes, he has no place to go in case life in Eurabia has become untenable and Multiamerica slides into a 1984 scenario.
Conversely, a Flemamericanadian who writes a bestseller gloating over Europe’s coasting toward the abyss, is not only blind to the provenance of all his mental furniture, but deaf to the gasping of his own, deeply wounded country.
Just as there is a Green Party everywhere – and that’s a poster case for an association of Pods – why not a Nonpod Party everywhere?
Nonpod may not be the right name, but we can come up with the right name. The Peoples Party (no apostrophe), perhaps. The principle is to stand the Pods’ agenda on its head: think locally, act globally -- with local manifestation. And ultimately, perhaps, shrug Atlas’ burden globally too, and leave the dhimmi-pods to their fate with the Ummah, the rappers and the rapists.
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(1) One would love to quote a compendium of similar cases and statistics based in Europe. Alas, there is no hope that the EU would ever venture in this direction, and the mass media are far more cowed in this regard than they are in the U.S.
(2) Paul Johnson, A History of the Jews, Harper Perennial, 1988, pp. 267- 273.
See also: From Meccania to Atlantis - Part 2: From the Clenched Fist to the Raised Middle Finger, 1 November 2008 From Meccania to Atlantis - Part 3: From Encirclement to Breakout, 27 November 2008
From Meccania to Atlantis - Part 4: Tribe, 12 December 2008Pamela Geller is the co-founder and prolific blogger for the American Freedom Defense Initiative which rails at the ‘Islamification’ of America
The co-founder of the group behind the contest to award $10,000 for the best cartoon depiction of Muhammad is a New Yorker who runs a blog that campaigns to stop the “Islamification” of America.
Pamela Geller used her blog Atlas Shrugs to declare “this is war” in the hours after the shooting of two gunmen at the contest. The event had been organised by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, a group she set up with Robert Spencer in 2010.
Geller, the winner of numerous awards from far-right organisations such as the David Horowitz Freedom Center, is credited with coining the term “ground zero mega mosque” as part of highly publicised campaign against the development of a community centre, which included a mosque, a few blocks from where the twin towers once stood in New York.
She became politically active after 9/11 and has told various newspapers she had never heard of Osama bin Laden until the day of the attacks but started educating herself as a housewife living in Long Island raising four children. She eventually started a blog, Atlas Shrugs.
A prolific poster – the blog usually has between 10 and 15 posts per day – Geller took to it soon after two armed gunmen were shot outside the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas, on Sunday.
“This is a war. This is war on free speech. What are we going to do? Are we going to surrender to these monsters? Two men with rifles and backpacks attacked police outside our event. A cop was shot; his injuries are not life-threatening, thank Gd. Please keep him in your prayers,” she posted.
“The bomb squad has been called to the event site to investigate a backpack left at the event site. The war is here.”
The American Freedom Defense Initiative is listed under its other name Stop Islamization of America as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Centre. It has previously gained publicity for funding advertisements which the group says are to encourage people who want to leave Islam but feel unsafe doing so. The group has had to fight for the right to run some of the advertisements, which refer to Muslims killing Jews, in court.
Dutch anti-Islam activist, Geert Wilders, was due to speak at the event on Sunday and has previously worked with Geller and Spencer. In 2009 they hosted a talk by Wilders at the 2009 Conservative Political Action Conference. Wilders campaigns to stop the “Islamisation” of Europe and has compared the Qur’an to Mein Kampf.
Posting on her blog ahead of the event, Gellers criticised media coverage that referred to the event as anti-Islam.
“How is free speech an attack on Islam? And why are they portrayed as the victim when we are the victims of supremacism and jihad?” she wrote.
In another post after the shootings, Geller accused the Daily Mail of being cowards for blurring out the face in cartoons depicting Muhammad.
“The cowardice of the ‘enemedia’ has reached monstrous proportions. They will stop at nothing to appease bloodthirsty jihad terrorists. They are not journalists. They are water-carriers for the forces of oppression, hatred, and forcible censorship,” she wrote.
Geller lives in New York after receiving almost US$10m from the combination of her divorce settlement in 2007 and the life insurance policy of her ex-husband, Michael Oshry, who died in 2008.
She is credited with helping start the Obama birther movement, which questioned if Barack Obama was really an American, after she posted a theory from a reader that Obama was the love child of Malcolm X.
Geller has repeatedly said she is not anti-Muslim but does not believe moderate Islam can exist.
‘They say I’m anti-Muslim. I’m not anti-Muslim. I don’t see how anyone could say I’m anti-Muslim. I love Muslims,” she told the New York Village Voice in 2012.
Atlas Shrugs, a reference to one of Geller’s heroes Ayn Rand, was one of the blogs referenced in the online manifesto of Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik. He feared a Muslim takeover and shot and killed 77 people in Norway in 2011, 69 of whom were part of the Workers’ Youth League (AUF) summer camp on the island of Utøya.If there was any doubt that the world is now in crisis, the mass casualty attack on Paris a few hours ago should lay the question to rest. In response to the assault, France closed its borders, declared a state of emergency and declared a curfew, a trifecta of measures unseen since World War 2. The wave of attacks is temporarily over. The period of damage assessment, which includes totaling up the doleful toll of casualties, and political posturing now begins.
This is the first time France has declared a state of emergency since the Algerian war, which took place between 1954 and 1962. It is also the first time a curfew has been imposed since the dark days of world war two in 1944.
It's significant that the attacks occurred during a period of heightened alert associated with big soccer matches. French president Hollande himself was watching a game when he had to be unceremoniously shuttled to the safety of a government building. That suggests that French security forces and intelligence were genuinely surprised by the attack and therefore there exist terror networks they don't know about capable of large-scale operations. Scotland Yard and MI5 must realize this and will inevitably be burning the midnight oil tonight.
Hanin Ghaddar notes that only a few days ago ISIS launched a mass casualty attack on the Hezbollah stronghold of the Dahiyeh in Beirut to prove that there are no more safe spaces. "ISIS has demonstrated to the Shiites and the rest of Lebanon that Hezbollah cannot protect them, and that its 'tight' security plan in the southern suburbs of Beirut is a fantasy." Beirut came to the 10th arrondissement today. It will come to other Western cities soon.
The scale of the Paris attacks sends the same message to the Western public that ISIS telegraphed to the Hezbollah: French police alone cannot protect them. Not that the cops aren't trying. Recently the Turks nabbed a French jihadist as he was having hair plugs implanted to disguise his appearance, the better to pass unnoticed. "Last week, police swooped on 20 IS suspects in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya, days ahead of a summit of world leaders from the Group of 20 nations, including US President Barack Obama and Russian strongman Vladimir Putin." But that's not nearly enough.
In any event, the bloodbath is likely to increase pressure on the EU to reinstate border controls. Already, Austria is erecting a fence on its frontier with Slovenia to slow down the migrant tide. Sweden has set up border checks for the first time in 20 years.
The dream of a "borderless Europe" has taken a body blow. Now all courses run ill. The momentum of the migrant tide is already too great to simultaneously pacify public opinion and avert a human tragedy. A million people are on the road, strung out all over the place. Reuters reports that migrants are now making their way through the Arctic route, coming in through Norway via Russia clad in pitifully thin coats. "Ali left Syria to avoid the army draft and paid $2,500 all-inclusive for the trip to the border, which included flying to the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk via Moscow and Beirut. Like others reaching Norway, he cycled the final stretch, as Russian authorities do not allow travelers to proceed on foot."
Ali may not be as welcome any more. You can't let them freeze and Paris can't let them in. Like Syria itself, there are no easy choices left to the Europeans. EU efforts to bribe African countries into repatriating their citizens were met by a blank refusal.
The European Union has been forced to drop controversial plans to deport failed asylum seekers who do not have passports after African countries blocked the move. European leaders offered more than £1billion aid in a bid to persuade their African counterparts to take back tens of thousands of illegal migrants. But a migration summit in Valletta, Malta, descended into farce after the Africans rejected the EU plan to expel those who do not qualify for asylum using special papers.
The dilemma the West now faces is that it cannot survive on the basis of the platform which its elites have carefully constructed since WW2. They are being beaten to death with their own lofty statements. They must either continue to uphold the vision of open borders, multiculturalism, declining birthrates, unilateral disarmament and a growing state sector at all costs -- in other words continue on the road to suicide -- or retreat. As recent events at American campuses have shown, when faced with the choice of saving the Left and saving the actual world, the odds are that "the world" goes over the side first.
In attempting to survive on its own terms, the Left will tear itself apart. In its agony it will destroy much else. It may be that Europe will rediscover its culture; it is possible it will develop the will to defend itself; it is conceivable it will hold off extreme fascist movements; it could even plausibly reconstruct its demography. But it cannot do this without an upheaval that will leave nothing unscathed.
The good news is that the West must soon squarely face choices it has been avoiding until now. The bad news is that nothing will escape unscathed.
Radical Islamism's greatest challenge is it that ruthlessly exposes a fatal flaw which has existed in the ideology of the West for the last 70 years. It is representative of a question that won't go away. Can it face the facts just as they are and think its way out of a jam? What Samantha Power called the Problem from Hell is really the Kobayashi Maru test of European civilization. Faced with a no-win situation, will the West find a path through?
The answer, as in most cases in history, is "maybe." Maybe if we get it right, if we think out of the box, if we are lucky then perhaps we will survive. In a world accustomed to "safe spaces" and guarantees, this may seem unsatisfactory. But each past generation was offered no more than this, from the hunter gatherers who ventured out of Africa to the fighter pilots of the Battle of Britain. That is all that is on offer. Take the maybe or walk away empty handed.
The biggest psychological barrier that the current orthodoxy has to overcome is the realization that humanity is actually free. Nothing is written, especially not the PC text. But you must face the facts, no matter the trigger, no matter the micro-aggression. One thing for sure, the West will fail surely and the world descend into chaos if we continue as before.
If one thing is plainly evident, it is that the same old, same old isn't going to work.
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Recently purchased by readers:
China and the Vietnam Wars, 1950-1975, (The New Cold War History) First Edition by Qiang Zhai
The Particle at the End of the Universe, How the Hunt for the Higgs Boson Leads Us to the Edge of a New World by Sean Carroll
AmazonBasics Rolling Laptop Case, from AmazonBasics
Aristotle for Everybody, Kindle Edition by Mortimer J. Adler
World War Z, An Oral History of the Zombie War Kindle Edition by Max Brooks
Possibly worth buying:
The Survivor (A Mitch Rapp Novel), Hardcover by Vince Flynn, Kyle Mills
Rosemary, The Hidden Kennedy Daughter Hardcover by Kate Clifford Larson
The Good Dinosaur, Little Golden Book (Disney/Pixar The Good Dinosaur) by Bill Scollon, Michaelangelo Rocco
Disciples, The World War II Missions of the CIA Directors Who Fought for Wild Bill Donovan Hardcover by Douglas Waller
The Crossing (Bosch), Hardcover by Michael Connelly
Did you know that you can purchase some of these books and pamphlets by Richard Fernandez and share them with you friends? They will receive a link in their email and it will automatically give them access to a Kindle reader on their smartphone, computer or even as a web-readable document.
The War of the Words for $3.99, Understanding the crisis of the early 21st century in terms of information corruption in the financial, security and political spheres
Rebranding Christianity for $3.99, or why the truth shall make you free
The Three Conjectures at Amazon Kindle for $1.99, reflections on terrorism and the nuclear age
Storming the Castle at Amazon Kindle for $3.99, why government should get small
No Way In at Amazon Kindle $8.95, print $9.99. Fiction. A flight into peril, flashbacks to underground action.
Storm Over the South China Sea $0.99, how China is restarting history in the Pacific
Tip Jar or Subscribe or Unsubscribe to the Belmont ClubEarlier this week, Peter Murray of Kiyoi Communications sat down with John Fowler, President and CEO of Supreme Pharmaceuticals (CSE:SL) to discuss his perspective on the commercialization of cannabis, how the landscape has shifted in the past several years and how choosing to list with the Canadian Securities Exchange enabled Supreme Pharmaceuticals to move quickly in this rapidly evolving space. Below is the transcript of the interview.
1.
Ten years ago you were assisting medical cannabis |
ir Lundestad (ed.) The fall of great powers: Peace, stability, and legitimacy (Scandinavian University Press, Oslo, 1994).
(Scandinavian University Press, Oslo, 1994). Jean-Paul Sartre. 'Colonialism and neo-colonialism. Translated by Steve Brewer, Azzedine Haddour, Terry McWilliams Republished in the 2001 edition by Routledge France. ISBN 0-415-19145-9.
ISBN 0-415-19145-9. Peccia, T., 2014, "The Theory of the Globe Scrambled by Social Networks: A New Sphere of Influence 2.0", Jura Gentium - Rivista di Filosofia del Diritto Internazionale e della Politica Globale, Sezione "L'Afghanistan Contemporaneo", http://www.juragentium.org/topics/wlgo/en/peccia.htm
Stuart J. Seborer. U.S. neo-colonialism in Africa (International Publishers, NY, 1974).
(International Publishers, NY, 1974). D. Simon. Cities, capital and development: African cities in the world economy (Halstead, NY, 1992).
(Halstead, NY, 1992). Phillip Singer(ed.) Traditional healing, new science or new colonialism": (essays in critique of medical anthropology) (Conch Magazine, Owerri, 1977).
(Conch Magazine, Owerri, 1977). Jean Suret-Canale. Essays on African history: From the slave trade to neo-colonialism (Hurst, London 1988).
(Hurst, London 1988). Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o. Barrel of a pen: Resistance to repression in neo-colonial Kenya (Africa Research & Publications Project, 1983).
(Africa Research & Publications Project, 1983). Carlos Alzugaray Treto. El ocaso de un régimen neocolonial: Estados Unidos y la dictadura de Batista durante 1958,(The twilight of a neocolonial regime: The United States and Batista during 1958), in Temas: Cultura, Ideología y Sociedad, No.16-17, October 1998/March 1999, pp. 29–41 (La Habana: Ministry of Culture).
United Nations (2007). Reports of International Arbitral Awards. XXVII. United Nations Publication. p. 188. ISBN 978-92-1-033098-5.
Richard Werbner (ed.) Postcolonial identities in Africa (Zed Books, NJ, 1996).The newest SilencerCo. suppressor has arrived! The Wizard Staff is the quietest.22LR suppressor ever made!
Whether you are a Diviner of Decibel or a Sorcerer of Sound, the Wizard Staff was created for you. From acromantula hunting to divination, the Wizard Staff will ensure soundless success.
The Wizard Staff has a unique CTA baffle stack consisting of 44 polished Mithril baffles designed for an infinite dB reduction of sound. The 36 inches of soundless magic is easily disassembled by even the most novice necromancer to provide full user serviceability. The ageless construction of rare and exotic materials makes the Wizard Staff indestructible. The eternal warranty ensures the Wizard Staff will last as long as any immortal being wielding this impressive firearm silencer.
Watch the official launch video HERE.When you retard fair use with pointless DRM and then sue anonymous children for illegally downloading music while ignoring those of the execs at the top of the music industry, well, you're asking for a public relations nightmare. Now, with more than 35,000 lawsuits to its credit, the RIAA says it will finally end the legal assault against consumers that began back in 2003. The Recording Industry Association of America will instead, focus its anti-piracy efforts with ISPs. Under the new plan, the RIAA will contact ISPs when illegal uploading is detected. The ISP will then contact the customer with a notice that would ultimately be followed by a reduction or cessation of service. As you'd expect, the RIAA is not commenting on which ISPs they are in cahoots with. The RIAA also says that it won't require ISPs to reveal the identities of individuals but could, of course, go after individuals who are heavy uploaders or repeat offenders. For the moment though, it appears that single-mothers are in the clear.Centrelink investigators are trawling the social media accounts of people on welfare to catch out fraudsters, the federal government has confirmed.
Contractors employed by Centrelink to scan the Facebook pages, Twitter streams and eBay accounts of customers have dredged up more than $2 million in fraud the Daily Telegraph reported.
People like to be liked, especially children. This is Facebook's attraction. Credit:Bloomberg
The operations could nab a fraudster via a guileless 'Thank God It's Friday' Facebook post at the end of a work week from a recipient of unemployment benefits, or perhaps an uninhibited single posting voraciously about their solo life while claiming benefits for dependents they don't have.
In one case, a couple who claimed they were single to receive single payments were caught out by Centrelink's social media surveillance investigators when they announced on Twitter that they were in a relationship and expecting a baby, according to the Department of Human Services.'Can I Surf That?'
http://canisurfthat.com/
‘The search for the perfect wave’ it’s a pursuit that’s been going strong since the 60’s. A fixation shared by those who believe there’s nothing sweeter in this world than the pulsing swells lifting you into a perfect chaos as you glide across the wave's glassy face. But is it possible that the perfect wave could be found far from the ocean?
With the emergence of whitewater stand up paddle boarding and river surfing people are bringing their search inland. They’re watching the break from a river bank instead of a sandy beach, where rocks replace reefs, river flows replace tides, hike-ins instead of tow-ins, and the search for that perfect wave is as real within these rocky mountains and deep canyons as it is in a palm tree paradise.
We are a group of women composed of hungry surfers and a creatively charged film crew fueled by our passion for these wild and wonderful rivers. Our obsession will soon become yours. You’ll live our adventure as we create new relationships with fellow surf advocates developing a new sense of global community through inland surfing. It’s our mission to introduce this original sport to the world. We are adding a new twist to a common surf film theme; seeking the new and untouched while rediscovering the old.
Who's Making the Film:
Heather Jackson
Heather on the Colorado River, South Canyon Rapid
I was raised on the outdoors and love for nature! There is nothing that could make me happier in this life than waking up to watch the sunrise and chasing down my next outdoor adventure. I am twenty-four, finishing a Film/Photography degree from MSU in Denver, CO. I have always found inspiration in movies, photographs and art. There is something about a visual image that has the power to transport you to a tangible emotion. My biggest hope is that my love for film and photography will take me all over the earth, in search of new and unfamiliar experiences. My goal for this film is to take our viewers into the heart of our journey, immersing you in our river lifestyle and all the passion that comes with it. My friendship with Brittany and Claire lead me to the amazing river SUP community I now call family. Being on the river is a soul expanding experience and I can't wait to share that with as many people as possible.
Heather Surfing Staircase wave in Buena Vista,CO
The Athletes:
Brittany Parker
Brittany at her home in Carbondale
I grew up in a small Colorado town where lifted trucks, hunter orange, and rodeos reign. But you would always find me, feet planted, on some sort of board whether it be a snowboard, skateboard, or wakeboard. About five years ago I became a raft guide on the Colorado River, soon after I discovered SUP in Glenwood Springs, CO and instantly became obsessed!! Here's a sport that combined the two things I LOVE the most, boards and rivers. Badfish Stand Up Paddle soon got me hooked on river surfing and it quickly became my kryptonite. I'll drop just about everything and anything for a surf sesh, throw a good crew in and I'm there…it's a high I haven't been able to duplicate. I wanted to do this film because I want to show the world what life’s like through the eyes of a river surfer, the community that comes with it, and to help encourage and inspire others to get out on the water to see first-hand what all the fuss is about.
Brittany's Blog: http://bp-sups.tumblr.com/
Brittany Parker Surfing at the Glenwood Springs Whitewater Park. Photo by George Hendrix
Claire Chappell
Claire at her home in Morrison, Colorado
Growing up in Michigan I regularly told myself I would live at the beach as soon as I was able. Of course nothing goes as planned and I wound up a very happy mountain girl. I fell fast in love with the rivers of Colorado as a raft guide and very mediocre kayaker. In 2011, the wanna-be surfer in me had a second shot at the dream. I found SUP surfing. The rush I had when I stood on a small wave for the first time was like no other. I was hooked. Since then, every free weekend, every left over dollar has gone toward surfing trips. Traveling to surf great river waves has become an obsession and there is so much thought and energy that goes into these adventures. Snow melt, dam releases, rain storms, safety, having the right equipment, finding paddle buddies you trust, it all has to be considered. Then you drive hundreds of miles to hopefully surf this one incredible wave. Its tough and its rewarding as hell.
In surfing, there is inherent excitement and also soulfulness and peace that draws people in. Moving with the water. Being one with a wave. The public has been along for the ride on the oceans of the world for decades. Dozens of ocean surf movies have moved and inspired audiences. Its time to shed some light on the other side of surfing. I started this project with Brittany and Heather because I want to expose to the world the beauty, the intensity, the passion of surfing river waves.
Claire's Blog: tumblr.com/blog/clairechappell
Why Kickstarter?
Our attempts to gain financial momentum through sponsors within the industry were met with enthusiasm, words of encouragement, and support through free gear. Although the SUP industry is booming, whitewater stand up is still somewhat underground and financial backing is comprised of small sums. Here’s where you come in, we’re turning to kickstarter in hopes of gaining support through funding from those who are interested in viewing our adventure and being exposed to the sport of river surfing. We need your help to turn this vision into a reality.
Where Your Money Goes.
Our Goal is to raise $6,000. We have carefully calculated all of our expenses to make this film possible. We want to ensure that your money is sponsoring this project and this project only, and not our affinity for PBR. Below we’ve made a list of expenses to show where your acts of generosity are going.
*Licensing fees
*Equipment
*Permitting
*Travel/Lodging
*Editing/Production
*Reward Fullfillment
*Cost of Living (because surfing only pays in smiles, bruises, and sweet footage)LEDs are appropriate for many lighting applications, they are designed to produce a lot of light from a small form factor while maintaining fantastic efficiency. Here at LEDSupply there are a variety of LEDs for all kinds of different lighting applications, the trick is knowing how to use them. LED technology is a tad different than other lighting that most people are familiar with. This post is here to explain everything you need to know about LED lighting: how to power LEDs safely so you get the most light and the longest lifetime possible.
What Exactly is an LED?
An LED is a type of diode that turns electrical energy into light. For those that don’t know, a diode is an electrical component that only works in one direction. Basically an LED is an electrical component that emits light when electricity flows through in one direction, from the Anode (positive side) to the Cathode (negative side). LED is an acronym standing for ‘Light Emitting Diode’. Basically, LEDs are like tiny light bulbs, they just require a lot less power to light up and are much more efficient in producing high light outputs.
LED Types
In general terms, we carry two different types of LEDs:
5mm Through-Hole & Surface Mount.
5mm LEDs
5mm LEDs are diodes inside a 5mm diameter lens with two thin metal legs on the bottom. They are used in applications where a lower amount of light is required. 5mm LEDs also run at much lower drive currents, maxing out at around 30mA, whereas Surface Mount LEDs require a minimum of 350mA. All our 5mm LEDs are from top manufacturers and are available in a variety of colors, intensities and illumination patterns. Through-hole LEDs are great for small flashlight applications, signage and anything where you are using a breadboard as they can be used easily with their leads. Check out our guide to setting up 5mm LEDs for more info on these tiny light sources.
Surface Mount LEDs (SMD)
Surface Mount LEDs are diode(s) that can be placed on a substrate (circuit board) with a silicon dome over the diode to protect it (see Fig. 1). We carry high-power Surface Mount LEDs from industry leaders Cree and Luxeon. Both are excellent in our opinion, that is why we carry them after all. Some prefer one over the other but that comes with experience and knowing what to look for. Cree tends to have higher listed Lumen outputs and are a market leader in the High-Power LED sector. Luxeon, on the other hand, has excellent colors and thermal control.
High Power LEDs come as bare emitters (as seen in Fig. 1) or mounted to a Metal Core Printed Circuit Board (MCPCB). The boards are insulated and contain conductive tracks for easy circuit connections. Our 20mm 1-Up and 3-Up star board designs are the best sellers. We also offer QuadPod’s which can hold 4 high power LEDs on a board slightly larger than the 20mm stars (see Fig. 2). All our high power LED options can be built on a linear design as well. The LuxStrip can house 6 LEDs per foot and are easily connected up to 10 feet long.
Polarity Matters: Wiring LEDs
Electronic polarity indicates whether a circuit is symmetric or not. LEDs are diodes, therefore only allowing current to flow in one direction. When there is no current flow, there will be no light. Thankfully this means that if we wire an LED in backwards, it will not burn the whole system up, it just won’t come on.
The positive side of the LED is the Anode and the negative side is the Cathode. Current flows from the anode to the cathode and never in the other direction, so it is important to know how to tell the anode and cathode apart. For surface mount LEDs this is easy as the connections are labeled, but for 5mm LEDs ook for the longer lead which is the anode (positive), take a look at Figure 3 below.
Color Options
One of the great things about LEDs is the different options and kinds of light you can get from them.
White LEDs
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) is the process of creating different white light at different temperatures. Color temperature is specified in degrees Kelvin (K), which is a temperature scale in which zero occurs at absolute zero and each degree equals one Kelvin. The lower temperatures from 3,000K to 4,500K tend to be a warmer to neutral white. The higher temps 5,000K+ are the cool whites, also known as ‘daylight white’.
Color LEDs
For colors, what really matter is the wavelength in nanometers (nm). For certain applications colors are needed for the visual effect, but sometimes certain wavelengths are needed for applications like curing, growing, reef tank lighting, and much more. See Fig. 4 for an idea of what wavelengths and temperatures produce certain colors.
We try to carry similar color temperatures and wavelengths for each brand and type of LED. You can always find the color or wavelength of our LEDs on the sub-section of the product page and can even search by color from our LEDs dropdown menu on the homepage. In white, we carry 3000K, 4000K, 5000K and 6500K. As far as colors go, we carry from 400-660nm.
LED Brightness
LEDs are not only known for the colors, they are also a lot brighter than other light sources. Sometimes it is hard to tell how bright an LED will be because it is measured in Lumens. A Lumen is a scientific unit measuring luminous flux or the total amount of visible light from a source. Note that 5mm LEDs are usually listed in millicandelas (mcd). For 5mm LEDs, their viewing angle also affects the light output they give off, for more on that see here.
Why drive current matters…
The amount of light (Lumens) an LED emits depends on how much current is supplied. Current is measured in milliamps (mA) or amps (A). High-power LEDs can take currents from 350mA to 3000mA. LEDs vary on their current ratings so be sure to keep track of this when picking an LED and driver.
Determining the Brightness
Now comes the tricky part, selecting the LED and driver combination that will output the light needed. We have done a lot of the ground work here, in a post measuring the brightness of each high power LED at different drive currents. Take note that these are measures for 1-Up stars so if you want more light the 3-Up LEDs are a good option as they are triple the light within the same footprint.
The above resource can always be used for determining the light output from an LED, but finding it manually is not very hard.
To do so, information is needed from the data sheet of the LED. On all of our LED pages we link to the manufacturers data sheet at the bottom of the page.
Example: Finding brightness of Cree XP-L at 2100mA
In this example we are using the Cree XP-L. First find the Flux Characteristics table (figure 5). We will touch on binning later which is labeled in the ‘Group’ column, but let us assume we are going to use a cool white XP-L from the highest bin (v5). The highlighted number is the typical flux @ 1050mA which is the current the XP-L is measured at. To the right of that are the typical Lumen numbers for 1500, 2000, and 3000mA drive currents.
For the sake of this example, say we want to run this LED with a 2100mA BuckBlock LED driver and we need to find what the light output would be like. When driving an in-between drive current that is not listed, find the relative flux vs. current graph on the data sheet that looks like the graph to the right.
The arrow is the tested (base) output (at 100% relative flux). Following the curve to 2100mA (?) we see that this is a 75% increase in light. Taking the 460 lumens from above and multiplying it by 1.75 we can see that the cool white XP-L running at 2100mA gives off about 805 Lumens.
It may be hard to find the LED and Lumen output needed when switching to LEDs. This is due to the fact that light was always measured by the wattage of a bulb. LEDs have much better efficacy which makes it nearly impossible to measure in this way anymore as a 50 Watt LED will be significantly brighter than a 50 Watt Incandescent. In Figure 7 we show different incandescent bulbs and how many Lumens they give output. This helps give a better idea of the light to expect from an LED and if it will be as much as the old lighting.
Viewing Angle and Optics
Our 5mm LEDs have listed viewing angles for each so just search for one that will work for you. As far as our surface mount LEDs go, most of them give off a very wide angle at 125 degrees! Luckily, the LED star boards are compatible and easy to use with LED optics. These secondary optics are used to focus the light, they can reflect the light from an LED into spot, medium spot, wide spot, or elliptical and oval patterns.
As seen in Figure 8, 1-Up optics are cone shaped and require an optic holder. In the case of our LED boards, optic holders have four legs that sit down into the grooves of the star. Triple LED stars are also compatible with Carclo optics, built with three holes in the board for the legs of the optic to fit in.
How to Power LEDs
LEDs are known for having the best efficacy out of all other light sources. Efficacy is the measure of how well a light source produces visible light, also described as Lumens per Watt. In other words, how much light are we getting for our watt of power. To find this, first find out the wattage of the LED in use. In order to find watts you need to multiply Forward Voltage (the voltage at which current starts to flow in the normal conducting direction) by drive current in Amps (note that it NEEDS to be in amps…not milliamps). Let’s take a look at the Cree XP-L 1-up LED as an example.
Say we are running this Cree XP-L at 2000mA. From Figure 8 you can see that at this drive current the forward voltage is 3.15. So to find watts we multiply 3.15 (forward voltage) by 2 A (2000mA = 2 Amps) which comes out to be 6.3 Watts.
So now to find Efficacy, we just need to divide 742 Lumens (the tested amount of Lumens for this LED at 2000mA) by 6.3 Watts. So the Efficacy (Lumens/watt) of this Cree XP-L is 117.8. This is great efficacy but also note Cree boasts that the XLamp XP-L LED has breakthrough efficacy of 200 lumens/watt running at 350mA. It is good to know that the efficacy goes down as you run more current to the LED as this increases heat which does make the LED a bit less efficient. Sometimes you will need to accept this if you need the LED to be very bright, but if you are wanting to get the best efficacy then you should run LEDs at a lower current. This is all helpful in determining how much power your applications will need as well as figuring out energy savings down the road.
A little bit more on LED drivers
This means that you need to find an LED driver that has the capability of driving LEDs at the current you need in order to get the amount of Lumens you’d like. An LED Driver is an electrical device that regulates the power to an LED or string(s) of LEDs. The driver responds to the changing needs of the LED by supplying a constant amount of power to the LED as its electrical properties change with the temperature. A good analogy in understanding this is that of a car on cruise control. As the car (LED) goes through hills and valleys (temperature changes), the cruise control (driver) makes sure it stays at a steady speed (light), regulating the gas (power) needed in doing so. The driver is so important because LEDs require very specific electrical power in order to operate properly. If the voltage supplied to the LED is lower than required, very little current runs through the junction, resulting in low light and poor performance. On the other hand, if the voltage is too great, too much current flows to the LED and it can overheat and be severely damaged or fail completely (thermal runaway). Always make sure you check the LEDs datasheet so you know what current is recommended to avoid these issues.
How much voltage do I need to light up an LED?
This is a common question asked and is actually pretty easy to figure out. All you need to know is your LED(s) forward voltage. If you have multiple LEDs in series than you need to take into account all the forward voltages combined, if you have a parallel circuit than you only need to take into account the forward voltage of how many LEDs you have per string. For more on wiring setups see here. It is a good idea to keep at least a 2 volt overhead as some drivers (like the LuxDrive drivers) require this for the driver to work properly. So if your total forward voltage for a series circuit is 9.55, you should be safe with a 12V supply. For off line drivers (AC input) just know the output voltage they are rated at and make sure you are covered, so a AC input driver with an output range of 3-12VDC would work for this application as well.
Heat Control
Finding wattage of your sytsem also helps you know more about the heat control you will need. Since these LEDs are high-power, they do create heat which can be very bad as you can learn here. Too much heat will make the LEDs produce less light as well as cut down on the lifetime. We always recommend using a heatsink and like to say to use about 3 square inches for every watt of LEDs. For larger wattages I would recommend looking for a heatsink that is recommended for the amount of watts you are running.
LED Binning & Quality
With the LED industry growing at a pretty rapid pace right now, it is important to understand the difference in LEDs out there. This is a common question as LEDs can range from very cheap to very expensive. I’d be careful in buying cheap LEDs as you always get what you pay for, yes the LEDs might work great at first but they usually tend not to last as long or will burn out fast because of poor testing.
All the LEDs carried here at LEDSupply are carefully selected. We only stock the best brands and color temperatures. Our vast experience in the industry has helped us learn the importance of quality manufacturing and binning of LEDs as well. In the manufacturing of LEDs, there is a variation of performance around average values in the technical data sheets. For this reason manufacturers bin the LEDs for luminous flux, color and forward voltage. We select the bins with the highest luminous flux (visible light) and lowest forward voltage, as this makes sure we have the LEDs with the best efficacy. A large amount of LED products are cheaply made and not documented correctly, which leads to many failed projects and then makes people think LEDs actually don’t last as long as they are said to. With our experience and buying power, we are able to offer the best products at reasonable prices.
This should give you a good start to understanding LEDs and what to look for, but if you have more questions or would like more info on a certain product and whether it would work for you, we are here to help. Just email us at sales@LEDSupply.com or call us at (802) 728-6031 to chat with our very knowledgeable Tech Support Team.I enjoy visiting local “haunted” spots. This cemetery in Bennington New Hampshire, seems almost too good to be true. It looks like the set of a scary movie, so of course there are a few ghosts reported to be seen here.
I often wonder why ghosts don’t roam the hallways of hospitals or battlefields. Locations where many people die often seem woefully thin of paranormal visitation. Instead ghosts are often where we expect to see them. The anticipation of a ghost seems to be necessary to their making themselves known.
I honestly jumped for a moment when I was just doing a quick filming of the gates. I had already moved the camera, before I noticed the gate opening on its own! I swung the camera back, when noticed the gate moving. Ghosts exist when we give ghostly explanations to the ordinary. A spooky cemetery is the perfect setting for our imaginations to work overtime.
GHOST… or the wind. You decide.Australian churches and cathedrals are offering sanctuary to asylum seekers, who the country’s government wants to send back to island detention centers despite concerns over inhumane treatment.
Australia’s High Court ruled Wednesday that offshore detention was not unconstitutional, but human-rights advocates say detainees on the island nation of Nauru and on Papua New Guinea’s Manus island have been subjected to sexual and other forms of abuse.
Almost 270 asylum seekers facing return — among them 37 infants — are currently in Australia, most having received medical attention, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).
Some clergymen said they would open the doors of their churches to the refugees, even if it meant breaking Australian law.
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“Many of us are at the end of our tether as a result of what seems like the government’s intention to send children to Nauru,” the Rev. Peter Catt, the Anglican Dean of Brisbane, told the ABC.
“So we’re reinventing, or rediscovering, or reintroducing, the ancient concept of sanctuary as a last-ditch effort to offer some sense of hope to those who must be feeling incredibly hopeless.”
[ABC]
Write to Simon Lewis at simon_daniel.lewis@timeasia.com.TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
Longtime Vancouver Whitecaps defender Jordan Harvey is heading to LAFC, at least if his Twitter account is to be believed.
A free agent entering the offseason, Harvey announced he had signed with the expansion side on Friday, though the deal has not yet been confirmed.
Harvey, who will be 34 next month, is entering his 13th MLS season after playing for Vancouver in each of their first seven MLS campaigns. He has made at least 24 league appearances in each of the last nine seasons.
An LA move would represent a homecoming for Harvey, a native of nearby Mission Viejo, California, who played college soccer at UCLA.
Meanwhile, Metro reporter Kristian Dyer is hearing that former MLS and US national team forward Ante Razov will work on LAFC's coaching staff for Bob Bradley, who coached Razov both with the Chicago Fire and Chivas USA.
Per sources, hearing that #LAFC will be adding Ante Razov to their coaching staff. Former US international with plenty of experience, connections to Bob Bradley. — Kristian Dyer (@KristianRDyer) December 22, 2017
Meanwhile, Razov would be making a crosstown move after spending last year on the LA Galaxy staff. He previously served as an assistant for Seattle in the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
As a player, Razov scored 114 league goals in 262 appearances across five teams (Galaxy, Fire, Crew SC, MetroStars, Chivas USA).Sasquatch, or “Bigfoot” as it is more commonly known today, is as elusive a mystery as any afforded us in North America. While the creature’s alleged existence in popular media really only sprang into the public consciousness during the 1950s, plenty of earlier stories exist, which dealt with “giants” in the mountains of Washington State and other remote regions of Cascadia.
One early report that goes as far back as the 1840s appears in the diary of Elkanah Walker, a notable pioneer, settler, and American missionary who travelled through modern day Oregon and Washington State (at that time, they were still known as the Oregon Country). Walker recorded many beliefs held among the Spokane Indians, one of which clearly outlines the familiar legends about the Sasquatch. However, there is one particularly odd note he details about the creatures, and their apparent habits for kidnapping.
Walker wrote the following about the “giants” of the mountains:
“Bear with me if I trouble you with a little of their superstitions. They believe in a race of giants, which inhabit a certain mountain off to the west of us. This mountain is covered with perpetual snow. They (the creatures) inhabit the snow peaks. They hunt and do all their work at night. They are men stealers. They come to the people’s lodges at night when the people are asleep and take them and put them under their skins and to their place of abode without even waking. Their track is a foot and a half long. They steal salmon from Indian nets and eat then raw as the bears do. If the people are awake, they always know when they are coming very near by their strong smell that is most intolerable. It is not uncommon for them to come in the night and give three whistles and then the stones will begin to hit their houses.”
There is a curious preponderance of legends among the North American Indian tribes that described these “giants” as kidnappers, often stealing Indian women to have as their wives (for more information about this, I featured a lengthy article that examines such folklore in my contribution to David Weatherly’s Wood Knocks Volume 1: A Journal of Sasquatch Research). This narrative is mirrored somewhat in a handful of modern writings as well, with one notable interpretation being the Missing 411 books by author David Paulides. However, Paulides makes no direct association between legends of the Sasquatch and strange disappearances in National Parks, though many readers feel the association is implied in some instances.
There are other early reports from the Pacific Northwest that seem to have bearing on modern events too, whether or not the theme of kidnapping is present. One such story was logged from Happy Camp in Siskiyou County, California, on January 2, 1886, as retold by a correspondent for the Del Norte Record. The story read as follows:
“I do not remember to have seen any reference to the Wild Man which haunts this part of the country, so I shall allude to him briefly. Not a great while since, Mr. Jack Dover, one of our most trustworthy citizens, while hunting saw an object standing one hundred and fifty yard from him picking berries or tender shoots from the bushes. The thing was of gigantic size — about seven feet high — with a bulldog head, short ears and long hair; it was also furnished with a beard, and was free from hair on such parts of its body as is common among men. Its voice was shrill, or soprano, and very human, like that of a woman in great fear. Mr. Dover could not see its footprints as it walked on hard soil. He aimed his gun at the animal, or whatever it is, several times, but because it was so human would not shoot. The range of the curiosity is between Marble Mountain and the vicinity of Happy Camp. A number of people have seen it and all agree in their descriptions except some make it taller than others. It is apparently herbivorous and makes winter quarters in some of the caves of Marble Mountain.”
It is interesting that this final reference to the caves on Marble Mountain appears in this early narrative, since this location was home to a more recent encounter involving a group of campers hiking in the area. Shortly after the discovery of a large, crude “dwelling”, the hikers (who were fortunately armed with a video camera) noticed something large on an adjacent peak; the tall, gangly figure can be seen waving its long arms, and some of the hikers can be overheard saying the being was “shouting” at them, as it makes its way slowly down the mountain toward them.
The footage then abruptly cuts to a scene of the Marble Mountain area the following morning, and the narrator can be heard noting that there had been no further sign of “our visitor.” The video, from such a distance away, does leave much to the imagination. However, what it appears to show is a tall, slim figure, with very long arms.
Researcher MK Davis, whose stabilizations of famous alleged videos of Bigfoot are well renowned, created a similar enhanced rendering of the Marble Mountain footage, a portion of which can be seen below:
The footage is certainly bizarre, and while the skeptical viewer may quickly dismiss it, I invite readers to suspend their disbelief for a moment as you watch this, and give consideration to the long history of strange reports from the Marble Mountain area. What if this truly were one of the “giants” that have been referred to in older literature pertaining to the area?
Among the other early reports from this region, there is one that stands out as being one of the most odd and unsettling cases of an alleged Sasquatch kidnapping. The account was featured in a letter written a few years ago to the Bigfoot Encounters website, which had long been maintained by the late researcher Bobbie Short. The letter in question had been sent by a man whose grandfather had told an odd story about his days working with a railroad operation in the Pacific Northwest.
As the story goes, the company would send out pairs of men in small teams that would work clearing the area as they progressed through the wilderness. One afternoon, as the teams were all coming in, one of the men came back alone, claiming his partner had simply vanished. A search for the missing man ensued, but the company’s employees were unable to find him. The operation continued for another couple of weeks without further incident.
Then one morning, one of the crews came upon the missing man. His clothing was missing, and he had apparently gone mad, rambling incoherently in an extremely excited state. As they returned to their base camp, the badly frightened man was treated, though he had nearly died from his ordeal in the wilderness. The palms of his hands and feet were raw, and though he died within a few days of his rescue, he did manage to tell the story of his disappearance.
According to the missing man, he had been working the thick brush alone one afternoon, when a large “gorilla” grabbed him and carried him away. While in captivity, the man had been kept in a large pit by the creature, which was apparently a female. He said that the creature “licked his hands and feet raw”, so that he couldn’t crawl out of the pit. As for the reason it kept him there, he said that the gorilla had repeatedly tried to “mate with him” while he remained in captivity.
In the letter recounting this harrowing experience, the narrator noted that his grandfather was chastised by other family members about the story. In particular, his daughters found it silly, since they told him that there were no gorillas that lived in America.
This very unusual story bears similarity to later reports, which include that of Albert Ostman, a prospector who claimed he was kidnapped in 192 |
-formed tradition and ritual allows intellectual and moral integrity to flourish. In a time of increasing income disparity, environmental crisis, and militarization, it is more important than ever for churches to allow discussion and dissent around issues of justice and violence and how Christianity can speak to them. This includes calling into relentless question portions of tradition and scripture that have been used to justify domination, exclusion and violence. Christians need stabilizing structures that hold communities together while allowing free and open-minded debate.
I now worship with Spanish-speaking Episcopalians. Among this group of liturgy-enacting, ritual adhering, scripture-reading Christians, I am free, with others, to both question and relish the intricacies of scripture. We are free to roll our eyes at the tradition at times, or to discuss it critically as the human construct that it is. In a faith community ordered around tradition, rather than around the supposedly inscrutable Bible, we are free to communally worship the Lord God with all of our heart, soul and mind. Thanks be to God.
Tricia Gates Brown is a writer and garden designer working on the north Oregon coast, author of Jesus Loves Women: A Memoir of Body and Spirit. More of her work can be found at: www. triciagatesbrown.com.
Like ( 0 ) Dislike ( 0 )Simon Veness is a beat writer covering Orlando City SC for MLSsoccer.com. He has been writing about soccer for various media in the UK and USA since 1981. You can view all of his stories written for MLSsoccer.com here.
ORLANDO, Fla.—Tommy Redding was always destined for a professional sports career. The only question was: Which sport would it be?
For the young Orlando City SC center back, born into an athletically gifted family, his professional future was written in his DNA. But in the end, it was his friends, and not his family, that made the decision for him as to which sport to pursue. And he's been on the fast track to success ever since. Already a fixture in the US U-20 team, it seems just a matter of time before he’s knocking on the door of the full international squad.
Lions head coach Adrian Heath was sold on the teenage prodigy early on, and sees no reason why Redding shouldn’t go on to be one of the best of his generation.
“We’ve known about Tommy for quite a while and have been fortunate to work with him for a few years now,” Heath said. “We were able to get him in and get him some experience in our USL days, when he could afford to get his learning in and make a few mistakes.
“He’s always had this understanding that he’s had potential, but now we’ve told him that he’s got to step it up and show us the confidence and ability we can see in him. And he’s shown us a lot of that so far this year.”
Soccer Smart: Why the Homegrown Rule is so Important Read
Heath’s ringing endorsement comes on the back of ten appearances so far in 2016 after just two in the team’s inaugural year. The coach had enough confidence in Redding to start him less than two months past his 19th birthday in the season opener against Real Salt Lake, ahead of the experienced Aurelien Collin, who has since been traded to the New York Red Bulls.
Redding has partnered both Seb Hines and David Mateos, and had arguably his crowning MLS moment to date in helping shut out Spanish World Cup ace David Villa in the Lions’ 1-0 victory at New York City FC in March.
Ask him to look back and figure out why he has come so far, so fast, and he is quick to point to three generations of Redding family sporting achievement.
“I guess you could say that my family knew from a young age that, with my genetics, I would have an advantage,” he said. “My father played basketball at high school and was a high school All American, and also played collegiate ball. My grandfather played baseball at 19 for the Texas Rangers, and then I had three uncles who were all good sportsmen.
“One was a wide receiver at high school and was All County and All State. Another was a running back and went on to play at college. And the third played basketball, football and did track. All five are in the San Diego Sports Hall of Fame. My mom was also very athletic and I have two sisters who played basketball and softball.”
None of them played soccer, though. So how did young Tommy end up in MLS?
“I played a season of football and basketball at school, but they weren’t very enjoyable,” Redding said. “But I had a good bunch of friends from the age of six right up to 15 and they all played soccer. The main reason I stuck with soccer was because of them. They made it fun for me.”
With the family having moved from San Diego to Orlando when he was small, Florida proved a fertile training field for a tall, composed defender who passed the ball well and didn’t appear to fluster easily. He moved comfortably into the US teams at the 14- and 15-year- old levels, and captained the Under-17s. He was called up for the U-18s a year early – and suddenly found himself in serious demand.
“At 15, I had to decide if I was going to be a soccer player or just a kid who played soccer,” he said. “I decided soccer was the job for me and went into the U-17 residency program with the IMG Academy at Bradenton.
“We had a lot of success, played in tournaments in Europe and I had offers to go and train with teams in Europe. It was a tough two years, away from my family, a big leap of faith. But training every day and getting used to that kind of schedule was so beneficial. I had pretty much decided – being a soccer player would be a pretty good job.”
The only real decision for Redding after his IMG residency period was whether to take the college route or go pro right away. College teams South Florida, Virginia and UCLA all were after him, but so was a team much closer to home.
A fledgling USL outfit had been keeping close tabs on Redding’s progress at Bradenton and they had the huge advantage of knowing they could offer him a full-time future in the game straight away.
“I had to weigh up all my options,” he admitted. “Growing up in the US, your goal as a kid is to go to college and then get a job, so that was probably still the number one option. But then I spoke to Orlando City and realized how big they were growing and what an opportunity it represented.”
There were no second thoughts. City had his name on a contract at 17 and he was officially their first Homegrown Player. He struggled to get much exposure last year amid a crowded central defense corps for the Lions, but this year has been completely different.
On Sunday he goes back to New York for another joust with Villa and Co., and he might even be the senior defensive partner, with Mateos suspended and Hines struggling to shake off a knee injury. Orlando could field a central pairing of Redding and Conor Donovan, the team’s 20-year-old, second-round SuperDraft pick in 2015 who has just one appearance to date.
It isn’t likely to faze Redding, though, and another standout performance at Yankee Stadium could be the stepping stone to more national recognition. The prospect of more games in a US jersey is what really drives the 19-year-old phenom.
“Just being part of a national team is always a huge honor,” Redding said. “In fact, I think walking out in that jersey and standing there for the national anthem for the first time was a clinching moment for me (in choosing to pursue soccer). And it has been a big part of my development. Seeing how I stacked up against kids around the world is very helpful, and I think I stack up pretty well.
“Right now, and this year especially, my confidence is sky high. With every game I learn more, get more experience, and keep rolling with it. The US men’s team is always a goal and hopefully that’s something in my future. I just want to keep improving as a player here first.”Expedientes ficticios
La Audiencia Nacional admitió a trámite la recusación promovida contra los magistrados Concepción Espejel y Enrique LópezFrancisco Correa y Pablo Crespo, por irregularidades en las adjudicaciones concedidas que el Ayuntamiento de Jerez (Cádiz) a la red en el marco de la Feria Internacional de Turismo (Fitur) de 2004, informó Europa Press.El instructor del incidente de recusación,, dictó un auto en el que solicita a la Fundación para el Análisis y los Estudios Sociales ( FAES ), que dirige el expresidente del Gobierno José María Aznar, queEnrique López y certifique los honorarios que pudo cobrar por sus intervenciones.Poveda acordó admitir a trámite las recusaciones planteadas por las acusaciones populares, ejercidas por la Asociación de Abogados Demócratas de Europa (ADADE), PSPV y PSM, quepor sus relaciones con miembros del Partido Popular López y Espejel se opusieron a ser apartados al tribunal argumentando queni tienen interés directo o indirecto en la causa, algo que ya dijeron en los casos de la primera época de actividades de la Gürtel y de la supuesta caja B del Partido Popular.El juez José de la Mata acordó el pasado enero, Isabel Jordán y Javier Nombela, las interventoras municipales María del Milagro Pérez y Milagros Abascal, el que fuera director del Instituto de Promoción y Desarrollo de la Ciudad (IPDC) José Agüera, la empleada de este organismo Lourdes Montenegro y al antiguo secretario del Ayuntamiento Manuel Báez.El magistrado envió al Tribunal Supremo la investigación que llevaba a cabo sobre sobre la exalcaldesa de Jerez y exsenadora María José García Pelayo, cuyo caso archivó el alto tribunal alde los contratos.La Fiscalía Anticorrupción solicitapor prevaricación, falsedad cometida por funcionario público, fraude a las administraciones públicas y falsedad en documento mercantil;por los mismos delitos menos el último.Reclama dos años de cárcel para Abascal por prevaricación y fraude a las administraciones, mientras que pide también que todos ellos sean inhabilitados durante 12 años para ocupar cargo público.El juez De la Mata dio por finalizada la investigación de esta pieza separada del caso Gürtel en un auto dictado el pasado noviembre tras constatar que los contratos se adjudicaron "sin concurso público" e incurrieron en "groseras ilegalidades".La contratación del stand de Fitur, por importe de 355.391 euros, s: Special Events, Down Town Consulting y Teleanuncio. Estas sociedades comenzaron a ejecutar sus servicios incluso antes de que se los adjudicara formalmente el Instituto de Promoción y Desarrollo de la Ciudad, un órgano que "no era el competente" para ello.El juez, que consideró que los acusados cometieron un delito de prevaricación continuada, reincidió en los argumentos que ya expuso en noviembre y subraya que los contratos y expedientes administrativos se elaboraron una vez finalizada la Feria de Turismo y, en algunos casos,De la Mata concluyó que el secretario del Ayuntamiento y las interventoras suscribieron los documentos para "dar apariencia de legalidad" a las actuaciones; mientras que el entonces director del IPDC, José Agüera, justificó "indebidamente" las memorias del organismo para acudir a un "procedimiento de urgencia" y la empleada Lourdes Montenegro intervino en la elaboración de la documentación incorporada a los expedientes.De esta forma, las empresas de la Gürtel confeccionaron los presupuestos de los tres contratos y presentaron sus ofertas con posterioridad a la celebración de Fitur, con lo que se demuestra que los expedientes "se construyeron" en realidad en febrero de 2004 y que "".Las firmas de Correa presentaron sus facturas al IPDC y fueron aprobadas por García Pelayo en su condición de presidenta, a pesar de que la competencia correspondía al Consejo Rector. En la aportación de la documentación por parte de las empresas de la Gürtel, participaron Correa y Crespo en calidad de directivos y Jordan y Nombela como trabajadores.La adjudicación del stand de Fitur y su promoción con publicidad y propaganda llevaron aparejados sendos, el espectáculo ecuestre de la Plaza Mayor costó 39.366,92 euros y la muestra de flamenco, 11.855,08 euros.New charges were laid Monday against six people and two companies in relation to the 2013 rail disaster in Lac-Mégantic, Que., and Transport Minister Lisa Raitt says more charges could be on the way.
Six people employed by the rail company at the time of the incident, including its president, are facing two charges each of failing to ensure the train was properly braked before it was left unmanned for the night.
The point of it all is, we will prosecute those who are to blame in this matter and it doesn't matter how long it takes. — Transport Minister Lisa Raitt
A conviction carries a maximum fine of $50,000, a maximum jail term of six months, or both.
Montreal Maine & Atlantic Canada Co. and Montreal Maine & Atlantic Canada Railway Ltd. are facing the same charges.
The charges come nearly two years after an MM&A train carrying 72 tanker cars full of oil derailed and exploded in the centre of the Quebec town of Lac-Mégantic, killing 47 people.
The federal government issued a notice saying charges were laid under the Railway Safety Act and the Fisheries Act.
"Transport Canada's investigation under the Railway Safety Act found that an insufficient number of hand brakes were applied to the train and that the hand brakes were not tested properly," the statement said.
The statement also cited Environment Canada's investigation into the depositing of a "deleterious substance into fish-bearing waters with the release of crude oil into the immediate environment of Lac-Mégantic and the Chaudière River."
Investigation continues, Raitt says
Federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said the charges show Transport Canada inspectors "took great diligence."
"They did a smart investigation, it took a while," she said Monday on CBC's Power & Politics.
Transport Minister Lisa Raitt says a continuing investigation may result in further charges. (CBC) Raitt also said there may be more charges on the way, explaining that another investigation is underway pertaining to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.
"You've seen the charges come forth on one, there's still another investigation that is outstanding," she said.
"But the point of it all is, we will prosecute those who are to blame in this matter and it doesn't matter how long it takes."
The six individuals facing charges are:
Robert C. Grindrod, chief executive officer and president.
Lynne Labonté, general manager of transportation.
Kenneth Strout, director of operating practices.
Mike Horan, assistant director.
Jean Demaître, manager of train operations.
Thomas Harding, train engineer.
Those six, along with railway traffic controller Richard Labrie, each face a federal Fisheries Act charge for the crude oil that flowed into Lac-Mégantic and the Chaudière River after the accident. The maximum penalty on that charge is a $1-million fine.
All those charged will appear in court in Lac-Megantic on Nov. 12.
Harding, Demaître and railway traffic controller Richard Labrie were previously charged with 47 counts of criminal negligence causing death.
Thomas Walsh, the lawyer representing Harding, questioned the timing of the charges.
"Why them? Why now?" Walsh said.
"We're nearing the second anniversary, and Transport Canada is obviously trying to look active, trying to look like they're doing something."
The charges as they appear on the summons:
(1) On or about July 5th, 2013, did contravene Rule 112(a) of the Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR), in force pursuant to section 19 of the Railway Safety Act (RSA), R.S.C. (1985), c. 32 (4th Supp.), by omitting to apply a sufficient number of hand brakes when leaving equipment, to prevent it from moving, contrary to paragraph 41(2)(d) of the RSA, committing thereby an offence punishable on summary conviction pursuant to paragraph 41(2.1) of the Railway Safety Act.
(2) On or about July 5th, 2013, did contravene Rule 112(b) of the Canadian Rail Operating Rules (CROR), in force pursuant to section 19 of the Railway Safety Act (RSA), R.S.C. (1985), c. 32 (4th Supp.), by omitting, after applying hand brakes, to ensure that a sufficient retarding force was present to prevent the equipment from moving, contrary to paragraph 41(2)(d) of the RSA, committing thereby an offence punishable on summary conviction pursuant to paragraph 41(2.1) of the Railway Safety Act.UI improvements in Firefox for Android February 25, 2013
Now that we’ve landed all the major changes for our next UI iteration, it’s probably a good time to spread the word about it and get some more feedback.
The goals with these changes are: keeping a clear distinction between different types of tabs; making better use of the screen real estate on different form-factors and orientations; and being more compliant with Android’s design language. So, what’s new?
Tab types
With the introduction of private browsing support in Firefox 21—now in Aurora—came the need for a clear distinction between regular and private tabs. We’ve done two UI changes to accomplish that.
First of all, the tabs tray is now divided into sections for each type of tab—regular, private, and remote—so that you always keep things separate and organized. Furthermore, once you select a private tab, the main toolbar becomes dark as a clear sign that you’re in a different browsing mode.
Two-way tabs tray
We now use a horizontal scrolling tabs tray whenever it improves our use of the screen space. This is achieved with a TwoWayView—announced a few days ago.
On phones, the tabs tray is vertical in portrait mode and horizontal in landscape mode. On tablets, the tabs tray is a vertical scrolling side bar in landscape mode and a horizontal strip in portrait mode. Small tablets (7” or so) now share the exact same tabs UI than large tablets.
Holo-ish
The Firefox UX team has been working on streamlining the Firefox UI across all platforms—both on desktop and mobile. The idea is that Firefox should feel like the same product wherever you use it. Finding the right balance between cross-platform design consistency and native platform compliance can be tricky but I think we’re getting there.
We’ve recently landed a new skin for Firefox for Android that is more aligned with Android’s Holo design language. Almost all textures and gradients were replaced by flat colors giving a much lighter feel to the browser. I love it!
All these UI changes are now available in the Nightly build. Give it a try and let us know what you think—ideally in form of bug reports!Pres. Obama is daring Republicans to vote on whether or not his executive actions are legal.
Discussing opposition to his executive amnesty orders at an immigration town hall Wednesday, Obama said he would veto the vote because his actions are “the right thing to do”:
“So in the short term, if Mr. McConnel l, the leader of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, want to have a vote on whether what I’m doing is legal or not, they can have that vote. I will veto that vote, because I’m absolutely confident that what we’re doing is the right thing to do.”
Obama argued that he has merely “expanded my authorities” – not broken any laws:
“What we’ve done is we’ve expanded my authorities under executive action and prosecutorial discretion as far as we can legally under the existing statute, the existing law. And so now the question is, how can we get a law passed.”
Obama called the “political process” a “separate track”:
So we’re going to have to keep on with the political process on a separate track. But in the meantime, we’re going to do everything that we can to make sure that we implement executive actions as we’ve discussed.
In addition to these “shortcuts,” the immigration law must be changed, as well, Obama said:
“There are only so many shortcuts. Ultimately, we have to change the law. And people have to remain focused on that.”
Watch full town hall video below:There’s a crisis building in the United States today that is little known, yet may affect every American at some point in their life. It can strike at any moment, without notice and through no fault of their own.
State and federal lawmakers, working with the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and most law enforcement agencies, claim to be well intentioned in their zeal to stop the wave of prescription drug abuse. Unfortunately, the effort to eradicate that abuse has led to the creation of panic among doctors, pharmacists and the patients they serve.
As the father of a seriously ill 29-year old daughter, I can tell you first hand the horror stories that these patients endure, because they are the victims of our out of control policies. Policies that require people with painful and debilitating diseases, like cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and spinal stenosis, to jump through nearly impossible hoops to receive treatment for moderate to severe pain.
At the age of 17, during the first week of her senior year in high school, our daughter Colleen complained of a mild sore throat and swelling in her hands. We took her to our family doctor on the eve of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, expecting a quick diagnosis, instructions for a little rest and perhaps some antibiotics.
What we got instead was life changing news. News that we foolishly thought only happened to other people, other families, and other children. Like the jets that flew into the World Trade Center the next morning, a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy was the very last thing we were expecting.
Our beautiful, ambitious and intelligent little girl faced a crippling disease and life in a wheelchair! Apparently, the bug that gave her the sore throat had triggered a response from her immune system. When it had done its job and the virus was gone, Colleen’s immune system refused to settle down. Instead it raged… a non-stop, 103 degree fever that caused muscle weakness so devastating that within two weeks Colleen could barely stand, let alone walk.
Colleen’s immune system had nothing left to attack but her own body, and it wouldn’t quit. She spent the rest of her senior year sick in bed, not able to attend another day of class, let alone homecoming, prom or graduation.
What followed was two years of twice weekly chemotherapy, high doses of corticosteroids, years of immune system suppressants and a young girl’s life that was forever changed. Added to the original diagnosis of muscular dystrophy came rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease and a host of other auto immune related disorders.
Pain in her hands, feet, knees and jaw, often severe and intense, was now part of Colleen’s daily life. Her doctors first prescribed OxyContin, a powerful opioid that successfully relieved her pain. Much to her credit, however, Colleen soon realized it was too powerful and too strong. So she stopped taking it.
She is now prescribed Morphine Sulphate and Dilaudid for breakthrough pain.
In the years that followed, Colleen went back to school and got her high school diploma, then studied business administration at a nearby college. Today, despite having so many odds stacked against her, she maintains a well-adjusted and positive attitude. She is even engaged to her high school sweetheart, Andrew, a wonderful young man who never stops trying to make her life better.
Despite years of powerful drugs and treatments, Colleen still suffers greatly from the advancing effects of these overlapping diseases. Her tendons are contracting and actually bend her knuckles backward, creating what is known as the painful “Swan Neck Deformity” and “Hitchhikers Thumbs.”
Some knuckles are swollen nearly to the size of golf balls, and the tendons in her feet have begun the same process of drawing the toes upward. Some days they are so tight that every step brings tears to her eyes. She has great difficulty walking. Her heart and lungs have also developed painful scar tissue.
Our home state of Florida, working together with the FDA and DEA, has effectively disrupted the distribution of legal pain relief medicines. Hospitals, clinics, first responders and pharmacies have in many cases been unable to obtain drugs to treat moderate to severe pain.
The very people we expect our leaders, legislators and law enforcement agencies to work for are being sacrificed on the altars of a drug war gone wild. The elderly, the sick and the disabled are suffering because they can’t get the pain medication they need. The paranoia and panic has made it nearly impossible for many seriously ill patients to obtain anything but over-the-counter pain relief medicine.
For years now, Colleen has been required by law to see her doctor every 30 days, so he can write prescriptions for pain relief medicines. She is forced to make a 50-mile round trip and sit in a waiting room full of sneezing and coughing sick people; while her immune system is suppressed by Cellcept, a powerful drug normally used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients.
I cringe that the cold and flu germs in that room could be deadly to Colleen.
In addition, she must take a state required drug test to prove that she takes her medications. She has passed every one.
The Pharmacy Crawl
Then the next step of the ordeal begins. The hunt. The pharmacy crawl. First, we see the pharmacist at the large chain drugstore where Colleen spends an average of a thousand dollars a month on prescriptions. There’s no problem there, except for the pain meds.
“We don’t have them in stock”… “We’re sold out”… “The DEA won’t let us fill our orders”… is what we are told.
Then we drive to the next pharmacy and are told the same thing.
“We haven’t gotten our orders in a month”… or “Maybe you should see a doctor and pharmacy in Miami.”
That would be a 240 mile round trip for us.
Do we sit and wait, as another pharmacist suggests? Or “stop in on Saturday, to see if anything has come in.”
By then Colleen will be out of the precious medicine that lets her get up in the morning and sleep at night. The meds that make it possible for her to ride in a car when she sees a doctor, or to occasionally go shopping or to a restaurant.
Without the medicine she depends on, Colleen is stuck in pain.
So tomorrow I’ll drive 80 miles up to Key Largo, to see if they have it. The pharmacists won’t tell you over the phone. They are scared and I don’t blame them. The DEA has set so many rules and traps for them, they trust no one.
If no pharmacy there has it, then it’s another 50 miles up to Miami, in the hope that I can come home with something to ease my little girl’s pain. It doesn’t bother me when a new pharmacist gives me a dirty look when they see the prescription for the first time. But it burns me to my soul when they do it to Colleen.
Usually it only takes a moment for them to see the damage to her hands and the look on a worried father’s face. Then they realize that we’re not junkies, we’re not scammers, and we’re not a threat. We are just a young woman who needs help and a father trying to see that she gets it.
They have been conditioned by the DEA to think “druggie.” They are scared. They can lose their job, their career, their assets and their freedom if they make one small mistake. The paperwork, the time and the risk are just not worth it.
The misguided, insensitive and inhumane policies of our government and the DEA in particular, have led us to create a Facebook page called Patients United for DEA Reform. It’s for people like Colleen who need a voice and the support of family, friends and community. People living with pain. You can click the link to our site and read volumes of mounting information about this intentionally created shortage of pain relief medicines and how it could affect you or a loved one someday.
All of us are only one injury or diagnosis away from being crippled with pain. Think of living every day with a toothache that won’t stop, an untreated broken bone, or surgery with no post-operative pain relief.
People are living with untreated pain every moment of every day because of government over reach and inhumane DEA policies. It must be stopped and it must be stopped now.
George Sullivan is a worried Dad in Marathon, Florida.
National Pain Report welcomes guest columns by chronic pain patients and their caregivers.
The views, opinions and positions expressed in this column are the author’s alone. They do not inherently or expressly reflect the views, opinions and/or positions of National Pain Report, American News Report, Microcast Media Group or any of its employees, directors, owners, contractors or affiliate organizations. National Pain Report and American News Report make no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information in this column, and is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions, or delays (intentional or not) in this information; or any losses, injuries, and or damages arising from its display, publication, dissemination, interpretation or use.
Opposing views, opinions and positions about this column are welcomed by National Pain Report, American News Report and or Microcast Media Group. Publication or lack of publication of opposing views, opinions and/or positions does not imply, suggest or expressly reflect an endorsement or disapproval of the originating commentary on the part of National Pain Report, American News Report or Microcast Media Group.There are a lot of stupid things you can do with the ports on your computer. The best example is the Etherkiller, an RJ45 plug wired directly to a mains cable. Do not plug that into a router. USB is a little trickier, but with a sufficient number of caps, anyone can build a USB killer that will fry any computer (.ru, Google Translatrix)
The USB Killer v2.0 is [Dark Purple]’s second version of this device. The first version was just a small board with a DC/DC converter, a few caps, and a FET. When plugged in to a computer, the converter would charge the caps up to -110V, dump that voltage into the USB signal wires, and repeat the entire process until the computer died. This second version is slightly more refined, and it now dumps -220V directly onto the USB signal wires. Don’t try this at home.
So, does the device work? Most definitely. A poor Thinkpad X60 was destroyed with the USB killer for purposes of demonstration in the video below. This laptop was originally purchased just for the test, but the monster who created the USB killer grew attached to this neat little laptop. There’s a new motherboard on the way, and this laptop will live again.The Monday Morning Ten Pack is brought to you by Sidsgraphs.com. SidsGraphs specializes in memorabilia and game-used items from baseball's top prospects! Visit Sidsgraphs.com today or visit their retail store in the south suburbs of Chicago.
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Michael Conforto, OF, Mets (Short-season A Brooklyn)
Conforto is a man among boys in the New York-Penn League, as his polished game and field utility make him look like a major leaguer playing a pickup game in the park against weekend softball warriors. The fact that he stands out is both good and bad; the former is great for the Mets, as they clearly drafted a player of merit, but the latter is bad for scouting, as it's hard to get an accurate picture of the player when he is facing highly erratic talent that doesn’t offer much of a challenge. I like the swing, as it's fluid and easy, and the ball jumps off the bat with some volume. I like the raw, although I’d peg the power in the solid-average range rather than a middle-of-the-lineup masher with a plus or better distinction. The defense in left field has been fine, as he shows off athleticism and an accurate arm. He isn’t a burner but he runs well enough for the position and while on base, and he carries himself like a player who not only knows the game of baseball from a fundamental level but brings those skills to the field on all fronts. But it's difficult in this particular context to see how bright his star will really shine, and based on a limited three game sample, I’d say the profile will be more solid-average than star. —Jason Parks
Aristides Aquino, OF, Reds (Rookie Billings)
Signed out of the Dominican Republic in early 2011, Aquino has been a slow comer, spending the better part of three seasons at the complex level, with only a 15-game taste of the Pioneer League coming into the season. The 20-year-old is a scouting dream, with a body borrowed from Vlad Guerrero and the raw tools that make the hand shake when documenting the potential. This is a prototypical corner profile, complete with big arm and big raw power, and so far in his return trip to Billings, the young outfielder is bringing the tools to the field, with 24 extra-base hits (including 10 bombs) in only 36 games. The developmental process has been—and will likely continue to be—slow and steady, but the ceiling is of the first-division variety even though the risk is clearly substantial. I love the long and strong types like Aquino, the types with the potential to impact the game at the plate and in the field. While that outcome is a long way off and anything but a certainty, the raw potential makes Aquino one of the more intriguing sleepers in the low minors. —Jason Parks
Blake Swihart, C, Red Sox (Double-A Portland)
Player development comes in all shapes, forms, and sizes. There's no blueprint, no magic formula. But some prospects immediately show themselves to be ahead of the curve. Swihart’s talent was apparent in his early days as a professional, but there was a ton of projection and assumed growth when looking at his ceiling. The catcher had a substantial gap to close, but he has taken a strong step forward developmentally this season, rising in prospect status as a result. The breakout has been years in the making, however: The 22-year-old switch-hitter has moved ahead steadily after experiencing early difficulties. Some of the steps have been subtle, and are a good example of the challenges of projection. It requires multiple looks, forward thinking, and patience. Swihart exemplifies the importance of that last trait, showing how a player might need to marinate before all of the tools click in unison. There’s still more work in front of him, but a role as a major-league regular isn’t far off. —Chris Mellen
Tyler Ybarra, LHP, Blue Jays (Double-A Manchester)
On a night when the starting pitching matchup was the main draw, it was Ybarra coming out of the bullpen who intrigued me the most. Prospects like this require you to see the forest for the trees. The left-hander sat 93 to 95 mph with life and late movement on his fastball. He needs work keeping the ball down and out of the middle of the plate, but I loved the way he came after hitters with his fastball. There’s a mentality to challenge and some attitude. Checkmarks for an arm that can potentially pitch in high-leverage situations. Ybarra primarily stuck with the heater, though he did snap off a handful of sliders at 84 to 85 mph with some tilt. It's an average offering with the chance to get some chases due to the change in pace from his fastball. Ybarra is a reliever all the way and they’re volatile and tricky, but my gut says he'll get a chance in late innings in the bigs. —Chris Mellen
Josh Bell, RF, Pirates (Double-A Altoona)
The Texan destroyed the Florida State League this season and is now getting his first test at Double-A. The Eastern League can be hell on a young prospect, with a good blend of crafty organizational pitchers and power arms gassing it up to 95 mph. This weekend, Bell showed tools, but an inconsistent bat. The raw power is a tick above plus, and the ball screams off his bat due to plus bat speed and slight lift. He shows more power as a left-handed hitter, as the swing is more consistent with less noise. In general, there is excessive noise in all phases of his swing. It starts pre-swing and sometimes leaks into his actual swing. He has a wide stance that helps him stay balanced, but the noise is detrimental and does not allow for his greatest strengths at the plate to be maximized. This is especially true as a right-handed hitter. He needs work from that side of the plate, and will likely stay at Double-A for the entire season next year. The defense is also adventurous, mainly due to footwork issues and route running. He does display a plus arm. Overall, Bell has two plus tools in the power and arm, but the swing still needs some time before he is close to the majors. He has the ability to be a first-division right fielder. —Tucker Blair
Mike Yastrzemski, OF, Orioles (Double-A Bowie)
Bloodlines and nepotism have always been in baseball. They always will be a part of the draft. However, sometimes we need to put that aside and realize when a player truly has the talent to make it to the majors. Yastrzemski may not have the true tools that we often fawn over in prospects, but he has elite makeup and hustles more than any player I have seen this season. This weekend, Yaz made the best play I have seen all year. A ball was hit in the right-center gap, but he got a terrific first step and took a full-effort dive on |
an our “food porn” and our exotic dinners. But maybe, just maybe, you should take a look in your own fridge first.Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine aerobic performance in men with an increased body mass due to (a) high body fat (>21.5%) but with a average (59.0–64.3 kg) lean body mass (HBF group) and (b) high lean body mass (>66.3 kg), but with average body fat (14.0–18.5%) (HLBM group). Methods The men in the HBF and HLBM had similar absolute body mass and body mass index (BMI). The aerobic performance was also determined in control group. Methods: Study participants comprised 39 men aged 21.3±1.9 years who did not participate in competitive sports but were recreationally physically active. Participants were divided into three groups. Each group comprised 13 persons. The study involved anthropometric measurements, assessing aerobic performance (VO 2 max) using an incremental test on a mechanical treadmill. VO 2 max was expressed in absolute values, relative to body mass (VO 2 max⋅BM−1), relative to lean body mass (VO 2 max⋅LBM−1), and relative to BM raised by the exponents of 0.75 and 0.67. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results No statistically significant differences in relative values of VO 2 max were found between the HBF and HLBM groups, in VO 2 max⋅BM−1 (50.24±4.56 vs. 53.11±5.45 mL⋅kg−1), VO 2 max⋅LBM−1 (65.33±5.63 vs. 63.86±7.13 mL⋅kgLBM−1), and VO 2 max⋅BM−0.75 (150.29±13.5 vs. 160.39±16.15 mL⋅kg−0.75). Values of VO 2 max⋅BM−1 were significantly lower in the HBF and HLBM groups than in the control group (58.23±5.84 mL⋅kg−1). Conclusion High body mass, regardless of the cause decreases VO 2 max⋅BM−1.
Citation: Maciejczyk M, Więcek M, Szymura J, Szyguła Z, Wiecha S, Cempla J (2014) The Influence of Increased Body Fat or Lean Body Mass on Aerobic Performance. PLoS ONE 9(4): e95797. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095797 Editor: Marià Alemany, University of Barcelona, Faculty of Biology, Spain Received: February 5, 2014; Accepted: March 31, 2014; Published: April 21, 2014 Copyright: © 2014 Maciejczyk et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: The study has been carried out within the grant No. N N404 071240, funded by the National Science Centre (Poland). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Introduction Aerobic exercise performance is indicated by maximal oxygen uptake per minute (VO 2 max) and primarily determined by the efficiency of mechanisms supplying active muscles with oxygen from the air [1]. Other factors affecting aerobic performance include body mass (BM) and body composition [2]. Obese and overweight persons, whose high BM is caused by high body adiposity, display a considerably lower VO 2 max relative to their body mass [3], [4]. However, a high body mass, as well as a high body mass index (BMI), can also be caused by a high amount of lean body mass (LBM) in persons with normal (or even low) body fat (BF). Publications to date have presented results of research on the influence of obesity and overweight on physical fitness and have established correlations between body composition and performance on fitness tests for athletes engaged in different disciplines [5], [6]. However, no attempts have thus far been made to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the influence of body composition on aerobic performance. The influence of body composition may be particularly important for sports disciplines in which athletes are required to have an appropriately high aerobic performance together with high muscle mass (e.g., boxing, basketball, or handball). Traditionally, VO 2 max is given in absolute values and relative to BM. However, such method of data normalization does not account for body size and body composition. Darveau et al. [7] and West et al. [8] indicated a need to use parameters that allow for a comparison of physiological variables, such as VO 2 max, between persons with different BM. An example of such a parameter is the allometric scale [9], [10]. In relation to the practice of sports, studies have reported the need to use different values, such as allometric coefficients, to determine the percentage of total BM to be considered [11]. These values would be specific for each sport [10]. For runners, researchers have suggested normalizing results by providing oxygen uptake in mL.kg−0.75.min−1 [12], [13]. Most commonly, the two exponents of BM used as possible scaling factors are 0.67 and 0.75 [14]. Our hypothesis states that one’s endurance is affected by absolute BM regardless of body adiposity or LBM. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to determine aerobic performance in men with lower body mass and normal body composition and in men with an increased body mass due to (a) high body fat (but with a normal lean body mass) and (b) high lean body mass (but with normal body fat). The aims of the study also include determining the optimal method of expressing VO 2 max that would allow for a comparison of endurance between persons with different body mass and body composition.
Methods The study project was approved by the Commission for Bioethics at the Regional Medical Chamber in Krakow (opinion No. 88/KBL/OIL/2010) and procedures were carried out in accordance with Helsinki Declaration. Each study participant, having been informed of the aim and method of the study, signed an informed consent form to take part in the studies. Before the incremental fitness test, each participant underwent a medical examination to ensure there were no contraindications to perform maximal physical effort. Anthropometric measurements and the incremental test were conducted before noon in similar external conditions (humidity and ambient temperature). Prior to the somatic measurements and the incremental test, participants were familiarized with the laboratory, measurement equipment, and testing procedures, and were instructed on how to prepare for the somatic measurements and the incremental test. Twenty four hours prior to testing participants were asked to refrain from physical activity, maintain hydration levels, and get at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep. Participants were also asked to consume a light meal at least 2 hours before testing. Somatic Measurements The following parameters were determined: BM, LBM, BMI and body fat percentage (%BF). BH was measured using an anthropometer with 1 mm accuracy. Body mass was also raised to the 0.75 and 0.67 exponents (BM0.75 and BM0.67) [14]. BM and body composition was assessed by means of bioelectrical impedance analysis [15], using the Jawon IOI-353 Body Composition Analyzer (Korea; 8 electrodes, 3 measurement frequencies, tetra-polar electrode method). Body composition was assessed at normal body hydration (euhydration) in similar external temperature (22–24°C) [16]. Hands and feet were cleaned with alcohol before electrodes were placed on skin surface. The method used bioelectrical impedance which shows a high correlation (R = 0.88) with dual X-ray absorbtiometry [15]. Division into Groups and Inclusion Criteria for each Group Study participants had to meet specific body composition criteria. In preliminary research, anthropometric measurements were performed on 1,549 men aged 18–30 years (most of them were aged 19–23 years) to determine inclusion criteria for each group. For each body composition parameter, a measurement result between the 40th and 60th percentile within a given group was considered average; a result above the 80th percentile was considered high. Participants were divided into three groups of different body composition. Group 1, which was the control group, included men with mean %BF (14.0–18.5%) and mean LBM (59.0–64.3 kg). Group 2 included men with high %BF (>21.5%) and mean LBM (the High Body Fat [HBF] group). Group 3 included men with mean %BF and high (>66.3 kg) LBM (the High Lean Body Mass [HLBM] group). In addition, the men in the HBF and HLBM had BM values that were not significantly different (about 80–83 kg). Participants selected for the incremental test were comprised of men who took part in the introductory anthropometric assessment and met inclusion criteria related to BM and body composition (according to the division into groups). Participants Ultimately, study participants comprised 39 physically fit college aged men (13 in each group), who agreed to take part in the assessment, met the aforementioned inclusion criteria, and did not participate in competitive sports but were physically active. Participants in all groups were of similar age (Table 1). The HBF group showed a statistically higher BM (due to high %BF) in comparison to the control group, but similar LBM and statistically higher BMI. The HLBM group showed statistically higher BM (due to high LBM) and similar %BF compared to the control group. BMI values in the HLBM group were also higher than in the control group. Statistically significant differences were observed in BH, %BF, and LBM between the HBF and HLBM groups. Table 1 shows detailed body composition parameters. PPT PowerPoint slide
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larger image TIFF original image Download: Table 1. Average (means±SD) age, body height, body mass, and body composition: lean body mass, body fat, and body mass index of study participants in each group. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0095797.t001 Assessment of Participants’ Physical Activity Study participants did not engage in competitive sports but took part in recreational sports. For these reasons, the participants’ physical activity was assessed using a Seven Days Physical Activity Recall (7-day PAR) questionnaire [17], [18]. Before the interview, the participants were instructed on how to complete the questionnaire. They were asked to record physical activity they engaged in during the week before the incremental test. The men rated the intensity of their physical activity using three categories: moderate (e.g., a quick walk), hard (e.g., a slow run), and very hard (e.g., a brisk run or strength exercises). Study participants differed considerably between groups in terms of duration and intensity of physical activity they undertook during the week. The HBF group was the least physically active, while the control and HLBM groups spent a similar amount of time on physical activity during the week but differed in terms of intensity. The control group declared engagement in significantly more (p<0.05) moderate-intensity exercises (in hours/week) than the HBF and HLBM groups (10.5±4.84 hr/week vs. 5.4±2.01 and 6.3±2.46 hr/week, respectively). The control and HLBM groups spent a similar amount of time during the week on hard-intensity exercises (3.0±2.13 and 2.6±1.35 hr/week, respectively), which was significantly greater than in the HBF group (1.0±0.42 hr/week). The HLBM group spent the most time on very hard–intensity exercises (including strength exercises), compared to 1.0±0.50 hr/week in the control group and only 0.5±0.57 hr/week in the HBF group. Incremental Test The incremental exercise test was conducted on a Saturn h-p Cosmos treadmill (Germany). Physical effort of the participant began with a 4-minute warm-up at a speed of 7.0 km.h−1. Next, running speed was increased by 1.2 km.h−1 every 2 minutes until the participant reported extreme exhaustion and refused to continue the test. Oxygen uptake per minute (VO 2 ) and pulmonary ventilation (V E ) were measured during the test using a Medikro 919 M9427 ergospirometer (Finland). Heart rate (HR) was registered using a Polar S610i pulsometer (Finland). VO 2 max was considered equal to the value of VO 2 that did not increase any further despite an increase in running speed or, in the case of the participant refusing to continue the test, equal to the highest registered value of VO 2. VO 2 max was expressed in absolute values (L.min−1), relative to BM (VO 2 max.BM−1), relative to LBM (VO 2 max.LBM−1), and relative to BM raised by the exponents of 0.75 and 0.67 (VO 2 max.BM−0.75 and VO 2 max.BM−0.67) [14]. Additionally, testing time, running distance, and maximum running speed (v max ) were measured for each participant. Biochemical Analysis Venous blood samples were collected 5 minutes before and 3 minutes after the incremental test using Vacutainer BD blood collection equipment. Concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) was assessed each time after 2 ml of blood was collected with lithium heparin as an anticoagulant; a Siemens Rapid 348 analyzer (Germany) was used. Concentration of lactate anions (La−) was assessed by collecting 2 ml of blood into tubes with glycolysis inhibitors (5 mg of sodium fluoride and 4 mg of potassium oxalate). The blood was kept on ice no longer than 20 minutes and was centrifuged for 15 minutes at 4°C with RCF of 1.000×g. Immediately after centrifugation, 10 µl of blood plasma was taken and the concentration of La− was measured using the L-Lactate Randox UK enzymatic test. Test sensitivity was 0.165 mmol.L−1, linearity was upwards of 19.7 mmol.L−1. Absorbency was measured at 550 nm using the UV/Vis Evolution 201 Thermo Scientific spectrophotometer (USA). Statistical Analysis The one-factor ANOVA was used to determine differences in the assessed parameters among groups. The differences were assumed to be statistically significant for p<0.05. Next, post hoc comparisons were conducted using the Tukey’s HSD test to determine the significance of differences between mean values in a given group. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R) for correlations and coefficient of determination (R2) between selected dependent variables as well as VO 2 max (without the division into groups) were calculated to determine the optimal method of relativization of VO 2 max values. A correlation was assumed to be statistically significant for p<0.05 Statistica 8.0 (StatSoft, Inc., USA) software was used for statistical analysis.
Discussion The aim of the study was to determine the influence of body composition and increased BM on aerobic performance. High body mass can be caused by an increased amount of BF or increased muscle mass (i.e., LBM), or both. The study sought to isolate the influence of both factors. The study also sought to assess, on the one hand, the influence of high body adiposity and, on the other hand, the influence of high LBM in men with similar body mass and normal values of other parameters for body composition (with the exception of body height). Results show that most of the analyzed physiological and biochemical parameters were similar between the HBF and HLBM groups. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between LBM and absolute values of VO 2 max. This correlation has been confirmed by other studies, which have found that high muscle mass (i.e., the main component of LBM) resulted in increased VO 2 [3], [19]. McInnis and Balady [20], when comparing VO 2 during submaximal effort between body builders (%BF = 8%) and men with normal body fat percentage (%BF = 24%) but having similar BM, found that body builders had a significantly higher VO 2 during motor tasks. Therefore, high body mass does not limit the VO 2 max: no significantly lower absolute values of VO 2 max were found in the analyzed groups with high body mass in comparison to the controls. This study found similar absolute values of VO 2 max between the studied groups. This result is most likely due to the type and intensity of physical activity the study participants engaged in. Apart from body size and body composition, VO 2 max is determined by genetic factors as well as the type and duration of physical activity. The HBF group was the least physically active, while the HLBM group declared the greatest engagement in very hard–intensity exercises, including strength exercises. Conversely, the control group declared the greatest engagement in moderate-intensity exercises. Different intensity of exercises and the amount of time spent on physical activity between the groups may have affected the absolute values of VO 2 max. Low (although significant) correlation between absolute VO 2 max and LBM indicates the importance of the training state. A problem that usually hampers interpretation of the data in a study of people with increased body mass and different body composition is the way of expressing the VO 2 max values. Depending on the chosen method of data normalization, results may be presented differently. People with similar absolute VO 2 max may have significantly different VO 2 max, which is relative to BM, yet at the same time, may have similar VO 2 max, which is relative to LBM. This study shows that the method of normalization of VO 2 max values is the determining factor in the interpretation of results of studies analyzing aerobic performance in persons with different body composition [21]. Various studies have analyzed different methods of normalizing VO 2 max values [10], [12], [13], [22]–[26]. The traditional and most commonly used method of expressing results of aerobic performance measurements is providing VO 2 max values relative to total body mass. In studies where VO 2 max values are expressed in this way, the results unambiguously show that high BM, regardless of body composition, has a negative effect on aerobic performance (the results of correlation in this study support this statement). A negative correlation between BM and VO 2 max.BM−1 suggests that persons with high BM have lower aerobic performance [24], [26], [27]. When the results were expressed in this way, the values of VO 2 max in the HLBM and HBF groups were similar (but significantly lower compared to the control group). However, Heil [22] showed that persons with low body mass were more likely to be categorized as having a low VO 2 max. Therefore, for two persons with similar LBM and similar absolute values of VO 2 max, if VO 2 is expressed relative to BM, the person with lower body adiposity will display a higher aerobic performance. The allometric scale allows for an analysis of physiological variables of specific groups while taking into consideration their characteristics, such as body composition, surface area of the body, level of training, and the environment of an activity [11], [28]. Studies have shown that different allometric exponents should be used for athletes from different sports disciplines [9]. Participants of this study did not engage in competitive sports and their physical activity differed in intensity, duration, and type of exercise. For these reasons, data analysis used the two most popular allometric exponents: 0.67 and 0.75. VO 2 max was expressed as power function ratios where, from the surface law, body mass should be raised to the power 0.67 [25], or, with acknowledgment of elasticity in body structures, 0.75 [12], [14]. This is to make the result of VO 2 max measurement independent of total body mass. The results of this study confirmed the validity of this approach: no correlation was found between BM and VO 2 max.BM−0.75 and VO 2 max.BM−0.67. However, there is a statistically significant negative correlation between VO 2 max.BM−0.75 and BMI and between VO 2 max.BM−0.75 and %BF (similar negative correlation was also noted between VO 2 max.BM−0.67 and %BF or BMI). When VO 2 max was expressed relative to BM−0.75 or BM−0.67, the HBF group displayed the lowest (p<0.05) values of this parameter. Another suggested method of normalization is expressing VO 2 max relative to LBM [25], [27], [29]. In this study, when VO 2 max was expressed relative to LBM the all groups displayed similar results. At the same time, this method of normalization shows no significant correlation of VO 2 max with BM, body composition, and BMI. Therefore, this method seems to be optimal for comparing VO 2 max values in persons with different body composition. The results of this study, which are similar to those found in studies of physical fitness in overweight or obese persons, demonstrated that obese persons displayed similar absolute VO 2 max values and VO 2 max values relative to LBM compared to persons with normal body composition [3], [30]. On the other hand, persons with high BF displayed significantly lower values of VO 2 max.BM−1 [3], [4]. Goran et al. [4] found that VO 2 max relative to LBM is an indicator of the physiological status of the cardio-respiratory system in terms of the oxidative demands of the body and does not seem to be influenced by excess FM. For this reason, it is recommended to provide VO 2 max relative to LBM, not relative to total BM [3]. The results of this study substantiate this recommendation: correlation coefficients indicate that body composition does not affect VO 2 max relative to LBM. However, there is a significant negative correlation between VO 2 max.BM−1 and %BF, BMI, and BM. The limitation of the study was the significant difference in body height noted in HLBM compared to the control group and HBF groups. This is why the increased level of LBM may have been the result of the greater BH of persons in the HLBM group and not the result of, for example, the applied training. Nevertheless, tall persons were included in the study because adding another inclusion criterion would have considerably reduced the HLBM group. It should be noted that BH does not affect one’s endurance capabilities. VO 2 max is determined not only by somatic build, but also by many other factors, such as the cardiopulmonary functions, the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin concentration in the blood, mass of the mitochondria, or the training state.
Conclusions Body mass shows a negative correlation with values of VO 2 max relative to body mass. This means that low values of this parameter are noted both in persons whose high body mass is the result of high body fat and in persons whose high body mass is the result of high lean body mass. Regardless of the method of normalization, aerobic performance of persons with similar body mass and different body composition is similar. High body mass, regardless of the cause (i.e., high BF or high LBM), decreases VO 2 max relative to body mass. Results of this study may prove useful for trainers, instructors, and persons engaged in anaerobic-aerobic sports disciplines that require good aerobic performance as well as strength and power determined primarily by muscle mass. The study found relatively low yet statistically significant correlation and determination coefficients that indicate a relationship between body mass and body composition and VO 2 max values expressed in the following ways: as absolute values relative to absolute body mass and as VO 2 max.BM−0.75 and VO 2 max.BM−0.67. VO 2 max expressed relative to LBM shows no relationship with absolute BM and body composition.
Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank the subjects who volunteered for the study.
Author Contributions Conceived and designed the experiments: MM. Performed the experiments: MM MW JS ZS SW. Analyzed the data: MM. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: MM MW JS. Wrote the paper: MM. Revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content: JC MM ZS MW JS.The First Massive African American Protest in U.S. History Was Led By Children Marching Against Lynching In The Silent Protest Parade 5
First Massive African American Protest in American History (July 28, 1917) were children in New York City participating in the Silent Protest Parade against the East St. Louis Riots. Between 8,000 and 10,000 African-Americans marched against lynching and anti-black violence in a protest. The march was precipitated by the East St. Louis Riot of May and July of that year, which was an outbreak of labor and race-related violence that caused up to 200 deaths and extensive property damage. The Parade was organized by famous civil rights activist and first African-American to earn a doctorate (from Harvard University) W. E. B. Du Bois and the NAACP. The protesters hoped to influence President Woodrow Wilson to carry through on his election promises to African-American voters to implement anti-lynching legislation and to promote black cases; to the great horror of civil rights activists across the country, Wilson repudiated his promises, and federal discrimination actually increased during his presidency. It was the first parade of its kind in New York and the second public civil rights demonstration of African-Americans.
The paraders assembled at Fifty-ninth Street and Fifth Avenue and marched thirty-six blocks downtown to Madison Square Park. They were led by about 800 children, some no older than six, dressed entirely in white. Following the children were white-clad women, then rows of men dressed in black. The marchers walked wordlessly to the sound of muffled drumbeats. Despite their silence, their concerns were articulated on neatly stenciled banners and signs.
The banners and signs read: “MOTHER, DO LYNCHERS GO TO HEAVEN?; “GIVE ME A CHANCE TO LIVE”; “TREAT US SO THAT WE MAY LOVE OUR COUNTRY”; “MR. PRESIDENT, WHY NOT MAKE AMERICA SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY?; AND “YOUR HANDS ARE FULL OF BLOOD.”
Source — http://newyorknatives.com/black-new-yorkers-rose-up-on-this-day-in-nycs-history/
S0urce — http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2013/02/28/snippet-from-history-2-the-negro-silent-protest-of-1917/
Source — Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance: K-YThe DreamLeague Season 8 Major is over and Team Secret proved that they are once again the strongest Dota 2 team in the world. As a result of this victory, the Europeans were awarded half a million dollars and 2250 Dota Pro Circuit points. Overall, Team Secret is now the highest ranked team in the world, having a total of 3690 qualifying points.
For 3 of Secret’s players (Clement “Puppey” Ivanov, Adrian “Fata” Trinks and Yeik “MidOne” Nai Zheng) this title isn’t something entirely new, as all of them have experienced success at the highest level before. But for the other 2 (Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard and Yazied “YapzOr” Jaradat), winning this Major was definitely the highest achievement of their career.
My first LAN title! Thank you to my team, my coach, and everyone who supported us! pic.twitter.com/BUyl1pRH5m — Yazied Jaradat (@YapzOrdota) December 3, 2017
During the DreamLeague Season 8 Major, Team Secret encountered and defeated 3 out of the 4 remaining top 5 teams in the world: Evil Geniuses, Newbee and Team Liquid. And they did it in an impressive fashion, dropping only one game throughout the entire tournament, in the upper bracket Finals against Team Liquid.
The Grand Finals was a reiteration of the upper bracket Finals, but this time Team Secret looked even stronger than before. The level of skill displayed by both squads was absolutely incredible, with the first 2 games lasting around 70 minutes each. But, in the end, Team Secret prevailed, being on point in both their drafting and execution.Hunter 2E Open Dev: Slashers and Ashwood Abbey
Hunter: The Vigil
I mentioned in my Hunter the Vigil 2E developer announcement that I wanted to use OpenDev as a way to introduce how I’m addressing gameplay, structure, and the three tiers in the context of the Slasher Chronicle. This will be an experiment, for both you and for me, that will help us understand how discussions like this can affect development prior to the outline phase.
First, let’s kick off Hunter OpenDev by addressing what a slasher is, since this type of monster is crucial to the Slasher Chronicle. So, outside of the horror trope and being dangerous killers–what is a slasher? The Slasher supplement has a great introduction that talked not only about how this book examines the trope, it takes this idea a step further by saying:
“That’s the hunter advantage: working together, a unified front of defense and attack. But what it the slashers had that advantage, too? What if, say, we gave you the tools to consider what happens when slashers aren’t the lone killers so commonly expected, but instead band together? A family of thrill-killing mutants? A cabal of ritualistic killers? A squad of mindless brute thugs, their faces concealed behind featureless masks? The danger is multiplied. The killings grow exponentially. A hunter cell facing a cabal or a cult of slashers is in for a very rough ride, indeed. And did we mention that sometimes, hunters become slashers?” (Slashers, p 11.)
The fact that all hunters have the potential to become slashers is terrifying, and in a supplement this is a fantastic option to explore. In the Hunter 2E rulebook, however, one of the things I’m looking at is how cells, compacts, and conspiracies are presented for standard gameplay and how they might fit into the overarching chronicle. When I was thinking about this, the compact Ashwood Abbey immediately jumped out to me as potentially problematic. (For those of you who are new to Hunter, cells are a Tier One style of play, compacts reflect Tier Two, and conspiracies are Tier Three.)
The Scotland-based Ashwood Abbey is a compact on pp. 102-105 of the Hunter the Vigil 1st Edition corebook. Abbey members tend to be thrill-seekers, hedonists, and social climbers whose status is based on:
“…who you know and, to a lesser degree, what you’ve killed. But mostly it comes from getting a reputation for being adventurous, for putting on great, bizarre parties, for doing imaginative things to your quarry.” (H:tV 1E, p. 105)
The compacts were also addressed in the Slasher supplement, and Ashwood Abbey was presented in part as thus:
“When you’re the kind of person who loves a good hunt, what better prey than a killer possessed of native cunning, speed, determination and a seeming inability to lie down and know he’s licked? It doesn’t get any better than that. Of course, the Abbey members are mostly borderline psychos anyway, and slashers — particularly Charmers and Geniuses — might get a kick out of joining. Once or twice, the Freak-ish offspring of those inbred moneyed families you hear about have been brought along on hunts, kept on a tight leash (sometimes literally). There have been several members of the Ashwood Abbey who, over the years, have either maintained dual membership or transferred their membership to the Hunt Club. Sometimes the members of the Abbey find a killer they respect and invite him to join — in part of get him off the streets and into some “productive” killings, in part to honor his twisted talents. In 1888, a group from the Abbey found Saucy Jack himself. The story is common currency among the Abbey: he joined, he was good at killing beasts, but then he got bored. When he went back to killing prostitutes, the Abbey ended up hunting down and killing him.” (Slashers pp. 47-48)
While I don’t want to give the entire story for Hunter 2E away, you can safely assume that there are more slashers present now (with respect to an “in game” timeline) than there were in 1E. Applying that to Ashwood Abbey, this means the compact is more likely to harbor and work with slashers, and this increases their potential threat level to other compact members — which makes them more antagonistic to other hunters. The seeds of this possibility was introduced in the Slasher supplement as well, through the Hunt Club. Here’s a little more about them:
“An irony: the Hunt Club isn’t an organization of hunters. It’s an organization of killers. Superficial similarities between the Hunt Club and Ashwood Abbey (the affluence of their members, the exclusivity of their membership practices) cause some hunters to confuse them, or assume that one is a department of the other, but notwithstanding the occasional member of the Abbey who joined the Hunt Club, they’re wholly separate organizations with their own structures and their own resources.” (Slashers p. 48)
I feel these aspects have the potential to limit the opportunities for Ashwood Abbey members to work with non-Abbey members and, more importantly, it could also turn the compact into a target for slashers, hunters, and other monster types. With all of this in mind, I’m mulling over three possibilities for Ashwood Abbey in Hunter 2nd Edition. They are:
No Change: First, we can keep Ashwood Abbey mostly “as is” with few changes per my above-quoted text. This wouldn’t be impossible to do, but it wouldn’t be my preferred option.
First, we can keep Ashwood Abbey mostly “as is” with few changes per my above-quoted text. This wouldn’t be impossible to do, but it wouldn’t be my preferred option. Blending the Two: Second, we can reinforce that it’s a challenging time to be a member of the Ashwood Abbey. A growing number of hunters are fleeing to join the Hunt Club, and other hunters are not only confusing the two groups, they are actively keeping tabs on them for fear they might be slashers, etc. This means that the Hunt Club would also be included in the Slasher Chronicle, and would take the place of a new antagonist. By far, this is the safest route to take.
Second, we can reinforce that it’s a challenging time to be a member of the Ashwood Abbey. A growing number of hunters are fleeing to join the Hunt Club, and other hunters are not only confusing the two groups, they are actively keeping tabs on them for fear they might be slashers, etc. This means that the Hunt Club would also be included in the Slasher Chronicle, and would take the place of a new antagonist. By far, this is the safest route to take. Major Update: Or, third: we turn Ashwood Abbey into antagonists who’ve been taken over by the Hunt Club, and design/use a new compact to take their place. By doing so, Hunter’s version of the Hellfire Club wouldn’t be as much of an outlier for this book, and we can use or create a more appropriate compact that’s more interested in dealing with the overall mystery and has the potential to work with other compacts. (Please keep in mind that VASCU, which first appeared in Slasher, is a conspiracy.) This is a more inventive option that would allow for a new compact based someplace new, such as Brazil, Nigeria, Japan, etc.
Now that I’ve given you some background, some quotes, and some options, I’d like to open up this post to discussion.
Which of these three options do you prefer and why?
If you’re worried about a change, what is your hangup and how do you feel this’ll affect your group?
If you’re excited by a specific idea, what do you like most about it?
If you already play Hunter, are Tier Two chronicles your preferred style of gameplay?
Please, in your comments, be clear as to why you do/don’t like the options I’ve proposed. As a gentle reminder, I’m not looking at your responses as a poll, nor am I counting comments as votes for the most popular option; I’m much more interested in figuring out what’s best for the new edition, for both new and existing fans, within the context of the Slasher Chronicle. After all, Hunter 1E was published almost nine years ago and a lot has changed since then! Lastly, please keep in mind we’ve got some new Hunter fans who might be reading this post, too, so if your comment isn’t clear it might trigger more questions for clarity.
Next time, I’ll let you know what I’ve decided. Then, I’ll specifically address your questions and concerns about Tier Two with respect to the number of compacts we’ll include, as well as ways we can fit more existing and new compacts in this book. I am looking forward to discussing the possibilities with you!Summary: There are a few conventions in core.async that are not hard to use once you’ve learned them. But learning them without help can be tedious. This article presents three guidelines that will get you through the learning curve.
Introduction
The more you use core.async, the more you feel like Willy Wonka. He knew how to maximize the effectiveness of the Oomploompa. And while core.async comes with a lot of functions built in, he knew exactly which ones to use at which time.
In this extremely rare glimpse into the functioning of his mysterious factory, we take a look at the guidelines Wonka himself follows when orchestrating the work of the Oompaloompas.
When to use go versus thread?
Background
Each Oompaloompa is a thread. Willy Wonka has a special group of Oompaloompas he calls a thread pool. Their assigment is simple: they manage a group of tasks that Wonka calls go blocks. Whenever Wonka has an |
Nome that was our route much of the trip. The road is closed in winter, but there is a drifted snowmachine track along it.
On the side of the road, fuzzy in the blowing snow, was a rectangular box painted canary yellow.
"I'm going to check it out," yelled Brian Jackson, the team bulldozer. He turned into the wind and powered his way toward the building.
It is poor form to use a private cabin without permission. But in the words of my late father as he ducked into the ladies room: any port in a storm. As the wind chewed my nose, I prayed that there was no padlock on that trailer door.
Brian shouldered into the metal door. He shoved it open and clambered inside. Seeing the door pop open from 50 yards away, I threw my hands in the air. The wind clinked my poles together.
I'm no fan of close quarters. On cabin trips with my daughter and friends, I sleep outside with the owls. But I could not have been happier to be with five sweaty bodies and their vinegar-scented socks inside that cluttered trailer. Pringles chips and faded food boxes on the shelves had expiration dates of 2006. Few people had visited since. We ate the Pringles.
The structure had no heat — the oil tank was long sucked dry — but the absence of wind on our flaming faces made it a sauna. After an hour we all noticed and appreciated something unusual: silence. The wind that threatened to rip the door off could not be heard from inside. Somehow that little survival pod hushed it.
We snored with our heads facing each compass direction, snug inside the 20-by-10-foot space. We were ecstatic to be granted that trailer, towed out the road long ago by some miner who may not have known he parked in the Golden Gate Blowhole.
2,000 people a year
We carried two tents and my bivvy sack, but only used them once, during an unusual benign night on the ice of the Pilgrim River. Each of the other six nights we had a roof over our heads and blessed plywood walls that deflected the wind and created snowdrifts that didn't melt until July.
As we skied along each day in one anothers' tracks on the spotless landscape, our hours became meditative. Out there, in a white world defined by cedar tripod trail markers, climbing to white heaven, there was nowhere to go but inward. I zoomed out and imagined where I was, shuffling across Alaska Map E.
On that black-and-white landscape, the most vivid color memories came from visiting hot springs so hard to reach, I will probably never get back. Fewer than 2,000 people a year stay overnight anywhere in Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.
Serpentine seems a unique place on the planet. In a valley of sentinel granite tors, in country where we saw no other rocks, Serpentine Hot Springs is Mordor, from J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth.
With a golden eagle soaring overhead, we soaked in a 10-person square wooden tub protected by a shed-like frame structure that cut the wind. The first step in the water was heaven, a warm massage bubbling up from the earth.
Remnants of 1918 Spanish flu epidemic
While caribou drifted through the tors on the slopes above, Wilber and Cary from Shishmaref, 50 miles away, visited on snowmachine. Inside the red Serpentine shelter, Wilber boiled us some Folgers and insisted we take some Blazo (white gas). The walls of the bunkhouse and workshop structure had names written in marker: Tocktoo, Weyiouanna, Nayokpuk. It felt like Natives own this mystical place that is part of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, which protects a remnant of the 1,000-mile-wide grassland that connected Asia and North America during the last Ice Age. There can't be anywhere else in the National Park system like it.
Our three-hour visit to Pilgrim Springs included a soak in a beer-can-shaped tub in an old potato field. Here in a remote corner of Northwest Alaska was one of the most intriguing Alaska structures I've seen — a two-story, tin-sided church that was Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Mission, featuring a great horned owl sitting on a nest constructed on a small balcony. A stamped tin wall ran along a wooden staircase and there was an operational set of confessional booth shutters connected by rope and pulley.
Dozens of kids orphaned by the 1918 Spanish flu grew up here. When they left, the place ghosted out.
Pilgrim Springs and its sulfurous breeze supported comforting life forms we were reluctant to leave: trees. Balsam poplars 60 feet tall (which may have attracted the owl and her mate) along with lodgepole pines, larch and a few spruce.
After our soak, the team voted to move on. We wicked dry in the breeze after soaking. Then we stepped into skis and pointed them toward the road that led to Nome. We expected to camp somewhere in a patch of willows.
We were headed toward those twigs when life got cold and blurry. Of all the images that come and go during a trip, that relentless, hand-numbing-in-seconds wind — and the euphoric contrast of escaping it — will be the memory that endures.
But another has sadly trumped it. We didn't know we were on Brian Jackson's final ski trip. The 39-year-old strongman, master storyteller and agent of fun was killed in a hunting accident in Wisconsin seven months later.
Out on the Seward Peninsula, he seemed to need shelter the least. He was the one taking video in screaming winds, postholing to check oil tanks and carrying two backpacks when the need was there. Knowing what I know now, I take the unknown into account when contemplating a trip. You never know how precious those photos and memories might become.
When in doubt, go.He's got more than 100,000 subscribers, livestreams events, and even vlogs about what he eats.
We're talking about Indonesia's president — Joko Widodo.
Affectionately known as Jokowi, the president has amassed thousands of fans, and even has his own hashtag, #JKWVLOG.
#JKWVLOG!!
Our president is a YouTuber!!!
OMG the coolest president ever 😂 🇲🇨
Incredibly proud of our YouTube… — https://t.co/fnoYGAdiUU — geri azriel (@geriazriel) March 1, 2017
Widodo's latest YouTube video, which features him having a meal with Saudi Arabia's King Salman who is currently in Indonesia on a visit, has already racked up almost 600,000 views in less than 18 hours.
The vlog, entitled "Banquet with King Salman", sees both leaders eating lunch at the Presidential Palace.
"Currently I'm having lunch with King Salman. He is eating," says Widodo, before turning the camera over to King Salman.
"I am very happy today to be in Indonesia and happy with the Indonesian people," says the king through a translator.
The video is Widodo's most viewed so far.
yes everyone my President vlogging with Saudi Arabia's King😂 "#JKWVLOG Jamuan Makan Siang Bersama Raja Salman" https://t.co/aLFjmh49fb — Yuu-chan! (@xamedlov) March 1, 2017
#JKWVLOG Jamuan Makan Siang Bersama Raja Salman https://t.co/BFn3sdhTiP
Our president vlog with king salman.
When will ur president ever😎 — #비가와☔ (@bucheonpride) March 1, 2017
His previous YouTube videos include everything from him attempting a game of archery, to eating street food with his ministers.
Widodo has even recently been awarded the YouTube Silver Button channel — and by recent we mean it's still on his way to him — for gaining over 100,000 subscribers.
Ooooh a shiny thing
"The President sees himself as somewhat of a YouTuber," said a YouTube spokesperson.
"What's interesting about Jokowi's channel is how he experiments. He has tried different styles of videos, from a 360 degree video to a vlog on eating meatballs during his work trip. Everytime he experiments, his subs go up."
Widodo was first introduced to vlogging through his son, Kaesang, who is 22 and a YouTube vlogger himself.
Some of Kaesang's videos feature Widodo, including this one where the father-son duo are seen in an arm wrestle showdown.
The video has been viewed over 2 million times.
And it's not only YouTube that the president is proficient in.
He's no stranger to Instagram, where he's amassed almost 3 million followers.
To put that into context, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has 986,000 followers on Instagram.
Point made.FAIRBANKS, Alaska, July 19 (UPI) -- Police in Alaska said they arrested a man accused of punching himself in the face and attempting to blame it on his neighbor.
The Fairbanks Department of Public Safety said troopers responded around 11:30 p.m. July 14 to a Fairbanks address when Tony Gesin, 50, called 911 and accused his neighbor of assaulting him, the Fairbanks News-Miner reported Friday.
Gesin told troopers the same story he had told the 911 dispatcher, but he soon admitted he had hit himself in the face because he wanted to have his neighbor arrested.
Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Megan Peters said Gesin and the neighbor have been engaged in a civil dispute about property.
Gesin was arrested on a charge of giving a false report.Rape victim to return to high school in Turkey’s Diyarbakır after intervention of ministries
Gülden Aydın – DİYARBAKIR
A woman who was forced into a religious marriage with her rapist at the age of 17 in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır will return to high school, following an intervention from the Education Ministry and the Family and Social Policies Ministry.A committee from the provincial Directorate of Family and Social Policies on Aug. 21 visited the house of the woman, now 21 years old and identified only by her initials K.Ç., upon the instruction of Family Minister Betül Sayan Kaya. The committee told K.Ç.’s family that they would be provided with legal, psychological, health, and economic support.Officials will also help K.Ç. continue her education at another high school, as she was pressured to leave her previous school after it heard that she was raped.Hürriyet reported last week that her family and the family of the rapist, identified only by the initials V.B., pressured her into having a religious marriage, overseen by an imam, in what they said would “clear her honor.”The marriage also helped V.B., who was being tried for raping K.Ç. several times, be acquitted as he submitted the photographs of their wedding ceremony to the court, saying the two had a consensual relationship.Many women’s associations and lawyers condemned the court decision that accepted the wedding photographs as evidence.K.Ç.’s lawyer, Burak Göncü, told daily Hürriyet that the ruling was “unjust and against the law,” stating that the marriage was a “sham” to persuade K.Ç. to withdraw her complaint against the suspect and exploit “the region’s [conservative] sensitivities.”“After they presented the wedding photographs to the court, they threw the girl [K.Ç.] out of the house, saying ‘Our business is done... The court thus made a decision that only added to the victim’s unprotected situation. In the second hearing we left the courtroom and told [the judges] that the wedding was a scam, as K.Ç. couldn’t speak out due to her family’s pressur,” Göncü said.Association for Support and Training of Women Candidates (KADER) head Nuray Karaoğlu said that what happened to K.Ç. shows the “calamity of violence” and the pressing issue of early marriage for women in Turkey.“When women are seen as second-class people, it constitutes as a barrier to them utilizing their human rights,” Karaoğlu said.Federation of Women Associations of Turkey head Canan Güllü blasted “the legalization of child marriage” in Turkey.“What happens when you start talking about the concept of ‘consent’ for children? Then such freak decisions are made,” Güllü said.Search Terms: Highlight Matches
The Metric System is Retarded
Dr Know
User ID: 48325963
Mexico
10/29/2013 02:44 PM
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Report Copyright Violation The Metric System is Retarded Metric is BULLSHIT.
Of course, it makes SO much more sense. It's all in Base 10, and you have ten fingers. That's why it's more sensible, right? WRONG.
Why are their twelve hours on a clock face? Why are their twenty four hours in a day? If this metric shit makes so much sense, why don't we have ten hours a day, of a hundred minutes each, and each minute a hundred seconds? WOULDN'T THAT MAKE SO MUCH MORE SENSE?
What do you think, people in the old days had twelve fucking fingers? Was everyone just retarded in the old days? Or were they crazy?
Why are there 360 degrees in a circle? Why not 100 degrees of 100 arc minutes and 100 arc seconds?
I'll tell you why not. QUICK: what's one third of a "meter"?
What's one quarter of a meter in one third of an hour? How fast are you going?
What, you need to bust out the calculator for that one? Whaddaya know?
Land miles don't make a lot of sense either. Ever wonder why it's the nice round number of 5280 feet? Yeah, doesn't make a lot of sense. It has something to do with how fast a horse could run. NAUTICAL miles are where it's at.
As a boat captain, I learned this stuff as a child. A nautical mile is equal to one minute of latitude.
From the equator, zero, to the Pole, ninety degrees of latitude. Each degree is further divided into sixty minutes, and further divided into sixty seconds.
A nautical mile is one minute of latitude. In other words, it is directly related to the SIZE OF OUR PLANET. Do you even know what decides how long a meter is? Yeah, I doubt it.
"The meter is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second."
Nice round number, eh? The reason all old measures were in base twelve or base eight is because you can easily compute in your head. Twelve is easily divided by 2,3,4, and 6.
Ten is only divisible by 2 and 5. Making it very difficult to calculate things.
In a boat traveling at six knots, I can easily compute for my navigation, knowing I am moving one mile every ten minutes. Once you bring kilometers into the equation, everything gets very difficult. I ran 6 knots at 270 degrees for 48 hours 40 minutes. I can easily compute I moved 292 miles. In metric I would need a calculator. This is why aero navigation also still uses knots.
Weight and volume? One ounce of fresh water weighs one ounce. 16 ounces is a pint, and also a pound. A pint a pound, the world around.
Temperature: The retarded centigrade or Celsius scale. Seems to make sense, zero is the freezing point of water, 100 is the boiling point.
However, on THIS PLANET, temperatures often go below freezing, NEVER do they even approach boiling. That's why in Canada it's BELOW ZERO almost the entire year. In Fahrenheit, well, in the temperate zone, where most of the people in the world live, it will hardly ever drop below zero or over 100. Below zero is really fucking cold, over 100 is really fucking hot. In centigrade, well, most of the year is below zero, which isn't all that cold, yet at 45 degrees you will die of heatstroke.
I could go on and on, because I know I'm right.
Flame on, METRICTARDS.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 47296229
United States
10/29/2013 02:50 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded
+
Metric is BULLSHIT.
Of course, it makes SO much more sense. It's all in Base 10, and you have ten fingers. That's why it's more sensible, right? WRONG.
Why are their twelve hours on a clock face? Why are their twenty four hours in a day? If this metric shit makes so much sense, why don't we have ten hours a day, of a hundred minutes each, and each minute a hundred seconds? WOULDN'T THAT MAKE SO MUCH MORE SENSE?
What do you think, people in the old days had twelve fucking fingers? Was everyone just retarded in the old days? Or were they crazy?
Why are there 360 degrees in a circle? Why not 100 degrees of 100 arc minutes and 100 arc seconds?
I'll tell you why not. QUICK: what's one third of a "meter"?
What's one quarter of a meter in one third of an hour? How fast are you going?
What, you need to bust out the calculator for that one? Whaddaya know?
Land miles don't make a lot of sense either. Ever wonder why it's the nice round number of 5280 feet? Yeah, doesn't make a lot of sense. It has something to do with how fast a horse could run. NAUTICAL miles are where it's at.
As a boat captain, I learned this stuff as a child. A nautical mile is equal to one minute of latitude.
From the equator, zero, to the Pole, ninety degrees of latitude. Each degree is further divided into sixty minutes, and further divided into sixty seconds.
A nautical mile is one minute of latitude. In other words, it is directly related to the SIZE OF OUR PLANET. Do you even know what decides how long a meter is? Yeah, I doubt it.
"The meter is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second."
Nice round number, eh? The reason all old measures were in base twelve or base eight is because you can easily compute in your head. Twelve is easily divided by 2,3,4, and 6.
Ten is only divisible by 2 and 5. Making it very difficult to calculate things.
In a boat traveling at six knots, I can easily compute for my navigation, knowing I am moving one mile every ten minutes. Once you bring kilometers into the equation, everything gets very difficult. I ran 6 knots at 270 degrees for 48 hours 40 minutes. I can easily compute I moved 292 miles. In metric I would need a calculator. This is why aero navigation also still uses knots.
Weight and volume? One ounce of fresh water weighs one ounce. 16 ounces is a pint, and also a pound. A pint a pound, the world around.
Temperature: The retarded centigrade or Celsius scale. Seems to make sense, zero is the freezing point of water, 100 is the boiling point.
However, on THIS PLANET, temperatures often go below freezing, NEVER do they even approach boiling. That's why in Canada it's BELOW ZERO almost the entire year. In Fahrenheit, well, in the temperate zone, where most of the people in the world live, it will hardly ever drop below zero or over 100. Below zero is really fucking cold, over 100 is really fucking hot. In centigrade, well, most of the year is below zero, which isn't all that cold, yet at 45 degrees you will die of heatstroke.
I could go on and on, because I know I'm right.
Flame on, METRICTARDS.
Quoting: Dr Know 48325963 dumb mexican
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 47296229
United States
10/29/2013 02:50 PM
Report Abusive Post
Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded dumb mexican
+
Metric is BULLSHIT.
Of course, it makes SO much more sense. It's all in Base 10, and you have ten fingers. That's why it's more sensible, right? WRONG.
Why are their twelve hours on a clock face? Why are their twenty four hours in a day? If this metric shit makes so much sense, why don't we have ten hours a day, of a hundred minutes each, and each minute a hundred seconds? WOULDN'T THAT MAKE SO MUCH MORE SENSE?
What do you think, people in the old days had twelve fucking fingers? Was everyone just retarded in the old days? Or were they crazy?
Why are there 360 degrees in a circle? Why not 100 degrees of 100 arc minutes and 100 arc seconds?
I'll tell you why not. QUICK: what's one third of a "meter"?
What's one quarter of a meter in one third of an hour? How fast are you going?
What, you need to bust out the calculator for that one? Whaddaya know?
Land miles don't make a lot of sense either. Ever wonder why it's the nice round number of 5280 feet? Yeah, doesn't make a lot of sense. It has something to do with how fast a horse could run. NAUTICAL miles are where it's at.
As a boat captain, I learned this stuff as a child. A nautical mile is equal to one minute of latitude.
From the equator, zero, to the Pole, ninety degrees of latitude. Each degree is further divided into sixty minutes, and further divided into sixty seconds.
A nautical mile is one minute of latitude. In other words, it is directly related to the SIZE OF OUR PLANET. Do you even know what decides how long a meter is? Yeah, I doubt it.
"The meter is the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299 792 458 of a second."
Nice round number, eh? The reason all old measures were in base twelve or base eight is because you can easily compute in your head. Twelve is easily divided by 2,3,4, and 6.
Ten is only divisible by 2 and 5. Making it very difficult to calculate things.
In a boat traveling at six knots, I can easily compute for my navigation, knowing I am moving one mile every ten minutes. Once you bring kilometers into the equation, everything gets very difficult. I ran 6 knots at 270 degrees for 48 hours 40 minutes. I can easily compute I moved 292 miles. In metric I would need a calculator. This is why aero navigation also still uses knots.
Weight and volume? One ounce of fresh water weighs one ounce. 16 ounces is a pint, and also a pound. A pint a pound, the world around.
Temperature: The retarded centigrade or Celsius scale. Seems to make sense, zero is the freezing point of water, 100 is the boiling point.
However, on THIS PLANET, temperatures often go below freezing, NEVER do they even approach boiling. That's why in Canada it's BELOW ZERO almost the entire year. In Fahrenheit, well, in the temperate zone, where most of the people in the world live, it will hardly ever drop below zero or over 100. Below zero is really fucking cold, over 100 is really fucking hot. In centigrade, well, most of the year is below zero, which isn't all that cold, yet at 45 degrees you will die of heatstroke.
I could go on and on, because I know I'm right.
Flame on, METRICTARDS.
Quoting: Dr Know 48325963 dumb mexican
Anonymous Coward (OP)
User ID: 48325963
Mexico
10/29/2013 02:56 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded I pronounce this as Rant of the Year.
Quoting: Getz
Lol!!! True!
OP, the metric system is based on scientific measurements. For example the meter: the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second [
Lol!!! True!OP, the metric system is based on scientific measurements. For example the meter: the length of the path travelled by light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second [ link to en.wikipedia.org ] is scientifically more accurate than the "foot system", note, not better, only more scientifically accurate. Quoting: MaybeTrollingU
So, that nice round number is better than 1/21,600th of the circumference of our HOME PLANET? So, that nice round number is better than 1/21,600th of the circumference of our HOME PLANET?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 48201356
United States
10/29/2013 03:02 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded The rest of the world use metrics system only the USA does not use it. I guess the rest of the world is wrong and only the USA is right. </sarcasm>
I think the main reason stopping the USA from converting to metrics is that it would be too costly.
Nice rant though, I give you credit for that. The rest of the world use metrics system only the USA does not use it. I guess the rest of the world is wrong and only the USA is right. I think the main reason stopping the USA from converting to metrics is that it would be too costly.Nice rant though, I give you credit for that.
Anubis
User ID: 4949345
Canada
10/29/2013 03:12 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded
I think the main reason stopping the USA from converting to metrics is that it would be too costly.
Nice rant though, I give you credit for that.
The rest of the world use metrics system only the USA does not use it. I guess the rest of the world is wrong and only the USA is right. I think the main reason stopping the USA from converting to metrics is that it would be too costly.Nice rant though, I give you credit for that. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48201356
i dont think UK is metric yet are they? i dont think UK is metric yet are they?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 48842757
Norway
10/29/2013 03:24 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded I'll bite.
Fahrenheit invented the thermometer, but used the freezing point of brine and the human body temperature to define the points of his scale. Highly unscientific. Professor Celsius fixed that error for him, and correlated the scale to the basic properties of a vital and everyday element, under normal earthly atmospheric conditions.
There are VERY good and interconnected mathematical and practical reasons for the 360 degree circle and the 12 hour division of the face of a clock, but besides the arguments you yourself put forth, I can't quite remember them. You should know more than me about this subject, as a boat captain.
As for the metric system compared to the archaic imperial one, there is no arguement, really, and this I think you are well aware of.
Coherence and mathematical and scientific simplicity is the keyword. The meter defines both length, volume, and weight. Again by partially adhering to the basic properties of the same element as Professor Celsius looked to, when rationalizing Mr. Fahrenheit's scale of measure in his day...
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 48842757
Norway
10/29/2013 03:32 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded
I think the main reason stopping the USA from converting to metrics is that it would be too costly.
Nice rant though, I give you credit for that.
The rest of the world use metrics system only the USA does not use it. I guess the rest of the world is wrong and only the USA is right. I think the main reason stopping the USA from converting to metrics is that it would be too costly.Nice rant though, I give you credit for that. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48201356
i dont think UK is metric yet are they?
i dont think UK is metric yet are they? Quoting: Anubis
Yes they officially are, but mentally stuck in their archaic system.
But the US is in great company, with Burma and Liberia still stuck in the 18'th Century. Yes they officially are, but mentally stuck in their archaic system.But the US is in great company, with Burma and Liberia still stuck in the 18'th Century.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 48628254
Canada
10/29/2013 03:40 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded You know whats dumb about this, America is like one of the only few that won't switch to the metric system. If you were born only knowing the metric system you wouldn't despise it. I know both Imperial and Metric very well and I actually use Imperial a lot more. But to say the Metric system is retarded only makes you look waaay more unintelligent.
Anonymous Coward (OP)
User ID: 48325963
Mexico
10/29/2013 03:45 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded I'll bite.
Fahrenheit invented the thermometer, but used the freezing point of brine and the human body temperature to define the points of his scale. Highly unscientific. Professor Celsius fixed that error for him, and correlated the scale to the basic properties of a vital and everyday element, under normal earthly atmospheric conditions.
There are VERY good and interconnected mathematical and practical reasons for the 360 degree circle and the 12 hour division of the face of a clock, but besides the arguments you yourself put forth, I can't quite remember them. You should know more than me about this subject, as a boat captain.
As for the metric system compared to the archaic imperial one, there is no arguement, really, and this I think you are well aware of.
Coherence and mathematical and scientific simplicity is the keyword. The meter defines both length, volume, and weight. Again by partially adhering to the basic properties of the same element as Professor Celsius looked to, when rationalizing Mr. Fahrenheit's scale of measure in his day...
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48842757
OK here is a good a valid response, thank you.
Metric is no more accurate in any way, until you get down to micrometers and nanometers. There was just no way to GET that accurate in the old days, without microscopes.
IT IS MUCH MORE AWKWARD TO WORK WITH. There is a good reason why old systems used base twelve. It's much easier to work with. You know, coherence and mathematical and scientific simplicity.
Everyone was not retarded in the old days, nor were they crazy. Nor did they have twelve fingers. The people who came up with these systems were, I'm sure, a lot smarter than you and me.
And this is not a "America is better than the rest of the world" type rant. Though that used to be true, it no longer is and hasn't been for a loooooong time. When I was a kid in the seventies, they were drilling us on metric and telling us how we were all going metric. Somehow, that never panned out. I think it had to do with retooling all the factories to metric, would have been prohibitively expensive. And since, at that time, the US produced most of the manufactured goods IN THE WORLD, it made sense. Now, since those factories are all abandoned and everything has been sent abroad, for reasons no one seems to be able to define,(greed and crime) it maybe doesn't matter so much. Sad.
Temperature wise, Fahrenheit is a scale that you will mostly never go outside of in normal life. Celsius, on the other hand, like I stated above, will be below zero more than half the year and NEVER even approach the top half of its scale on this planet. Therefore, it does not make any sense. For example, today here in the tropics it is a balmy 28 degrees. To me, that sounds a little bit chilly, nice ice skating weather, but I know it is steaming hot. This is the tropics, and it will hardly ever go above 30. OK here is a good a valid response, thank you.Metric is no more accurate in any way, until you get down to micrometers and nanometers. There was just no way to GET that accurate in the old days, without microscopes.IT IS MUCH MORE AWKWARD TO WORK WITH. There is a good reason why old systems used base twelve. It's much easier to work with. You know, coherence and mathematical and scientific simplicity.Everyone was not retarded in the old days, nor were they crazy. Nor did they have twelve fingers. The people who came up with these systems were, I'm sure, a lot smarter than you and me.And this is not a "America is better than the rest of the world" type rant. Though that used to be true, it no longer is and hasn't been for a loooooong time. When I was a kid in the seventies, they were drilling us on metric and telling us how we were all going metric. Somehow, that never panned out. I think it had to do with retooling all the factories to metric, would have been prohibitively expensive. And since, at that time, the US produced most of the manufactured goods IN THE WORLD, it made sense. Now, since those factories are all abandoned and everything has been sent abroad, for reasons no one seems to be able to define,(greed and crime) it maybe doesn't matter so much. Sad.Temperature wise, Fahrenheit is a scale that you will mostly never go outside of in normal life. Celsius, on the other hand, like I stated above, will be below zero more than half the year and NEVER even approach the top half of its scale on this planet. Therefore, it does not make any sense. For example, today here in the tropics it is a balmy 28 degrees. To me, that sounds a little bit chilly, nice ice skating weather, but I know it is steaming hot. This is the tropics, and it will hardly ever go above 30.
Anonymous Coward (OP)
User ID: 48325963
Mexico
10/29/2013 03:46 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded You know whats dumb about this, America is like one of the only few that won't switch to the metric system. If you were born only knowing the metric system you wouldn't despise it. I know both Imperial and Metric very well and I actually use Imperial a lot more. But to say the Metric system is retarded only makes you look waaay more unintelligent.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48628254
Just because you grew up with it hammered into your head does it appear to make sense. Otherwise you would see how nonsensical it really is. Just because you grew up with it hammered into your head does it appear to make sense. Otherwise you would see how nonsensical it really is.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 48842757
Norway
10/29/2013 04:07 PM
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Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded You know whats dumb about this, America is like one of the only few that won't switch to the metric system. If you were born only knowing the metric system you wouldn't despise it. I know both Imperial and Metric very well and I actually use Imperial a lot more. But to say the Metric system is retarded only makes you look waaay more unintelligent.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48628254
Just because you grew up with it hammered into your head does it appear to make sense. Otherwise you would see how nonsensical it really is.
Just because you grew up with it hammered into your head does it appear to make sense. Otherwise you would see how nonsensical it really is. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48325963
Hahaha!
For me it's the other way around. Completely
How many feet in a mile? Inches...?
And why fractionate, when you can just use decimals and a factor of 10?
How many gallons in a cubic foot? Or cubic mile?
I can do those conversions without a calculator, just some simple fingercounting at worst, keeping track of the decimals. Hahaha!For me it's the other way around. CompletelyHow many feet in a mile? Inches...?And why fractionate, when you can just use decimals and a factor of 10?How many gallons in a cubic foot? Or cubic mile?I can do those conversions without a calculator, just some simple fingercounting at worst, keeping track of the decimals.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 33568846
Finland
10/29/2013 04:22 PM
Report Abusive Post
Report Copyright Violation Re: The Metric System is Retarded You know whats dumb about this, America is like one of the only few that won't switch to the metric system. If you were born only knowing the metric system you wouldn't despise it. I know both Imperial and Metric very well and I actually use Imperial a lot more. But to say the Metric system is retarded only makes you look waaay more unintelligent.
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48628254
Just because you grew up with it hammered into your head does it appear to make sense. Otherwise you would see how nonsensical it really is.
Just because you grew up with it hammered into your head does it appear to make sense. Otherwise you would see how nonsensical it really is. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 48325963
Hahaha!
For me it's the other way around. Completely
How many feet in a |
distributing the feedback and bug reports to the development team.
With that, lets see what’s going on this week:
What better way to start off a new week than with a brand new episode of Citizens of the Stars! Alcatraz talks to us about his highly detailed 3D printed models, then Bryce Benton discusses the Evocati, the Delta Patcher, and more. Catch the latest episode here.
On Tuesday, the lore team publishes another post for all you lore fiends out there. You can catch previously released posts here.
Bugsmashers returns Wednesday with guest host Associate Gameplay Engineer Spencer Johnson. Spencer will tackle on a code-related bug while resident host Mark Abent continues to focus on getting Alpha 3.0 to the public.
Then on Thursday, a new episode of Around the Verse hits your screens with another update to the Burndown list with Eric Keiron Davis.
That’s all for this week, we’ll see you in the ‘Verse!
Tyler Nolin
Community ManagerUsing Big Data to Personalize the Healthcare Experience
Date: This event took place live on September 18 2013
Presented by: Bonnie Feldman
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.
Cost: Free
Questions? Please send email to
Description:
Come join us at the dawn of an age of discovery as we explore how Big Data can help personalize healthcare. This is a call for the believers in Big Data, as well as the skeptics and non-data healthcare people, to come together to learn about the Big Data landscape in healthcare.
For non-data people, we will explain the background on Big Data and the recent data deluge triggered by wild growth in the use of mobile devices by providers, patients and consumers.
We will develop a story around three case studies of how Big Data is being harnessed to improve healthcare:
Supporting Research - Genomics Transforming Data to Information - Cancer Research Supporting Self-Care and Increasing Consumer Awareness - Mobile Social Games for Health
This webcast will examine and answer the questions: Who is doing this? Why does this matter? How are Big Data and data analytics going to improve healthcare? What are the future implications? Why do we care?...... while we explore the promise of improvement in the emerging ecosystem of personalized medicine.
About Bonnie Feldman
As principal of DrBonnie360,Bonnie brings a 360-degree view of private and public healthcare to her consulting work, which includes business development, market research and communication in newly emerging markets. She has earned a broad and deep understanding of the players and the playing field in Health 2.0/3.0, life science capital markets, and healthcare practice. Most recently, she published "Big Data in Healthcare -Hype and Hope" in collaboration with Rock Health. Prior to this original research, she created a first of its kind industry overview "Mobile, Social and Fun: Games for Health," published by MobiHealthNews, which was well received as a presentation at the Games for Health Conference. On the analytic side, after working as a health services researcher at the Rand Corporation, she worked on Wall Street as a buy-side and sell-side equity research analyst. She has provided investor relations services both inside companies and on a professional consulting basis. In clinical practice, as an entrepreneur, she built and owned two dental practices, managing finances, business development, staffing, operations and patient care as well as performing claims review consulting for Prudential. She holds a BA in Economics, a Doctor of Dental Surgery, and an MBA in Finance from the University of California, Los Angeles.GARDAI are investigating death threats sent to an Irish Independent journalist after politician Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan posted his mobile number and personal email address online.
GARDAI are investigating death threats sent to an Irish Independent journalist after politician Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan posted his mobile number and personal email address online.
Gardaí from Store Street are investigating the threats to journalist Niall O'Connor, which were made hours after Ming put the phone number online.
The Sunday World made contact with the person linked to the number that made the threats but they claimed that their phone had "gone missing" during the time the messages were sent.
The threats said: “C***. Make no mistake, you are scum and I would love to see you dead. Would happily help to bring it about. Scum c***.”
It went on to detail a disturbing graphic sexual fantasy which cannot be printed in a family newspaper before ending: “There’s a good girl. C***”.
Mr O’Connor received a number of other unwanted communications this week after his number was printed online, as well as malicious email communication.
They were sent after MEP Flanagan posted Mr O’Connor’s mobile number and personal email on Twitter.
Mr O’Connor had sent an email to Flanagan asking why he voted in favour of a hard border with Northern Ireland in relation to Brexit. The Roscommon man later changed his vote and told Mr O’Connor the initial vote was made in error.
However, he also posted Mr O’Connor’s personal details online and boasted about the power of social media.
Fine Gael TD Noel Rock said he utterly condemned Ming for putting Mr O’Connor’s phone number online.
“It’s outrageous and irresponsible to be putting up private individuals’ phone numbers like that,” he said.
Online EditorsIn an effort to launch the 11-game and 22-game season ticket packages the Vegas Golden Knights are opening up T-Mobile Arena for a 24 hour extravaganza.
The event is free, open to the public, and begins at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, February 21st.
During the open house, current season ticket members and prospective season ticket members are welcome to view the arena from their respective seats, tour the facility and participate in a variety of interactive programming. -Press Release
The biggest news here though is that the team is giving away a pair of tickets every hour to the home opener.
Plus there will be team staff on hand throughout the entire 24-hour period talking hockey with fans.
Hockey Operations personnel including Senior Vice President Murray Craven, Hockey Operations Assistant Keith Veronesi and other members of the Golden Knights staff will lead educational hockey discussions/demonstrations throughout the 24 hours, and fun interactives for fans of all ages will be set up on the arena floor including a shooting cage, street hockey and more. -Press Release
CBS Radio Las Vegas is broadcasting a total of eight shows over five different networks live from T-Mobile Arena on the 21st. (Radio partnership hint?)
Our city is open 24 hours a day so it is only appropriate we hold a 24-hour event of our own, especially for our fans who may work in the three-shift hospitality industry. This open house will give all Las Vegans the opportunity to tour our incredible arena and will give our current season ticket members a chance to see their actual seats for the first time since our name unveil. It is sure to be an exciting, unique 24-hours at T-Mobile Arena. -Kerry Bubolz, President
They’ve also promised hockey discussions every half hour with members of the staff.
The event was described to SinBin.vegas as “24 hours of zaniness.” Which we can only imagine means, lots and lots of free stuff. Or at least we can hope, my dumbass only took one pin on Thursday. See ya Tuesday people, and please wear SinBin gear, make us look good.
Click “read more” for the full press release from the team.
*VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS PRESS RELEASE*
GOLDEN KNIGHTS TO HOST 24-HOUR OPEN HOUSE AT T-MOBILE ARENA BEGINNING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 8 A.M. PT; CBS RADIO LAS VEGAS TO BROADCAST FULL DAY’S WORTH OF LIVE PROGRAMMING ON LOCATION
Golden Knights to unveil 11 and 22-game season ticket offerings during the open house
VEGAS (February 14, 2017) – Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz announced today, February 14, that the team will hold a 24-hour open house at T-Mobile Arena beginning Tuesday, February 21 at 8:00 a.m. PT and continuing until Wednesday, February 22 at 8:00 a.m. PT. During the open house, current season ticket members and prospective season ticket members are welcome to view the arena from their respective seats, tour the facility and participate in a variety of interactive programming. Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win tickets to the historic Golden Knights 2017-18 home opener at T-Mobile Arena, which will be the first ever regular season home game in team history. The team will also be showcasing their 11 and 22-game season ticket offerings, which will be available for purchase at the event.
Additionally, CBS RADIO Las Vegas will be on location at T-Mobile Arena broadcasting several popular shows from a mix of stations LIVE from 6:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The full broadcast schedule can be found below.
“Our city is open 24 hours a day so it is only appropriate we hold a 24-hour event of our own, especially for our fans who may work in the three-shift hospitality industry,” said Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz. “This open house will give all Las Vegans the opportunity to tour our incredible arena and will give our current season ticket members a chance to see their actual seats for the first time since our name unveil. We will have entertaining programming throughout the entire event and will be giving away one pair of tickets to our home opener every hour. It is sure to be an exciting, unique 24-hours at T-Mobile Arena.”
“As a broadcasting leader in Las Vegas it’s an incredible honor to support the city’s first and only professional sports team by airing so many of our shows from the team’s new home at T-Mobile Arena,” said Tony Perlongo, Senior Vice President/Market Manager, CBS RADIO Las Vegas. “This is a great opportunity to help introduce the Golden Knights to Vegas residents and bring our station audiences a fun and unique live listening experience. For area sports fans, this is a can’t-miss event.”
Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to win tickets to the team’s first ever regular season game at T-Mobile Arena, as the Golden Knights will be giving away two tickets to their 2017-18 home opener (date/time TBD) at the top of every hour. Hockey Operations personnel including Senior Vice President Murray Craven, Hockey Operations Assistant Keith Veronesi and other members of the Golden Knights staff will lead educational hockey discussions/demonstrations throughout the 24 hours, and fun interactives for fans of all ages will be set up on the arena floor including a shooting cage, street hockey and more. Members of the Golden Knights ticket sales staff will be on hand with information on season tickets and the 11 and 22-game packages. A full list of programming and times can be found below.
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS 24-HOUR OPEN HOUSE AT T-MOBILE ARENA
When: Tuesday, February 21 at 8:00 a.m. PT through Wednesday, February 22 at 8:00 a.m. PT
Where: T-Mobile Arena, 3780 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Schedule of Programming (Schedule is subject to change):
-Ticket giveaways to the Golden Knights home opener at the top of every hour for the full 24 hours
-Hockey Discussions with Golden Knights staff every half hour for the full 24 hours
-Ticket Sales and Information Booth will be open for the full 24 hours, including details on the new 11 and 22-game season ticket offerings
-Interactives for fans of all ages including a shooting cage, street hockey and more will be open for the full 24 hours
CBS RADIO LAS VEGAS BROADCAST SCHEDULE (Schedule is subject to change)
When: Tuesday, February 21 from 6:00 a.m. PT – 7:00 p.m. PT
Where: T-Mobile Arena, 3780 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Show Lineup:
X107.5 (KXTE-FM), The Dave & Mahoney Morning Show (6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
98.5 KLUC (KLUC-FM), Chet Buchanan & the Morning Zoo (6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.)
KXNT News/Talk 840 AM (KXNT-AM), The Heidi Harris Show (6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.)
MIX 94.1 (KMXB-FM), Heather Collins (10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
Q100.5 (KXQQ-FM), Natalia Hernandez (10:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.)
KXNT News/Talk 840 AM (KXNT-AM), Alan Stock (3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
MIX 94.1 (KMXB-FM), Shawn Tempesta (3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
98.5 KLUC (KLUC-FM), John Moug (3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)
For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights visit vegasgoldenknights.com. Fans can follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.There are numerous articles on the internet that address this issue, and some are better than others. The tips I am about to share with you are strategies that have worked for me, and I hope they’ll work for you as well. I’ve found that most student-related-problems fall into two broad categories: 1) behavioral problems and 2) academic performance. Most of the behavioral problems can be mitigated before they even start in your classroom. How?
I’m glad you asked! In a nutshell, “Nip it in the bud!” Take action from the very beginning, and address potential areas of concern before they even occur.
Here are 3 ways to do just that!
1. Set Expectations
It begins on the very first day of class. Layout your expectations (behavioral and academic) and all of your rules for your class on the first day. You can’t expect students to behave in a certain manner that is acceptable to you unless you tell them what you expect of them. So, how do you tell them? First, clearly document these expectations in your syllabus, and go over them with your students on day one. Provide a copy of the syllabus to all your students on the first day of class, and take your time going over every detail of the syllabus with particular emphasis on your expectations.
What kind of expectations should you go over? That depends on what is important to you and what is appropriate for the school where you teach. This will vary among community colleges, private schools, and large universities. There are a lot of other factors that will determine what you should include in your syllabus such as:
classroom size
classroom style
course requirements
student demographics
subject taught
Ask yourself what behaviors do you expect from students and what will you not tolerate? For example, some of the things that I expect from my students are:
absolute punctuality
preparedness
proper communication
demonstration of respect and courtesy towards everyone in the class
strict adherence to my instructions
Because of my student population and the discipline I teach, I also have a dress code expectation in my syllabus.
In addition to the behavioral expectations, I also include academic performance expectations so that students know and understand that they are expected to perform in my class. I don’t allow students to cruise in my classes. I make it clear that they are either there to learn and participate, or they are invited to find another course that is more suited to their pace and expectations. I have high expectations of my students because I care about them and want them to be the best.
I have also found that when you set high expectations for students and hold them accountable, students will rise up to the challenge and perform superbly if they are dedicated. If your standards are too low, too vague, or have no measure of accountability, you’ll start to notice a lot of inconsistency in student behavior and performance. You will eventually find yourself dealing with more student problems than you want. So, use your syllabus as a contract between you and your students. Be sure to include anything that is important or relevant to you, such as communication protocols, deadlines, when and how to ask for help, how to requests special accommodations for students with certain disabilities, etc…
When communicating your expectations on the first day of class, your demeanor needs to convey your seriousness about your expectations and the consequences. Students will take their cue from you. If you look like you care and are serious about a particular expectation, so will they.
Besides documenting my expectations and going over them with students on the first day, I also test my students on the content of the syllabus. Yes, I have a Syllabus Quiz, which students take on our second class meeting. It’s worth 5% of their grade.
2. Accountability
Expectations and rules are worthless if they do not have any consequences and/or if you do not implement them consistently and fairly among all students. I repeat; implement them consistently and fairly among all students whether they are “C” students or “A” students. Do not make allowances based on academic merit and/or personality and let things “slide” just because a particular student happens to be considered a “good” student. Favoritism will damage your credibility in the eyes of the students and will land you in trouble. Don’t do it!
So how do you hold people accountable? Well, that’s a topic for another article, but in short, your syllabus needs to clearly explain what will happen (consequences) if students fall short, violate, or fail to meet your expectations. The consequences listed on my syllabus vary depending on the infraction, but here are some examples:
Loss of 10 points (1%) for being late up to 5 minutes. (Students are marked as tardy if they walk in 1 second and up to 5 minutes after the official class start time.) Dismissal for tardiness beyond 5 minutes. I do not permit students to enter the class if they arrive to class 5 minutes after the class start time. I politely ask them to return to the next class meeting and mark them as absent. Unexcused absences or dismissal for tardiness beyond 5 minutes results in a loss of 20 points (2%). Any three of the above infractions (tardiness or unexcused absence) render the student eligible to be dropped from the class or receive a failing grade for the course. Demonstrating inappropriate behavior, being disrespectful, or cheating typically results in a student being removed from class for the day, being reported to the Director of Student Life, and/or receiving a failing grade. It depends on the infraction. This is a bit more detailed in my syllabus. (Check your school’s policy in dealing with these types of situations.)
As a program coordinator and former department chair, I’ve found that many student problems occur because the faculty :
did not provide clear expectations in the syllabus.
provided expectations without consequences.
tried to create consequences “on-the-spot” that were not documented in the syllabus.
listed consequences, but failed to hold students accountable until the situation became unmanageable.
listed consequences, but were selective and inconsistent in the implementation.
Tell students what you want them to do. Let them know how they are going to be held accountable, and then do it! I meet so many faculty who are afraid of holding students accountable. The faculty are afraid of confrontation, afraid of not being popular and receiving poor student evaluations, afraid of not getting tenure, afraid of not being asked to come back and teach (in the case of adjunct faculty). If you’re always afraid, and fear dictates how you operate, perhaps you ought to be thinking of another career because students, your colleagues, and your superiors will walk all over you. Being a professor is a highly respected and noble vocation, treat it with the respect and dignity (not fear) that it deserves.
“If you don’t stand for something, you fall for anything.” —Malcolm X
Holding people accountable isn’t about being mean and punishing students if they do not follow your instructions. Instead, it’s about teaching students to be responsible adults and equipping some of them with the soft-skills that so many of them are missing today and employers are demanding of them. We, college faculty, are preparing students for the professional world and unfortunately, while our curriculum isn’t designed to integrate soft-skills, your syllabus can.
3. Walk The Talk
Lead by example. There’s nothing worse than a professor who preaches and expects one thing from students and does the opposite. I was at a conference, and we were asked to form small work-groups to discuss some of the challenges that faculty experience. One of the faculty at my table was a Registered Dietician who held workshops for parents to teach them how to make healthier meal choices for their children to address the issue of child obesity. This faculty stated that it was very difficult to get parents to listen to her advice and have them buy and feed their kids healthier meals. This Registered Dietician was regrettably obese herself and just happened to be eating a glazed bear claw while she was sharing this story with us. The scene was awkward and sad.
Of course, no parent wanted to listen to her and take her advice. Why would they? She obviously wasn’t practicing what she preached, and if she was, it evidently wasn’t working. She had no credibility because she didn’t walk the talk.
If you expect students to be punctual, then you better arrive to class early and start on time! If you expect them to be respectful and not use profanity, then you need to lead by example both in and out of class.
Since I run a Hospitality Management program, I expect students to practice hospitality-industry standards and work ethics in my classroom. That means being punctual, arriving prepared, observing industry grooming standards, and demonstrating respect and courtesy. Now, I can only expect that from my students if I am able to demonstrate those behaviors all the time. It can’t be an occasional or random act on my part. It needs to be consistent and deliberate!
Arrive super early to school, get your class ready (if necessary), and make sure that you’ve already prepped for your class(es) before you even get to school. You should never feel rushed to get to school or anxious about not being prepared. If you plan your day properly and in advance, things just fall into place. It also makes it much easier for you to focus on what is important rather than tying up loose ends and putting out fires.
Here’s my prepping routine:
Course Materials : I typically have course materials and handouts ready a day or two before I need them. I also make sure that I have a backup plan in case things go wrong. In the event that my printed materials aren’t ready the day I need it from the print-shop, I’ll usually have an alternative emergency location to print materials or have an alternative activity for students to do in class. In other words, I have a plan and a backup plan.
I typically have course materials and handouts ready a day or two before I need them. I also make sure that I have a backup plan in case things go wrong. In the event that my printed materials aren’t ready the day I need it from the print-shop, I’ll usually have an alternative emergency location to print materials or have an alternative activity for students to do in class. In other words, I have a plan and a backup plan. Clothes : Have your clothes or uniform (if applicable) ready and laid out the night before at the very latest. Automate this process so that you are not scrambling to find clean clothes, looking for that missing sock, or trying to figure out what you should wear the next day. I have all of my clothes for the following day ready and pressed before I go to bed. I usually iron my shirt at 8 PM while listening to a podcast or audiobook. It makes ironing fun.
Have your clothes or uniform (if applicable) ready and laid out the night before at the very latest. Automate this process so that you are not scrambling to find clean clothes, looking for that missing sock, or trying to figure out what you should wear the next day. I have all of my clothes for the following day ready and pressed before I go to bed. I usually iron my shirt at 8 PM while listening to a podcast or audiobook. It makes ironing fun. Getting to School : I’ve taught at different times of the day, so I know that your commute time and parking situation will vary based on your schedule. Some schedules will allow you to take your time when getting to work and others will require you to head out very early. I’ve made it my habit to always leave home early, and plan to be on campus at least one full hour before my first class begins. In the event there’s some traffic or accident on the road, I still won’t be late. Sometimes I am on campus a couple of hours before class, either way, I never arrive just a few minutes before class begins. That is a recipe for disaster! Give yourself ample time. Remember that Murphy lives on campus and hangs-out with unprepared people.
I’ve taught at different times of the day, so I know that your commute time and parking situation will vary based on your schedule. Some schedules will allow you to take your time when getting to work and others will require you to head out very early. I’ve made it my habit to always leave home early, and plan to be on campus at least one full hour before my first class begins. In the event there’s some traffic or accident on the road, I still won’t be late. Sometimes I am on campus a couple of hours before class, either way, I never arrive just a few minutes before class begins. That is a recipe for disaster! Give yourself ample time. Remember that Murphy lives on campus and hangs-out with unprepared people. Class Readiness : Arriving early gives me the opportunity to review my plan for the day and check to make sure that my class and the technology in my classroom are ready for me. Arriving early also allows me to have a pot of hot coffee and hot water for tea ready for my students. Yes, I make my students a fresh pot of coffee every morning. When you’re teaching an accounting class at 8 AM, sometimes the students need all the help they can get to stay alert and engaged. A free boost of caffeine goes a long way, and my students certainly appreciate it. Besides, I’m a Hospitality Professor. 🙂
When you practice what you preach, you automatically establish a reputation for professional integrity. Your students and your colleagues will respect you for it and come to appreciate it.
So, to recap, the three things that you can do to mitigate student problems are:
Set Expectations Implement Accountability Measures Walk the Talk
If you found this post useful, I’d be grateful if you’d help spread the word by sharing this with friends or colleagues on Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn, or Facebook.
RelatedThe issue is not that we disagree with each other, disagreements have been going on since the dawn of human history. More fundamental, is how we express that disagreement. In academia disagreement can result in no-tenure-for-me because members of the ruling paradigm do not want to give up their comfy old theory and the grant money. In Buddhism, there are like problems which have been going on for well over two millennia. Sometimes in the past, disagreements over what the Buddha taught and what he didn’t teach got really nasty. Some debates in the past became violent.
A famous debate that took place in Tibet in 792 A.D. between Chinese Zen master Ho-shang Mahayana and and Indian master Kamalashila in which the winner's form of Buddhism would be officially sponsored. The disagreement was, supposedly, over Zen's sudden enlightenment tradition and the gradual tradition of Indian Buddhism which, I must inject, is a terrible oversimplification.
According to some records Ho-shang Mahayana was defeated by Kamalashila which is called the Samye Debate. Again, the records say that Ho-shang Mahayana asserted that not thinking anything in the mind is the profound path to enlightenment. In other words, having a blank mind is the goal of Zen! But this is obviously a perverse interpretation, one which was self-serving for the supporters of Indian master Kamalashila. However, judging by one of the manuscripts found at Tun-huang, the Samten Migdron, a Tibetan document, it lists the sudden enlightenment teachings of Ho-shang Mahayana as being higher than the gradualist teaching which was represented by Kamalashila while Tantra and Dzogchen are the highest both, incidentally, subscribing to instant realization. I should mention that the debate wasn't bloodless.
"As it turned out, proponents of both sides seem to have been much alarmed at the other's teachings, and after the debate, students of both parties are recorded as having committed suicide in protest at the verdicts reached. One named Nan sa mi cut his flesh into pieces. Two Tibetan crushed their genitals, and one of the Chinese teachers, called Mem go, set his head alight and died. Some of the Chinese party are said to have decided to assassinate members of the Indian. Chinese members claimed the Indians had already made a similar plan. In the dPao gtsug p'ren ba manuscript, it was recorded that the Chinese Chaan teacher hid some of his school's texts in a rock lest they all be killed and the teachings forgotten. It is said that three of these texts were the Lankavatara Sutra, the Bodhidharma Meditation Sutra and The Prajna Paramita" (Shifu Nagaboshi Tomio, The Bodhisattva Warriors, p. 444).Cycling to School: Increasing Secondary School Enrollment for Girls in India
NBER Working Paper No. 19305
Issued in August 2013
NBER Program(s):Development Economics, Economics of Education, Labor Studies
We study the impact of an innovative program in the Indian state of Bihar that aimed to reduce the gender gap in secondary school enrollment by providing girls who continued to secondary school with a bicycle that would improve access to school. Using data from a large representative household survey, we employ a triple difference approach (using boys and the neighboring state of Jharkhand as comparison groups) and find that being in a cohort that was exposed to the Cycle program increased girls' age-appropriate enrollment in secondary school by 30% and also reduced the gender gap in age-appropriate secondary school enrollment by 40%. Parametric and non-parametric decompositions of the triple-difference estimate as a function of distance to the nearest secondary school show that the increases in enrollment mostly took place in villages where the nearest secondary school was further away, suggesting that the mechanism for program impact was the reduction in the time and safety cost of school attendance made possible by the bicycle. We find that the Cycle program was much more cost effective at increasing girls' enrolment than comparable conditional cash transfer programs in South Asia, suggesting that the coordinated provision of bicycles to girls may have generated externalities beyond the cash value of the program, including improved safety from girls cycling to school in groups, and changes in patriarchal social norms that proscribed female mobility outside the village, which inhibited female secondary school participation.
Acknowledgments
Machine-readable bibliographic record - MARC, RIS, BibTeX
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w19305
Published: Karthik Muralidharan & Nishith Prakash, 2017. "Cycling to School: Increasing Secondary School Enrollment for Girls in India," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 9(3), pages 321-350, July. citation courtesy of
Users who downloaded this paper also downloaded* these:North Korea is urging countries to distance themselves from the Trump administration.
The Sydney Morning Herald published a letter North Korea's Foreign Affairs Committee sent to Australia's embassy in Indonesia. It reads in part, "If Trump thinks that he would bring the [Democratic People's Republic of Korea], a nuclear power, to its knees through nuclear war threat, it will be a big miscalculation and an expression of ignorance."
The letter goes on, urging governments to "discharge their due mission and duty in realizing the desire of mankind for international justice and peace with sharp vigilance against the heinous and reckless moves of the Trump administration trying to drive the world into a horrible nuclear disaster."
RELATED: Countdown to a standoff: A timeline of tension with North Korea
10 PHOTOS Countdown to a standoff: A timeline of tension with North Korea See Gallery Countdown to a standoff: A timeline of tension with North Korea Jan. 6, 2016: After four years in power, Kim Jong Un says his country can produce a hydrogen bomb, the first step toward a nuclear weapon that could target the United States. The nation tests a device, but Western experts are not convinced it is a genuine hydrogen bomb. Feb. 7, 2016: North Korea sends up a satellite. The United States calls this a disguised test of an engine powerful enough to launch an ICBM. March 9, 2016: North Korea claims it can miniaturize a nuclear device to fit onto a missile. June 23, 2016: North Korea says it has successfully tested an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM), with a range of 2,000 to 3,400 miles. Kim Jong Un claims the country can now attack "Americans in the Pacific operation theater," including the territory of Guam. Sept. 9, 2016: North Korea conducts its fifth and largest nuclear test on the anniversary of the country's founding. It says it has mastered the ability to mount a warhead on a ballistic missile. April 15, 2017: North Korea reveals a new ICBM design, displaying the missiles at a military parade to mark the birthday of founding leader Kim Il Sung. Within three months, the missiles are tested. July 4, 2017: North Korea tests an ICBM for the first time, saying it can launch a missile that can reach the continental United States. The missile, Hwasong-14, is tested again three weeks later, this time in a night launch. Aug. 8, 2017: North Korea's army threatens to fire missiles towards Guam in an "enveloping fire." The message comes hours after President Donald Trump warns Pyongyang that it will be "met with fire and fury" if North Korea does not stop threatening the United States. Aug. 23, 2017: North Korea publishes photographs of Kim beside a diagram of what appears to be a new ICBM. Weapons experts say it will be more powerful than the missiles tested by Pyongyang in July, and could have Washington and New York within range. Aug 29, 2017: North Korea fires an intermediate range missile over northern Japan, prompting warnings to residents to take cover. The missile falls into the Pacific Ocean, but sharply raises tensions in the region. Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE
The letter was sent Sept. 28 — just over one week after U.S. President Donald Trump condemned North Korea in his address to the United Nations General Assembly.
"No one has shown more contempt for other nations and for the well-being of their own people than the depraved regime in North Korea," Trump said.
SEE MORE: North Korea Official Warns Nuclear War 'May Break Out Any Moment'
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop called North Korea's letter "unprecedented."
Bishop and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull say they believe the letter shows sanctions against the North are working.
Despite North Korea's threats, it's been more than a month since the country launched a test missile.
It's unknown what other countries, if any, received a letter.
More from :
North Korea Official Warns Nuclear War 'May Break Out Any Moment'
Another Federal Judge Freezes Trump's Latest Travel Restrictions
China's Only Political Party Meets To Set Agenda, Pick LeadersThe first step in the V8 release process is a new branch from the git master immediately before Chromium branches for a Chrome Beta milestone (roughly every six weeks). Our newest release branch is V8 v5.1, which will remain in beta until we release a stable build in conjunction with Chrome 51 Stable. Here’s a highlight of the new developer-facing features in this version of V8.
Improved ECMAScript support #
V8 v5.1 contains a number of changes towards compliance with the ES2017 draft spec.
Array methods like Array.prototype.map construct instances of the subclass as its output, with the option to customize this by changing Symbol.species. Analogous changes are made to other built-in classes.
instanceof customization #
Constructors can implement their own Symbol.hasInstance method, which overrides the default behavior.
Iterator closing #
Iterators created as part of a for - of loop (or other built-in iteration, such as the spread operator) are now checked for a close method which is called if the loop terminates early. This can be used for clean-up duty after the iteration has finished.
RegExp subclassing exec method #
RegExp subclasses can overwrite the exec method to change just the core matching algorithm, with the guarantee that this is called by higher level functions like String.prototype.replace.
Function name inference #
Function names inferred for function expressions are now typically made available in the name property of functions, following the ES2015 formalization of these rules. This may change existing stack traces and provide different names from previous V8 versions. It also gives useful names to properties and methods with computed property names:
class Container {
...
[ Symbol. iterator ] ( ) {... }
...
}
let c = new Container ;
console. log ( c [ Symbol. iterator ]. name ) ;
Analogous to other collection types, the values method on Array returns an iterator over the contents of the Array.
Performance improvements #
Release 5.1 also brings a few notable performance improvements to the following JavaScript features:
Executing loops like for - in
- Object.assign
Promise and RegExp instantiation
Calling Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty
Math.floor, Math.round, and Math.ceil
,, and Array.prototype.push
Object.keys
Array.prototype.join & Array.prototype.toString
& Flattening repeat strings e.g. '.'.repeat(1000)
V8 v5.1 has a preliminary support for WASM. You can enable it via the flag --expose_wasm in d8. Alternatively you can try out the WASM demos with Chrome 51 (Beta Channel).
V8 implemented more slices of Orinoco:
Parallel young generation evacuation
Scalable remembered sets
Black allocation
The impact is reduced jank and memory consumption in times of need.
V8 API #
Please check out our summary of API changes. This document gets regularly updated a few weeks after each major release.All of this has changed the booking game for consumers. With many hotel rooms and airline seats empty, travelers have become accustomed to booking trips at the last minute. But with car rentals, that strategy won’t work. A procrastinator risks paying |
Jenner like?
Honestly, my first thought was, “Ah, the brains of the family.” That isn’t a slight against Caitlyn, but Kris is very smart. She was very welcoming to me. I can’t tell you if she actually liked me, or if this was a move in the chess game of the Kardashian-Jenner family. I felt like we had a real rapport. I probably had the most interesting discussion of the entire show with her.
Why so? What about?
We sat on the couch and questioned the value of fashion. Kris said it was the way women could take control of how they were perceived and have fun doing it.
I said, yeah, but it encouraged people to judge each other based on appearances.
She said we all had to look like something.
I said, yeah, but that it cost tremendous amounts of money to care about fashion, so if you participate in this, you are participating in a system of privilege.
She didn’t dismiss me. She got right on in there and rolled up her sleeves. It’s a conversation I could never have with Cailtyn. The only thing she says is, “All I know is, you’ve got to work it.”
Kris seemed to have a negative response initially. Has she come around to Caitlyn being trans?
She and Cait have a disagreement about who knew what when. Caitlyn says, “You know I told you,” and Kris says, “You never did.” I think it’s possible—and I’ve seen this with other marriages, including my own—that both may be true.
One person either told the other, or thought they did, or almost did, and the other person listened, or didn’t listen, or forgot, or it changed in their mind. You’ll never untangle it.
But Kris was certainly more eager to hang out with us than she was to hang out with Caitlyn. She turns up in the New Orleans episode, which—among other things—features the appearance of “Glam Jenny.”
I knew it! You do like fashion after all.
In New Orleans, I went to the makeup people and said, “All right, screw it. Give me the works.” Three hours later, I walked down the hallway in this amazing dress. I didn’t know Kris Jenner was there. She said, “Oh, look, a woman after my own heart.”
You seem to be the show’s voice of common sense.
I don’t think of myself as reasonable. Does that make me less fun? Certainly there are times when everyone is talking about boyfriends and mascara, and I’m thinking, “Maybe our lives should be about a little bit more.”
They would find me reading my book at the back of the bus and say, “Jenny, what are you doing? You know we’re making a television show. Go in there and talk about sexuality.”
I had a reputation for complaining about everything. In one scene they wanted us to go a Chicago drag show, and I said I wouldn’t go, I didn’t want people thinking we were “impersonating” women ourselves. Of course we end up doing it, and it’s one of the best things on the show.
Do Candis and Caitlyn have a real chemistry? Do you think they’ll end up together?
Oh my God, that’s a really hard question. On the top level, yes there’s a lot of chemistry there. Those two are the closest friends on the show. They see each other all the time when the show is not filming.
We know Candis is attracted to men almost exclusively. Caitlyn said that if she dated someone else, it would be a man, so Caitlyn is saying she too is straight. But the things she wants from being with a man are things about the way she wants to be treated. She wants someone to hold the door open, to pick up the checks, to treat her “like a lady,” whatever the hell that means.
It doesn’t seem like having a sexual relationship with a man has anything to do with her stated desire to be with a man.
If that’s what she thinks sexuality is about, it makes me want to say, “Maybe you’re not as heterosexual as you think you are.” If in her heart of hearts she is really drawn to women, maybe there is more to that electricity between Candis and Caitlyn, at least on Caitlyn’s side.
Who or what does Caitlyn want sexually or romantically?
I don’t know and would not speculate. I think the main object of her desire right now is herself. She is absolutely focused on her own experience as a woman in the world. Dating someone else seems pretty far off the radar.
Is being in love important to her?
It certainly seemed important in the past. Caitlyn said to me, “I’ve got three ex-wives.” I said, “Well, now you can get an ex-husband.” She’ll find out in her own sweet time.
My wife is a very different kind of woman to Kris Jenner. Seeing me through on my journey was something she wanted to participate in. I didn’t know right away if we would stay together. Then, one or two years after transitioning, it was clear we realized that we were better together.
Does Caitlyn Jenner accrue knowledge this season? It hasn’t started that well for her.
She certainly does. Cait is a kind of ringleader, but a lot of the drama is about each of us. Each of us becomes our own Kardashian. I don’t know which Kardashian I am.
Someone said to me they thought I was Scott Disick, Kourtney’s ex, who joins us for a while. It was clear he was looking to Caitlyn as a parental figure, a mother figure, but Caitlyn has very mixed feelings about him. Instead, Scott Disick finds me.
What? You pal up?
Yes, for an extended period Scott Disick and I hang out. There’s a curious energy there. My heart really went out to him: He seemed so hungry and longing, looking for something Caitlyn can’t give him.
He’d just got out of rehab, and I said that if he could stay sober for a year, the very next day he should propose to Kourtney and be a father to his children. [Laughs] He said, “You really don’t watch the Kardashian show, do you?” and looked at me like I was from Mars.
So, will you return for Season 3?
[Laughs] It was really hard doing this. I was unhappy for long stretches doing it. On the other hand, looking at it now it looks really good. I really believe we’re on to something—not just in terms of trans visibility but showing how people can come together and learn to talk to each other.
And you’re a writer and public figure—it’s good for your own visibility.
Yeah, but on the other hand I’ve published a dozen books, I’m a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, I’m a co-chair of GLAAD. It’s not like I’m hiding my light under a bushel. This enables me to reach a different kind of audience, and I’m grateful for that.
A lot of people are angry with me for participating in this. They think of Caitlyn as an incredibly flawed figure. People think I am a sellout. If only they knew how incredibly little I’m getting paid for doing this thing, and how many gray hairs it has caused me, they might think twice.
I think you liked “Glam Jenny.” Has the show made you vainer, and more aware of appearance?
Candis takes me under her wing in one episode. She takes me shopping for lingerie. I’m all grumpy. My wife and I, our relationship, is not about underwear. But by the end of that scene, when everyone else has given up and left, we’re picking up cute things—a nightie and all sorts of slutty things to get me into.
So did I change the way I feel about my appearance, or become more vain? No, but I am a better friend to people who care about these things. I’m less judgmental. I hope this whole experience has made me less judgmental and more openhearted. But I’m not the judge of that. Call me back in seven weeks and tell me what you think.
And what did your wife make of your hot new underwear?
She laughed. She said, “You were on this bus one day too long, weren’t you?”
I Am Cait airs Sunday on E! at 9 p.m.Desmond District Demons is a competition of horror films that takes place at the iconic Sperry’s Moviehouse, located in Historic downtown Port Huron, Michigan. Going into its fourth year Desmond District Demons (DDD) highlights innovative work that pushes the envelope of the horror genre.
Submissions are open for the 2019 season. Submission deadlines are September 25th, and notification date is October 4th. Stay up to date with latest discounts and festival news by following our socials!
Showcasing the best horror films from all over the world, Desmond District Demons is proud to be a unique festival for first time filmmakers all the way to industry veterans; whether its demons which walk the earth or demons in your head Desmond District Demons is open to all great films within the horror genre.What IS Static Electricity?
2005 William J. Beaty The words "Static electricity" have no definition on which the experts agree. What is static electricity? To answer this question, first I'd have to know what you mean by the words "static electricity!" <grin>
I could answer your question by choosing just one of the several meanings. I'll probably choose a different one than the one you want. Then my answer will be correct... yet it will confuse you. And I won't be answering your actual question.
SEE ALSO: Static Electricity: Common Misconceptions
Making it visible: Red and Green Electricity
What is static electricity? another answer
How is "Static" different from "current?"
Static Electricity is High Voltage
more... CONFLICTING DEFINITIONS FOR "STATIC ELECTRICITY" 1. Static electricity is a field of science. Some people call it "Electrostatics." Same thing.
So, if Static Electricity is a kind of science, then it can't be made by generators. In a similar way, you can slice open a dead frog, but you'll never find any biology inside. And rocks don't contain any tiny pieces of "geology." Remember: Hydrostatics is the study of fluid pressure, Newtonian Statics is the study of physical forces, and Static Electricity is the study of charge, voltage, and electrical forces. Where can we find static electricity? Physics books are full of static electricity. So are certain buildings at the University!
2. Static electricity is a set of events which humans have grouped together.
Sparks and lightning are "static electricity," even though sparks and lightning are about the most dynamic things imaginable. Also, "dryer cling" is static electricity. Make no mistake, the "static" isn't inside the clothes, since "static" is not a stuff. The cling effect, THAT is the electricity. After all, "electricity" can mean "a class of phenomenon." And having your socks stick to the back of your sweater is certainly a phenomenon. Where does static electricity come from? From human minds: same as with "weather" and "bureaucracy" and all other classes of phenomenon.
3. Static electricity is another word for high voltage.
Whenever we have high voltage, then we also have electrostatic attraction and repulsion. High voltage can attract lint or tiny bits of paper, and it can make hair stand up. With high voltage we also get long sparks, crackling noises, and blue glows and flashes. High voltage makes ozone; the stuff that gives that funny chlorine smell. These things are the hallmarks of Static Electricity, but they are never caused by the "static-ness" of electric charges. Instead they are caused by intense e-fields. Intense e-fields are another way of saying "high votlage." If you can scuff your shoes on the carpet and then zap people with your finger, then you've been charging your body to several thousand volts. 4.Static Electricity means an imbalance of electric charge
An electrically "charged" object contains more protons than electrons, or it contains more electrons than protons.
Electrically neutral matter is made of positive and negative charges. Matter is made of atoms, and atoms contain closely-spaced electrons and protons. The "positives" and the "negatives" are very close together, so their effects cancel out. That's why electrical phenomena don't seem obvious in the everyday world. But if we accidentally remove a bunch of electrons from their atoms, and then we put these electrons in a distant spot, we'll leave behind a region of positive net charge. We'll also create an equal region of negative net charge. These imbalances of charge will surround themselves with intense electrical fields or "e-fields." 5.Static Electricity means FRICTIONAL charge-imbalance
There are several ways to create an imbalance of charge upon an object. Suppose we use a high voltage power supply to separate some charge? No friction was involved, yet our charged object can attract paper and raise arm-hair. Sometimes we use the words "static electricity" to mean "triboelectricity" or "frictional electricity." But this means that... if it wasn't created by friction, then it's not static electricity.
But this definition is a little ridiculous! For example, if we rub a piece of rubber upon a piece of plastic, then "static electricity" appears, but suppose we press a rapidly spinning rubber roller against a plastic roller, and both of them spin without slipping. They become strongly charged. But there is no friction. The charges were separated through "electrification by contact," by touching-and-peeling. Because the rollers did not rub against each other, doesn't this mean that the imbalanced charge on the rollers IS NOT static electricity?!! Clearly it's silly to require friction as part of the definition of the term "static electricity." Let't try to cut through the morass and clear things up. Just carefully avoid asking about "static," since any answers are confusing. Instead, here are several clearer questions to ask:
Clinging clothes make cracking noises when peeled apart. Why?!!!
In general, what is this stuff known as "electric charge?"
I touched the doorknob and made a spark. What was that?
I can zap people after scuffing my shoes on the rug? Why?
The air around a rubbed balloon feels weird. What's going on?Sometimes the most simple of recipes are the BEST recipes! Oh my gosh…I had no idea just how much I would love this dish. I had seen Roasted Cabbage Steaks on Pinterest and really wanted to try making them. The whole head of cabbage is cut into one inch “steaks” and dressed with a mixture of olive oil, balsamic, agave nectar, salt and pepper. It’s this dressing that allows for the caramelization process that will occur during roasting.
You could enjoy the roasted cabbage as is. What really makes this dish amazing however, is the tangy vinegar-based mustard dipping sauce. If you’ve followed me for awhile now, you may have seen me use this sauce in my St. Patrick’s day recipes (I’ll include a few links at the bottom of this recipe). When I think cabbage, my mind automatically goes back to this sauce.
It comes from a recipe my grandmother handed down to my mom. I have been using it ever since. Since it was handwritten, we really don’t know where it originated, but in my family…it was made only on St. Patrick’s Day. This sauce is a match made in heaven with cabbage! I’ve obviously veganized it a bit since the original called for an egg.
The first step is to slice the cabbage into steaks and I know that may seem daunting, but leaving the core intact really aids in slicing. I first trim the core end so I have a stable surface area. Then, I start making vertical slices about one inch thick. I got about four intact slices from one medium cabbage.
Lightly brush the baking pan with oil to prevent sticking. I’m once again using my favorite Breville Mini Smart Oven. I just love this thing! I combine all of the dressing ingredients and evenly distribute among the slices.
While the cabbage is roasting, I place all of the ingredients for the sauce into a small pan. As I mentioned, the only significant change to the original recipe was to replace the egg with something else. I’ve tried a few things, including silken tofu in the previous recipes. Now I just omit it all together. The flour does a great job at thickening the sauce and the mustard powder gives it that nice pale yellow color. I simply whisk over medium heat until everything comes together and it begins to thicken slightly. You can always thin using more almond milk.
Once the cabbage steaks are fork tender and the edges are golden and caramelized, carefully remove with a large spatula to a serving plate. The cabbage will still hold together, but the edges will be more fragile now that it has cooked. Be sure to capture all of those pan juices as well.
Season with salt and pepper and of course, a generous drizzle of that mustard sauce. I like to serve a small bowl of it with each plate so everyone has their own.
I place the remaining sauce into a small pitcher in case anyone wants more. And they will. It’s soooo good!
If you’d like to try the sauce with a few of my past recipes, here are those links:
IRISH EGG ROLLS
COLCANNON POPPERS
Before you go, why not check out some of our recent videos and be sure to subscribe to the YouTube Channel! 🙂Yesterday, a Reddit post surfaced a rumor that Harmonix employees were papering Amazon product listing for Rock Band 4 with positive reviews. Today, the developer has owned up, admitting that its employees are behind the ratings.
Redditors linked reviewers to real names, which appear to include one employee stating that she is a “new fan.” Destructoid further matches additional reviews to people with names matching Harmonix employees.
When approached for comment, Harmonix admitted that its staff is behind some of the glowing reviews. “Harmonix has clarified its internal policy about posting reviews of our own products on retail sites, and we've asked that existing reviews be edited to identify Harmonix employees or be removed entirely,” a representative told us. “While we believe the reviews posted by a few employees were sincere and without ill intentions, as a studio we don’t believe these are appropriate actions. We appreciate the feedback from the community, and take our relationship with our fans seriously."
Provided that the links between reviews and those credited on Rock Band products are all accurate, it appears at least six employees left positive reviews. Rock Band 4 was released on October 6 and performed well critically. It has also suffered from confusing DLC and track export implementation and a dearth of hardware at retail, particularly a vital Xbox One adapter for legacy instruments produced by partner MadCatz.
[Source: Reddit, Imgur via Destructoid]
Our Take
What isn’t clear is if employees were incentivized at the corporate level or took it upon themselves. Either way, it’s a terrible look for a company that is in the midst of a major competitive period.
Even if this was done with the best of intentions, reviewing your own product has the appearance of attempting to skew consumer perception. It's better to leave messaging to clearly labeled corporate PR and advertising.Unless time turns out to be Whovian, it seems likely the select committee hearing evidence on the HS2 high-speed rail link must conclude at some point in the future. When, though, is another matter. The longer it goes on, the further away any conclusion seems to get. The committee first sat in April last year and will continue well into the next parliament. And, if current progress is maintained, the one after that. Forget the government’s promise of a completion date of 2026 for HS2’s first stage – it will be a miracle if work has even started by then.
Monday’s session nudged the start date back still further by getting under way 10 minutes late due to the non-appearance of several committee members. With just a hint of a smile, chairman Robert Syms explained their absence. “There have been some, ahem, holdups on the trains,” he said. “So maybe we should start without them.”
First to give evidence was Alex Rukin from Balsall Common in the West Midlands who, at nine years old, became the youngest person ever to appear before parliament. While it was entirely right for the committee to hear evidence from someone who might actually be alive when HS2 is operating, it turned out Alex had actually been invited to the Commons because he had posted a video online detailing his objections to the current proposals. These objections almost exactly mirrored those of his father, Joe, who sat alongside Alex and is the campaign director of Stop HS2. Fittingly, this nimbyism had started in his own backyard.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest A nine-year-old boy addresses parliament to oppose the HS2 high-speed rail link between London, the Midlands and the north
After various people had failed to accurately locate where he lived on a map – “You see that red line in the corner? Well, it’s somewhere to the left of that” – Alex began to speak. “They … mmw … hmm … grrrn,” he said, before Joe gave him a nudge not to speak with his hands in front of his mouth. “They really, really need my help with maths,” he said only slightly more audibly. Alex had come holding a cuddly toy elephant and wearing a cub uniform covered with badges for everything from cycling and map-reading to camping and traffic awareness, but it was his 93% in his year 5 maths test that was at stake here.
“I pointed out that their figures were out by £8.7bn,” he said. James Strachan QC tried to suggest Alex had confused the contingency payments for phase one and phase two, but Alex was having none of it. As far as he was concerned, the muddle was not his. “They hadn’t read my document at all,” he insisted. “They really, really, really need my help with maths.” Or his dad’s, possibly. Strachan did not argue the toss; in a battle with a nine-year-old, he was always going to come off second best.
Alex was on less strong ground in his complaints that the new cycleway would be a bit more up and down than the old one. Someone with a cycling proficiency badge should be able to cope with a few bumps and, besides, he’ll be driving by the time it’s built. But everyone heard him out politely and by the time Strachan tried to explain the compatibility of “low adverse impact with moderate adverse effect” he and everyone else had had more than enough. “I really don’t think HS2 are good at anything,” Alex concluded. A chip off the old block.I’ll leave substantive analysis of the strategy for Afghanistan that Donald Trump articulated last night to better-qualified analysts than myself. But as someone who is predisposed to believe that the United States spends too much on a military that is too large and used too often, my main question by now is just what is the point of Trump being in the Oval Office?
During the campaign and precampaign he cut a figure that was, if frequently horrifying, also interjecting some notions into the discourse that deserved a seat at the table and perhaps even ultimate victory. His longtime skepticism of the merits of America’s extended military adventure in Afghanistan (and his largely fake skepticism of the invasion of Iraq for that matter) certainly belonged on this list. So did, of course, his skepticism of Washington Consensus trade policies, his sporadically voiced doubts about the merits of big banks and hedge funds as economic actors, and his sporadic heterodoxies on tax policy and the welfare state.
Almost all of this was always half-baked and some of it was directly contradicted by other aspects of his 2016 campaign. But as of Election Day 2016 it was certainly possible to squint at Trump and see the outlines of an ideological shakeup — a figure who would attempt to represent the interests of the Republican Party’s electoral base of older-skewing, less-educated white people rather than hew strictly to the reanimated corpse of Reaganism like the vast majority of the party’s elected officials.
But with Steve Bannon fired and Breitbart.com left to snipe from the sidelines as Trump embraces a South Asia strategy pushed by Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, and the uniformed military one must ask: What is the point?
If Trump is going to implement replacement-level conservative public policy, why is the country saddled with a president who is so far below replacement-level when it comes to so many aspects of his job? Pence or Haley or a dozen other Republicans could pursue Pence’s policies without routinely embarrassing the country on Twitter, letting state secrets slip to the Russian foreign minister, taking the side of neo-Nazi marchers, bankrupting the Secret Service with high living, and — most fundamentally of all — leaving the country in a state of agonizing suspense as to what’s going to happen when an unfit president has to wrestle with a crisis that’s not of his own making.
The surprisingly normal Trump administration
There is so much about Trump and his conduct that is “not normal” not normalcy itself has become a kind of rallying cry of resistance to his presidency. And yet on the level of public policy — especially when judged relative to his campaign — Trump’s administration has been almost excruciatingly normal.
When, after all, is the last time you heard Trump denounce a company for outsourcing jobs abroad?
As recently as January, Trump was vowing to develop a health care plan that would cover everyone. The congressional Republican health care bills he ended up endorsing did not, of course, do that. Nor did they fulfill campaign pledges to protect Medicaid, or lower premiums and deductibles. His budget proposal quietly ditched his campaign pledge to avoid cutting Social Security. His Treasury Secretary conceded Monday that his administration won’t really be closing the notorious “carried interest” tax loophole. He keeps saying he’ll raise taxes on the wealthy, but his administration’s actual plans do the reverse.
It’s not that he’s broken every single campaign pledge. The gloves are really coming off from immigration enforcement, conservatives are getting the slate of judges they were promised, the coal and oil industries are being lavished with regulatory favors, the military’s budget is going up, and the federal government is no longer pressuring police departments to reexamine their use of force or racial biases.
But the promises Trump is keeping are essentially the ones that would have fit nicely as Heritage Foundation PDFs or little Twitter cards from Paul Ryan’s “Better Way” push. Trump the political disruptor is gone. Instead we’ve just got Trump, the underqualified doofus.
Trump is still super-abnormal
Yet for all that Trump has normalized his approach to public policy, he remains a profoundly abnormal figure in American politics. The Teleprompter Trump we saw on display Monday night offers a kind of simulacrum of what we’ve come to expect from a president. But even though his command of this kind of delivery is improving it remains subpar — and nobody expects it to last.
It will be another cycle of declarations about his performance + aides hoping for a reprieve as they wait to see what he does in Phoenix — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 22, 2017
The real Trump is the one who muses candidly about the “many fine people” at a march chanting “Jews will not replace us,” retweets fake accounts on Twitter, ran a campaign full of murky ties to Russian espionage, and whose personal businesses are raking in party committee fundraising money even while billing the government for tens of thousands of dollars in golf cart rental fees.
Trump could, but has chosen not to, normalize his financial situation by selling his businesses and establishing a real blind trust. He could normalize his public communications. He could follow Jonathan Bernstein’s advice and try to learn to speak to people outside his circle of supporters and perform the role of head of state.
That he would not do these things was a foreseeable — and, indeed, widely predicted — turn of events. But it’s notable that many people who voted for him hoped he would behave more normally in office, and he himself did pledge to behave more presidentially (and stop tweeting) if he became president. He’s done none of that. But instead, after a bruising primary campaign that was, if nothing else, a massive and deserved vote of no confidence in the GOP establishment by its own voters, he’s chosen to replicate the failed policy dynamic of his Republican predecessors without replicating their respect for the norms and traditions of office. And he’s doing so while assisted with what continued to be a rather threadbare and inexperienced team.
Is Trump ready for trouble?
On strictly military matters, such as those Trump addressed in last night’s speech, Trump is at least backed up by a well-qualified team. Between John Kelly, James Mattis, and H.R. McMaster Trump is, at a minimum, equipped to enact tactical military operations that have been fully vetted by experienced professionals.
The diplomatic side of the endeavor, led by a former Exxon executive with no government experience whose primary mission seems to be alienating State Department professionals, looks quite a bit weaker. We have, at the moment, no ambassador to Afghanistan. Nikki Haley was a strangely unqualified choice to serve as UN ambassador, and appears to have gotten the job largely as a favor to South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, a Trump endorser who now has her old job.
And as one strays into other domains, the Trump situation often appears disastrous. Kelly has no background in domestic issues, and neither Trump’s treasury secretary nor his National Economic Council chief have any experience in government. Trump’s daughter and her husband serve in senior West Wing roles where their main mission appears to be strategic leaking to the press. Third-order Trump family retainers — like the woman who planned Eric Trump’s wedding — are running government agencies where they oversee millions of dollars in federal grants. Kooks like Seb Gorka and Michael Anton are still lurking at the National Security Council.
These underexperienced outsiders, like Trump himself, are not infusing the government with new ideas or an exciting businesslike pragmatism that’s breaking logjams in Washington and getting things done. They are instead, overwhelmingly, enacting the exact same policies that a more experienced and more qualified Republican administration would give us — just done with less spit, polish, and overall competence. To the extent that this means nefarious notions aren’t accomplished — like financing an enormous tax cut for the rich with draconian Medicaid cuts and calling it a health care bill — that may be all for the best.
But in a moment of true crisis or national emergence, the country is going to want a president — and a team — who are well-equipped to make sound decisions under pressure. A Trump administration that can’t even supervise a relatively minor white nationalist street protest without embroiling itself in days of chaos and controversy does not inspire confidence on that score. And in exchange for the massive tail risks involved in being governed by a conflict-ridden, impulsive president with little substantive knowledge we now appear to be gaining nothing at all in terms of innovative thinking or ideological heterodoxy.US president Donald Trump arrived in South Korea today (Nov. 7) after spending two days in Japan at the start of his lengthy Asia tour.
In contrast to Trump’s “wonderful” friend Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, South Korean president Moon Jae-in’s relationship with the US president is noticeably less close. In addition to lacking a natural rapport, the two leaders have very different approaches toward North Korea—Moon has pressed for a softer approach in dealing with Pyongyang, and has repeatedly emphasized that his country should not be ignored when it comes to its belligerent northern neighbor.
While Abe went the whole nine yards to please Trump on his visit, for example by serving him a burger for lunch before the two leaders golfed, Moon’s approach is somewhat different. His wife personally prepared gifts for Trump’s wife Melania, including dried persimmon, while Moon is also serving up a much more traditional meal compared to Abe at this dinner with Trump, including soybean soup, grilled beef ribs made with a special 360-year-old soy sauce, grilled fish, and a grilled prawn.
The grilled prawn is not just any prawn—it’s one caught in disputed waters between Japan and South Korea off the island of Dokdo. The island, called Takeshima by Japan, is one of the biggest flashpoints in the long-running enmity between the two US allies, and it’s hard to underestimate Dokdo’s importance in South Korea. Just a few weeks ago, South Korea celebrated Dokdo Day on Oct. 25, which commemorates the day that the Korean Empire officially announced its jurisdiction over the island. South Korea also calls the island’s surrounding waters the East Sea, while Japan calls them the Sea of Japan—use the wrong term in a map and you could find yourself the target of complaints from angry Koreans.
Meanwhile the origin of the prawn was reported in (link in Japanese) the Japanese press as, “Takeshima, Shimane prefecture.”
Also present at the dinner (link in Japanese) is a woman who was forced to work as a sex slave for Japanese troops during World War II. The issue of these sex slaves, known as comfort women in Asia, is highly sensitive in Korea, and president Moon recently cast doubt on a deal struck between Moon’s predecessor and Abe in 2015, which included a fund to help victims.
Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga expressed discomfort (link in Japanese) at Seoul’s decision to serve prawn from Dokdo/Takeshima, and said it was “necessary to avoid actions that would adversely affect relations between, Japan, the US, and South Korea.”
Correction: A previous version of this article erroneously stated that the soy sauce used in the dinner banquet was made in the same year as Benjamin Franklin’s birth.Majority of Scots see taking on the bosses as a viable way to run more responsible businesses in Scotland
57 PER CENT of SCOTS think that having a business without a CEO where decision are made collectively is a better way to run a company’s affairs.
The figure comes from a new survey carried out by YouGov which showed support for employee run business at a joint high with those in the North of England.
Inspiration for the study came from Swedish software firm Crisp which employs 40 people and has not had a CEO for three years but take decisions as a collective.
“The ordinary workers make all the big decisions, which means profits are reinvested to create more jobs and innovation rather than in huge salaries for CEO's and dividends for investors.” Ben Wray
Ben Wray, lead researcher at the thinktank CommonWeal told CommonSpace: "It is heartening that most people believe they would be better off without a boss. Anyone who really believes in democracy should agree with this view: if democracy means rule by the people, why shouldn't that extend to the workplace?”
"Those who say that worker-owned companies is a nice idea but would never work in practise should have a look at Mondragon, in the Basque Country. It is a worker-owned co-operative that started in 1956 with seven employees and is now one of the biggest and most successful businesses in Spain. The ordinary workers make all the big decisions, which means profits are reinvested to create more jobs and innovation rather than in huge salaries for CEO's and dividends for investors.”
As an average, 54 per cent of UK respondents out of a poll of nearly 7000 people said they felt employee run franchises were a “better way” to run businesses.
Across the UK, the profits of companies that are employee run or owned rose by 10.2 per cent between 2014 and 2016 compared to 7.7 per cent for normal CEO led enterprises. Additionally, the Employee Ownership Association (EOA) stated that they have witnessed a rise in the employee numbers joining businesses that are owned by the workers. There was between 2015 and 2016 a 15 per cent jobs growth compared to CEO led firms on 5.8 per cent.
Wray added: “The highest earner in Mondragon earns no more than 6.5 times the lowest earner; the average CEO in Britain is earning more than 300 times their lowest paid worker. Finally, when a company is owned by the workers there is no bosses to threaten to ship the jobs oversees: why would the workers voluntarily give up their jobs? Worker-owned companies are good for the workers and good for the economy."
Speaking CommonSpace Professor Ronald McQuaid, an expert and lecturer on employment at the University of Stirling agreed: “Considerable research suggests that many employee-owned businesses perform better than their conventional counterparts in terms of reputation, productivity and finances (John Lewis is perhaps one well-known example),” he said.
“A key factor is the high level of employee participation and employee ‘voice’. A result is that employees appear to feel more engaged in the business, valued and committed, and also feel they have higher job security.
“Although employee ownership may be suitable for nearly all types of business, most do have people with clear management and board-level decision-making positions. The more extreme version of having no overall boss may work reasonably well with smaller professional business, such as the Swedish software firm, but not in all cases.”
Picture courtesy of First Minister of ScotlandWell before the start of Monday’s G8 summit meeting, divisions were on display over Syria. Mr. Cameron conceded that he found some elements of the Syrian opposition worrying but sought to keep open the option of arming those who want a democratic future.
Speaking on Monday in Northern Ireland, Mr. Cameron, who faces internal opposition within his coalition government to arming the rebels, said he had made no decision on the issue.
“I am as worried as anyone else about elements of the Syrian opposition who are extremists, who support terrorism, who are a great danger to our world” Mr. Cameron said. “The question is what do we do about that?”
“My argument is that we shouldn’t accept that the only alternative to Assad is terrorism and violence,'’ Mr. Cameron said. “We should be on the side of Syrians who want a democratic and peaceful future for their country and one without the man who is currently using chemical weapons against them.”
After a meeting in London on Sunday with the prime minister, Mr. Putin responded in combative style after being asked if he had blood on his hands for providing military support to the Assad government.
“One hardly should back those who kill their enemies and, you know, eat their organs,” he said, referring to a widely publicized video in which a member of an anti-Assad militia appears to bite an internal organ from a dead government soldier.
“Do we want to support these people?” Mr. Putin asked. “Do we want to supply arms to these people?”
The United States has said that it will supply some rebels with direct military aid, and Britain and France succeeded in getting the European Union to allow its ban on supplying arms to the country to expire, despite the reservations of many countries within the |
you are. And all those things add up to what people believe you are.
At 60, almost two years out of the game, Weis wants to coach again. The last few years left him with a bad taste that maybe only football can rinse out. He has quietly put out the word to friends in the NFL: If they need a coordinator after this season, maybe a quarterbacks coach, he'll listen.
He wants to prove that he's still a good coach. He also wants to show that he's a good man.
Weis knows the labels that are stuck to him. He didn't approach me for this story -- I approached him -- but he talked, despite his agent's advice to stop. He described himself a dozen different ways. He kept trying to help me find the right words to understand who he is.
After a while, I started to think that he might be searching, too.
Weis spent 15 years as an NFL assistant, five of those as the offensive coordinator for the Patriots. Ron Antonelli/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
LET'S START with bored.
How bored is Charlie Weis? Not only did he join the board of his homeowners association but he serves on a committee of the board of his homeowners association.
We're down in Florida now, at a bagel shop near his home in Wellington, in Palm Beach County. When Weis got fired by Kansas in 2014, just four games into his third season, he told his wife, Maura, to pick where they'd move next because they had always lived wherever coaching took him. She competes in dressage, where a rider puts a horse through precision movements, and down here there's a horse show every weekend. They live in a gated community designed for equestrian living. They share their spread with six horses, four dogs, a cat and a type of parrot called a sun conure, which dive-bombs people when they walk through the house. Weis loves his wife. He tolerates the horses and the dogs and the cat. He's not a fan of the bird.
He and Maura have been married 24 years. He worked such long hours during most of those years that he promised Maura he would stick close by when he was out of football. But because he worked such long hours, he never developed hobbies. He doesn't golf or fish or play cards. "If I'm going to do retired," he says, "I'm going to have to learn how to handle retirement better."
He gets up before dawn, an old coach's habit he can't break. Three times a week or so, while Maura sleeps, he drives down to the bagel place. The morning we're there, sitting at a corner table, a guy from Queens walks over. His name is Tom Pickford.
"Excuse me," Pickford says, "aren't you Notre Dame?"
"Yeah," Weis says.
"Didn't you have the Jets, too?"
"Yep."
"It was gonna drive me crazy. Charlie?"
"Yep."
"Charlie -- what's your last name?"
Weis waits a beat, looks at the guy.
"What's my last name?"
"Yeah."
"Weis."
"That's it. Weis. Big offensive coordinator."
On Pickford's way out, he stops by again.
"You still involved with football?" he says.
"Well, a little bit," Weis says. "Pros, a little bit. Yep, a little bit. We're trying to decide whether or not to make it more than a little bit or not."
Here's what "a little bit" means: An NFL team he won't name sends an iPad to him every so often, loaded with film of players it wants him to evaluate. He has been doing this since February or March, just before the draft. It's a consulting gig, part time, no guarantees. But he stays up late, grinding through the film. He watches every play with a jeweler's eye.
"Gimme a quarterback in the draft," he says.
Jared Goff, I say. (He was the No. 1 overall pick by the Rams.)
"OK, now let me tell you my concerns about Jared Goff. He was running for his life every time I watched him play. Now, people can blame the offensive line all they want, say the offensive line was terrible, OK, but when a guy's ducking for cover, I'd be afraid of him being gun-shy. You watch on tape, he's getting hit so many times. Now I don't know if he's gun-shy or not. I know he was gun-shy. So for somebody being picked that high in the draft, that would definitely be a concern. Because if you are [gun-shy], I don't know what you do about it."
I mention Carson Wentz, the No. 2 pick by the Eagles out of North Dakota State.
"I thought he was the smartest guy in the draft."
Why?
"Because of what they do at the line of scrimmage. I mean, he looks like Tommy [Brady] at the line of scrimmage. Now, I have a problem with a guy playing that level of football that completes 60 percent of his passes. Should be 70 percent of his passes. I would have a concern."
The QB he liked best was Paxton Lynch, the Broncos' pick at No. 26. Weis recruited him during the year he was offensive coordinator at Florida, but the recruitment fell through when Weis left.
"He was athletic enough to get out of trouble," Weis says. "He's 6-7, but he doesn't play like he's 6-7."
Weis spent a lot of Saturdays last fall in Tuscaloosa. His son, Charlie Jr., turned out to love coaching as much as he did. Last year, right after Charlie Jr. graduated from Kansas, Nick Saban hired him as an offensive analyst at Alabama. Weis watched games from the stands for the first time in more than 40 years. He couldn't completely detach and just be a fan. He kept watching for patterns, wondering why the coaches called the plays they did. But mostly he rooted for his son.
"You talk about what gets you through?" Weis says. "He got me through this last year because, on football weekends, I had Alabama football. I lived vicariously through him."
Last year, in salary alone, Weis made more money not coaching Notre Dame than the current coach made. Joe Robbins/Getty Images
DIG DOWN a little: nostalgic. Weis says he doesn't like to live in the past. But if you ask him to visit the good days, he lingers.
If you hang around him long enough, you'll hear the chicken sandwich story at least once, maybe twice. One night in 1991, at a beachside bar called Leggett's, Weis, who was working with the Giants then, was hanging out with his buddy Mike Murphy, the Giants' chief of security. Murphy, fueled by hops and barley, wandered over to a table of strangers. He reached down, opened a to-go box that belonged to a blonde, and devoured the half-eaten chicken sandwich she was saving for her dog. There was a ruckus at the table. Weis came over to make peace. He introduced himself to everyone, especially the blonde. It was Maura. They got married 15 months later.
He misses his days with the Patriots. He swears New England coach Bill Belichick is funny, although science has yet to confirm.
(Belichick tends to treat news conferences as a test of how little he can say in the allotted time. But he agreed to answer a few questions about Weis via email. "There are so many gameplans that Charlie was responsible for, decisions he made and plays he called, that it would be a very long list," Belichick wrote. "Charlie was good at disciplining the players and holding them accountable for their jobs, but also kept things loose in a good way. He always had a great feel for how to strike that balance.")
Weis holds on to his old friends. He and Brady text back and forth, checking on each other's families. Every year, Weis gets together with the same group of eight to play the horses at the Monmouth Park track. He's still close with Ed Edwards from those days at Rod's, still tips a beer or two (or more) with Murphy. He and Maura spend most of their time in Florida, and a little at the house they kept in South Bend, but they spend chunks of every summer at their condo in Jersey. He needs the sand and the sarcasm.
He's also still friends with Jon Bon Jovi. They've known each other since Weis worked for the Giants in the early '90s. A little more than a month ago, when Charlie Jr. got married, Bon Jovi attended the wedding. The cover band that played at the reception kicked into "Livin' on a Prayer" and started coaxing Bon Jovi up to sing. A video of the moment went viral for a day or two, mainly for the expression on his face: Am I seriously gonna have to do this? But he stood up and sang anyway, sort of a karaoke selfie. Weis says they talked about it later. Everything's cool.
Weis says Bon Jovi sent him a text years ago when he was struggling at Notre Dame. He sends the same text back to Bon Jovi from time to time:
You better stand tall when they're calling you out.
Don't bend, don't break, baby don't back down.
You might recognize that as the bridge from Bon Jovi's 2000 hit, "It's My Life." This probably makes Weis the only person in the world who texts Bon Jovi lyrics to Bon Jovi -- and gets Bon Jovi lyrics back from Bon Jovi.
DEEPER NOW: bothered.
I suggest bitter. But he says that's not the right word for how he feels about the way things ended at Notre Dame. Angry isn't either. He says he has let the anger go. But a few things still bother him. A lot.
They were so glad he came. They hired him in the midst of his 2004 season with New England; he stayed with the Pats through the end of the season, when they won their third Super Bowl in four years. Weis was a Notre Dame alumnus (Class of '78). It felt like a perfect fit. Seven games into his first season, with the Irish at 5-2 -- one of the losses was to No. 1 USC, in the famous Bush Push game -- Notre Dame tore up his six-year contract and signed him to a new 10-year deal. There was no buyout clause. It was the moment in the movie when everyone is happiest, just before the fall.
Now, combing back through the stories, Weis' five seasons at Notre Dame sound like the Titanic multiplied by the Hindenburg. "The Worst Football Coach in the Universe" headlined Jonathan Chait's take in Slate: "In the entire history of American sports hype, has there ever been any fraud more grossly fraudulent than Notre Dame football coach Charlie Weis?"
That came out in the middle of Weis' third season, 2007, when the Irish went 3-9, the most losses in the school's history. That year they lost to Georgia Tech, Michigan and USC by scores of 33-3, 38-0 and 38-0. They lost to Navy for the first time in 44 games. That season erased all memory of Weis' first two years, when the Irish went to BCS bowls. And it gave Weis no cushion when his teams went 7-6 and 6-6 the two years after that.
By the end, fans were grumbling to Maura at the drugstore. Kids were taunting Charlie Jr. at school. The neighbors stopped inviting them to the neighborhood Christmas party. Before his final season, in '09, a billboard appeared in South Bend, paid for mostly by Tom Reynolds, a former Notre Dame reserve linebacker: BEST WISHES TO CHARLIE WEIS IN THE 5TH YEAR OF HIS COLLEGE COACHING INTERNSHIP. After what turned out to be the final home game Weis coached, a 33-30 double-overtime loss to Connecticut, the family came home to 14 for-sale signs in their yard.
"He took all the hits that anyone could ever take," Maura says, "and he took it with class, and he never said anything bad."
What bothers Weis more, he says, is how Notre Dame treated him after he was fired. You won't hear the Notre Dame side of this story; school officials, including athletic director Jack Swarbrick and university president Rev. John Jenkins, declined to comment. (Kevin White, the former athletic director, now in the same job at Duke, also declined.)
This is the way Weis tells it:
Charlie Jr. was on track to enroll at Notre Dame. Weis says Jenkins himself had promised that he would be accepted, as long as his grades and test scores qualified, which they did. But after Weis was fired, Notre Dame sent a letter deferring Charlie Jr.'s acceptance. Not long after that, Weis says, he got a call from someone in Notre Dame's development office making him an offer: If he'd donate some of the money Notre Dame owed him back to the school -- "seven figures," Weis says -- Charlie Jr. could get in.
Weis said no. Charlie Jr. ended up enrolling at Florida when Weis was offensive coordinator there for a year. Then he followed his father to Kansas.
Later, Weis says, a fundraiser for the school told him that Notre Dame used the contract in pitches to donors, saying they needed to give more because the school still owed Weis so much.
"Because Weis took them to the cleaners on the contract, scammed them on the contract," Weis says. "But I did nothing. First of all, I wasn't even involved with the contract. Second of all, there wasn't any scamming going on there, as far as that goes. And then what they were trying to do is trying to get -- to save face, use my kid to get some of the money back. Because they were making it look like you could look good, we wouldn't look as bad. There wasn't a chance in hell that my kid was going there. And my wife will never step foot on that campus [again] ever, ever."
Weis says he asked Swarbrick for a favor when he was fired. He didn't think Notre Dame's previous two coaches, Bob Davie and Tyrone Willingham, had been treated well after they left. He recalls the conversation: "This is my alma mater. I put my blood, sweat and tears into fixing this place. I go, I really don't want to be treated like s---. He goes, You will always be family."
Weis pauses.
"The guy's never said another word to me."
It's the kind of thing that happens a thousand times a day: A boss fires an employee, and they don't speak again. It has happened to Weis more than once. But this one sticks with him.
Kansas is still paying him through the end of this year, $208,333 a month, but that's not a big event in the Weis house. The money from South Bend was a big event. It always arrived right before Christmas. Charlie and Maura always held a little ceremony. Last year, when the final payment of $2.1 million came in, they did it one last time. Maura got a glass of wine. Charlie got a Coors Light. And they raised a toast to old Notre Dame.
ONE MORE LAYER down: obnoxious.
His word, not mine: "Despite the fact that I grew up in New Jersey, I swear more than some other people do, and [I'm] borderline rude and obnoxious and sarcastic, and those things like that, I always felt like I was a good person."
The obnoxious part gets him in trouble. He thinks of something that feels smart or clever or honest, and he lets it out. Often to his regret.
Not long after he got the Notre Dame job, he said his presence would give the Irish a "decided schematic advantage." We should stop right here and admire the beauty of it: three three-syllable words, the accent on the second beat of each, a tiny poem to his ego. The phrase clings to Weis like a barnacle -- he'll never coach again without hearing it. He wishes he'd never said it, even though to this day he believes it's true.
In his second season at Notre Dame, he made the mistake of allowing "60 Minutes" to put a mic on him during a game. The footage that opened the segment was a master class in foul language. At one point, he turned to assistant coach Brian Polian and shouted, "Get the f--- off the field!" This did not play well at the nation's leading Catholic university.
In his first year at Kansas, he kicked 29 players off the team for academic or behavior issues. The Jayhawks went 1-11. Afterward, he said he was selling recruits on the school by comparing them to the players he had: "Have you seen that pile of crap out there? If you don't think you can play here, where do you think you can play?"
He has tried to shut off the spigot. He used to be compelled to top whatever story somebody else was telling. "It got to be so bad where I used to say that, you know, I rode across the Delaware in the boat right before George Washington." He says he has that under control now. But he talks as a way to think things out. He talks because he likes to argue. And he talks because he loves to hear his voice. When he was growing up, he didn't want to be a coach. He wanted to be Marv Albert.
Weis is still bothered by how Notre Dame treated him after he was fired. Joe Robbins/Getty Images
HURT. We're closing in now.
When he stands up at the bagel shop, he uses his left hand to push his left hip into place. In 2008, against Michigan, a Notre Dame player was knocked out of bounds on a punt return. Weis was turned sideways, looking downfield. The falling player caught Weis square on the left knee, tearing his ACL and MCL. The hit and the fall also injured his other knee and the hip. Over the next three years, he had all three joints replaced. From the waist down, he's about half titanium.
But that's only his second-worst medical story. Not long after the Patriots beat the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, Weis watched a DVD of the game and couldn't stand how fat he looked. He had been big since he was a child -- he couldn't play Pop Warner football because he was over the weight limit -- but he had eaten his way to somewhere around 350 pounds. So he decided to have gastric-bypass surgery. He scheduled the surgery for June 2002. The only two people Weis told about it were Maura and Brady. (He told Belichick he was having a "stomach procedure.") The surgery went bad. Doctors couldn't stop his internal bleeding, and he got an infection and fell into a coma. A priest gave him last rites. Even after recovering, he had nerve damage that led to partial loss of feeling in both feet, another reason he clomps when he walks.
He sued his surgeons at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The first trial ended in a mistrial when the surgeons rushed to help a juror who collapsed. In the second trial, the jury found in favor of the surgeons. Their lawyers had argued that Weis pushed them to shorten the pre-op prep work so he could get the surgery done faster.
Weis doesn't approach 350 anymore, but he's still a solid heavyweight. At 60, with scars inside and out, it's hard for him to get in shape. He does a few laps in the pool. He rides a recumbent bike in the bedroom while he watches "24" or "House of Cards." He lays off the cream cheese on his bagel. One day, when we're talking politics, he says he wishes Chris Christie had lasted in the presidential race. "A fat guy from Jersey?" he says. "Of course that's my guy."
The spring after the surgery nightmare, the Weis family took a vacation on the South Carolina coast. Charlie and Maura started talking about what they could do with the time they had left. They decided they hadn't done enough for other people. That's when they drew up the plan for Hannah and Friends.
Hannah is their daughter. She was born with kidney problems -- Weis says one doctor advised them to abort -- and when she was 2 years old, she started pulling away from the world emotionally. After years of tests, doctors diagnosed her with global developmental delay, a catch-all term for a wide range of issues in mental and physical development. The main source of the problems was a rare disorder that gave Hannah hundreds of small seizures every night while she slept, which led to irreparable brain damage. On her good days, she laughs and sings and gets absorbed in "Sesame Street." But she doesn't know her dad won Super Bowl rings. She doesn't know he got fired from Notre Dame and Kansas. "Insignificant in her life," he says. "Totally insignificant." Weis found that the insignificance brought him some peace. He could come home after losses and live in Hannah's world and the game would fade away.
In August 2007, just before that terrible third season, they broke ground on the Hannah and Friends property, a 40-acre spread just north of South Bend. In September 2009, the same month that anti-Weis billboard went up, the first residents moved into the first group home. Now 14 special-needs residents live there in four houses: two for males, two for females. One house is named after the band Chicago. The band's manager, a big Notre Dame fan, arranged for a cut of their concert tickets to go to Hannah and Friends. Another house is named for Bon Jovi, who performed at a fundraiser a few years ago and donated $60,000 to have Weis and Belichick sing backup on "Wanted Dead or Alive." There's a YouTube video, if you dare.
Even as Charlie and Maura built Hannah and Friends, they kept Hannah at home. They worried she couldn't handle life anywhere else. But they decided to try; they built her a room there just like her room at home, with two ways to play her videos (one DVD, one VHS) and walls painted purple like Barney. When she turned 18, in 2013, they moved her in. She's doing fine. Next year, they plan to live in South Bend from May through October so they can spend more time with her.
That is, unless somebody offers Weis a job.
NOW WE'RE DOWN close to the bone. This is where Weis would insert the word content. He uses it over and over again. As long as his wife and kids are happy, he's fine. If he never coaches again, that's OK. He'll find something to do. Last summer, he cut the grass at Hannah and Friends.
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But dig just a little deeper, down where it stings, and you run into incomplete.
The search for the right words is also the quest to fill a hole. It's not about success or money. He has had lots of the first and still has plenty of the second. It's about finishing. Kansas fired him on a Sunday morning, four games into a season. He can't believe that's how his football life was meant to end.
"I'd like to go somewhere and go on a little run," he says. "Let's not think three out of four Super Bowls. But go on a little run, win and leave the league with a good taste in your mouth. Yes. You're asking would I like to do that, the answer to that is unequivocally yes."
He tells two stories that help explain why.
The first happened early in 2015. He says he got a call from a friend at an NFL team he won't name. The friend was interested in him as offensive coordinator. He spent the next day interviewing. Weis says his friend told him he had the job. The next night, he and his family went out to celebrate. During dinner, he glanced at a TV on the wall at the restaurant. The ESPN BottomLine said the team had hired an offensive coordinator. A name scrolled across the screen. It wasn't his.
When they got home, he says, he had five messages from his friend. Weis texted back that there was nothing to talk about. They haven't spoken since. He says now that, of all the things that have happened in his football life, that day troubles him the most.
"It eats at me," he says. "It eats at me. Because he was a friend."
The second story goes back to the first day after he was hired at Notre Dame. They had set aside a temporary office for him until the main one was ready. He and Charlie Jr. walked in and saw a poster on the wall with photos of the school's coaching legends: Knute Rockne, Frank Leahy, Ara Parseghian, Dan Devine, Lou Holtz. Charlie Jr. asked his dad: What's it going to take for you to be happy here?
"I said, 'I want them to look at me like those guys and say, "Thank God we hired that guy."' As long as the people do that, I'll consider what I did successful."
He stops. There's not a bit of Jersey shtick in his voice.
"So because that didn't happen, it was unsuccessful."
This is the problem when who you are is bound so tightly to what you do. People take your work and judge your life by it. Maybe, if you do it long enough, you start to do the same. It can be satisfying to finally finish that race. The hard part is knowing where it ends.
After two visits, a phone call, and dozens of emails and texts, Charlie Weis is talked out. We leave Rod's and ride in his convertible back to where my car is parked, at a hotel in the town of Spring Lake. On the shore, Spring Lake is known as the Irish Riviera. Sure enough, as we drive through, it seems as if every other house has a Notre Dame flag.
I start to ask him about it, but he's staring straight ahead, lost in thought. I let it pass. We're out of words.
Tommy Tomlinson can be reached at tomlinsonwrites@gmail.com or on Twitter @tommytomlinson.Dylan Larkin-WC
Dylan Larkin of United States, center, Czech Republic's Jan Kolar, left and Czech Republic's Radim Simek, right, battle for the puck during the Ice Hockey World Championships quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and United States, in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, May 19, 2016.
(AP Photo)
Auston Matthews, who is expected to be the No. 1 pick in this year's NHL draft, scored the winning goal in a shootout Thursday to give the United States a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals of the World Championship in Russia.
Dylan Larkin of the Detroit Red Wings didn't figure in the scoring for the Americans but had two shots on goal and an even plus-minus rating in 19:07 of ice time.
Matthews scored in regulation for Team USA, which will meet the winner of today's game between Canada and Sweden in Saturday's semifinals.
Tomas Zohorna scored for the Czechs.
Finland 5, Denmark 1: Finland remained unbeaten in eight games by moving into the semifinals, where the winner of today's game between Russia and Germany will be the its semifinal opponent. Mikael Grandlund of the Minnesota Wild scored twice for the Finns, who also got goals from Patrik Laine, Jussi Jokinen of the Florida Panthers and Jarno Koskiranta. Red Wings' forward Teemu Pulkkinen sat out his third straight game for Finland. Lars Eller of the Montreal Canadiens scored for Denmark.
-- Follow MLive Sports on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
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-- Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage on TwitterWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has provided specific suggestions to governments in Europe and elsewhere on how to strengthen counterterrorism laws in order to arrest would-be foreign fighters before they join groups like Islamic State, according to a policy paper reviewed by Reuters.
Islamic State fighters wave flags as they take part in a military parade along the streets of northern Raqqa province, Syria June 30, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer
U.S. government officials distributed the paper to overseas government agencies earlier this year as part of a push by the Obama administration to track and stem the flow of homegrown foreign fighters from Europe bound for Syria and Iraq, a person with knowledge of the matter said.
Following the Paris attacks earlier this month and this week’s security crackdown in Belgium, European law enforcement and intelligence agencies are under pressure to disrupt the replenishment of Islamic State’s forces and prevent battle-hardened militants from returning home to carry out attacks.
U.S. officials began lobbying for European countries to enact legal changes targeting Islamic State as early as 2014. But the March 2015 memo details the steps the Justice Department has urged other governments to consider, including prosecuting “aspiring foreign fighters” before they leave for Syria or Iraq.
Specifically, the document urges governments to consider making it a crime to travel to designated areas like those under the control of Islamic State or to attempt to join a group deemed by an overseas government to be a terrorist organization.
“In the United States, this approach has proven very effective in intercepting foreign fighter travel,” the document said.
It was not clear what kind of reception the lobbying effort by the Justice Department received or whether any legal changes overseas had been undertaken as a result.
Its disclosure comes at a time of renewed debate about how to balance security with privacy concerns in the United States and new scrutiny of the security risk posed by a visa waiver program that allows citizens of mostly European countries to visit freely.
U.S. prosecutors have used laws banning dealings with foreign militant groups to prosecute dozens of American citizens and residents for crimes related to Islamic State while they are still in the United States.
TARGETING ‘PREPARATORY ACTS’
Under U.S. law, federal prosecutors do not have to “establish a link with specific terrorist activities” in order to charge a suspect with a crime, but only show a suspect intended to “support or join” a group the government has already labeled a terrorist organization, the paper noted.
It urged other governments to consider similar steps to criminalize what U.S. prosecutors have called “preparatory acts” for would-be militants and Islamic State recruits.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a June report that 64 individuals had been arrested in the United States between January 2014 and September 2015 for attempting to join Islamic State or for other “terrorism-related activities” involving the group.
Among that total, the security agency said it had arrested 28 individuals for planning travel to join Islamic State.
In addition to discussions with European officials, Washington has kept up pressure on Turkey to do more to tighten its border with Syria against the two-way traffic of militants of Islamic State and other militant groups.In the free marketplace of ideas, Reddit is the pure, unregulated street bazaar of American thought.
But that's changing a little, locally, with the announcement late last week that the r/Minnesota sub-reddit page would begin to more heavily police racist and offensive comments. As explained by a page moderator, posts that cite race or ethnicity as the cause of a person's behavior will be removed; repeat offenders could get banned from the site altogether.
The rule change follows some tense months of heady local topics that have inflamed language and feelings about race: Jamar Clark's death; the shooting at the Fourth Police Precinct protest site ; Black Lives Matter disruptions at the Mall of America and the airport; and St. Paul cop Jeff Rothecker's previously held position that those protesters should be run over for blocking the street.
Resulting conversations on the Minnesota-focused Reddit page have brought in the racists — or maybe brought out the racist in some people. These comments, the moderator writes, "sink way below the level of discourse we would like to see," and are making "people on different sides of complex issues get even angrier with each other."
Some moderators who run the page are in disagreement. Aside from it flying in the face of free speech, the policy change raises the question of whether other categories, like religion, gender, or sexuality, need the same protections. "We recognize that this rule will most likely be controversial." They guessed right.
Black Lives Matter "brings out the worst" in some people. Racists, mostly.
The announcement has drawn hundreds of responses, with many users questioning the need to actually take down comments from a site that's known to allow all sorts of perfectly offensive material. Writes one: "I think it's a terrible mistake to start having a select few pick and choose what gets allowed and what doesnt [sic]."
The whole chain of responses is worth a read, if only to see how an unwieldy mob tries to navigate the bounds of allowable communication. One guy immediately tests the moderator with a joke, which elicits the reply, "You're stupid but that's not racist."
Want racism, say others? Check the comment section of any story published on WCCO or the Star Tribune.
The announcement followed closely on the heels of our story about anti-Somali racism in St. Cloud, so naturally one branch of the Reddit conversation devolves into jokes about — or strong defenses of — that city, thus leading to a fight over whether being prejudiced against people from St. Cloud makes you a racist. (Is "St. Cloudian" a race?)
Other users suggest some of the racist talk is coming from users who were sent as plants from other, explicitly racist corners of the Reddit world, to deliberately interject white supremacist chatter as a way of recruiting new members to their cause. This theory of the outside agitator come to spoil Minnesota's good-natured debate is in line with the most popular, most up-voted response to the rule announcement: Trolls or true racists, those kinds of comments are "un-Minnesotan and un-American," the user writes.
It's a nice thought. But it's only true if every single instance that's troubled the r/Minnesota moderators was actually the work of people who don't live here. Racism is, in fact, rather American, and at least a little Minnesotan.Munich is a city that just keeps on entertaining. Home to a plethora of cultural institutions; days, weeks, months could practically fly by and you’d still be visiting a different one every weekend. And it’s no wonder. As early as the 19th Century, Munich has hosted the prestigious Kunstakademie (Academy of Art) with artists from around the globe coming to live and work in the city.
Journey to Maxvorstadt, a district right in the heart of Munich, and you’ll find the Kunstareal area – a area literally packed full with museums! So, to help get you started, we’ve compiled an essential list of the top 10 museums and art spaces to keep under your radar, with some extra tips for your inner (and outer) fashionista, of course.
The Fashionista’s Guide to Museums in Munich
1. Pinakotheken (Alte, Neue, der Moderne)
All three Pinakotheken are ranked among the most credible museums in the world. Located within walking distance from one another, it’s easy to say that the Pinakotheken are a MUST for any museum aficionado. Here you can travel your way through space and time, finding all the masters from Sandro Botticelli to Rembrandt on show in the Alte Pinakothek to Pablo Picasso sitting proudly in Pinakothek der Moderne. And if that wasn’t persuasive enough, visits on any Sunday costs no more than 1€. Perfect.
Barerstraße, 27, 28 & 40
Sundays: 1€ reduced entry
2. Museum Brandhorst
It’s hard not to be pulled in by the distinctive design of the Museum Brandhorst’s exterior. This multi-coloured cube acts as neighbour to the Pinakothek der Moderne and holds a permanent contemporary art collection as well as temporary. Opened since 2009, in 2012 the Brandhorst welcomed the Richard Avedon exhibition, exploring the lesser known works of the famous fashion photographer. And in 2015, the museum hosted an immensely popular exhibition featuring Andy Warhol, the mastermind behind what’s hip and what’s happening in New York and beyond.
Theresienstraße, 35a
Sundays: 1€ reduced entry (but might change according to the exhibition scheduled)
3. Glyptothek
The Glyptothek’s main purpose is to exhibit and hold ancient sculpture. Located in a majestic location, Königsplatz, the equally majestic building sits in front of the Staatliche Antikensammlungen, a museum also housing ancient art. During summer the front stairs and garden are an ideal spot to sit back and take in the view with a friend. And here’s the fashion highlight; the Glyptothek hosts an impressive number of Roman female head sculptures, showcasing a unique array of beautifully elaborate ancient hairstyles. C’mon guys, who needs Youtube tutorials when you’ve got all the vintage beauty inspiration right here!
Königsplatz, 3
Sundays: 1€ reduced entry
4. Villa Stuck
If you’ve got a taste for the beautifully decadent and the exotic – this place is right up your street! A former residence of the Munich artist Franz von Stuck; mosaics, threatening femmes fatales portraits and draperies can all be admired from within a setting of semi-darkness at the Villa. Topping that, the Villa holds rotating contemporary art exhibitions that make this place a great reference for the arts in Munich. The garden, featuring various sculptures and climbing plants, is the little hidden gem that’s not to be missed, especially if you’ve got time to sip a coffee at the coffee shop. And guess what, every first Friday of the month is also know as ‘Late Friday! The Villa Stuck opens until 10PM and entrance is totally free from 6PM. How’s that for a sweet start into the weekend?
Prinzregent |
the hellbent ability word have greater effects if their controller has no cards in his or her hand. Hellbent appears in Dissension and is associated with the Cult of Rakdos; many other cards pertaining to the Cult function better while their controller has fewer cards in hand.
Heroic [ edit ]
Cards with the heroic ability word gain an advantage when targeted with a spell. Although there are many heroic effects, the most common use of this mechanic is to give a creature a +1/+1 counter. This mechanic first appeared with creatures from the Theros block.
Imprint [ edit ]
Imprint is an ability word which only appears on artifacts and creatures. All cards with imprint have either an activated (Cost: Effect) or triggered ability which allows the player to exile a card to grant abilities to the artifact with imprint. Imprint was introduced as a keyword in the Mirrodin block and became an ability word in the Scars of Mirrodin block.
Join forces [ edit ]
Join forces is an ability word geared toward multiplayer variants. An effect denoted with join forces allows all players to contribute to it, usually by paying mana, though that effect might not be mutually beneficial. Join forces appears in Commander.
Kinship [ edit ]
Kinship is an ability word that appears in Morningtide. All cards with kinship are creatures that check, at the beginning of their controller's upkeep, the top card of that player's deck. If it shares a creature type with the creature that has the kinship ability, the player may reveal it for a bonus effect.
Landfall [ edit ]
Landfall is an ability word associated with bonuses given to players for playing lands. Landfall first appeared in Zendikar with abilities of the form Whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control, (effect). The follow-up set, Worldwake, introduced a modified form of landfall on instant cards written as If a land entered the battlefield under your control this turn, (effect).
Metalcraft [ edit ]
Cards with the metalcraft ability word gain an additional effect while their controller controls three or more artifacts. Metalcraft appears in the Scars of Mirrodin block and is associated with the Mirran faction.
Morbid [ edit ]
Cards with the morbid ability word gain an additional effect during a turn in which a creature died. Morbid was introduced in the Innistrad block.
Radiance [ edit ]
The radiance ability word denotes abilities that target one permanent, but affect all permanents of the same type that share a color with the target. Radiance appears in Ravnica: City of Guilds and is associated with the Boros Legion.
Raid [ edit ]
A card with raid gains an additional effect if their controller attacked the turn they are played. Raid is associated with the Mardu and appears in Khans of Tarkir. It has reoccurred as a pirate mechanic in Ixalan.
Rally [ edit ]
The "rally" mechanic was first introduced in the Battle for Zendikar set, and is a keyword given to the abilities of allies from the original Zendikar set. A creature with a rally ability triggers whenever an ally enters the battlefield under their control and gives some kind of bonus to all of that player's creatures, even non-ally creatures.
Sweep [ edit ]
Sweep is an ability word used on spells with effects which can be strengthened by returning any number of lands of a single basic land type to their owners' hands. Sweep only appears on four cards in Saviors of Kamigawa. Mark Rosewater has opined that labeling this mechanic with an ability word was "a mistake".[17]
Threshold [ edit ]
This ability was originally written Threshold — ability. Whenever a player has seven or more cards in the graveyard, his or her cards gain any threshold abilities they might have. A player can't activate an ability tied to threshold unless he or she has seven or more cards in the graveyard. Threshold appears in Odyssey block and on some timeshifted cards in Time Spiral.
With the release of Time Spiral, Threshold ceased to be a keyworded mechanic. It was redefined to be an ability word with no rules meaning.
Not all shifts were as simple as changing the reminder text to rules text; for example, Centaur Chieftain required more tinkering to preserve the original way the card worked.
Undergrowth [ edit ]
Undergrowth provides benefits depending on the number of creatures in the player's graveyard. This mechanic appears in Guilds of Ravnica and is associated with the Golgari Swarm.
Discontinued keywords [ edit ]
As Magic: The Gathering has progressed, some keywords have been deemed unsuitable for continued use within the game and have been discontinued. While the abilities these keywords represent are still functional within the rules of the game (exceptions: landhome and substance, see below), it has been strongly indicated that they will never appear on any cards printed in future sets.
Each of the discontinued keywords listed in this section was once an evergreen keyword.
Banding [ edit ]
Banding is an ability that has defensive and offensive functions. A defending player determines how combat damage is dealt by an opposing creature if at least one of the creatures blocking has banding (without banding, the attacking player determines this). An attacking player may form "bands" of creatures with banding, which may also include one non-banding creature. If one creature in the band becomes blocked, the whole band becomes blocked as well, whether or not the defender could block other creatures in the band. This can allow many small creatures to "gang up" on a single bigger creature that would survive blocking any one of these smaller creatures.
Banding appears primarily in white cards. Weatherlight was the last set to print cards with banding; Mark Rosewater has since indicated that the ability was retired because "the top players in the world [...] were confused by banding."[19]
Bury [ edit ]
The term bury or buried was used in some early sets, where it served as shorthand for a two-part effect: destroying a permanent, and preventing that permanent from regenerating. It is still functionally present in the game, with newer cards using a complete explanation for each part of the effect. (e.g. "Destroy target creature. It cannot be regenerated.")[20] Bury is found only in sets prior to Tempest; all cards which contained the term have been issued new wording to use either a "destroy" or "sacrifice" effect.
Fear [ edit ]
Fear is an example of "retroactive keywording", meaning it was an ability that had existed long before it was given a keyword; its eponymous card, Fear, was in the original set Limited Edition Alpha. Creatures with fear can't be blocked except by black creatures and by artifact creatures. Fear has almost always appeared on black creatures. Fear was replaced as a viable keyword by intimidate.[21]
A creature with intimidate can't be blocked except by artifact creatures and creatures that share a color with it. It first appeared in Zendikar. In 2009, intimidate was announced as an evergreen keyword to replace fear, though it did not appear in a Core Set until Hideous Visage was printed in Magic 2012. As with fear, intimidate appeared on predominantly black colors, but did appear on other colors, particularly red. With Magic Origins, intimidate was phased out and supplanted by menace.[21]
Landhome [ edit ]
This ability is written as (land type)home. A creature with landhome may only attack a player who controls a land of the specified land type, and must be sacrificed if its controller does not control at least one land of that same type. The ability was present since the Limited Editions of the game, and was first keyworded in Mirage with Kukemssa Serpent. The keyworded ability was only printed on blue cards of the "islandhome" variety. The last card to be printed with a keyworded landhome ability was Manta Ray from Weatherlight.
Landhome is unique in that it is the only printed keyworded ability to later be retroactively removed from the rules. While cards which previously had landhome still feature the associated restrictions, they have been issued errata replacing the keyword "landhome" with rules text describing the abilities.
Landwalk [ edit ]
This ability is written as (Land type)walk. A creature with this ability can not be blocked while the defending player controls at least one land with the printed land type (e.g. a creature with swampwalk can not be blocked if the opponent has a swamp on the battlefield). This ability is somewhat rare, with swampwalk and plainswalk being the most and least common, respectively. Landwalk is not limited to the five basic lands; for example, cards with legendary landwalk, snow landwalk, and nonbasic landwalk have been printed. Landwalk was discontinued with Magic Origins.
Phasing [ edit ]
Phasing introduced a new rule to the game. Cards with the status "phased out" are treated as though they do not exist except for cards that specifically interact with phased-out cards. At the beginning of each player's turn, all permanents the player controls which have phasing become "phased out", along with anything attached to the phasing cards. Any cards the player controls which were phased out become "phased in" and return to the battlefield at the same time. Phasing in or out does not tap or untap the permanent. A token that phases out ceases to exist, while anything attached to it phases out and does not phase in on the token's controller's next turn. Phasing appears in the Mirage block. The earlier cards Oubliette and Tawnos's Coffin were reworded to use phasing as well for a time; however, these errata were removed in 2007.[22]
Phasing returned on the card Teferi's Protection in The Vampiric Bloodlust Deck in Commander 2017.[23] Additionally, rules for phasing changes with this release allowing tokens to return rather than ceasing to exist when phased out.[24]
Protection [ edit ]
This ability is written as Protection from (quality). A creature with protection from a quality cannot be enchanted, equipped, blocked, or targeted by anything with that quality, and all damage that would be dealt by a source of that quality is prevented, barring exceptions which explicitly state otherwise. For example, a creature with protection from red cannot be enchanted by red auras, blocked by red creatures, targeted by red spells and abilities, or take damage from red sources. A common mnemonic for which effects are prevented by protection is the acronym DEBT, standing for "Damage, Enchant (or Equip), Block, Target". Note that the protection ability does not prevent effects that do not target.
If a creature gains protection while some of these effects are present, different things may happen. Any aura, equipment or fortifications attached to it that are no longer legally attached to it "fall off", becoming unattached. Auras that are not attached to anything are then put into their owners' graveyards, while equipment and fortifications stay on the battlefield. Any spells of that quality (or abilities of permanents of that quality) that target it lose that creature as a target (for example, a creature gained protection from red in response to being targeted with Lightning Bolt). If they no longer have any legal targets, the spell "fizzles" and is countered by the game rules. However, a creature gaining protection in response to being blocked by a creature does not cause it to become unblocked, though it will prevent all damage that blocking creature would do to the creature with protection.
Initially this ability was limited to "Protection from (color)", but was later expanded to allow "Protection from artifacts" in Urza's Legacy, and officially expanded to allow "Protection from (quality)" in Invasion with the printing of Shoreline Raider. In Conflux, a card called Progenitus has "Protection from everything" – it cannot be blocked, cannot be equipped or enchanted, cannot be targeted by spells or abilities, and cannot be dealt damage. Most cards with protection are either white or an enemy color from the color of protection offered (i.e. most cards with protection from blues are red and green). Since the release of Magic Origins, Protection has been called a deciduous effect, meaning that it's a tool in the gamemaker's toolbox that they are allowed to use, but it's not something they expect to use in every set.
Regenerate [ edit ]
Regenerate represented two related keyword actions. An ability such as "Regenerate [this creature]" could be activated; in this context "regenerate" means "set up a regeneration shield", which protects the affected permanent from the next time it would be destroyed (either due to damage or to "destroy" effects). Instead of being destroyed, the permanent would become tapped and be removed from combat. The second keyword action refers to when this actually occurs: cards like Skeleton Scavengers have a delayed triggered ability that only triggers when the creature has a destroy effect prevented by its regeneration ability. This ability was generally found on creatures, though any permanent can be regenerated.
Shroud [ edit ]
A player or permanent with shroud cannot be the target of spells or abilities (even his or her own). While the keyword "shroud" was introduced in Future Sight, the ability itself existed long before, first appearing on Spectral Cloak; cards which featured this ability were all issued rules errata to have or grant "shroud". Creatures with shroud are most often on blue or green cards. It has been supplanted completely by the more flexible Hexproof.
Substance [ edit ]
Substance was a static ability with no effect which was never printed on a Magic card. It was originally created for the Magic: The Gathering Online release of Mirage, as a cycle of cards such as Armor of Thorns did not work as originally intended under the rules established with the release of 6th Edition. These cards were all enchantments that could be played as instants, but only lasted for one turn if played as an instant. Under the newer rules, the original wording would cause the enchantment to leave the battlefield before damage was removed from creatures. The creation of substance restored the cards' intended functionality.[25] With the rule changes announced in July 2009,[26] all cards edited to use this keyword were re-edited to no longer use it. The official text of such cards now reads: "If you cast [this card] any time a sorcery couldn't have been cast, the controller of the permanent sacrifices it at the beginning of the next cleanup step." This maintained the same functionality as the substance keyword, but without some unintended rules quirks.Texas’ larger-than-life identity is founded on a number of myths, and few are more compelling than the story of Cynthia Ann Parker. In 1836, the nine-year-old Parker was taken from her north-central Texas home by Comanches, who had raided the Parker homestead and killed her family. She lived with them for 24 years, wedding and giving birth to three children, before being recovered and returned to her family by a group of Texas Rangers.
It’s an old trope–the maiden in distress–but the reality of Parker’s story is infinitely more complex. Pulitzer Prize-winner and director of the University of Texas School of Journalism Glenn Frankel seeks to untangle the complex knots of truth and myth in his recent book The Searchers.
Parker’s abduction would inspire countless retellings, most notably Alan LeMay’s classic 1954 western novel The Searchers, which in turn inspired the 1956 John Wood movie by the same name starring John Wayne. With each retelling, the story changed, got bigger, and more symbolic of Texas identity.
Frankel traces the evolution of the Parker story through the pride and politics of Texas’ pioneer era, poring over early retellings of Parker’s abduction, and follows its ultimate journey to the myth-making machinery of the pulp novel industry and golden-era Hollywood. Throughout, he tells the stories of the people behind the myth, from Cynthia Anne and her son Quanah Parker, who went on to become famous in western lore as “the last free chief of the Comanches,” to filmmaker John Ford and John Wayne, whose legends are as tied up in the story as the Parkers’ are.
Frankel unwinds the story with a delicate balancing act between the facts surrounding Parker’s abduction and return and an appreciation for the mythology that has grown up around them. This isn’t just an attempt to tell the “true story” of Cynthia Ann Parker–it’s an exegesis of the way myths are made.
The book has been getting rave reviews, with The New York Times calling it “vivid” and “revelatory.” The Washington Post was similarly impressed, as was CNN, which has an interview with Frankel here.
It’s an especially interesting topic for Texas, and one worth hearing Frankel speak about. He’ll be at Brazos Books in Houston on Thursday the 18th at 7 PM to read from the book and talk about how Texas makes its myths.The second-generation Moto 360 is almost here. We received new information from suppliers today, detailing three different SKUs that will be available on launch and their part numbers: the Cognac Leather (SM4234AD6B1), the Rose Gold (SM4245AS6B1) and the Sport (SM4293AE7B1).
The Cognac Leather model will retail for £269 for the Large size (which is nearly the same as the original Moto 360). Cognac Leather is so-named for its chromatic resemblance to the alcoholic beverage, with a beautiful red-brown or amber colour.
Meanwhile, the Rose Gold model will cost £239 for the Small size, which will offer a more stylish option for those with smaller wrists. The Rose Gold model is made from metal with a premium rose gold finish, providing a uniquely fashionable look.
The third model, the Sport, will have an adjustable band and come in as the cheapest option, at £219. This is a good model for anyone that likes to exercise, with the modern synthetic band proving both washable and comfortable. This is the model pictured to the upper right. You’ll note that the lugs present in the other second-generation models haven’t been included here.
All three models are available for pre-order now from Mobile Fun, and will be compatible with iOS 8.2+ and Android 4.3+.
To see more information and the latest UK prices and availability data, please visit the product pages linked below:
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!Donald Trump said in a radio interview on Wednesday that he doesn't regret calling Sen. John McCain, who was captured and held prisoner during the Vietnam War, "not a war hero."
Last July, Trump said of McCain: "He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."
Appearing on the Imus in the Morning, Trump was asked if he would apologize to veterans, as McCain has recently requested.
"Well I've actually done that, Don," Trump replied. "You know frankly, I like John McCain, and John McCain is a hero. Also, heroes are people that are, you know, whether they get caught or don't get caught — they're all heroes as far as I'm concerned. And that's the way it should be."
"So do you regret saying that?" asked Imus.
"I don't, you know — I like not to regret anything," Trump said. "You do things and you say things. And what I said, frankly, is what I said. And some people like what I said, if you want to know the truth. There are many people that like what I said. You know after I said that, my poll numbers went up seven points."
"You understand that, I mean, some people liked what I said," added Trump. "I like John McCain, in my eyes John McCain is a hero. John McCain's a good guy."
Imus said someone like Trump, who got multiple Vietnam War draft deferments, shouldn't be criticizing someone like McCain.
"I understand that. Well, I was going to college, I had student deferments. I also got a great lottery number," Trump said.“There’s a movement building, and it’s spreading like wildfire,” announced Rafe Lieber of Citizens for Access to the Arts at a rally on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall early in January. With politicians, celebrities, a brass band and a screaming crowd, any passerby would conclude that some popular uprising was in the works.
Speaker after speaker, including City Council members and even Brooklyn-native actress Rosie Perez, gave impassioned speeches about the importance of providing access to art to young people, leading the crowds in chants of, “We’re not gonna stop!” “Fuel our dreams!” "We're coming for you!" and, most frequently, “Save Ovation!”
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The participants were decrying the decision of Time Warner Cable to deny the arts network Ovation TV to poor and minority viewers. Cheering along with them, I suddenly heard a cell phone ring. The woman behind me, a fellow protester, answered, saying, “Can you call me back? I’m at work.”
While I had considered the rally more of a quick buck than work, her statement wasn’t technically wrong. Like me, many of the rally’s participants had arrived via the same November Craigslist ad for “TV Press Rally Extras.” A week before the rally, we received an email from Warren Cohn, an employee of the power lawyers David Schwartz and Bradley Gerstman’s lobbying firm Gotham Government Relations. In part, it read:
We will be on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall next Thursday, January 10th at 12 PM (noon) for a little less than an hour. This event is for the same client [as a previous rally in December], Access to the Arts, which is protesting the fact that Time Warner Cable is taking away the arts channel, Ovation TV Network. The job will once again be to stand behind elected officials and cheer, hold signs, be enthusiastic. If you have already worked the previous event then the rules, payment, instructions, sign-in and EVERYTHING is the same, except location. For those of you that have not participated in the past, this is a very easy and quick job. This client pays $20 an hour for a little less than an hour. All you really have to do is show up and support our rally. We ask that you DO NOT under any circumstances talk to the press or media on our behalf or discuss anything about your attendance or compensation with them.
The little-known cable arts network Ovation TV had recently lost its contract with Time Warner Cable due to low ratings. Now the network was fighting back with online petitions and social media efforts targeting Time Warner Cable. The strategy was to frame their network as a public service of sorts, a way that the less fortunate might expose themselves to high culture. The freshly minted Citizens for Access to the Arts took the argument further, arguing Time Warner Cable was participating in systematic racism.
The truth is that paying protest participants is hardly a rare occurrence. In 1985, responding to an influx of mailers promoting insurance company interests in his district, Senator Lloyd Bentsen (D-Texas) reportedly said, “A fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grassroots and AstroTurf.” He was referring to the difference between an actual, organic uprising among constituents and a manufactured movement often paid for by corporate or other interests to simulate the real thing. The name stuck, and since that time, the term “astroturf” has been used to describe these contrived public campaigns.
The Tea Party may be a movement that blossomed as a result of this kind of corporate astroturfing. A study by the National Cancer Institute found the tobacco industry paid millions to fund free-market oriented “grassroots” groups that were aligned with their interests against cigarette taxes, the Clinton health care plan and the EPA’s findings regarding the dangers of second-hand smoke. Many key players in the Tobacco-funded groups Citizens for a Sound Economy and FreedomWorks went on to play a major role in the formation of the contemporary Tea Party. Likewise, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, and CSE are funded by the notorious billionaire Koch brothers, who have poured their wealth into causes such as abolishing social security, welfare and public schools.
Fortunately for astroturfers, costly forms of the practice, such as the building of physical crowds, are less necessary today now that so much of the public sphere has moved online. As a result, other forms of message control are blooming. Wikipedia is targeted by politicians, corporations and SEO advertisers desperate to improve their images on a neutral but participatory platform. The regularity of these editing campaigns can even be used to predict political appointments or running mates. Consumer input sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor and Amazon are also constantly influenced by the businesses advertised, sometimes with humorous results. Writing favorable reviews for businesses on these sites is another job you can find online. Reddit has seen its share of manipulation, from sock-puppet accounts that accumulate large amounts of “karma” and then are sold to the highest bidder, or viral marketing schemes like this recent Olive Garden receipt controversy.
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Even journalists, who should be aware of such deceptions, often play into the narrative. One article depicting the rally I attended referred to us as “protesters from the community.” Journalists can be similarly manipulated to cover events by being offered free perks like travel and hotel rooms to sponsored conferences like SXSW in Austin or the Mobile World Conference in Barcelona in exchange for blogosphere buzz.
Reflecting on the Citizens for Access to the Arts rally, some might surmise that, despite the group’s name, it really had nothing to do with art. Lieber, the organizer, is a businessman and political insider who was spinning a private concern for personal and political capital. But another way to look at it is that he and his associates are artists working in the high-modernist medium of the crowd. In this sense, the rally was indeed about the arts — it was, itself, a piece of performance art in which politics and business blended and became indistinguishable.(Reuters) - Almost 6 out of 10 Ohio voters say they want to repeal a law that restricts collective bargaining by public sector unions, according to a poll released Tuesday which shows opposition has grown in the past month.
A large group of union supporters gather on the steps of the Ohio Statehouse to rally against Senate Bill 5 in Columbus, Ohio, March 1, 2011. REUTERS/Matt Sullivan
Ohio voters by 57 percent to 32 percent support the repeal of the law, which forbids government workers from going on strike, according to the poll, conducted by Quinnipiac University. In a late September Quinnipiac poll, the margin was 51 percent to 38 percent.
The bill was passed by the legislature this past spring, and was put on the November 8 ballot for a referendum vote and has not yet taken effect.
The poll also found that 52 percent of those surveyed disapproved of how Republican Gov. John Kasich is doing his job compared with 49 percent in September. The anti-union law is the centerpiece of Kasich’ legislative program.
“With two weeks until Election Day, the opponents of SB 5 have strong reason to be optimistic,” said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, based in Hamden, Connecticut.
The poll found that nearly every demographic group favors repealing the law, including a majority of both men and women, whites and blacks, and union and non-union households. The poll also found 32 percent of Republicans favor repeal.
“Anything is possible in politics, but with such across-the-board support for repealing SB 5, the governor and his team can’t be optimistic about the fate of their law,” Brown said. The poll surveyed 1,668 registered voters.
At a weekend rally to get out the vote in a Cincinnati suburb, Kasich said the law will give local governments the tools they need to control costs. He said that some voters have misconceptions about what’s in the bill.
“If they know what’s in the bill, they’ll vote for it,” he said. “Most people who are against it really don’t understand the consequences of a ‘no’ vote.”
While Wisconsin’s public sector union fight featured mass protests at the state capital and gained more national attention, Ohio is more important to unions.
Ohio has the sixth largest number of public sector union members among all U.S. states, twice the number of Wisconsin. Wisconsin’s law restricting collective bargaining exempts police and firefighters, but Ohio’s includes them.
Denise Driehaus, a Democratic state representative from Cincinnati, said firefighters and policemen who voted Republican are furious about the law.
“I think people understand this is an attack on the working class, the middle class,” Driehaus said.Amtrak said the entire Northeast Corridor now has Positive Train Control.
Positive train control is a safety system installed on train tracks to prevent crashes and derailments. The system automatically slows down or stops a train if its engineer misses a signal or goes over the speed limit.
The system has been operating on the stretch of the corridor from New Haven, Connecticut to Boston.
This weekend, the safety system was activated on the tracks between New York and Philadelphia. The section between Philadelphia and Washington was activated a week ago.
In May, Amtrak suffered a deadly crash in Philadelphia that killed eight people and injured 200. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board said the crash could have been prevented if positive train control had been operating.
A 2008 federal law gave railroads around the country until the end of this year to install the safety system, but the Federal Railroad Administration said in August that most railroads around the country would not meet the deadline. In October, President Barack Obama signed a law that extended the deadline for three to five years.
Both Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road say they are installing positive train control and expect to be finished by 2018.
Two years ago this month a Metro-North train derailed in the Bronx, when an engineer nodded off at the controls. The train traveled into a curve, which has a 30 mph speed limit, at 82 mph. Four passengers were killed and more than 70 others were injured.
This report contains information from the Associated Press.In 2012 I received a call from an investigative reporter asking for comment on my 12-year experience as a former employee of Marineland Canada. After much introspection and many sleepless nights, I obliged.
When all was said and done, 15 whistleblowers had stepped forward to speak about their experiences at the amusement park -- most anonymously, for fear of legal reprisal. Our actions launched an exposé that triggered a large-scale political debate and international conversation centred on the lack of laws, regulations and standards for the care of marine mammals in Ontario.
After delivering a petition to Queen's Park and working diligently with those involved in the process, the Government of Ontario is now, finally, poised to enact the very animal protection laws that we sought back in 2012.
In an effort to stifle our voices, Marineland has launched what can only be described as frivolous and erroneous lawsuits, targeting myself, former orca trainer Christine Santos and animal care supervisor Jim Hammond. They have also sued activists, media and have threatened countless more with legal proceedings. I am defending against a $1.5-million lawsuit for "plotting to steal a walrus" -- a spurious claim to say the least.
Like most people, we were of the belief that you could not be sued in defamation as long as you told the truth. And we told the truth. But in Ontario that doesn't stop someone from filing lawsuits left, right and centre to try and shut you up, as we have come to learn. Thus far, in three years, not one of Marineland's lawsuits has even so much as gone to discovery -- the initial first step in a lawsuit -- and in all likeliness, none will.
In May 2013, I launched a countersuit against Marineland that they to this day have not defended. All of these lawsuits are being strategically drawn out through an expensive and emotionally taxing process with the sole intention of crushing our fiscal sovereignty -- and it's working. My latest round of legal bills totaled more than I will earn in this year. And all said, thus far, my penalty for speaking truth to power has cost me more than $100,000.
This isn't a process seeking justice. It is simply revenge.
Every day these long, drawn-out proceedings drag on is loaded with anxiety. We are now at a loss to plan for a future without our dreams being clouded over by the constant struggle of having to defend ourselves against a relentless and unjust judicial process.
Our lawsuits are shining examples of the urgent need for the anti-SLAPP legislation that is currently making its way through our provincial legislature, Bill 52: Protection of Public Participation Act.
It is unbearable to think that this historic piece of legislation -- as it is currently written -- will not apply to the very people who have largely inspired it. I am kept awake at night because I cannot fathom a process where we arbitrarily have to defend against what will soon be considered illegal lawsuits in our province.
Why is the province turning its back on us and leaving us behind? Where is the procedural fairness for those of us who are already proceeding with unfair cases before the courts in Ontario?
If a lawsuit is frivolous and vexatious, then it doesn't have a place in our judicial system to begin with. As a civil society, we need to have a piece of legislation that allows a judge to decide our fate and not a poorly written bill. If this bill passes as it stands, then our fate is largely determined. Passing this bill without it applying to us is a monumental mistake, as it empowers and rewards bullies and abusers -- something Ontarians should and would be ashamed of.
It is imperative to make Bill 52 retroactive.
We need to put and end to Marineland's lawsuits. They are an embarrassment to our courts and an abuse of process that has already cost Ontario taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. We don't deserve this prolonged and arduous litigious assault. We can do better. We need to do better. We did right for Ontario. Now it's time for Ontario to do the right thing for us.
MORE ON HUFFPOST:The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) ended last week up 15.9 points, or 0.12%, to 13,025. The S&P 500 Index (GSPC) gained 7 points last week, ending the weekly session at 1,416.
Related: Politico's Ben White: Get Ready for a Market Rally Because a Fiscal Cliff Deal Is Coming
Retail investors are not panicking because "they are engaged…and staying informed about what's occurring," says Matt Billings, director of trading services at Scottrade, an online retail brokerage firm that also sponsors The Daily Ticker.
As of this weekend, budget talks were still at a stalemate. House Speaker John Boehner said Sunday that Republicans and the president were "nowhere" on a deal while Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner responded that "There's no reason why 98% of Americans have to see their taxes go up because some members of Congress on the Republican side want to block tax rate increases for 2% of the wealthiest Americans."
Billings says these budget issues have energized some active investors. The company's 2012 American Investor Study, based on both clients and non-clients of the firm, found that nearly a quarter of investors believe now is the best time to "get in some great deals."
The study also found that 54% of investors plan to invest additional money in the market. Active investors, defined as those who trade at least 50 times a year, were the most bullish. Seventy-four percent of them plan to invest more funds in the market and 22% plan to keep their investments at the same level. Overall, 71% of investors expect their 2012 portfolios, excluding real estate, to end the year higher compared to 2011.
As far as actual trading goes, Billings says activity picked up after Thanksgiving but overall trading in November was actually flat after rising in previous months. He also said there's been an uptick in demand for technology, telecom and consumer discretionary stocks.
More from The Daily Ticker:
U.S. Refuses to Label China a 'Currency Manipulator' but All Countries Manipulate Their Currencies
Capping Mortgage Interest Deduction Could Have "Chilling Effect" on Housing: Sharga
SEC Chairperson Job Is 'Thankless': HBR's Justin FoxI got an email from Sara, a listener of Embedded.fm and a fairly new embedded developer.
Hi! It's my first job after college, and I was kind of thrown into this embedded world without knowing anything really (it's not what I studied in college). I'm the only one at my company that does embedded development, all my colleagues do web development, with Java, mySQL etc. What I mean to say is that I don't have anyone to ask, and that it's my responsibility alone that my code and my development environment works. It can be scary at times, and I feel that I lack knowledge.
At the moment I just use the development environment my predecessor at the job used and taught be before he quit. It's gcc and Eclipse IDE, and for debugging I simply print stuff on UART/COM.
Could you please talk about development environments and compilers? Would it be better to use Keil or IAR? What is the difference, really? Is gcc bad when compared to Keil or IAR?
And debugging, this JTAG thing everyone seems to talk about. How do you use it? How does it work? What can you do with it?
I got hired because I'm really good at C, but now there's all this other stuff too. I'm eager to learn, but I don't know where to start. You might be a good place to start? :)
/Sara from Sweden
Dear Sara from Sweden,
Have you used VisualStudio, XCode, or GDB to debug a program on your PC? So you can set a breakpoint, step through the code, and inspect variables? That's what a debugger will do for your embedded system. And JTAG is a common form of it (there are other forms of debugging interfaces: ARM’s is called SWD, Freescale’s is BDM, but most people still call them JTAG instead of "debugging interface").
I've done whole projects with debug-through-print and it isn't terrible. But printing takes time and that can mean timing-related bugs appear and disappear with the print statements. A debugger will let you look inside your code instead of standing on the outside. Crashes are much, much easier to figure out with a debugger.
You didn't say what kind of processor (or processor family) so I can't say "and for $60 this could all be yours" but debuggers aren't nearly as expensive as engineering hours. One important caveat, you must have the hardware support for a debugger: the necessary pins have to be sticking out of your board. If you have a schematic, look for TDO (for JTAG) or SWDIO (for SWD). If you don't have a way to hook your debugger to your board, then printing is probably the only way.
There is a good chance you may already have a debugger or something similar, how do |
competition, which was set to be held in November.
They said it had been her dream to enter the event that she had always attempted to be careful with the modelling work and turn down all sorts of lucrative offers that she felt could jeopardise her chances.
Ironically, the final includes a stage where contestants are expected to also wear a bikini.
But according to the competition spokesman that is different, as it is unpaid and not professional - and the candidates are not promoting the costumes that they are wearing.
What do you think?Nail Polish Designs – Harry Potter Characters Nail Art Tutorial
Another day, another nail polish designs video! This time I am using my love of Harry Potter to good use, I was brought up on Harry Potter and am still a big fan. I love character nail art, it’s very fun and easy to do now with the readily available nail art pens. The characters I did in the video were the main cast, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Voldemort, Snape, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Ginny, Neville and Draco. I chose a really simplistic stylized look so you can recreate your other favourite characters that I didn’t do in similar ways.
It isn’t the easiest of nail art to do, more an intermediate level than beginner but it is a long way from a hard nail art technique so have a go! I really love how Harry, Voldemort and Dumbledore turned out, if you struggle maybe use a plain dark glitter polish on a few nails and only have a few character nails.
The products that I used in this tutorial were –
Revlon Nail Art Neon – Amped up 190
RIO – Professional Nail Art Pen & Brush – Black 0813
Barry M – Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint – Mango 329
MUA – Love Hearts – U & I
Sally Hansen – Hard As Nails – Cardinal 55
Maybelline – Forever Strong – Rosy Sand 778
MUA – Amaretto Crush
Barry M Nail Paint Gelly Nail Polish – Lychee
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Polish #13 Sheer Vanilla
Barry M Nail Art Pen Black
Short False Nails
Cocktail Sticks
I hope you are liking my nail art at the moment, please like my video and subscribe and let me see your results in the comments if you have a go! Let me know if there is a nail art you would like to see from me in the future.Originally published Dec. 8.
For someone who's used to being at the helm of his world, Mark Howells' slow slide towards unemployment has left him reeling.
Layoffs have come fast and furious in Calgary, but there's something else going on too. In a city where hard work is a virtue and productivity a culture, a slowdown in the office and the fear of a future layoff is keeping thousands of Calgarians on edge.
Howells used to rack up as many as 250 hours a month at the downtown engineering firm where he has worked on contract for 15 years. Now he's down to about 24.
Still, he shows up at his office every day at 8 a.m. and stays until 4 p.m., even when there's nothing to do. He likes staying connected with the few people still on the job.
It's one of the few things that keeps him from the darkest of thoughts.
Howells says he's always loved his job as an independent contractor for DJA Engineering Services, even when it kept him out in the field living in a hotel or trailer for weeks at a time. He admits that his single-minded passion for work played a big part in why he's no longer married and lives alone.
But now, the job that consumed him is vanishing as the bottom falls out of Calgary's oil boom.
The uncertainty principle
Clinical psychologist Glen Edwards says there's something worse than a layoff — the possibility of a layoff. This, he says, is a real and ongoing trauma for many people in Calgary's office towers.
"As human beings, we can do a pretty good job of dealing with bad news and adversity in many different forms. When we know what it is we need to deal with, we can proceed accordingly and resourcefully," says Edwards.
"However, when we don't know what's around the corner it can be very unnerving and impactful. We go on all systems alert, but without knowing the outcome, which can make it more difficult to prepare."
That sense of vulnerability disrupts our lives; our sense of self.
"To some extent, we need an illusion of control to get through life. Increasingly, this sense of control is threatened by social and economic factors bringing home the realization to many that we have a lot less control over things than we initially thought."
But it's hard to feel in control when the axe is hanging above your head.
Like many people struggling with economic stresses, Mark Howells says he's reluctant to seek help, especially given an unspoken macho mindset in the oil and gas world. 'I would have to lose everything to get help.' (Cassandra Harasemchuk/CBC)
Termination Tuesday
Conventional corporate wisdom holds that people typically get fired or laid off on Mondays. Now a new anecdote seems to suggest Tuesday is the day.
So much so that the phrase Termination Tuesdays has been coined at some Calgary companies, says Ross Gilker, a Calgary outplacement transition counsellor. Whether there is truth behind the particular day is immaterial. Many people believe it.
"Now people are freaking out all weekend and if they dodge the bullet on Monday, on Tuesday if nothing happens they relax as the week goes on. It's that palpable; that's why I say this time it's very different," says Gilker.
"There is an unbelievable palpable paranoia at every company. People are living every day thinking, 'Today's the day.'"
While that kind of fear can become toxic in an office, it also has a profound impact on people's home life.
There is an unbelievable palpable paranoia at every company - Ross Gilker
Uncertainty about a job puts pressure on marriages. Husbands and wives often get panicky, too, says Gilker. "We're getting clients coming in and we're spending just as much time coaching their spouse."
So dire is the situation that people who may never have asked for help in the past, now feel the need.
"We have talked with companies with EAP programs, asking for extensions for EAP, especially related to stress and depression. People are accessing more of those kinds of services."
But not everyone in Calgary's culture of work is looking for help.
Preparing for the worst
"I would have to lose everything to get help," says Howells.
There is also an unspoken macho mindset in the oil and gas world. "It's frowned upon to say, 'I need help,'" he says.
So Howells spends time on what he calls his "worst-case scenario" spreadsheet.
As a contractor, all he has for cash are his savings. He doesn't qualify for Employment Insurance, so it's a matter of cash on hand.
The spreadsheet itemizes his bills and expenses: spousal support and the mortgage for his ex-wife who can't work because of poor health; the rent on his furnished downtown apartment; Blue Cross; life insurance; groceries; the occasional handout to two step-kids.
Howells also calculates how he can raise cash if it comes to that; when exactly he would have to sell off some of his precious memorabilia — first-run comic books, rare movies and vinyl records.
But it's not just the creditors Howells has to keep at bay. Besides the insomnia and depression that comes with fear of unemployment, Howells fights hard against the bogeymen known as 'boredom.'
Dark thoughts
In his darkest moments, Howells has thoughts of suicide.
If his life ended, he reasons, his ex-wife and step-kids would be well taken care of and his debts would be wiped from the ledger.
Still, it's also family that's helping Howells cope. He says one upside of the downturn at work is that he gets to see his kids more, and that helps him keep a sense of perspective.
"You have to be hopeful or you might as well give up and give in. This is not the Apocalypse."
CBC Calgary's special focus on life in our city during the downturn. A look at Calgary's culture, identity and what it means to be Calgarian. Read more stories from the series at Calgary at a Crossroads.096 – Controlling the LHC Beam
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In this fourth (and for the time being, last) episode in the series on physics at CERN we look at the LHC from the perspective of the beam producers, and more specifically, from the perspective of the control system for the LHC. To this end, we first talk to Vito Baggiolini, a software engineer in the controls group, and then we talk to Felix Ehm, a technical engineer for the beam control system. In the episode we recap what the LHC does and how it does it (you may want to re-listen to Episode 30 on the LHC), discuss the hardware elements used for beam control, some of the safety and security systems, as well as about the software aspects of the system.
I would like to thank Chris Mann from Mannmade Productions for letting me use the soundtrack of his LHC video in this episode.
After recording the episode, Vito noticed a couple of errata in the conversation:
03:35 LEP was shutdown at the end of 2000, not in 2003
04:45 CLIC study: the CLIC study facility at CERN is small (150m), only a real linear collider will be 30 km or longer
07:30 There are not 5 but 6 LHC experiments (Atlas, CMS, Alice, LHCb, TOTEM, LHCf)
28:53 Beam dump material is graphite framed in concrete, there is no copper.
30:00 Loosing the beam in an uncontrolled manner would not “destroy all our precious magnets”, but it could destroy a few magnets and other precious equipment.
53:12 Real-time feedback is given only to corrector magnets, not all. The beam is instable (like a helicopter) only during the ramp.
56:00 In 2011 we have had magnet quenches, but only at low energy levels, not at high energy.
56:50 UFOs = Unidentified Falling (not Flying) Objects
59:30 You have to take a key to show if your inside or outside the tunnel (not the inside or outside the beam)
And, as usual, here are some links:In an attempt to combat the soaring cost of prescription drugs and Big Pharma's stranglehold on the U.S. healthcare system, the American Medical Association (AMA) has approved a new policy to "support a ban on direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs and implantable medical devices."
"Today's vote in support of an advertising ban reflects concerns among physicians about the negative impact of commercially-driven promotions, and the role that marketing costs play in fueling escalating drug prices," said AMA board chair-elect Patrice Harris, M.D., in a press statement on Tuesday. The vote took place at the AMA's 2015 Interim Meeting in Atlanta.
Supporters of the ban also cited concerns including patient confusion and encouragement of off-label, or unapproved, use of certain drugs.
The AMA points out that the U.S. and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. What's more, advertising dollars spent by drug makers have increased by 30 percent in the last two years to $4.5 billion, according to the market research firm Kantar Media.
And in the past few years, prices on generic and brand-name prescription drugs have steadily risen, experiencing a 4.7 percent spike in 2015 alone, according to the Altarum Institute Center for Sustainable Health Spending.
Though the move is largely symbolic, as any such ban would have to be authorized by Congress, the AMA plans to pull out all the stops in an effort to sway federal regulators, elected officials, and the public at-large.
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To that end, the policy approved Tuesday calls for convening a physician task force and launching an advocacy campaign to promote prescription drug affordability by demanding choice and competition in the pharmaceutical industry, and greater transparency in prescription drug prices and costs. It also states that the AMA will now monitor pharmaceutical company mergers and acquisitions, as well as the impact of such actions on drug prices.
"By casting the issue in the context of rising drug prices, the AMA is clearly trying to create as much support as possible for a ban," wrote Ed Silverman for the health, medicine, and science publication STAT. "The cost of pharmaceuticals, after all, is a hot-button issue that has galvanized much of the American public in recent months. The AMA proposal amounts to yet another indication that drug pricing will remain a policy issue for the near-term."
Indeed, prescription drug prices have already become a presidential campaign issue, with everyone from Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton to Marco Rubio and Ben Carson acknowledging that healthcare costs are a top concern for American voters. In a separate piece for STAT, also published Tuesday, Silverman pointed to a new poll which finds that "91 percent of voters believe it's important for presidential candidates to hold down rising prescription drug costs."
As noted by the Chicago Tribune, the AMA is merely the latest health organization to call for a ban on such ads, following the World Health Organization, the National Center for Health Research, and other groups. Many consumer advocacy organizations, including Public Citizen, have also pushed for a ban, saying such advertising pressures doctors to prescribe particular medications that may be less effective and more expensive and risky.
On Tuesday, Public Citizen said it supports the AMA's call. In an email to Common Dreams, Michael Carome, M.D. and director of the group's Health Research division, stated: "We agree that such advertising is primarily promotional, not educational, and drives up the cost of drugs."Attend it close, excluding all
So as to sense and mindfully hear
The cardiac beat of planet Earth
Those pulses soft in depths profound
Life’s vital tattoo, its organic sound
In synchrony to man’s own heart
In star set universal time.
If you would hear, go out of mind
Attend the Earth, embrace its sound
Enfin,-do you mark the base tattoo?
That all may hear and apprehend-
It ticks the steady tune of life
With its eternally measured strikes
That beat, indeed, from babe to crone
And then, from crone to dust, so soft.
My sight is only for your self
And not your lovely eyes or limbs
It is perforce your heart I seek
That beats along with that of mine
Both timed unto that earthly drum.
What I would see and do salute
My planetary heart and earthly self-
The pure, ethereal love of you.
-p.((kevin)) a federal lawsuit can ánowá move forward against two little rock police officers -- who took part in an officer-involving shooting -- nearly five years ago.
That ruling -- coming from the 8th circuit court of appeals today.
Good evening, i'm kevin kelly.
67-year-old eugene ellison was shot and killed inside his apartment on december 9-th 2010.
Officer donna lesher and detective tabitha mccrillis were working off-duty security at the "big country chateau" -- when they noticed his open door.
A confrontation ensued, ending with lesher shooting and killing ellison.
His sons filed a federal lawsuit alleging constitutional violations.
Prosecutors ruled the shooting justified and the police department did not discipline either officer.
((kevin)) fox16's marci manley -- live outside the federal courthouse -- iwith more on what the court's ruling means for the victim's family and the two officers.
3 ((marci))according to the court's decision today - lesher can face trial on a count of excessive use of lethal force.
And both officers can face trial on unlawful entry under the fourth amendment for their entering ellison's apartment without a warrant.
The court's decision...came 7 months after an appeal from the city, because federal judge brian miller had denied their request for summary judgment.
The lower court ruled it was clearly established officers could not entera home without a warrant or consent...while exceptions exist..a resident being mouthy...as one officer described ellison...was not an exception.
On the question of use of force, the court ruled mccrillis did qualify for immunity because she did not shoot and her non-lethal use of force caused minor injuries.
Conflicting testimony by officers and questions of whether ellison was actually swinging a cane, led the court to rule lesher could face trial on the issue of lethal force.
"i think this case will resonate very strongly with jurors it begs the question where are you safe.
Where can you retreat and relax and be yourself without fear of intrustion from the state or over-zelous, poorly trained officers " ((marci))we reached out to the city attorney for a comment about today's decision.
We haven't received a response as of yet.
((marci)) the ellison family's attorney anticipates beginning to set a schedule for federal court, and he hopes the trial will begin in the next few months.
Live outside the federal courthouse - marci manley -- fox 16 news.((kevin)) marci - just to be clear.
This is not a criminal trial -- the officers have been cleared in a criminal investigation, correct?
((marci))that's right kevin, but the ellison family believes this case will be important in how police interact with members of the community moving forward.
3 3Polishes: Poetry Cowgirl Nail Polish - Fields of Lavender & Peaches Almost Ripe
Bundle Monster: Festival Collection Plate S303 & S305
Pueen - Stamping Polish: Black Jack
Clear Stamper (I purchased mine from Amazon)
Liquid Latex from Liquid Palisade
Top Coat: Seche Vite
I apologize if I sound a bit sluggish in the video, but besides being ill it was also 3 a.m. and I was afraid of being too loud. Another thought occurred to me after the fact, but normally I only record the process for one nail. Would you guys want to see more than that? Let me know what you want to see in my videos!
Hiya guys! I feel like it's been forever since I have sat down to blog without a migraine. The past few weeks have been a health nightmare beyond just the migraines. My husband suggested perhaps a hiatus while I take time to recover. The simple answer is, that's never going to happen. I'm not giving up on what I love to do and I refuse to feel sorry for myself. Instead I am focusing even more than ever on blogging and doing nail art. Especially this week because it's so important to me to take part of the. For the month of April our theme will be 'gradients' and let me just say... I was born for this theme.Gradients and stamping go together like peanut-butter and jelly. I love doing both, but putting them together is like second nature to me. The festival collection from Bundle Monster is probably one of my favorite stamping sets of all time. It is so beautiful! Be prepared for it guys because I will probably be bombarding you with manis using this set. This manicure was inspired by BlackQueenNailsDesign on Instagram.Ever since I reviewed these shades for Poetry Cowgirl, I knew I wanted to use them in a Coachella/bohemian manicure. I'm actually really proud of the way these turned out because it's really an easy mani to recreate. The bulk of the work is just getting the gradient to be opaque. Everything else really is just stamping placement and if you have a clear stamper then you know what a breeze it is.If you don't have one, then tab out and go buy one! It will change your stamping LIFE, that's how seriously amazing this invention has been. The one I am currently using I purchased for under two dollars on Amazon! So don't be suckered into some of the expensive fancy ones out there (like I originally was) the inexpensive ones can work just as well.Like always, here is everything I used to create this look:Now don't forget to check out the other talented ladies from the Digit-al Dozen and their nail art duringweek. Catch you guys tomorrow with another marvelous mani!It seems that times have changed in the way women are portrayed in video games. More and more developers are casting female characters as the lead in their video games. A lot of gamers out their today are women and recent studies are showing that women make up around 48% of the gaming population and some studies actually show that there are more women gamers than men (that number includes mobile gaming).
The numbers aren’t far off, so gone are the days that video games are only for boys. I have plenty of friends who are female gamers who actually enjoy playing video games on a regular basis whether its mobile gaming or console and some even PC gaming is there preferred method.
One of the reasons we don’t think a lot of women are gamers is because of the abuse they take while online gaming. How many times have you heard female players getting verbally abused via game chat while playing? I have heard it tons of time with male gamers asking for their phone number or what are they wearing or can you I see you naked. No wonder females don’t hit the game chats anymore or expose themselves on game chat that they are female because male gamers have no filters and continue the onslaught of abuse. To me that is fucked up but that is the world we live in unfortunately.
I have been a gamer for over 20 years and when I was younger video games that contained women on the most part were just to entice us young males to buy the game to just get a little T and A on the screen.
Can you blame developers for doing so? no you can’t because sex will always sell and why not in video games right. Female characters were portrayed as sex objects in a lot of fighting games such as Soul Calibur, Street Fighter, and Mortal Kombat and not to mention Dead Or Alive where you have bikini wearing big chested women fighting or playing volleyball. Of course as a young gamer growing up you will gravitate to half-naked women in video games because that’s just how your hormones work. We as males are attracted to such things and especially in video games because to us that is our fantasy lady. I used to be one of those perverted kids growing up where I just wanted to see boobs in video games all the time. That was 20 some odd years ago. As you get older you mature and you see things in a different light as you become more educated.
The times are changing now though with female characters being created as a more bad ass character opposed to being half-naked. Which is think is fantastic now. I used to be that perverted young gamer kid that wanted to see boobs in video games all the time. But times have changed and I think going forward you will see more and more character leads being female. Games like Tomb Raider, ReCore, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Mirror’s Edge are recent games that are casting female leads and frankly those games are and will be fantastic games to play. We have had strong female characters before and I hope they continue to portray women in a strong role instead of being a piece of meat for gamers to drool over.
Sex will always sell and we will never get rid of that because it is now a part of every day life but game developers now are turning the page and portraying women as a more fierce and dominate character and this is a great thing for gaming. I hope we see more of this in the years to come and more female gamers dominating the online gaming arenas!
Let me know your thoughts on the matter. Are female characters being portrayed the right way?
Cheers!Byron Allen Acquires TheGrio
By Robert Stitt
Byron Allen used to be known as a comedian. Lately, he has been doing most of his laughing on the way to the bank. The Detroit native was the youngest stand-up comedian to perform on The Tonight Show, now he is the owner of what he calls “The first studio that happens to be African-American owned,” Entertainment Studios.
Entertainment Studios boasts current syndication of 40 television shows on seven 24-hour HD networks. Apparently, that is not enough for the founder, chairman, and CEO, though, as Allen just acquired the African-American news site TheGrio.
Of the purchase, Allen said, “David Wilson and his founding partner Dan Woolsey have done an incredible job these past seven years building TheGrio, and we are one thousand percent committed to continue expanding this digital news community’s reach across all global media platforms, including our broadcast television syndication programs, cable television networks, and motion picture division.”
According to the company’s website, TheGrio is “The first video-centric news community site devoted to providing African-Americans with stories and perspectives that appeal to them but are underrepresented in existing national news outlets.”
Allen will preserve much of what the site stands for, but he will take it in a new direction. “We plan on investing heavily in digital publishing, and TheGrio has an excellent management team, making it the perfect asset to start our portfolio of online publishing,” Allen said.
One thing that will not change, however, “The fact that it will remain 100 percent African-American-owned.”
Earlier this year, Allen fell just short of buying the rights to Nate Parker’s “The Birth of a Nation.” He put up a $20 million bid that tied the Netflix offer, but Parker eventually went with a smaller $17.5 million bid from Fox Searchlight because he felt they had the best chance to bring the movie to commercial success.
SourceIllinois is the land of special favors for those with lobbyists, connections or clout. Just look at the state's property tax laws and the exemptions for rich nonprofits.
Retired homeowners living on fixed incomes pay hefty property taxes, despite the so-called "senior exemption."
On the other hand, real estate owned by many rich nonprofits is completely exempt from property taxes. This includes private university campuses and their sports facilities, the gleaming skyscrapers of qualifying private hospitals and magnificent church cathedrals. And lots of other expensive real estate owned by other qualifying nonprofits. All completely exempt — and unfair.
Wealthy nonprofits with expensive real estate use and benefit from the same law enforcement, fire protection and other basic services as other property owners. These nonprofits may not principally use their real estate to make money, but neither do most families.
This system also dumps the hefty shares of the tax burden that these nonprofits should pay on the rest of us.
We can no longer afford this burden.
Illinois has the highest median property tax rate in the nation, according to a 2016 analysis by CoreLogic. Reports indicate that in 2016, Chicago property tax bills increased by an average of almost 13 percent and will increase by about another 10 percent in 2017.
Abolishing the exemptions for these nonprofits would allow taxing bodies to lower tax bills for poor and struggling homeowners, fund more basic services — or both.
Abolishing these exemptions also would eliminate some broader negative economic consequences. The exemptions make it less expensive for nonprofits to own real estate than it is for homeowners and businesses. The exemptions give nonprofits subsidies that the rest of us do not receive. Nonprofits end up owning more real estate than they would otherwise. This reduces the supply of real estate for homeowners and businesses and makes the remaining supply more expensive. More expensive real estate means higher prices for homes, goods and services.
The bottom line is that rich nonprofits should pay property taxes at the same rates as the rest of us. It is inexcusable that the University of Chicago, with its $12 billion in investment assets, is exempt from taxes on its 217 acres in Hyde Park. Or that Northwestern University, with its $10 billion endowment, is exempt from taxes on its 240 acres on Lake Michigan's lakefront in Evanston and blocks of real estate in Chicago's Streeterville neighborhood.
But what about small or struggling churches, charities or other nonprofits for which property taxes would be a particularly heavy burden? The answer is both simple and fair: Limit the exemptions to property value under $1 million.
If a nonprofit is rich enough to own real estate worth more than $1 million, it is rich enough to pay property taxes like the rest of us on the part of the value of the property that is over $1 million.
Completely exempting churches and other favored nonprofits is no more equitable than completely exempting the elderly, lower earners or any other group of property owners.
It is time to abolish property tax exemptions for rich nonprofits and instead limit these exemptions to $1 million of property value. Continuing to give rich nonprofits unlimited special treatment feeds a corrupt system that we can no longer afford.
David M. Simon is a lawyer in Chicago.KATHMANDU, Feb 8: Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cimex Inc, a Chinese firm, to conduct feasibility study of monorail system in Kathmandu.
Ramesh Ghimire, project officer of KMC, told Republica that the MoU requires Cimex Inc to prepare feasibility study report within a year. In the first phase, Cimex will have to provide feasibility study report of monorail in one major route of Kathmandu within three months.
A monorail is a railway which consists of a single rail.
Cimex Inc will conduct feasibility study in collaboration with BYD Company, according to KMC.
“In the second phase, Cimex Inc will have to feasibility study report of monorail in all major routes of Kathmandu within a year. As per the agreement, Cimex will bear all the cost of the feasibility study”, Ghimire added.
According to KMC, monorail system in Kathmandu will help to get rid of traffic congestion as well as control pollution.A trend for specialization has seen an increase in healthcare facilities all over the world. A healthcare facility can be anything from a simple medical clinic to a large multispecialty hospital. A good hospital is one that has specialized staff and equipment, the latest technology, research facilities, conducts clinical trials and strives towards improving patient care.
With the thousands of hospitals out there, deciding where to get treatment is a daunting task. However, hospital popularity among patients goes a long way in determining which hospital is good and what each hospital specializes in.
Consistency being the key; hospitals with consistent great performance are considered to be the best. Hospitals that belong to this cadre not only recruit the most qualified physicians and nursing care, but also strive to provide specialized services to patients.
There are several such health facilities in the United States that provide specialized services to their patients. Here we look at a few top hospitals that have good reviews from the patients as well as from various hospital surveys done. They top the charts of the healthcare providers.
1:- The Johns Hopkins Hospital
A teaching hospital situated in Baltimore, Maryland, The Johns Hopkins Hospital is considered to be one of the best hospitals in the world. It has been topping the charts at No. 1 in the U.S. News and World Report for 18 years consecutively.
Inception
This hospital was founded in the year 1889, in the name of Johns Hopkins, who was a banker and merchant in Baltimore. He left several million dollars and asked for this money to be used in the creation of two institutions under his name. Thus came into being, “The Johns Hopkins Hospital” and “The Johns Hopkins University.”
Johns Hopkins Hospital Institutions:
• The Brady Urological Institute
• The Wilmer Eye Institute
• The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
• The Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
Specialties
The hospital has been ranked high for the following specialties:
• Rheumatology
• Urology
• Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat)
• Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Psychiatry
• Gynecology
• Ophthalmology
• Geriatrics
The above specialties are ranked high; however, their services extend to several other branches, such as respiratory disorders, digestive disorders, endocrinology, oncology, heart and heart surgery, orthopedics, general pediatrics and kidney diseases. They have a rehabilitation section as well.
Johns Hopkins has several achievements to its credit
• Their discovery of “restriction enzymes” won the Nobel Prize and paved way to genetic engineering industry.
• They have the distinction of discovering the brain’s natural opiates, which led to an understanding of the neurotransmitter pathways and functions.
• This hospital has identified three different types of polio virus.
• Modern heart surgery underwent a dramatic leap with the first “blue baby” operation conducted at this hospital.
• Awarded the prestigious Magnet Recognition status for excellence in nursing by the The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Melanoma Program
Johns Hopkins performs various kinds of surgeries, and the hospital’s melanoma program includes plastic surgery and reconstruction of complicated sites such as the external ear, nose and eye lid, is being successfully performed over the past two decades.
Recognition
The Johns Hopkins Hospital has earned the honor of being ranked No.1 in three specialties; Ear, nose and throat, rheumatology and urology; No.2 in geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, gynecology and obstetrics, psychiatry and ophthalmology; No.3 in cancer, endocrinology, digestive diseases, heart disease and heart surgery and respiratory disorders.
It is no mean feat to obtain high rankings in so many specialties, out of thousands of hospitals in the United States.
2:- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Compassion along with innovative cancer care, cancer research, research-based prevention of all types of cancers, both rare and common, aimed for both pediatric and adult cancer patients, makes M.D. Anderson Cancer Center one of the best cancer care centers in the world. Ranked as No.1 in cancer care, the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is a system of hospitals and an academic institution in Houston, Texas.
Inception
It was established by the National Cancer Act in 1971, as part of three other cancer centers.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center takes its name after Monroe Dunaway Anderson, who was a cotton trader and banker from Jackson, Tennessee. It is interesting to note the reason this cancer center was created. Anderson and Will Clayton were business partners and they decided that if one of them dies, they would have to pay a lot of money towards estate tax. In order to avoid paying this tax, the M.D. Anderson Foundation was created by Dunaway Anderson.
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is totally devoted to the treatment and prevention of cancer. They have the largest research program in the entire United States, with 11,000 patients taking part in their clinical trials at one point of time.
Support Programs
They have several support programs to help patients feel better and get over the emotional obstacles:
• Support groups for survivors, cancer patients and caregivers.
• Travel nurse support and care;
• Individual one-on-one support for patients.
• Educational materials as well as classes for patients and caregivers.
• Online support through forums to help share experiences with other cancer patients.
• M.D. Anderson Chaplains are available at all times to provide spiritual support and guidance.
• Several patient stories to read, that talk of people who have survived cancer.
Recognition
• The Magnet Nursing recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Patient care at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is great and international patients are given every possible help to ensure a happy stay at the hospital.
The number of adults and children that take treatment from this cancer center every year is proof of its immense popularity, which is totally based on the invaluable treatment it provides.
3:- Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Rochester based Mayo Clinic is a non-profit and one of the top healthcare facilities in Northern America, founded by Dr. William Worrall Mayo and his two sons, Charles Horace Mayo and William James Mayo. Dr. Worrall Mayo originally belongs to the United Kingdom, but emigrated to the United States in 1846 to become a doctor.
It has several clinics and hospitals in Arizona, Scottsdale, Jacksonville and Florida. The Rochester facility hosts the Mayo Medical School and their research department. It is also in partnership with smaller other clinics in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Specialties
Mayo Clinic provides treatment in several areas and is forefront in the following specialties, among several others:
• Neurology and Neurosurgery
• Cardiology
• Cancer
• Transplantation
Transplantation Program
The Mayo Clinic’s transplantation program is one of the best in the United States and offers the following:
Bone Marrow Transplant: The three types of transplants: allogenic, autologous and syngeneic are performed.
Heart Transplant: Heart, lung and heart-lung transplants, and also the use of ventricular assist devices for adults, children and infants are performed.
Kidney Transplant: This program is one of the most innovative and the largest in the United States, and more than 40 kidney transplants are performed each year. The outcome of the Mayo Clinic kidney transplant is also known to be one of the best in the world. This hospital focuses on living donor transplants and provides both positive crossmatch and ABO incompatible transplants.
Liver Transplant: Mayo Clinic is a leading healthcare center for patients with liver and bile duct tumors. They have performed more than 2000 transplants and with the highest survival rates. The programs include living donor liver transplant and split-liver transplant.
Lung Transplant: Lung transplant is offered at Jacksonville and Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Pancreas Transplant: More than 300 transplants have taken place at Rochester. They perform solitary pancreas transplants, combined kidney-pancreas transplant and Mayo Clinic has recently obtained FDA approval to perform the unique islet transplant at Rochester.
Recognition
Ranked as one of the best hospitals in America for the 19th consecutive year by U.S. News and World Report. For the year 2008, it was ranked as the No.1 in the field of Neurology and Neurosurgery.
4:- Ronald Reagen UCLA Medical Center
Located on the campus of the University of California in Los Angeles, the Ronald Reagen UCLA Medical Center is a technologically advanced hospital that ranked among the top hospitals on the West Coast. This center has several research centers that cover all the major specialties, including optometry and dentistry. It is designed in such a way that natural light is maximized to assist healing.
This teaching hospital’s emergency department has been certified as level I trauma center for pediatrics and adults.
The hospital encompasses:
• The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
• Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
• Mattel Children’s Hospital
Each hospital has a separate entrance that makes it very |
. That morning, Morgan brought the knife with her in the way that she might have brought a wand to a Harry Potter movie screening. And perhaps she believed that she could perform magic with a toy – but that idea brought with it no real-world consequences. Playing with a knife, of course, did.
Their childish incomprehension of the gravity of violence, and the callousness that comes with that, is painfully evident in the girls’ interviews while in custody. When Anissa describes her nervousness as they approached the playground that morning, the detective asked what she was most nervous about. She answered: “Seeing a dead person. ’Cause the last time I saw a dead person it was at a funeral and it was my uncle.” When asked what Morgan had been upset about in the park, Anissa says: “Killing. She had never done that before. She’d stabbed apples before – with, like, chopsticks – but she’d never actually cut a flesh wound into somebody.”
Pauline and Juliet continued to behave like immature girls, unaware of what was at stake, even after their arrest. When Pauline was taken into custody alone – at first, police believed Juliet was not directly involved – she didn’t want to break her habit of journal writing, so she wrote a new entry, stating that she had managed to pull off the “moider” and was “taking the blame for everything”. (A detective on the case quickly seized it as evidence.) Once both girls were at the station, sharing a cell, they were placed on suicide watch, but they spent their first night (so a police officer would later report) gossiping in their bunk beds, unconcerned about their new environment.
In a courtroom packed with spectators, Pauline and Juliet were out of sync with the tone of the proceedings. Seated together in the dock, they appeared relaxed and indifferent, often whispering excitedly to each other and smiling. One journalist described their attitude throughout as one of “contemptuous amusement”.
In the months before Bella’s stabbing in 2014, Morgan Geyser was entering into adolescence (she had just had her first period) and, at the same time, descending into mental illness. After her initial five-hour interview came to an end, Morgan, still without her parents, in clothes and slippers provided by the Waukesha police, was placed in the Washington County jail for juveniles. Anissa was there, too, but they were not allowed to interact. Morgan could have no visitors other than her parents, who were required to sit on the other side of a glass divider; only after a few months into her stay was she permitted to touch or hold them, and even then only twice a month. Over the summer, she became, as her mother, Angie described her, “floridly psychotic”. She continued to have conversations with Slender Man, as well as characters from the Harry Potter series (at one point, she claimed that Severus Snape kept her up until 3am); she saw unicorns; she treated the ants in her cell like pets.
In the autumn of that year, Morgan was moved to the Winnebago Mental Health Institute for a few months of 24-hour observation, to determine if she had a chance of being competent enough to stand trial. There, she was given a psychological evaluation that concluded she had early-onset schizophrenia – very rare for someone so young. At a hearing in December 2014, the judge found Morgan capable of standing trial and ordered her back to Winnebago for treatment, but the facility could no longer take her now that she had been deemed “competent”. Her parents asked for her $500,000 bail to be reduced to a signature bond so that she could be moved to a group home for girls with mental and emotional issues, but the request was denied because the home was not considered secure enough. By late 2015, Morgan Geyser, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, was still not being treated for it.
Morgan’s hallucinations were grounded in something more specific: her genetic inheritance. Her father, Matt, began his lifelong struggle with schizophrenia at 14 years old (he receives government assistance due to his illness). In a recent documentary, Beware the Slenderman, he talked about his coping mechanisms for living with schizophrenia: he runs numbers in his head and tries to “put up static” to block out his visual and auditory hallucinations. Matt and his wife, Angie, decided early on to delay sharing the fact of Matt’s illness with their daughter until she grew older – why make her fearful of a genetically inherited disease that she might never have to face? She had shown no clear warning signs.
In January 2016, after 19 months without treatment, Morgan was finally committed to a state mental hospital and put on antipsychotic medication. By spring, her attorney claimed that her hallucinations were receding, and her condition was improving rapidly. But in May of that year, after two years of incarceration, Morgan attempted to cut her arm with a broken pencil, and was placed on suicide watch.
Late this September, Morgan accepted a plea bargain, agreeing to be placed in a mental institution indefinitely, thus avoiding the possibility of prison. Just weeks earlier, Anissa had also accepted a deal, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of attempted second-degree homicide. A jury recommended she be sent to a mental hospital for at least three years.
The joint trial of Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme also hinged on the question of their mental health. Were the girls delusional? Clinically paranoid? Or had they been completely aware of the consequences of their actions and chosen to go ahead with their plan regardless? The defence argued that the girls had been swept up in a folie à deux, or “madness between two” – a rarely cited, now-questionable diagnosis of a psychosis developed by two individuals socially isolated together. The crime was too sensational and the defence too exotic for the jury to be persuaded. They deliberated for a little over two hours before finding the girls guilty.
Juliet got the worst of it. She was sent to Mt Eden prison in Auckland, notorious for its infestation of rats and its damp, cold cells (particularly bad for an inmate who had recently suffered from TB). There Juliet split her time between prison work (scrubbing floors, making uniforms in the sewing room) and writing material the superintendent called “sexy stuff”. In a letter to a friend, Juliet’s father worried that she was “still up in the clouds … completely removed and occupied with herself and her grandiose ideas about poetry and writing”. Five months after the crime, Juliet remained unbowed, still immersed in literature and a vision of the great artist she could become.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Slender Man. Photograph: PR
After five and a half years, both were released by order of the executive council, and each was able to start her life again, under an alias. Juliet Hulme, now Anne Perry, moved to England; using the shorthand she learned in prison, she got a job as a secretary. But she hadn’t lost sight of her and Pauline’s plan to one day move to California. When she was turned down for a visa (her criminal history was hard to overlook), she began working as a steward for an airline that often flew to the US. One day, upon arriving in Los Angeles, she disembarked and never got back on the plane. She rented a lousy apartment, took on odd jobs and wrote regularly. By the time she was in her 30s, she had moved back to England and launched a career as a crime novelist. She has since published more than 50 novels, selling more than 25m books worldwide.
The next chapter of Pauline’s life was not marked by such bravado. She became Hilary Nathan, and eventually moved to a small village in south-east England. There she purchased a farmworker’s cottage and stables, and taught children with learning difficulties at a nearby school; she attended daily mass at the local Catholic church. After retiring, she gave riding lessons at her home. When her identity and location were revealed in the press in 1997, Pauline, then 59, quickly sold her property and disappeared.
She left behind an elaborate mural on the wall of her bedroom, which the buyers believed she had painted herself – a collection of scenes that are part fairytale illustration, part religious allegory. Near the bottom, there is an image of a girl with dark, wavy hair (like her own) diving underwater to grasp an icon of the Virgin Mary; elsewhere, the same girl – as a winged angel, naked and ragged – is locked in a birdcage. At the mural’s peak, a beautiful blonde (a girl who resembles Juliet) sits astride a Pegasus – glowing, exuberant, arms outstretched. And the blonde appears again, on horseback, seemingly about to take flight, as the Pauline figure tries to bridle the animal.
On display in these images is both the narcissism of adolescence and the remorse of adulthood – the penance of a woman who has resolved to receive the sacrament every single day. And what bridges these two elements is an image at the mural’s centre: the Pauline girl seated, head bowed, under a dying tree against a dying landscape. The occult language of nature – those late nights in the garden, those dark plans in the woods – had nothing left to give her. It had lost its pagan power.
A powerful narcissism was also in full view during the interrogation of Anissa Weier. After being arrested for the stabbing of Bella Leutner, the first question Anissa asked the detective was not about her friend’s condition but about how far she and Morgan had walked that day (“’cause I’m not usually very athletic and I just wanna know”). She seemed very impressed by the challenges they had faced on their long walk after leaving Bella, harping on about the distance, the threat of heat exhaustion and mosquitoes, and the limited snacks (the granola bar she had packed was “disgusting”). Near the end of her interview, she seemed about to share a revelation with the detective:
Anissa: “I just realised something.”
Detective: “What’s that?”
Anissa: “If I don’t go to school on Monday, that’ll be the first day that I miss of school.”
Anissa was later diagnosed with a “shared delusional belief” – a condition that faded the longer she was separated from Morgan. She had been upset and unmoored by her parents’ divorce, and by the bullying at school, but was otherwise mentally stable. While it is fairly easy, based on the video footage, to believe that something was wrong with Morgan – she appeared detached and spaced-out – it seems quite clear that Anissa was not ill. She appeared more frightened than Morgan, more in touch with the reality of the situation, crying occasionally throughout. She didn’t read as flighty; she didn’t speak in a distant, spooky voice; she seemed upset, but grounded. She answered questions with the eagerness and precision of a girl who wanted to be the best student in class. And this is precisely why it’s so upsetting to watch footage of the following exchange, about the immediate aftermath of the stabbing.
Detective: “So [Bella] was screaming?”
Anissa: “Mm-hmm. And then, um, afterwards, to try to keep her quiet, I said: ‘Sit down, lay down, stop screaming – you’ll lose blood slower.’ And she tried complaining that she couldn’t breathe and that she couldn’t see.”
Detective: “So she started screaming: ‘I hate you, I trusted you’?”
Anissa: “Mm-hmm.”
Detective: “She got up?”
Anissa: “Yeah. She got up and tried to walk towards the street … It led to the other side of Big Ben Road.”
Detective: “So she tried to walk towards the street, and what happened?”
Anissa: “And then she collapsed and said that she couldn’t see and she couldn’t breathe and also that she couldn’t walk. And so then Morgan and I kind of directed her away from the road and said that home was this way – and we were going deeper into the forest area.”
Witches of America: how I became immersed in a growing movement Read more
Detective: “So she said – she fell down and said she couldn’t breathe or see.”
Anissa: “Mm-hmm. Or walk.”
Detective: “Or walk. And you had told her to … ”
Anissa: “To ‘lay down and be quiet – you’ll lose blood slower’. And that we’re going to get help.”
Detective: “But you really weren’t going to get her help, right?”
Anissa: “Mm, no.”
At this point in the interview, Anissa was wrapped in a large wool blanket. The detective handed it to her because the space was chilly. Perhaps she was trying to gain Anissa’s confidence, or perhaps it was simply instinctive, offering comfort to a young girl being held in a concrete room. Anissa had been crying – but whether this was from genuine remorse or a kid’s fear of getting into trouble is anyone’s guess. The look on her face did not tell us. And then the detective read it back to her – the story of two girls who led their friend into the woods.
A longer version of this essay first appeared in the Fall 2017 issue of the Virginia Quarterly Review.
• Follow the Long Read on Twitter at @gdnlongread, or sign up to the long read weekly email here.Equitable Bank, the Canadian alternative-mortgage provider, is jumping into the online banking business with a savings account that pays more than triple the interest rate of other branchless rivals.
Equitable started signing up customers this week for its EQ Bank, offering 3 per cent interest on savings with no fees or minimum balance requirements. The account allows daily transactions including bill payments, e-transfers and moving money via computer or mobile phone.
“We’re certainly seeking to shake up the marketplace a bit,” Chief Executive Officer Andrew Moorsaid in a phone interview. “This is a digital bank built from the ground up, born in the mobile age of smartphones.”
EQ Bank seeks to grab some of the $400 billion in Canadian accounts that pay little or no interest, Moor said. The country’s big banks offer accounts that range from paying no interest to 0.6 per cent, depending on balances and features, while online lenders such as Bank of Nova Scotia’s Tangerine and President’s Choice Financial, part of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, have savings accounts that pay 0.8 per cent.
‘Digital Way’
“Anybody that offers a savings account could potentially be a competitor,” Moor, 55, said. “We’re certainly looking for people that are concerned about returns on their money and people that embrace the digital way of living.”
ING Groep NV pioneered online banking in Canada with ING Direct in 1998. Scotiabank, the country’s third-largest lender by assets, bought the business for $3.1 billion in 2012 and renamed it Tangerine. Other online lenders, including PC Financial and Manulife Financial Corp.’s Manulife Bank, followed. The Internet is now the main means of banking for 55 per cent of Canadians, according to the Canadian Bankers Association.
Equitable Bank, with assets of $14.8 billion as of Sept. 30, makes most of its profit from single-family mortgages, commercial lending and financing of government-insured apartment buildings. The Toronto-based lender, a unit of Equitable Group Inc., also offers guaranteed investment certificates and a high-interest savings account, and as of Sept. 30 had $8 billion in deposits.
Bloomberg News*EDIT* Our goal has been reached, but your continued pledges will help improve the quality of this project. Check out the official update for more info.
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In a bleak future, mankind searches daily for the hope to survive to the next tomorrow. Whether they realize it or not, their saviors are out there, and they call themselves the Protomen. Ten warriors risking their lives (in a fearsome death machine they call the Skyhammer), they traverse the continent and instill the world with faith that sweet jams still exist, and that we shouldn't be afraid.
Mysteries surround and questions abound regarding what may very well be the most talented independent musicians today. This documentary will take you behind the scenes to discover what the world truly looks like through the eyes of a badass touring rock band. It will reveal the extreme gravity with which the Protomen execute their mission to save mankind, and the equally extreme silliness with which they keep themselves energized.
That being said, it will also explore the incredible amount of access the band provides its cult-like fan base, all while keeping on one side of the fourth wall. The latest in social technology allows an unprecedented range of means for them to reach that fan base instantaneously, and as a result the fans have banded themselves even closer together over Facebook, Twitter, and the official website. Whether it's the fans that love the band more, or the band loving fans, this doc will explore the unique relationship the Protomen have fostered with their legions of supporters.
This documentary is entirely official, and done with the consent, blessing, and fear of the band, so have no hesitation: when we say this is an all-access doc, we mean it.
Incentives
In keeping with the Protomen's fine tradition of having everything they touch turn to awesome, there are unique and incredible incentives available for an extremely limited time. They are listed in short to the right side of this page, with a more in-depth look at some of them below the words you are reading right now.
$10 - Your name will be placed on a special donors page of the Protomen's website, www.protomen.com.
$25 - Upon release of the film, you'll be given access to a free digital copy. Please keep in mind that this is a major project with a wide scope, one whose time to completion will not be measured in weeks or months, but years, and obviously this incentive can not be provided until that time has come.
$35, $60, $100 - These feature limited edition posters and a t-shirt with unique designs created by the Protomen, only available to Kickstarter donors, autographed by the band if desired.
$150 - Your name will be featured in a "Special Thanks" credit at the end of the film, and you will also receive a limited edition DVD of the doc upon it's completion, autographed by the band if desired.
$250 - Lead-singer Raul Panther will hand-craft a custom made leather belt specifically for you, complete with your code-name engraved into the leather, autographed by the band if desired.
$500 - The Protomen will custom create an official Protomen stage-show battle helmet, your choice of Protoman, Megaman, or Sniper Joe, precisely like the ones worn during their performances, autographed by the band if desired.
$2,000 - You will be credited in the film as an Executive Producer, as well as receive a page on www.IMDb.com crediting you as such. In addition, you will receive both the belt and helmet mentioned above, autographed by the band if desired.
$10,000 - You will be transferred ownership of Jessie Christine, the Protomen's original tour bus, although its lack of brakes leads us to advise against its ever being driven. Nonetheless, it makes a lovely lawn ornament!The Chicago Department of Health will offer free flu shots from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Portage Park Senior Center, 4100 N. Long Ave. � View Full Caption Getty Images/File Photo
NORWOOD PARK — Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st) will host a health fair Saturday at Taft High School.
The health fair will offer health screenings as well as free flu shots from the Chicago Department of Health. It will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Flu season typically starts in the fall and peaks in January or February, and the influenza vaccine is the best protection against getting sick, city health officials said.
Attendees should enter the school at 6530 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. through the gymnasium at Bryn Mawr and Natoma avenues.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has just been disqualified following a government corruption case. Nawaz Sharif was being investigated by the Joint Investigative Team for their illegal offshore properties found in the leaked Panama Papers from last year. To fight against the allegations, Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz submitted copies of a couple of forged documents in the court.
The Joint Investigative Team reported that the documents presented by Maryam Nawaz were using the Calibri font — which is a default font in many Windows applications from Microsoft. The documents were supposedly signed in 2006, but the Calibri font was only released to the general public in 2007 which led to the Joint Investigative Team believing that the documents were indeed forged.
It isn’t clear as to whether the discovery of the documents being forged led to the supreme court disqualifying the Prime Minister of the nation, but it likely had a huge role to play in the case.It's 7:30 p.m. on a Thursday night, and Bishop Arts District is bustling. The smell of smoke and meat floats from Lockhart Smokehouse into the street as 20-somethings sip old fashioneds at Parker Barrows and families stroll from shop to shop. You can feel the energy of the neighborhood as people wander from one block to the next, shopping bags in hand, taking selfies in front of colorful murals and stepping over rose petals sprinkled in front of Dirt Flowers' front door.
The hustle and bustle on the sidewalks make what's happening in the street all the more obvious. At the corner of Bishop and 7th streets, in front of Hattie's restaurant, seven cars sit parked on 7th, engines running, as a valets working for Platinum Parking wander casually between cars. On Bishop, a line of cars has formed, turn signals blinking, drivers tapping their steering wheels impatiently while they wait to turn onto 7th to valet their cars. After only five minutes, traffic on Bishop has backed up a full block to Davis, and now hardly anyone can move at all. Cars on Davis can't get through the intersection at Bishop, and the scene feels harried and stressful. Drivers look confused and frustrated. Honking soon follows, and pedestrians stop strolling to watch the unfolding bedlam in the street. It's only Thursday night — not even a busy evening by Bishop Arts standards — and things are getting messy.
In fact, things in this corner of North Oak Cliff have been messy for years, neighbors and business owners say, and they're not convinced that recently proposed changes to neighborhood parking will fix the problem.
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"We've had this parking situation since my daughter was born," says Amy Wallace Cowan, a co-owner of Oddfellows on 7th Street, just down the block from the congested Bishop intersection. Cowan says she's tired of waiting for developers to be the ones who fix the problem. "She's in fourth grade now. That's a lot of time to live with empty promises and blight."
Like other corners of Dallas that have become de facto entertainment districts filled with bars, restaurants, stores and the customers who love them, Bishop Arts is growing, but its infrastructure is not.
"Within the past two months it went from slow change to batshit crazy," says Katherine Clapner, owner of Dude, Sweet Chocolate, which has locations in Bishop Arts, Lower Greenville, Plano and Fort Worth.
Clapner's chocolate shop, she says, is not the kind of place that people will use valet to visit.
"They're not gonna pay... valet to buy chocolate," she says. Her Fort Worth shop has lost several regular customers since the neighborhood installed a valet stand in front of her store, she says, and she's worried she may start losing customers in Bishop Arts, too.
A recent traffic study conducted by Walker Parking Consultants found that on an average Friday — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — most vehicles parked on-street were only parked for an hour or less. The study, presented to the Oak Cliff Gateway Tax Increment Financing District at a Sept. 26 meeting, also determined that the valet stand in front of Hattie's creates a traffic hazard.
Dallas Observer
Cowan held an informal study of her own in August, when she created a survey about the parking and valet situation in Bishop Arts. Nearly 700 people responded to the question, "What is your level of support of valet in Bishop Arts District?" More than 50 percent said valet should only be allowed to use private lots. More than a third of respondents said all valet in the neighborhood should be removed. Cowan and Clapner both say they never meant to become so vocal about valet — they know some customers use it, they say — but the situation has become too tenuous to ignore.
"The problem in Bishop Arts, certainly valet is the majority of it, but there are some other parking issues," says Scott Griggs, the Dallas City Council member representing District 3, which includes West Dallas and Oak Cliff.
Griggs has been working with Dallas parking services unit to create a proposal to make parking changes in the district, which would include creating some short-term parking spaces and implementing zone valet — also known as communal valet — that would be used for the entire district. The proposal, they hope, will end the congestion caused by people waiting to valet.
But neighbors and businesses aren't just angry about the traffic backup caused by the valet stand. They're angry because they see private valet companies blocking off what would otherwise be free, public right-of-way parking.
"How is the city taking away public parking spaces for private valet?" Clapner asks.
She's not the only Dallasite asking that question.
***
A valet stand in Bishop Arts on a busy Thursday night. Can Turkyilmaz
In any social media conversation about Dallas parking, the vitriol inevitably turns in one particular direction, as these comments did in a recent thread on Facebook.
"Valet is a for-profit business and they are using public spaces for profit."
"The valet folks should not have all the close, free parking spots."
"Since the spots the valet is taking are free public spots to begin with, what happens if we just move the cones and park there anyway?"
Dallas has a bigger problem than a lack of parking spots — there's a lack of understanding about how the city's parking regulations work, and that leads to a lot of taxpayer rage.
Pamè La Ashford, program manager with the Dallas Police Department's parking services and enforcement unit, chooses her words carefully when explaining Dallas' valet ordinance, which "has been in place for decades," she says.
"The way that the valet ordinance is written is that if a business — it's not the valet company — a business has to hire a valet company for the valet operation, and if they don't have off-street locations available to accept and retrieve the cars, they can utilize public right-of-way," Ashford says. "If the public right-of-way is going to be used, there is an application. Then the business — not the valet company — is allowed to block off spots."
What's a public right-of-way space? It's those prime on-street parking spaces right in front of a business, the ones people get all riled up about when valet cones block them off.
In essence, if a restaurant does not have adequate off-street parking — which is often the case in Dallas — a business can apply to the city to use public right-of-way spots as valet maneuvering. If approved, those businesses then pay for the right to use the public right-of-way for valet pick-up and drop-off. If the business is outside of the central business district (downtown), the first two spaces are $350 and any additional space after that is $1,000, Ashford says, noting that if that business is in the central business district, the first six spaces are $250 and every space after is $1,000.
"They're not paying for valet parking space," Ashford says. "They're paying to reserve the use of the public right-of-way so they get a space for maneuvering pick-up, drop-off."
Valeted cars must be moved to an off-street lot, and valet companies that use the public right-of-way only have five minutes to keep vehicles in the maneuvering zone, after which cars either need to be moved to off-street parking or handed over to the vehicle's owner.
But, as evidenced by the situation in Bishop Arts, it doesn't always work that way.
On Dec. 22, 2015, after issuing two prior notices of violation to Anthony Alvarez, the owner of Hattie's, parking services issued a criminal citation to Alvarez after the department witnessed cars left in the maneuvering zone for longer than five minutes — "a result of not having enough leads and runners to manage the flow of service," Ashford says. Less than a month later, on Jan. 16, parking services issued another notice of violation to the valet company "for consuming more of the public right-of-way than allowed, as a result of accepting vehicles left in the flow of traffic by patrons not willing to wait in their vehicle until they reached the maneuvering zone," Ashford says.
Since the last notice of violation in January, Alvarez has "made strides to make sure his current on-street valet activity has been in compliance," Ashford says. Even still, on one evening last weekend, six cars were left idling in the street after drivers handed their keys over to the valet service.
Under the proposal to alter Bishop Arts parking, the valet stand at Hattie's will be moved onto Bishop Street itself, where multiple parking spots in front of retail stores will be turned into valet maneuvering zones. Some currently available parking spots nearby will become half-hour, two- and four-hour parking zones, two new bike racks will be installed at each end of the district and new motorcycle parking spaces will be added. The new valet stands — which will include a third maneuvering location at Madison and 7th — will be communal valet, meaning the service is available to anyone visiting the neighborhood, regardless of which business they plan to patronize. The latest draft of the plan was released last week. Ashford says she'll file work orders to begin implementing the new parking plan as soon as Griggs signs off on it. Griggs says he needs more input from the neighborhood. He posted the new plan on Facebook last week, and some business owners don't seem convinced it will help.
Clapner and other business owners aren't happy to see more valet maneuvering zones, and they doubt moving them onto an even busier street will help the problem.
"When in doubt, make the same mistake two more times," Clapner says.
***
Katherine Clapner, owner of Dude, Sweet Chocolate, finds that the lack of non-valet public parking is hurting her business. Can Turkyilmaz
It's 6:30 p.m. on a Friday night, and Clapner is driving around in circles near Dude, Sweet Chocolate's Lower Greenville Avenue location. Frustrated, she posts on Facebook. "Just spent 30 minutes trying to find a spot in front of my own store," she laments.
Parking has long been an issue on Lower Greenville, where bars, restaurants and retail stores crowd into a few city blocks. In order to keep cars off residential streets nearby, for several blocks around the popular parts of Lower Greenville, parking in front of homes and apartments is resident-only. There is little parking in the public right-of-way, and small parking lots behind buildings are shared by multiple businesses. Behind Clapner's shop is a lot with 16 spaces that, according to posted signs, are shared by Blind Butcher, Village Baking Co., Greenville Avenue Pizza Co., Clapner's store, Greg Blomberg Photography, the Girls' Room and Freexpirit. When spaces do free up in that lot, they don't stay free for long.
With parking at such a premium in the neighborhood, many restaurants had set up valet directly in front of their businesses. This, when coupled with extensive construction on Greenville, was causing a traffic catastrophe. To help, in March the city removed some valet maneuvering zones and converted the district to communal valet, with two valet stands at opposite ends of the district. Now, anyone who visits this part of Lower Greenville — even without a specific business in mind — can valet their car for free.
Ashford says some businesses were angry to lose the valet stands set up directly in front of their stores, even though the stands were moved only a few blocks away.
"I have a lot of businesses that are not happy with that," she says.
Brooks Anderson, co-owner of Rapscallion in Lower Greenville and Boulevardier in Bishop Arts, is perfectly happy with the new arrangement, which places one of the communal valet stands directly in front of his restaurant. Anderson has a different outlook on Greenville's parking situation than many of the district's visitors.
"There's no issues whatsoever," he says. "The only issues that we’ve really had were recently when Greenville went from a two-way street to a one-way street in the last phase of construction, and that moved our valet."
When construction briefly moved the valet stand in front of Rapscallion, Anderson said sales dropped by half on weekdays. "Business just petered out," he says.
Now that it's back, Anderson says parking's a breeze. In fact, he never has a problem parking regardless of where he goes in Dallas, he says. He just uses valet.
"If there’s a valet stand in front of where I’m going, I actually like it," he says. "It’s just easier to pay the three or five bucks."
There are some clear upsides to valet. When a valet company has control of a lot, they're able to park far more cars – sometimes double or even triple the number of cars that would fit in the lot if customers self-parked. Valet is helpful for the elderly and disabled, who often benefit from being dropped off directly in front of a business.
On Friday night, 15 minutes spent driving around the neighborhood in search of a parking spot turned up nothing. Finally, I pulled up to the maneuvering zone in front of Rapscallion and handed over my keys to a valet attendant for the first time. I expected him to hand me a ticket to use when retrieving my car; instead, he asked for my phone number and texted me my ticket number. After wandering Greenville for an hour, I texted the valet about 5 minutes before I was ready to leave. The company texted me when my car was ready, I slipped the driver a $3 tip and was on my way. Admittedly, it was incredibly convenient – which can be another upside to valet. The next night, I used free valet behind The Porch in Knox-Henderson to similar results. The only inconvenience I experienced on either night? When the valet in front of Rapscallion changed the radio station in my car. Hardly comparable to spending a chunk of the night searching for parking.
And of course, there's also the Dallas factor. This is a city where valet is as ingrained in local culture as the Reunion Tower is ingrained into the city skyline. People who spend money in this city are used to having valet, and those people have no plans to spend 15 minutes driving around, looking for a parking spot.
"If there isn’t valet on Lower Greenville, we’ll just go out of business," Anderson says. "Without valet, Lower Greenville will turn back into what it was, which was a shithole."
***
Traffic in Lower Greenville on a weekend night. Can Turkyilmaz
The real root of parking problems in Dallas entertainment districts is actually a good thing: success. As DFW grows, more people are looking to visit uniquely local neighborhoods where they can consume local goods and spend time in a walkable area with its own identity.
In Bishop Arts, Cowan says 70 to 75 percent of Oddfellows' customers are first-timers.
"Which means they’re not coming from our neighborhood — they’re coming from tourism or other parts of DFW," Cowan says. "They’re looking for that authentic experience — and I hope we don’t lose that."
Any solutions to Bishop Arts' parking problem will be temporary, as massive mixed-use developments are in the works, live-work-play complexes that will permanently change the look and feel of the neighborhood. Business owners and city leaders hope developers will take on the task of building more parking infrastructure. Developer Exxir Capital received a $5 million tax break on a $42 million development with the understanding that the company will build a two-story underground parking garage and make improvements to streets and sidewalks.
In the meantime, winter is coming — and with it, the bustling Christmas season, when many small Dallas businesses make a substantial amount of money. Clapner and other small, retail-centric businesses are particularly concerned that neighborhood parking troubles may not be solved by the holiday shopping season.
"I'll survive here," Clapner said of Bishop Arts. But as for Lower Greenville? "It'll annihilate me there."Essentials of N.T. Doctrine
The Rapture Theory - Its Surprising Origin
Almost all Christians are interested in prophecy. This is especially true if the prophecies show what will happen to Christians themselves. There is nothing wrong in desiring such personal knowledge. Even our Lord gave a considerable amount of teaching about the circumstances to befall His people at the end of the age (Matthew 24:22–25). We all share a common concern in wanting to know about the participants, the chronology, and the geography of those prophecies. To comprehend the full knowledge of them it is obvious that all relevant statements of our Lord and His apostles must be properly interpreted and placed in a coherent order.
Many Christians have attempted to do this. As a consequence, the doctrine of the Rapture has arisen. So important has it become to many that the teaching is now sanctioned in some circles as the prime revelation from God to show what will happen to members of His ekklesia just before and during the Second Coming of Christ. Some of the greatest friends of the Holy Scriptures have accepted this teaching (and they teach this false doctrine even by mistranslating the phrase “first resurrection” as “the former resurrection” in Revelation 20:5). If one translates the word correctly as “first,” then it means the resurrection of Christians occurs after the Tribulation, and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory is shown to be false. 1
The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Theory, however, is a menacing doctrine that perverts the plain language of the text of the New Testament. Some preachers today look on the doctrine as the heart and |
would damage too many people’s lives”, according to today’s British Social Attitudes survey.
And 34% of people support more spending on benefits – even if it means higher taxes – up from 28% two years ago.
Numbers saying unemployed people could find a job if they wanted has also dropped from 68% in 2008 to 54% last year.
The findings fly in the face of three decades of hardening public attitudes towards welfare.
Support for the welfare system is still historically low, with the numbers backing more cash for benefits down from 55% in 1987.
Eight out of 10 people, 81%, also believe that large numbers of people falsely claim benefits compared with 67% back then.
But Alison Park, of NatCen Social Research which produced the survey, said that austerity seemed to be reversing the trend.
She said: “Thirty years of NatCen’s British Social Attitudes survey shows that the nation has become much more cynical about the welfare state and benefit recipients..
“But austerity seems to be beginning to soften the public mood. It’s also clear that on some issues the public are very divided in their views.
“It remains to be seen what impact the coalition government’s welfare reform agenda will have on public attitudes, and whether the small recent upturn in sympathy marks the beginning of a longer term trend.”
People are more interested in politics and feel that they have more influence than in the past.
The numbers saying that they felt a duty to vote have also risen from 56% in 2008 to 62% last year.
But politicians are still generally held in contempt. Fewer than one in five people, 18%, say they trust the Government to put the country before their own party.
More than nine out of 10, 93%, said that they “almost never” trust Mps to tell the truth when they are in a tight corner or “only some of the time”.
NatCen interviewed 3,248 people for the poll, which was carried out last year on behalf of the Government.The Vancouver Island Amateur Hockey Association is warning its members in a letter it is considering implementing a spectator-free weekend to protest verbal harassment of its officials and players.
In an open letter, VIAHA president Jim Humphrey says the problem has become so serious the hockey association is seriously contemplating the drastic measure.
VIAHA president Jim Humphrey says the association is reluctant to take such drastic action, but will if things don't change. (CBC)
Humphrey says spectators would be banned from the ice rink area which would be restricted to officials and players only. Humphrey says referees would not start games until spectators had left and would suspend play or games if they returned.
He says the executive is reluctant to take such drastic action, but the vindictiveness of a small minority is costing the association promising young officials and making it difficult for the players to have fun.
In order to avoid this situation, Humphrey is asking that parents police each other.
"On behalf of the game, we are asking that parents get involved and either ask those that are being inappropriate toward those on the ice to either cease and desist or leave the arena," he said in the letter.
Humphrey says playoff season is approaching and while the executive doesn't want to have to resort to experimenting with a spectator-free weekend, but it will if things don't change.
On mobile? Click here for a copy of the association's letterHang on for a minute...we're trying to find some more stories you might like. Close
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If you were like me and stuck with a meal plan and never enough spending money, you’ll find that the Atlantic Dining Hall food quickly becomes repetitive and unappetizing after a few weeks of the semester.
So on the days when the food looked more unappealing than usual, it helped to have a backup plan.
Instead of settling for the same to-go burger, my friends and I turned the cafeteria into our personal grocery store — taking bits and pieces of what it had to offer and using them to cook our own meals.
Every Friday I would fill a takeout box to the brim with whatever looked good, toss the spoils into a pan and cook them until something cool happened. The freshmen dorms only have communal kitchens, but thankfully I was able to use a much quieter private kitchen in my upperclassman friend’s dorm.
I ended up spending no money and avoided having to leave campus. It was fun getting creative and seeing how many different meals I could make and enjoy with friends.
On top of saving pocket money for nights out, an intimate dorm living room makes it easier to talk over your meals without having to compete with the voices wafting up from the dining hall during dinner rush. You might like the busy atmosphere — but a quiet evening every once in awhile has its perks.
With studying, jobs and the occasional house party, cooking every night can be unrealistic. But a dorm-cooked meal with friends every so often can switch up your week and save you on the days that the dining hall’s selection is less than desirable.
Cafeteria Cookbook:
Need some recipe ideas to get you started on dining in and putting that tiny communal kitchen stove to use? Here are the basics for some at-home, cafeteria-inspired cuisine.
CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE STIR-FRY:
Start to finish: 25 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
Vegetables – as much as you want. Go to the salad bar and fill your to-go box as much as possible with peppers, onions, mushrooms and whatever else you can find. The staff usually switches up what’s available, so you won’t have to worry about getting tired of the same old selection.
1-2 grilled pieces of chicken If you want to mix some lean protein into your meal, ask the grill station to toss a couple grilled chicken breasts into your box. Unfortunately, this isn’t available every day so keep an eye out for when it is.
3-4 packets of soy sauce These can be found in the food court near the Jow Jing cash register in front of the utensils on your way back from the cafeteria.
Directions:
Cut up the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Toss the vegetables into a pan on medium heat with some olive oil. This can be found in a glass bottle at the salad bar. Saute until they are cooked to your satisfaction. Stir the vegetables to prevent overcooking/burning. Add the pieces of chicken breast to the pan. Slowly add in the soy sauce packets, tasting as you go. Serve on a plate.
MACARONI AND CHEESE:
Start to finish: 20 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
1 cup of cheese Get creative with this one. The salad bar usually has shredded cheese, but you can ask the grill and sandwich stations for slices of cheese as well.
Pasta On the nights when the cafeteria offers a pasta bar, ask for your pasta to be cooked al dente.
1 tablespoon of butter This is found in small packages in the breakfast bar.
1 roll If you like your pasta with a side of bread, keep an eye out for either dinner rolls or muffins. (However, students can only take one dinner roll every visit.)
Directions:
Set the burner to high and bring a pot of water to boil. Add in the pasta and turn the heat down to medium. After 5 minutes, taste to see if it’s cooked to the consistency you want. Drain the water from the pot. Add the tablespoon of butter. Stir in the cheese until thoroughly mixed. Serve in a bowl.
GRILLED CHEESE:
Start to finish: 20 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
2 slices of toast These are found in the breakfast bar.
Cheese Grated cheddar can be found in the salad bar, which stays open during limited serving. Different kinds of sliced cheese can be requested at the sandwich station, which is also open in between regular meal times.
2 slices of ham You can either ask for ham at the sandwich station or use baked ham on the days that it’s offered.
Vegetables Tomatoes and mushrooms, as well as peppers, onions or whatever else you want to add, can be found in the salad bar.
2 tablespoons of butter You can find small plastic packages of this by the toast and waffle maker at the breakfast bar.
Directions:
Taking your two pieces of toast, spread butter on one side of each. Put a saucepan on a burner at medium heat. Add butter to the pan. Place the side of bread with butter face down in the pan. Add cheese and any other toppings (ham, vegetables, etc). Place the second piece of toast on top with the buttered side facing up. Flip every few minutes to ensure even cooking time on both sides. Cut in half and serve on a plate.
Tucker Berardi is the features editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @tucker_berardi.
Kerri-Marie Covington is a senior copy editor for the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected].The official website of the upcoming original 3D anime project Sushi Police announced that it will air on Tokyo MX from January 7, 2016. It is scheduled for a 5-minute time slot on the network and will also be made available on various online distribution channels.The term "sushi police" has been used by Western media outlets to refer the Japanese government's attempt to certify and authenticate restaurants overseas which claim to serve Japanese food. The anime follows three men who crack down on bad Japanese restaurants.was exhibited at 68th Cannes Film Festival in May, and its key visual received a prize at's 2015 Cannes Poster Awards. That award recognizes the "most amusing and over-the-top promotional materials from the festival's market."CastHonda: Akira YamashitaSuzuki: Masaca IfKawasaki: Hiromitsu OkamotoSarah: Yumi Kikuchi StaffDirector: Tatsushi Momen Script: Ichiro Kusuno, Kotaro AndoStudio: SEDIC International TrailerSource: Anime! Anime!Speaking Tuesday in Pretoria, South Africa, former UK environment secretary Owen Paterson accused the European Union and Greenpeace of condemning millions of people in developing countries to economic dependency on aid, starvation and death by their refusal to accept the science behind genetically modified crops and other life saving advances in plant sciences.
Owen denounced what he called the “green blob” of officials and gullible media that misrepresent the consensus science, likening Greenpeace to the Luddites who smashed textile machinery in the nineteenth century. He accused the EU of “neo-colonialism at its worst” by restricting food production within its own borders.
Paterson said the world is on the cusp of a green revolution of the kind that fed a billion people in the 1960s and 1970s as the world’s population soared–but that revolution is threatened by well-meaning Westerners who he maintains are imposing their food “fetishes” on the developing world.
Here is the full text of Paterson’s speech to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA):
*******************
Thank you all very much.
Thank you, Doctor Obokoh for that kind introduction. It’s a great pleasure to be able to speak at the Annual South African agricultural biotechnology industry/ISAAA media conference. You are all doing so much important – indeed life-saving – work to bring the benefits of modern agricultural technology to this continent.
This is a time of extraordinary opportunity for Africa. Progress in the plant sciences is opening up the promise of a second Green Revolution, one that can not only feed the 9 to 10 billion people that will inhabit our planet in 2050, but feed them well – one that can finally end the shame of the nearly one billion who still go to bed every night hungry and malnourished.
It is a revolution, powered by cutting-edge science, that can drive economic development from the bottom up. I’m talking about authentic, indigenous growth – the only kind that really takes root… that empowers individuals … that breaks the cycle of aid and dependency and can make every nation on this Earth a strong, competitive player in global economic growth.
No place on Earth holds more promise in this respect than Africa.1 With its vast, and as yet underutilized resources of land, soil, water and sun, Africa is wonderfully situated to match or exceed the success of Brazil – a nation that agricultural development helped catapult into the front ranks of world trade – but it will only happen if African countries embrace farming systems based on modern technologies.
The Green Blob
This is also a time, however, of great mischief, in which many individuals and even governments are turning their backs on progress. It’s a strange time, really, in which the privileged classes increasingly fetishize their food and seek to turn their personal preferences into policy proscriptions for the rest of us.
Not since the original Luddites smashed cotton mill machinery in early 19th century England, have we seen such an organized, fanatical antagonism to progress and science. These enemies of the Green Revolution call themselves “progressive,” but their agenda could hardly be more backward-looking and regressive.
They call themselves humanitarians and environmentalists. But their policies would condemn billions to hunger, poverty and underdevelopment. And their insistence on mandating primitive, inefficient farming techniques would decimate the Earth’s remaining wild spaces, devastate species and biodiversity, and leave our natural ecology poorer as a result.
I call them the “Green Blob” – a reference to a 1950s Sci-Fi movie starring Steve McQueen in which a blob-like alien attacks Earth and swallows everything in its path: the environmental pressure groups, renewable energy companies and some public officials who keep each other well supplied with lavish funds, scare stories and green tape. This tangled triangle of unelected busybodies claims to have the interest of the planet and the countryside at heart, but it is increasingly clear that it is focusing on the wrong issues and doing real harm while profiting handsomely.
The Blob operates on two levels. First, by a pernicious grab for funding dollars with literally hundreds of them orbiting the honey pot of Europe. Secondly, with an ideological belief that Europe should abdicate its fundamental responsibility to feed its own people.
Neo-colonialism at its worst, Europe sits on some of the most fertile land on the planet, and yet imports food from the rest of the world which requires the equivalent of 35m hectares of farmland to produce.
There are many impediments standing between the vision of agricultural progress and Africa, of course, but none is more pernicious than the Blob. It is supported by massive funding provided by the EU itself,2 as well as numerous church and humanitarian groups, and the well-meaning but misguided generosity of the privileged classes in Europe and elsewhere. It has undue influence in the media, government and international institutions. Unfortunately, few question either its credentials or motives.
I will be speaking more about the Green Blob and how we need to push back and reassert the fundamental primacy of science. But first I want to talk about the good news – and there is a lot of good news to talk about.
The Good News About Biotech
As you know, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, ISAAA, has just come out with its latest report on the worldwide adoption of genetically modified crops. As before, it records a remarkable success story.
2014 was the 19th year of successful commercialization of biotech crops, 18 million farmers, of which 90 per cent were small and resource-poor, planted a record 181 million hectares of biotech crops in 28 countries.3
GMO-versions of food staples like potato in the United States and eggplant in Bangladesh have been approved for planting.
The United States continues to lead the way and saw a 5.5-fold increase in hectares of drought tolerant maize planted.
Biotech continues to be the most rapidly adopted agricultural technology in history. During the 19 years GMO crops have been commercialized, we have seen a more than 100-fold increase in the area planted.
The facts also completely belie the propaganda that GMOs are only for the wealthy nations. In fact, more than 90 per cent of the farmers planting biotech are smallholder farmers in nations in the developing world.5 For the third year in a row, less developed countries planted more biotech hectares than the entire developed world.
Farmers are famously risk-averse. They know that the misapplication of resources can spell the difference between a bumper harvest and total crop failure. That’s why it’s even more remarkable that nearly 100 per cent of all those farmers who plant biotech crops have yet to go back to the old ways.6 They continue to choose to plant biotech year after year because biotech plants work. It’s really that simple.
ISAAA report a number of very heartening breakthroughs.
The drought-tolerant maize technology donated to Africa by Monsanto is expected to begin commercial planting in 2017.
Field trials have been given the go-ahead in Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda while trials have been conducted on a broad range of new crops, from biotech bananas to maize to cotton and cowpeas.7 One can certainly hope that as the trials reveal the dramatic benefits of GMO, these countries too will make them available to all their famers.8
They can certainly look to the success in South Africa, which is still the leader on this continent, with 2.7 million biotech hectares planted. But they might also take in the dramatic example of insect resistant Bt cotton in Burkina Faso, where farmers are rapidly and overwhelmingly embracing the efficiencies and improved yields represented by the GMO variety.9
By 2013, in fact, almost 70 per cent of all cotton grown in Burkina Faso was Bt, which increased farmers’ yields on average 20 per cent over non-GMO cotton. It has also dramatically decreased pesticide applications – which in Africa are often done by hand, a 40 to 80 pound backpack filled with older pesticides strapped to one’s back. Bt-cotton has cut those applications from 6 to 2 or fewer and delivers a solution that is eminently more effective.10
Within one season, Bt can transform the life of smallholder farmers, turning their farms into profit-making enterprises that allow them to send their children to school rather than out into the fields, and to buy their families enough to eat – and of course with better nutrition comes better health.
Even where farmers have voted overwhelmingly for a choice of GM technology and the benefits have been tested and demonstrated in numerous studies, the Green Blob has been tireless in myth making and misinformation. Take the allegations of Indian farmer suicides. Anti-GM green groups stated that the introduction of GM crops had brought about an increase of suicides among India’s farmers. It is imperative in the case of such tragedy to be accurate about causes if you are to help people driven to suicide.
Professor Ian Plewis from the University of Manchester clarifies that farmer suicide rates in India are similar to the best estimates of the rates in Scotland and France, around 30 per 100,000 farmers. While these rates are still tragic, they existed at the same level prior to the introduction of GM cotton to India. He states, “In fact, the available data does not support the view that farmer suicides have increased following the introduction of Bt cotton. Taking all states together, there is evidence to support the hypothesis that the reverse is true.”11
And in the global context, over 80 per cent of the world’s cotton crop has been GM for several years. The success of insect protected GM cotton has given Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in the world, a new tool to boost their main economic activity: cotton production. Farmers have seen at least 66 per cent less pesticide applied, 20 per cent increase in yield, and at least $87 per hectare increase in their profit.12
Green Blob myths like “GM Indian Farmer Suicide” are retarding the adoption of new science in the developing world. Yet Africa is showing Europe the way.
In 2014 the 28 member states of the EU recorded 12 field trials of GM crops. This compares with 13 projects in Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria.13 These three countries are doing more active biotech field research than the entire rich continent of Europe.
Four Anti-GMO Myths and the Truth About Biotech
Around the globe, in fact, the increasingly widespread adoption of biotech is exploding the myths of the anti-GMO campaigners. It is worth taking a moment to examine four of these myths, taking them one at a time:
Myth #1 is their recurrent implication that farmers are stupid, fooled by biotech companies into paying more for GMO seeds when they would be far better off without them. Well, I tend to think farmers have a pretty good understanding of their bottom line, and I can’t imagine any farmer – in my own country or in the developing world – spending one extra dollar, euro, pound, or rand that he absolutely didn’t have to spend.
As it happens, the most current and extensive research on the subject bears that out. A recent analysis of previous major studies – conducted by researchers at Germany’s Göttingen University, found that globally since their introduction almost two decades ago, biotech crops have increased crop yield overall by 22 per cent, increased farmer profits by 68 per cent, and reduced chemical pesticide use by 37 per cent. They also found that these yield and profit gains are the highest in less developed countries, not the industrialised countries.14
In other words, the supposedly dumb farmer of Blob mythology is actually a lot smarter than the Green Blob itself.
Myth #2 is that forsaking modern agricultural technology – going organic – will benefit the environment. The opposite is actually the truth.
A few years ago, another group of researchers at Stanford University in the United States found that without the advances in agricultural technology since 1960, we would need more than twice as much land to grow all the food we produce today.15 That’s almost two billion more hectares of ploughed land than today, more than the entire landmass of Russia, the largest nation on the globe spreading over nine time zones. Two billion hectares is more than twice the entire area of the United States. The equivalent of three Amazon rain forests.16
I can remember as a child seeing traumatic news bulletins with images of starving people on the Indian subcontinent. The father of the Green Revolution, Norman Borlaug – “The man who fed the world” and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate in 1970 – changed that by transferring wheat with new genetics from the Americas to the Indian sub-continent in the 1960s. India is now a major food exporter.17
Borlaug and others harnessed innovation to completely change the way we farm. For example, it has been estimated that the production of a given quantity of a crop now requires 65 per cent less land than it did in 1961. Between 1967 and 2007 world food production increased by 115 per cent but land use only increased by eight per cent.18 Indur Goklany has calculated that if we tried to support today’s population using the production methods of the 1950s, instead of farming 38 per cent of all land, we would need to use 82 per cent.19
As Borlaug said, “There are 6.6 billion people on the planet today, with organic farming we could only feed 4 billion of them. Which two billion would volunteer to die?”20
Agriculture always needs to balance our demands for more food whilst improving the environment and biodiversity. It is clear that sustainable intensive agriculture produces more food on less land, and therefore protects wild lands for wild life, for recreation, for urban development.
There is less pressure on land that is being used for wildlife and recreation. And the whole huge area generates tourism cash and employment for local economies.
In other words, modern agriculture – with its GMOs, nitrogen fertilizer and modern pesticides – has probably done more to save natural habitat, support biodiversity, and save endangered species than all the other environmental, NGO and UN conservation activities put together.
The Keystone Alliance, a collaborative effort of industry and conservation groups in the United States, has demonstrated the environmental benefits of modern agriculture on the micro-level as well. In each of the major crops studied, inputs of water, fertilizer and energy have been slashed and the environmental impact dramatically diminished at the same time that yields have skyrocketed.21
Maize yields, for instance, increased by 64 per cent in the 31 years between 1980 and 2011. Land use, however, decreased by 30 per cent, soil erosion by 67 per cent, irrigation water by 53 per cent, and energy use by 44 per cent.22
The revolution in no-till farming, was invented in the later 1960s a long time before GMOs. Modern herbicides and GMO crops have significantly extended its scope because farmers in many locations no longer have to plough the land to manage weeds. Tractor fuel is saved and topsoil is increasingly returning to its original structure and beneficial microorganism content and, in the United States, rivers and streams are spared the soil run-off that the EPA used to define as one of the top environmental problems in that country.23
And the most widely used herbicide in no-till – the glyphosate that NGOs so love to criticize – is enormously healthier for the environment and the humans and animals that live there than the chemistries it replaced. While glyphosate is indeed bad for weeds, its toxicity to animals is less than – not equivalent, but significantly less than – vinegar.24 Something to think about next time you dress your salad.
Which brings me to Myth #3: the insistence by anti-GMO campaigners that biotech crops are somehow unsafe to eat. It’s a claim they continue to hang onto in the face of many hundreds of studies testifying to GMO safety – the overwhelming majority of all the studies that have been conducted, a large number of them sponsored by governments and completely independent of industry.25
It’s a claim they persist in despite the universal opinion of every independent scientific institution globally, (including the European Commission!) that GMOs are as safe as any other food,26 and the fact that people in the United States have been consuming diets replete with GMOs for over 15 years now without one documented adverse health effect – not so much as a sniffle or a tummy ache.27 Even in Europe, overwhelmingly all the animal products produced – meat, milk, cheese, eggs – come from animals fed on imported GM maize and GM soya meal. Most European farmers have, for the last almost two decades, not been permitted to grow these crops – with the one exception of a single strain of maize.28 But European livestock farmers import millions of tons annually – without these imports currently the European livestock market would have collapsed.
In a rational world, a recent study out of the University of California Davis (one of the leading agricultural universities in the United States) would end the call for ‘animal studies’ of GMOs once and for all. The study compared health outcomes in over 100 billion cattle and other livestock before GMOs were introduced in 1996 and after – when quite quickly GMOs accounted for approximately 90 per cent of all animal feed. In effect, US livestock production has amounted to the largest animal feeding study ever conducted.29
And what was the difference in health outcomes found by the researchers? Zero. None. The animals were just as healthy after GMOs were introduced as before.
Of course, as with the other myths, the myth of GMOs’ adverse health effects isn’t just wrong – it’s the inverse of the truth.
Generally ignored, for instance, is the widespread problem of mycotoxin contamination, often the result of insect chewing and especially boring into the growing crop, which allows the entry into the plant of fungal pathogens. The problem afflicts a wide range of foods and feed, such as maize, sorghum and peanuts.30 Without doubt, many mycotoxins are most effectively controlled by planting GMO crops engineered with Bt insect resistance.31
The FAO estimates that up to half of some food crops are affected.32 Globally, it is estimated that more than five billion people in the developing world are exposed to these naturally occurring toxins, which can suppress the immune system, retard growth and cause cancer and liver disease in both livestock and humans.33 In Africa, the rural poor are chronically exposed to unsafe levels of these poisons. In 2003, 120 people died in Kenya after eating maize with very high aflatoxin levels.34
In the industrialized nations, organic growers have long sprayed with spores of the whole Bt bacterium to control for insects. This organism occurs naturally in the soil, after all, and has proved safe for mammals and humans. But when scientists engineered a plant that produced one protein found in the Bt cells as a part of its built-in defenses, the Blob fought tooth and nail to deprive the developed world of its benefits.
In a nationally funded trial conducted at the respected University of Milan, two varieties of maize were involved. Compared with conventional maize, Bt-maize not only increased yield by 28-34 per cent, but reduced the fungal toxin fumonisin from 6,000 parts per billion in the non-GMO maize to 60 parts per billion or less in the Bt-maize. The conventional maize containing over 6,000 parts per billion was unfit for human consumption under both Italian and European law. Despite the health implications, these results were shamelessly suppressed by the activist influenced Italian government which organized it.35
Once again, the myth is turned on its head: it’s not GMOs, but the anti-GMO Green Blob that is the real danger to human health.
Myth #4 is that biotech is only good for farmers and has no consumer benefits. Once again an inverse of the truth. I count increased protection of wild lands by focusing production sustainably, and cheaper food, as being fundamentally important “consumer benefits”. There are more specific examples too.
Biotechnology has already given us soybeans with higher oleic acid that don’t produce cholesterol-elevating trans fats when heated.36 Currently, a new biotech tomato is being tested that mimics good cholesterol.37 Tomatoes are coming with high concentrations of cancer-fighting anthocyanins.38 Non-browning apples have recently been approved by US regulators, which should potentially greatly reduce waste through less spoilage.39 Healthier GMO potatoes have also been approved40 and peanuts are currently under development that lack two of the most intense allergens that pose such a danger to so many of our children.41
Only ten days ago, I was in Canberra and saw real progress on oilseed crops that will provide a sustainable source of long chain omega-3 fatty acids providing better nutrition to humans and farmed fish. 42,43 This could stop the obscenity of feeding huge numbers of farmed fish with wild fish.
In addition, in future, it might be possible to have the oil yields of oil palm replicated and even exceeded from GM broad acre crops that contain oil in their leaves and stems.44 So GM developments in oil producing plants could help save vulnerable orangutan habitats encroached by palm oil plantations.
Few people know that the first biotechnology product approved for food was rennet, an enzyme used to make cheese. Today, 90 per cent of the cheeses we eat use GMO rennet because it’s safer and more effective.45 GMO-enzymes are routinely used in the production of bread, wine and beer.
All the insulin routinely used to keep diabetics alive is from GMO-bacteria. Previously insulin was produced from the pancreases of cattle and pigs. A single diabetic would require the pancreases of 50 pigs for a year’s supply. Before GMO-bacteria produced insulin, one major industrial insulin producer processed eleven tons of pig’s pancreases every day – from a daily slaughter of 100,000 animals.46 Unfortunately, hugely promising GMO techniques that could protect yoghurt starter cultures from infection have been kept off the market due to fear of consumer backlash.47
Perhaps the most promising development, however, is biofortification, especially for the developing world, where so many lack the nutrients essential for health and well-being.
Golden Rice, Greenpeace and the Anti-Humanitarians
The flagship biofortified technology was developed 15 years ago by two German Professors Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer. Called Golden Rice, it is a miracle grain enhanced with vitamin-A-producing beta-carotene. In 2001 the inventors donated the technology as a potential additional intervention for vitamin A deficiency, for development and deployment by the public sector in developing countries so that it could benefit the poor of the world.48
Absence of a source of vitamin A in the diet, vitamin A deficiency, is the principal cause of childhood blindness globally, affecting 500,000 children annually of which half die within a year or two.49 Vitamin A deficiency is also a nutritionally acquired immune deficiency syndrome, so common diseases which should be survivable are lethal. Two million young children die as a result every year.
So let’s be clear. Although these deaths are preventable, 6,000 children alive today will be dead tomorrow. (By comparison Ebola has tragically killed about 9,000 in the last year: about 25 a day.)
Many of those millions of lives could have been saved if Golden Rice had been available in their diet, and it could have been already for several years, but for the on-going opposition of well-financed anti-GMO activist groups and their ceaseless campaign to frighten people and pressure governments to keep Golden Rice off the market.
The leader of that opposition, with a combined global war chest estimated to exceed US $500 million, has been Greenpeace, with its combination of highly sophisticated PR and un-scientific scaremongering.
Greenpeace originally claimed Golden Rice wouldn’t work, but once its efficacy had been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, they switched to saying that the poor should simply buy vitamin supplements and eat fresh vegetables instead50 – as if families living on less than $2 a day can afford such luxuries.
But Greenpeace doesn’t content itself with mere PR.
In 2013, an organization in the Philippines who lists Greenpeace amongst its partners, used a tactic that has been used all over the world by Greenpeace – violently attacking and destroying agricultural research they oppose.51 The group, known as MASIPAG, claims to be a “farmer-led network,” destroyed a field trial of Golden Rice. But local officials reported that the thugs who attacked the fields had been bused in from the city.52
Shamefully, Greenpeace isn’t alone in its support for the MASIPAG anti-GMO eco- terrorists. MASIPAG’s list of supporters reads like a directory of misguided European church and government sponsored social justice and development groups. Perhaps one should put the words “so-called” before social justice. A short list of MASIPAG’s funding sources include:
The Swiss Catholic pastoral development group known as The Fastenopfer Catholic Lenten Fund;53
Misereor, the German Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation, which receives financial support from the German government;54
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, which is funded by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs;55
Trocaire, the official development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland, which receives funding from the Irish, UK and EU governments;56It should be stressed that MASIPAG is just one of a proliferating network of anti- GMO groups and assorted activists that are operating in the developing world, often with NGO and EU support.
In 2011 Greenpeace attacked GM wheat in Australia which was part of exciting research to enhance the health benefits of this staple food crop. It was heartening to observe the very widespread backlash and condemnation by the Australian community against this criminal vandalism of trusted research. On 14 July 2011, the CSIRO Experimental Station at Ginninderra in Canberra was broken into and research plants were cut down. Some of the GM crop trial plots were partially destroyed. Greenpeace admitted liability. This incident was investigated by the Australian Federal Police and two Sydney women were charged in relation to the incident, and both women later pleaded guilty to charges of damaging Commonwealth property. On 1 August 2012, CSIRO received a reparation payment of $282,560 from Greenpeace. In November 2012 the two women received a 9 month suspended sentence, to be of good behaviour for 12 months with $1,000 security, for each defendant.57
The question must be asked, when did so many of our “humanitarian” organizations become so disdainful about the lives of the desperately poor, whom they are supposed to be helping? How long have they been putting ideology over humanity? Do Greenpeace supporters understand that the conduct of the organization that they give to has been truly wicked?
Patrick Moore, one of the early leaders of Greenpeace in the 1970’s when it took account of science and respected human life, has broken with his old organization for just this reason. He now works to expose Greenpeace’s actions in the developing world and has joined with Golden Rice inventor Ingo Potrykus in calling for the organization to be tried for crimes against humanity.58
So I say to my friends in Europe and in the United States: next time some young volunteer stops you on the street to ask for money for Greenpeace, ask them about Golden Rice. They’ll want to talk about all the polar bears and whales they claim to have saved, but ask them instead about the millions of children that their organization is helping condemn to blindness and early death.
It should also be recognized, however, that there are some humanitarian and environmental groups that are coming to recognize the important role that biotech can play in alleviating human suffering and spurring development. I’m thinking particularly of organizations such as Oxfam and the Nature Conservancy, whose initial opposition to GMOs has softened in the light of the overwhelming scientific evidence of their efficacy and safety. It’s time for these organizations to step up and show leadership on this urgent humanitarian issue.
Where also are the UN organisations WHO, FAO, UNICEF – all with nutritional improvement and development mandates? They have recognized the scourge of vitamin A deficiency as a very major – and cheap to control – problem for the last 25 years. Undoubtedly current interventions have saved millions of lives. But VAD (Vitamin A Deficiency) induced preventable deaths continue, and now, as a result of Golden Rice, the half of the world where rice is the staple could benefit from a free nutritional trait. But, cowed by activist polemic, these huge and capable institutions have chosen not to believe in science.
Here is my plea to them: You have rejected the world of activist myth for scientific fact. Now use your moral authority to appeal to your colleagues in the NGO community. Convince them to do the right thing and support giving the developing world the GM tools it needs to feed its growing, and too often malnourished, population.
The EU’s Retreat From Science
Of course, the greatest offender of all is the European Union itself, which in |
Enlarge this image toggle caption Alexandre Meneghini/AP Alexandre Meneghini/AP
There is a new crisis in Mexico. It's not the ongoing drug war or a plunge in the peso: It's eggs.
Mexico is suffering an egg shortage. An outbreak of avian flu this summer, in the heart of the nation's egg-producing region, caused a drastic dip in production and led to huge price increases. While the crisis has hit the country's poor hardest, all Mexicans are hurting for eggs, which are as crucial a part of the Mexican diet as the tortilla.
According to the country's poultry industry, Mexicans eat more eggs, per capita, than anyone else in the world. On average, they eat more than 430 eggs a year, which is almost double U.S. annual consumption.
Diner patron Pedro Valasco isn't surprised. He eats eggs every morning, except Sunday, at a small diner in the heart of Mexico City's historic center.
He says he usually gets huevos rancheros, or huevos with ham or huevos divorciados. The latter, "divorced eggs," are two fried eggs, one topped with red salsa, the other with green, and separated by a wall of refried beans. Valasco says a Mexican breakfast has to have eggs.
Euphenia Rosas, the owner of the small restaurant, says she hasn't raised her prices since egg prices spiked. She says she doesn't want to upset her regular clients, so she just has her waitresses try to gently steer them away from ordering eggs.
Prices jumped when producers were forced this summer to slaughter 11 million hens after an outbreak of avian flu in the central Mexican state of Jalisco. Just last week, officials said the figure was really closer to 20 million. Prices were about 18 to 20 pesos a kilo, or around $1.50 for 18 eggs. Now, they've risen to more than 40 pesos per kilo (about $3). It's a steep price increase for millions of Mexicans who live in extreme poverty.
The egg price spikes and shortages got so rough that President Felipe Calderon took to the airwaves, vowing to crack down on speculators and reduce tariffs on imported eggs.
The first shipments from the U.S. have already arrived at Mexico City's huge wholesale warehouse and are helping to stabilize prices. But egg vendor Adrian Hernandez says his clients don't like the U.S. imports; they tell him the American eggs don't have any flavor, and that the yolks are pale.
Another vendor, Erasmo Hernandez, says he has lost nearly 40 percent of his business since the crisis began. Most people are buying less, and he says there's not much he can do about it.
"Endure, endure," he says, "just like a good Mexican does... suffer through crises."
Mexicans also like to make a lot of jokes when facing hard times. And there have been a lot of huevos jokes, most circulating on social media. One shows a picture of a kilo of eggs on display at one of Mexico's finer department stores with a sign that reads "Huevos for sale: 6-month payment plans with no interest." Another shows eggs on display at a jewelry store among the diamonds and pearl necklaces.
There are of course much racier jokes making the rounds, given that Mexicans love double entendres, and the fact that huevo is a euphemism for a male body part. But, sadly, we can't repeat any of these.Although chemical and biological warfare has been internationally condemned since the 1600s, scientific research has continued to uncover chemicals which can have a devastating effect on the nervous system. Indeed, at the end of last year there were reports of an alleged government attack on civilians using an unidentified nerve gas in the city of Homs in Syria. It is thought that Assad’s regime have been developing and stockpiling chemical weapons. If this is true, the situation shows disturbing similarity to Saddam Hussein’s use of the nerve gases against Iranian civilians during the Gulf War in the 1980s.
Interestingly, the discovery of nerve gases was made more or less by accident. The organophosphate (OP) family of nerve gases, including sarin and tabun, were being studied by German scientist Dr. Gerhard Schrader during the 1930s as possible insecticides. Whilst studying these chemicals Dr. Schrader accidentally spilled a drop of tabun onto the bench and, within minutes, was overwhelmed with dizziness and had difficulty breathing. It took him and his colleague three weeks to fully recover from this exposure.
OP nerve gases work by stopping the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh). Normally, when ACh is released by nerve cells it is rapidly broken down by AChE, meaning that it can’t build up around target cells. However, when AChE stops working ACh collects around cells, overstimulating them. The effects are often seen as over-stimulation of muscle cells and glands which produce bodily fluids. After very high exposure to OP a victim will suffer a huge number of horrible symptoms, including, a runny nose, tight chest, blurred vision, shortness of breath, nausea, muscle spasms, drooling, crying, incontinence, vomiting and abdominal pain. In this case, death usually follows quickly, either due to choking or from suffocation caused by overstimulation of the diaphragm. Sarin was infamously used by the Japanese terrorist group Aum in an attack in a Tokyo subway station in 1995, which killed 13 and left thousands with temporary vision problems.
Another family of chemicals that affect the nervous system are anti-cholinergics. Anticholinergics stop ACh from activating receptors on target cell (muscles and glands). As a result, these chemicals have almost entirely the opposite effect to OP nerve gases. The symptoms include a dry mouth, muscle weakness, blurred vision, as well as hallucinations and some pretty strange delirious behaviour. Anticholinergics could have a potential (though still illegal) use as a ‘non-lethal’ weapon to incapacitate people – since people can’t really fight back if they’re delirious. Saddam Hussein was accused of stockpiling the anticholinergic Agent 15 to use in the Persian Gulf War against Kurds and Iranians. Another similar chemical known as BZ was weaponised by the U.S. military during the Cold War. Thankfully, stocks were uncovered and destroyed before it was deployed. BZ was also discovered by accident by a scientist innocently working on digestive disorders.
Despite some of these examples, where dangerous biological weaponry has emerged from otherwise benign research; there would be no sense in avoiding all scientific research in the fear that someone might accidentally stumble across the next weapon of mass destruction. Scientists certainly have a duty to be aware of the potential uses for their work, especially since research is (or should be) freely accessible online. However, ceasing research into potentially hazardous chemicals altogether would inhibit some pretty important discoveries; especially since many chemicals which are beneficial in small doses, could have a lethal ‘dual-use’. Indeed, drugs which inhibit AChE are not just potential biological weapons, they are also currently the most widely used treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Perhaps, since the discovery of the occasional nasty seems unavoidable if important biological research is to continue, the best course of action would be to fund counter research into possible treatments.
At the University of Sheffield, Prof. Mike Blackburn and his collaborators have recently developed a ‘bioscavenger’ to mop up OP chemicals, preventing them from attaching to AChE. This kind of treatment will hopefully help save lives in the event of nerve agent attacks. Last year, Dr. Moshe Goldsmith at the Weizmann Institute in Israel mutated a human liver enzyme so that it could break down OP nerve gas molecules. While this research holds obvious benefits to humanity, the implications of this work also raises an ethical dilemma. If the gene code for this newly-evolved enzyme could be put into soliders, we could be faced with a scenario where armies can be genetically manipulated to become immune to chemical or biological weapons. Unfortunately, this hypothetically amazing feat of science could result in an biological arms race…a situation it’s hard to envisage anyone winning.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council has a Neuroscience Ethics Network that bring together researchers from all over the UK. Some of this article has been based on prospective lectures initiated by the Network, intended for undergraduate Neuroscience students. If you’d like to read more about the Network, please click here: http://www.lab.ls.manchester.ac.uk/neuroethicseducation/
Post by Natasha BrayA new app which allows people to vote using a selfie has been revealed by a leading election technology company.
Newsbeat had an exclusive demonstration of the software which uses facial recognition to let people register for elections and cast a vote.
Smartmatic, who developed the app, claim it is more secure than standard online banking or shopping systems.
The UK government told Newsbeat it's committed to "embracing technology" but the paper ballot system is most secure.
The app uses facial biometric data combined with a government-issued ID card to create a digital identity.
Users can then log in by taking a selfie and cast their vote remotely, from any location.
Mike Summers, programme manager at Smartmatic, told Newsbeat the app could encourage more people to take part in elections.
"There's huge potential, we're seeing a huge amount of interest in this," he said.
"There is an overwhelming reduction in participation in elections because people are more mobile now, so we see an opportunity to strengthen the process, to make it more accessible."
The paper ballot system, where voters put a cross in a box next to the name of their chosen candidate, has been in place since 1872.
Campaigners say online voting would be more convenient and make politicians more accountable.
Chief Executive of the Institute for Digital Democracy Areeq Chowdhury told Newsbeat it would help younger people have more influence.
"It would make politicians pay attention more to groups who'd be enfranchised more by this method of voting," he said.
"We're banking online, shopping online, even dating online so it doesn't make sense to continue with a process that is offline, that is stuck in the 1880s."
Many countries around the world use technology as part of the electoral process in different ways.
Touchscreen polling booths are common in the US and in Uganda people can scan their fingerprint to register to vote.
But concerns about cybersecurity mean some countries are scaling back on their use of voting technology.
France has suspended electronic voting in the current presidential election for people living overseas. And in the Netherlands, where ballot papers are normally scanned electronically, votes are being counted by hand.
Estonia is the only country where online voting has become widely used.
In the most recent parliamentary elections almost one in three votes was cast online, but officials admit the system has not boosted turnout.
"It didn't take people from the no-voting area because that's not enough," Priit Vinkel, head of the electoral office in Estonia, told Newsbeat.
"Having a novel, convenient method of voting is not enough. You need other incentives, you need policy, you need reasons."
The UK government claims it is "embracing technology" in the electoral process.
Online voter registration was introduced in 2014 and students are able to register to vote at the same time as starting a university course.
But Chris Skidmore MP, the government minister responsible for elections, told Newsbeat the paper ballot system is here to stay.
"We believe that the current paper and pen method is the best way forward, it means that each individual's vote is counted equally, one citizen one vote."
He said a pilot scheme in 2018, asking voters to show identification when they turn up to a polling station, will aim to combat fraud and voter impersonation.
"When you go to the polling station you'll present a form of identification and we're also looking at reforming postal voting," he explained.
"We've got to make sure that each person who's registered to vote gets the chance to vote and people need to have confidence that democracy is not being stolen from them."
In the UK, for now at least, it seems any form of electronic voting, let alone voting by selfie, is a long way off.
Follow @BBCNewsbeat on Twitter, BBCNewsbeat on Instagram, Radio1Newsbeat on YouTube and you can now follow BBC_Newsbeat on SnapchatThe Atlanta Falcons have been fined $350,000 and will forfeit a 2016 draft pick for piping crowd noise into the Georgia Dome during home games over the last two seasons.
The NFL announced the penalties Monday, saying that the Falcons will lose a fifth-round pick in next year's draft. If the Falcons have multiple picks in the fifth round, they will lose the highest of those selections, according to the NFL.
Editor's Picks McClure: Falcons escape harsh NFL punishment The Falcons are lucky that their punishment wasn't more severe for piping in crowd noise to the Georgia Dome over the past two seasons, Vaughn McClure writes.
"What took place was wrong and nowhere near the standards by which we run our business," Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement. "Anytime there are actions that compromise the integrity of the NFL or threaten the culture of our franchise, as this issue did, they will be dealt with swiftly and strongly."
Blank also stated that the Falcons will not appeal the punishment. He acknowledged wrongdoing last month, saying that he found the situation "embarrassing."
The NFL had been investigating the Falcons for piping in the noise while opposing teams were huddling, trying to call their plays. Some around the league have argued that silent counts have rendered crowd noise more irrelevant, and it's difficult to discern how much of an advantage it gave the Falcons.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said that the Falcons committed the violation "throughout the 2013 season and into the 2014 season until the club was notified last November that the violation had been identified."
"The League conducted a thorough investigation of this matter, and we cooperated fully," Blank said. "We understand the penalties imposed and their impact on our team, and we will not appeal the league's decisions. Further, we have addressed the matter internally and taken actions to ensure that something like this does not happen again.
"The Falcons and all of our other businesses are built upon a foundation of values that drive our decision making. This issue was a clear failure in that regard. I apologize for any embarrassment this situation has caused the NFL, our fans, and our Falcons players and associates."
Vincent revealed that the NFL concluded that Roddy White, the Falcons' former director of marketing -- not the four-time Pro Bowl receiver, was "directly responsible for the violation."
Falcons president Rich McKay was not aware of White's violations, according to the NFL, but will be suspended from the league's competition committee from April 1 through at least June 30 for failing to ensure that the franchise complied with league rules.
The Falcons went 3-4 at the Georgia Dome this season -- they played a "home" game in London -- and were blown out there 34-3 by the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 with the NFC South Division title on the line.
Before Monday's penalty for the Falcons, the New Orleans Saints, who lost picks in 2012 and 2013 as a result of their bounty scandal, were the last NFL team to forfeit a draft pick. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the NFL has now taken away 16 draft picks since 1980.
Forfeited NFL draft picks since 1980 Season(s) Team Forfeited Pick(s) 2016 Falcons 5th round pick for piping crowd noise into the Georgia Dome 2012, 2013 Saints 2nd-round picks in 2012 and 2013 for bounty matter 2011 Lions 7th-round pick for tampering with Chiefs players 2008 49ers 5th-round pick for tampering with Bears LB Lance Briggs 2008 Patriots 1st-round pick for "Spygate" scandal 2002, 2005 Broncos 3rd-round picks in 2002 and 2005 for circumventing salary cap between 1996-98 2001, 2002 49ers 2001 5th-round pick, 2002 3rd-round pick for salary cap violations 2001 Steelers 3rd-round pick for exceeding 1998 salary cap 1986 Patriots 3rd-round pick for illegal use of injured reserve list 1981 Broncos 3rd-round pick for contract violations involving Bill Thompson 1981 Raiders 5th-round pick for illegally sequestering two players in 1978 1980 Eagles 3rd-round pick for holding illegal tryout 1980 Raiders 4th-round pick for evasion of player limit -- ESPN Stats & Information
ESPN's Adam Schefter and ESPN.com Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure contributed to this report.Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you: It’s hell to lose a job.
But if that’s hell, a word may not exist for losing a job when you’re homeless.
Chanell Jones, 26, found this out the hard way after the San Francisco Police Department and Public Works started their sweeps of homeless encampments for Super Bowl City.
On Guard met Jones and her wife, Linda Fuchs, at the homeless protest Wednesday night near Super Bowl City. After hundreds marched, she told her tale.
Jones had it good. She was a line cook at two restaurants in Fisherman’s Wharf. A dream. She came to San Francisco partly to be with her wife, but was also excited to work in a city known for its culinary prowess.
The restaurateurs didn’t care she was homeless — they just cared that she could cook.
And cook she could. One former manager, who spoke on background, told me they worked with Jones’ special situation for six months, giving her opportunities to learn and for possible career advancement.
Employee of the month she was not. Her attendance was rocky, the manager said. But the manager cared for her and tried to make it work.
“There were days missed due to my homelessness, handling business to get off these streets,” Jones said. Ultimately, “they worked with me as best as they could.”
Jennifer Friedenbach, of the Coalition on Homelessness, said work is often tough for the homeless.
“It’s really traumatizing” living outdoors, she said. Living exposed on the street invites constant fear of unknown horrors, which can wear down the mind.
The ensuing sleep deprivation – from noise, from fear, from the cold – can deteriorate one’s health, she said.
So Jones’ work was always precarious. But you’ve got to make money to get off the streets. So in January, she took on a second job at another restaurant nearby.
That’s when the sweeps came.
Jones and Fuchs said they were told to move “15 times” during the month of January. One night, they were told to move multiple times. Eventually, they pitched tents at 13th and Harrison streets, the “tent city” seen so frequently in the news this week.
Though the mayor publicly said the homeless had to “leave” for Super Bowl City, Public Works spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said there was no directive from the Mayor’s Office to remove tents for Super Bowl City.
“We may remove tents” if they are impeding the path of travel or causing another hazard in the right of way, or if they are abandoned, Gordon said.
Justified or not, for the Super Bowl or not, the sweeps gave Jones a desperate choice: She could protect her belongings and only means of shelter, or be late for work.
She quit her first job to protect her home alongside her wife.
The sweeps continued, and she was late to her second job. This happened again. And again.
They fired her.
We verified her employment with both restaurants, and fellow employees who knew her said she was terminated from the second job.
The last homeless survey counted 11 percent of San Francisco’s homeless working for a living, Friedenbach said.
Through a clenched jaw, Jones told me “We are one of these people, a handful of these people, trying to get off of these streets.”
She doesn’t blame Public Works. She doesn’t blame the restaurants.
In the end, Jones, like many San Franciscans, wonders at Mayor Ed Lee’s $5 million Super Bowl City — and why she had to be moved to make way for it.
I asked her to speak directly to the mayor who told her she was not welcome. This is what she said:
“Mayor Ed Lee, I had to (leave) my two jobs. I got fired from one because of your sweeps.
“You will never know until you’re in my situation, until you wake up with the rain hitting your face. You will never understand my situation Mayor Ed Lee. I challenge you to walk a mile in my shoes. I challenge you.
“If you’ve never done it, never been through it, don’t say you understand. Because you don’t.
“It hurts like hell.”
On Guard prints the news and raises hell each Tuesday. Email him at joe@sfexaminer.com.Speech
Ending Too Big to Fail
Remarks at the Global Economic Policy Forum, New York City
It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to speak here today. My remarks are going to focus on what is called the “too big to fail” problem. As you are aware, this problem arises when the failure of a large, complex financial institution threatens to cause such significant disruption to the financial system and the economy that these potential costs are judged as too severe to bear, leading to government intervention to prevent the failure. As a result, the firm, by being too big to fail, gains an implicit guarantee at the taxpayers’ expense that it does not have to pay for. I think there is broad agreement that such a regime is unacceptable in several respects. The first problem is that it creates an uneven playing field between large and small financial firms, with larger financial firms gaining a funding advantage from the perception that they may be too big to fail. The second problem is that this funding advantage creates incentives for financial firms to become bigger and more complex. The third problem is that there is a positive feedback loop. As the banking system becomes more concentrated and complex, that just increases the financial stability risks, making the too big to fail problem even more acute.
So what should we do about it? Today, I will evaluate three broad sets of choices: 1) Building a credible resolution regime and more resiliency in the financial system that together reduce the systemic costs of failure sufficiently so that large, complex firms can be allowed to fail; 2) taking steps, such as tougher prudential standards, that further reduce the probability of failure of such firms; and 3) breaking up the too big to fail firms so that no firm is so large that its failure would threaten financial stability in the first place.
To summarize, I conclude that building a credible resolution regime is necessary but not sufficient. Even if the single-point of entry resolution framework proposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which I very much endorse, is fully perfected, the costs of resolution for the largest systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs) will still be significant. I will argue that at least as much effort should be made to lower the risk of failure of such large, complex firms. Not only does this include higher capital and liquidity requirements, which we are implementing, but also building incentives into the system so that firm managements will act more forcefully and much earlier to put their firms on more solid ground before they encounter greater difficulties.
Finally, I am not yet convinced that breaking up large, complex firms is the right approach. In particular, these firms presumably exist, in large part, because there are scale or network effects that allow these firms to offer certain types of services that have value to their global clients. These benefits might be lost or diminished if such firms were broken up. In addition, the costs incurred in breaking up such firms need to be considered. Finally, the breakup of such firms would not necessarily result in a significant reduction in overall systemic risk if the resulting component firms were still, collectively, systemic.
As always, what I have to say reflects my own views and not necessarily those of the Federal Reserve System.
Defining the Too Big to Fail Problem
The root cause of the too big to fail problem is the fact that the failure of a large, complex financial firm is likely to generate significant, undesirable externalities. These include disruption to the ability of the financial system to provide credit and other essential financial services to households and businesses. When this happens, not only is the financial sector adversely affected, but its troubles spill over and harm the real economy.
Although there are negative externalities associated with the failure of any financial firm, these externalities are disproportionately more damaging in the case of large, complex and interconnected firms. However, despite the label, too big to fail, the magnitude of these externalities does not depend simply on size. The extent of the externalities also depends on the particular mix of business activities and the degree of interconnectedness with the rest of the financial industry. One significant element is the importance of the services the firm provides to the broader financial system and the economy, as well as the ease with which its customers can move their business to other providers. Another element is the extent to which the firm’s structure and activities create the potential for contagion—that is, the potential that a problem at one firm could spread more broadly through the financial system. Contagion might occur along several different pathways, including the direct losses imposed by failure on the firm’s counterparties, the impact of the failure on the asset prices held by other leveraged financial institutions, or a loss of confidence spreading to other firms with similar business models.
The presence of large negative externalities creates a dilemma for policymakers when such firms are in danger of failing, particularly at a time when the wider financial system is also under stress. At that point in time, the expected costs to society of failure are very large compared to the short-run costs from providing the extraordinary liquidity support, capital, or other emergency assistance necessary to prevent catastrophic failure.
The market's belief that a too big to fail firm is more likely to be rescued in the event of distress than other firms weakens the degree of market discipline exerted by capital providers and counterparties. Since the government does not charge for this implicit guarantee, this reduces the firm's cost of funds and incents the firm to take more risk than would be the case if there were no prospect of rescue and funding costs were higher. The fact that firms deemed by the market to be too big to fail enjoy an artificial subsidy in the form of lower funding costs distorts competition to the detriment of smaller, less complex firms. This advantage, in turn, creates an unfortunate incentive for firms to get even larger and more complex. As a result, the funding benefit of being seen to be too big to fail causes the financial system to become skewed toward larger and more complex firms in ways that are unrelated to true economies of scale and scope.
Thus, the too big to fail problem consists of two intertwined issues. The first is that the negative consequences to the financial system and to the economy from failure for a given set of firms are unacceptably high. This is the financial stability risk. The second is that anticipated interventions to prevent catastrophic failure create an uneven playing field. Not only is this outcome unacceptable from an equity or fairness perspective, but it is also undesirable because it can increase the incentives for firms to become even bigger and more complex. Over time, this may lead to a greater number of systemically important firms and expose the financial system to greater systemic risk.
This suggests that we need to maintain our focus on two goals: (1) Making the financial system more stable by reducing the degree of disruption when failures occur—that is, shrinking the size of the externalities—and by lowering the risk of failure in the first place, and (2) eliminating the artificial advantages that large, complex firms might have that create incentives for them to become bigger and more complex.
One more point deserves emphasis. Only eliminating the competitive advantage of large, complex firms from the too big to fail subsidy will not necessarily make the financial system more stable. For example, consider a regime in which interventions to prevent the failure of large, systemically important firms were impossible. In that case, the funding advantage that comes from being perceived as too big to fail would be eliminated because such firms could fail putting the firm’s equity and debt holders at risk. But, this would not be a good outcome from a financial stability perspective because the failure of such firms could still be catastrophic for the financial system and the economy. Thus, we need to solve the “fairness/subsidy” issue, but do so in a way that ensures that the resulting regime is more stable, resilient and robust.
The Fairness/Subsidy Issue
There is considerable debate about the size of the funding advantage of large banks that is due to too big to fail and how much this funding advantage creates incentives to become larger and more complex. One reason is that it is difficult to measure the size of these effects. For example, consider funding costs. We can document that larger banks’ unsecured debt funding costs tend to be lower than those for smaller banks. But the funding costs for larger firms across a broad range of industries also tend to be lower than for smaller firms in the same industries. This reflects, in part, the fact that the debt issues of larger firms tend to be more sizeable and more liquid. In addition, larger firms may be more diversified on average and thus less prone to failure, everything else equal.
The measurement challenge, then, is to identify what portion of the lower funding costs at the largest financial firms, after accounting for these other factors, is due to a perception among investors that such firms are too big to fail.
Despite these measurement difficulties, most of the evidence is consistent with a too big to fail funding advantage in banking. First, during the financial crisis, we observed that the funding cost advantage of the larger banks grew substantially relative to the smaller banks as the crisis became more acute. This is noteworthy because if the funding cost advantage is due to a too big to fail premium, then that premium should rise when the economic environment worsens and the potential risk of failure increases. Of course, the Dodd-Frank Act has changed the landscape.
Second, ongoing research by Federal Reserve Bank of New York staff shows that the funding advantage of large versus small banks is higher than the funding advantage for large versus small non-bank financial firms and non-financial firms when other factors are held constant.
Third, the major rating agencies add an uplift to their credit ratings for the largest banks due to the prospect of government support. While it is possible that the rating agencies are wrong in their assessment, what matters is perception. If investors share this view or simply follow the ratings, then this should create a too big to fail funding advantage.
With respect to the second consequence of the subsidy—the incentive for management to make their firms larger and more complex so as to be perceived as too big to fail and thus able to take advantage of any funding subsidy—this is harder to evaluate. On one hand, this is not the only incentive management may have to get bigger. For example, the fact that chief executive officer compensation and prestige are related to size may be just as important. On the other, this still is a problem because it works to distort the structure of the financial system and makes—by encouraging the proliferation of large, complex firms—the too big to fail problem worse.
I conclude that while the funding advantage issue is very relevant to the debate on too big to fail, it may not be the most important issue. To me, the unacceptable risk posed to financial stability from the failure of large, systemic firms is at least as important.
Solving Too Big to Fail
As I see it, there are two broad ways of solving the too big to fail problem. The first is to create a more robust financial system so that the failure of a large, systemically important financial firm does not threaten to take down the rest of the financial system. In this case, the authorities can let the troubled firm fail. Because failure is now credible, this should also eliminate the funding advantage from being perceived as too big to fail.
The second is to take steps to prevent the failure of such large, complex firms in the first place. This also reduces any funding advantage for firms perceived as being too big to fail, but without some of the negative financial stability consequences associated with failure. I view these two strands as complements rather than substitutes, with more work necessary on both.
Turning first to the issue of reducing the consequences of failure, there are numerous elements of this effort underway. Some are focused on making the financial market infrastructure more robust so that when a failure occurs the shock is dampened, not amplified and propagated throughout the financial system. For example, considerable effort has been made to create incentives for firms to standardize over-the-counter derivative trades and to clear those trades through central counterparties. Similarly, extensive work has been undertaken by the Federal Reserve and the major clearing banks to make the tri-party repo system more stable. Money market mutual fund reform is also part of this ongoing effort.
Other initiatives are focused on reducing the financial stability consequences from the failure of a systemically important financial firm. The major initiative here is the single point of entry framework for resolution proposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Under this framework, if a financial firm is to be resolved under Title II of the Dodd-Frank Act, the FDIC will place the top tier bank holding company into receivership and its assets will be transferred to a bridge holding company. The equity holders will be wiped out and sufficient long-term unsecured debt will be converted into equity in the new bridge company to cover any remaining losses and to ensure that the new entity is well capitalized and deemed creditworthy. Subsidiaries would continue to operate, which should limit the incentives for customers to run. By assigning losses to shareholders and unsecured creditors of the holding company and transferring sound operating subsidiaries to a new solvent entity, such a "top-down" resolution strategy should ensure continuity with respect to any critical services performed by the firm’s subsidiaries and this should help limit the magnitude of any negative externalities.
I very much endorse the FDIC’s single point of entry framework for resolution. I think it is the best plan for implementing Title II given the complexity and scope of large, global financial institutions, and I also think it is well suited to the U.S. bank holding company framework. For this regime to work properly there needs to be a sufficient amount of debt outstanding at the parent company that can be converted by the FDIC into equity to ensure that the new bridge company will be demonstrably well-capitalized. We don’t yet have a long-term debt requirement—this is an area where we are still working out the details. My own view is that a holding company needs a substantial amount of long-term debt to ensure that the newly created bridge company will be considered fully viable by its counterparties.
While the Title II single-point-of-entry strategy holds tremendous promise, there are important implementation issues that still need to be worked out. Implementing the resolution regime on a cross-border basis remains one of the most significant challenges. In this regard, I am worried about two current shortcomings:
The reach of Title II’s one-day stay on the close out of qualified financial contracts is incomplete and does not extend to contracts governed by non-U.S. law with non-U.S. counterparties.
The placement of the parent company into receivership may be treated by these counterparties as an event of default due to the presence of a parent guarantee or other cross-default provisions triggered by the parent-level insolvency.
Unless market participants make the appropriate contractual changes that will ensure that the placement of the parent company into Title II will not trigger the close-out provisions of over-the-counter derivatives and other qualified financial contracts that are outside the reach of Title II’s U.S. application, foreign counterparties to a SIFI will tend to exercise this right whenever it is in their individual economic interest to do so. This would create significant difficulties. Such actions could greatly complicate the operations of the firm during a time when it is already under considerable stress and could propagate stress more broadly in financial markets.
There are two main courses of action for addressing this concern, and they are not mutually exclusive. First, existing derivative contracts need to be amended and future contracts need to provide that the parent’s entry into the Title II proceeding does not trigger the close out option. Second, legal changes need to be implemented abroad so that the one-day stay that applies to qualified financial contracts governed by U.S. law is enforceable against those contracts governed by foreign law. Only by making these changes can we avoid the potential for disruptive close outs. I strongly encourage the ongoing efforts to address this critical issue.
A second issue with respect to Title II resolution on a cross-border basis is that we cannot be certain how foreign authorities will react when the parent holding company is put into the Title II proceeding. While the U.S. authorities have been in discussion with our colleagues abroad to enable the coordination needed for a smooth cross-border resolution process, uncertainties remain regarding the circumstances under which host authorities may either choose to take or be required to take actions such as unilateral "ring-fencing" that might disrupt the implementation of the single point of entry approach. Thus, we need to continue to work with foreign regulators to iron out any issues ahead of time to remove these uncertainties so that the resolution regime will work well for global, systemically important firms.
Another issue with respect to the Title II resolution regime is the residual uncertainty about whether a particular firm in fact would go through a Title II resolution. Recall that under the Dodd-Frank Act, Title II is not the default approach for dealing with the failure of a large complex firm. For a firm to go through Title II, a determination must first be made that the failure of the firm and its resolution would have serious adverse effects on U.S. financial stability under the insolvency law that would otherwise apply. This means that market participants will not know for certain which path U.S. authorities will ultimately take until this determination is made—allowing resolution under ordinary insolvency law, as contemplated under Title I, versus initiating a Title II resolution. Faced with this uncertainty, investors in the short-term obligations that would likely be protected only under the Title II regime could decide to run.
Reducing the Likelihood of Failure
Even with an appropriate resolution process in place that ends too big to fail, the consequences of failure will still be messy. Also, market discipline is only effective to the extent that those investors with their funds at risk perform the appropriate due diligence on an ongoing basis. This suggests that a resolution regime by itself is not sufficient. Further efforts should also be made to reduce the probability of a default.
A number of steps have already been taken along these lines that further reduce default risk. The Basel III framework significantly raises both the quantity and quality of capital required of internationally active bank holding companies. This risk-weighted capital standard is also being augmented by a higher leverage ratio requirement. The Basel framework will also require SIFIs to hold additional capital due to their complexity (more commonly referred to as the SIFI surcharge). As a result, the capital buffer for the more systemic firms should be higher based on size, complexity, interconnectedness, global exposure and substitutability, so that their expected probability of failure will be lower than for less systemic firms.1
The SIFI surcharge acts as a penalty for size and complexity, leaning against any remaining funding cost advantage that might remain for a large |
talent and ambition to be; a great global trading nation that is respected around the world and strong, confident and united at home,' she said.
'That is why this Government has a plan for Britain; one that gets us the right deal abroad but also ensures we get a better deal for ordinary working people at home.
'It's why this plan sets how we will use this moment of change to build a stronger economy and a fairer society.'
THE 12 PRIORITIES THAT UNDERPIN THE PM'S BREXIT PLAN Today Theresa May set out 12 priorities for her upcoming Brexit negotiations with the EU: Promised to provide 'certainty and clarity' to business and the public sector 'wherever we can' but warned that compromises in the negotiations will be inevitable. Pledged to give MPs and peers a vote on the final Brexit deal. The UK will take control of our own affairs once again by ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Laws will only be made in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, the PM said. Strengthen the 'precious union' between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to 'face the future together'. No hard border in Ireland. Mrs May promised to reach a 'practical solution' to maintain the Common Travel Area with the Republic of Ireland. Regain control of the number of people who come to Britain from Europe by ending freedom of movement rules. Secure a deal 'as soon as we can' on the rights of EU nationals already living in the UK to stay in Britain after Brexit in exchange for British expats currently living on the continent to remain there. Promised to not only translate EU law protecting workers' rights into UK law but to 'build on them'. On trade Mrs May promised to prioritise Europe and to pursue a 'bold and ambitious' free trade agreement with Brussels. But she set out a vision for a 'global Britain' that would see Britain'rediscover its role as a great, global trading nation' by striking new trade deals with the world's biggest economies. Continue to work with European partners on major science, research and technology initiatives rather than weaken the collaboration. Pledged not to weaken the partnership with Europe on fighting crime and terrorism and said British authorities will continue to share intelligence material with EU allies to fight common threats. Vowed to pursue all these objectives in a'smooth and orderly' approach. The PM said a 'phased process of implementation' for UK and EU institutions will protect business from a 'cliff-edge' scenario where they would be left stranded in a regulatory no man's land.
In a passage aimed firmly at the leaders of the EU and its member states, Mrs May said they must learn from the resounding verdict of the British electorate.
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'I believe there is a lesson in Brexit - not just for Britain but if it wants to succeed, for the EU itself, because our continent's great strength has been its diversity. And there are two ways of dealing with different interests,' she said.
'You can respond by trying to hold things together by force, tightening a vice-like grip that ends up crushing into tiny pieces the things you want to protect.
'Or you can respect difference, cherish it even and reform the EU so that it deals better with the wonderful diversity of its member states.'
Without even bothering to veil the threat, Mrs May said she knew some in the EU wanted to impose a 'punitive' settlement on Britain.
But she said it would be an 'act of calamitous self-harm' for the Brussels club, and the UK would slash tax rates and regulation to lure in business.
'It would not be the act of a friend,' she said. 'No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal.'
The premier rejected partial or associate membership in favour of a 'brighter future' outside the Brussels bloc.
She said staying in the single market was unacceptable because it would mean keeping free movement and European judges still being able to meddle.
'I want to be clear: what I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market,' she said.
'European leaders have said many times that membership means accepting the four freedoms of goods, capital, services and people.
'And being out of the EU, but a member of the single market, would mean complying with the EU's rules and regulations that implement those freedoms without having a vote on what those rules and regulations are.'
The PM's 12-point plan will see Britain regain full control over borders and quit both the single market and European Court of Justice. She insisted the UK can become a great, outward-looking trading nation.
'We seek a new and equal partnership – between an independent, self-governing, global Britain and our friends and allies in the EU,' she said.
'Not partial membership of the European Union, associate membership of the European Union, or anything that leaves us half-in, half-out.
'We do not seek to adopt a model already enjoyed by other countries. We do not seek to hold on to bits of membership as we leave.
'The United Kingdom is leaving the European Union. My job is to get the right deal for Britain as we do.'
The PM did not explicitly vow to leave the customs union, which allows tariff-free trade and the movement of goods between its members.
Mrs May wore the same tartan trouser suit as when she launched her bid for the Tory leadership last summer
But she said she was determined not to sign up to anything that restricts the ability to take back sovereignty from the ECJ or prevents solo trade deals with the rest of the world.
In effect, that means quitting the customs union as it stands, and trying to strike a new trade deal which gives Britain the best of both worlds. One option would be to opt back in to some elements of the customs union, but on our own terms.
Mrs May damned predecessor David Cameron with faint praise by saying he had made a 'valiant effort' to renegotiate our membership terms.
But she said that was the 'final attempt to make it work for Britain'.
'The blunt truth as we know was there was not enough flexibility on many important matters for a majority of British voters,' she said.
Laying out her guiding principles once she triggers the two-year article 50 process for leaving the EU in March, Mrs May underlined the need to provide certainty and clarity to business, while delivering a'stronger, fairer, truly global Britain'.
She said the British people voted for Brexit 'with their eyes open'.
The PM said she believed a solution could be found to concerns that a 'hard' border could be needed between Northern Ireland and the Republic
Boris Johnson was clearly delighted with the PM's words, continuing his applause as she left Lancaster House
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Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Mrs May's 'powerful' speech will be 'well received' by EU nations.
Speaking to reporters at Lancaster House, he went on: 'Because it's negotiable, this is something that I think will be good for the UK and good for the rest of the EU as well.'
Asked why the EU would give the UK a 'free lunch', Mr Johnson said: 'As the Prime Minister said, I think it's going to be good for both sides.'
He went on: 'We very strongly think this is in our mutual interest. We're not leaving Europe, we're disentangling ourselves from the treaties of the EU.
'We can remain powerfully committed to Europe with a new European partnership... whilst also going forward with an identity as Global Britain.'
The Prime Minister's spokeswoman clarified later that the parliamentary vote on the final Brexit deal will be legally binding on the Government.
She said: 'We are focussed on getting the right deal for Britain and securing a bright future for our country and we now want our country – including MPs – to get behind that.
'We will be leaving the EU so we will be having a negotiation; the outcome – MPs will have an opportunity to vote on that.'
Setting out her detailed plan for Brexit, Mrs May - seen leaving Downing Street to deliver her speech today - rejected partial or associate membership
Mrs May briefed the Cabinet, including Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. this morning
Home Secretary Amber Rudd will be responsible for administering the new immigration system
Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, a prominent Leave campaigner, appeared pleased as she arrived for the Cabinet gathering this morning
Mrs May's hand in the negotiations has been dramatically strengthened after Donald Trump promised to do a quick trade deal with Britain yesterday.
The resilience of UK plc has also been underlined after the IMF revealed it was the fastest growing economy in the developed world last year – and sharply uprated its gloomy forecasts for 2017.
The tough line has already triggered a wave of protest from Remainers, who complain that leaving the single market or customs union would be a disaster for the economy.
Mrs May was watched at Lancaster House by an audience that included her top ministers and senior diplomats
Brexit Secretary David Davis made a statement to MPs in the wake of the speech, urging them to 'embrace this moment of change'
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European Council president Donald Tusk said the speech made him'sad', but praised it as'more realistic'.
The 27 EU states were 'united and ready to negotiate', he insisted.
Tim Farron accused Theresa May of a 'theft of democracy' as he led the pro-EU response to her Brexit speech.
The Liberal Democrat leader - who has demanded a second referendum on the EU despite only having nine MPs - said nobody voted for Britain's exit from the EU single market.
Leading Tory remainer Anna Soubry welcomed the announcement of a Commons vote on the final deal.
PM SETS STAGE FOR BREXIT SHOWDOWN WITH CONCESSION ON VOTE FOR MPS AND PEERS Theresa May has set the stage for a Brexit showdown by announcing that MPs and peers will get a vote on the final deal. The concession by the Prime Minister comes after months of rowing about parliament's role in the process. Whatever package is negotiated with the EU will now be put to the Commons and the Lords for approval. The move has been broadly welcomed by Labour and the Lib Dems. However, it does not have any bearing on the ongoing battle over whether Mrs May has the executive power to start the two-year Brexit process. The Supreme Court is due to rule imminently on that issue - with the government facing being forced to bring forward emergency legislation to repeal the Act that underpins our membership.
She tweeted: 'PM's speech has much to commend it & tone spot on. Wish she'd said it in Parliament before party conference!'
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: 'Theresa May has made clear that she is determined to use Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven on the shores of Europe.
'She makes out this is a negotiating threat to the 27 EU countries but it's actually a threat to the British people's jobs, services and living standards.'
Labour former cabinet minister and arch-Europhile Lord Mandelson accused Mrs May of pretending there was a 'clicky fingers' solution to Brexit.
The peer insisted the UK should accept the EU's principle of free movement - which has helped drive net migration to 330,000 a year - in return for staying in the single market.
'There are no clicky finger solutions to these issues, but not even to acknowledge the difficult choices that have to be made, I think is very worrying indeed,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Mrs May briefed the Cabinet on her vision this morning before delivering her speech.
At the top of the list of her 12 objectives is a commitment to regain control of the UK's borders with a visa regime for EU workers and a pledge to restore British sovereignty by no longer being subject to the rulings of the European Court of Justice.
There is also a key goal of securing a deal that will allow the three million EU citizens living in Britain to stay here, with a reciprocal arrangement for Britons living abroad.
In a bid to ease tensions north of the border, the PM made a specific commitment to 'preserve the Union' with Scotland by securing a Brexit that works for those on both sides of the border.
Chancellor Philip Hammond has threatened to slash business taxes if the EU will not reach agreement on tariff-free trade. The tactic has been dubbed a'recipe for a trade war' by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was among those who witnessed the PM plot the course for our departure from the EU
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Mrs May said: 'I want us to be a secure, prosperous, tolerant country – a magnet for international talent and a home to the pioneers and innovators who will shape the world ahead.
'I want us to be a truly global Britain – the best friend and neighbour to our European partners, but a country that reaches beyond the borders of Europe too. A country that gets out into the world to build relationships with old friends and new allies alike.
'I want Britain to be what we have the potential and ambition to be: a great, global trading nation that is respected around the world and strong, confident and united at home.'
Yesterday, Berlin and Brussels reacted with fury to a prediction by Mr Trump that the EU could begin to fall apart – with other countries quitting the bloc in protest at mass immigration.
Pound leaps against the dollar and the euro as Theresa May spells out her Brexit plan
Mrs May's speech saw the pound leap against the US dollar and the euro
The pound soared as Theresa May set out her 12-point Brexit plan today.
Half an hour after Mrs May's speech ended the pound was up 2.5 per cent against the dollar, at 1.23, and 1.6 per cent against the euro at 1.15.
The pound had plunged in recent days in anticipation of Mrs May's speech, which is expected to confirm Britain will leave the EU single market.
Today's gains wiped out those losses as sterling had one of its strongest days in years.
London's main FTSE 100 stock index was also trading slightly down after Mrs May's speech.
Neil Wilson, senior market analyst at ETX Capital, said sterling soared on a 'far less hawkish Brexit speech from Theresa May than many had feared'.
He added: 'A wolf in sheep's clothing? Arguably Theresa May's greatest trick appears to have been to deliver what amounts to a fairly hard Brexit message without the markets going into a flat spin.
'Some judicious leaks in the last couple of days had primed investors for the UK to be leaving the single market.
'Many expected a tough sounding speech that would send the pound lower - that could yet happen as we progress towards invoking Article 50.
'And the looming Supreme Court judgment still matters a great deal.'
Ahead of the speech, Downing Street admitted that the speech to diplomats in London today would spark more volatility, as markets bet on how the Brexit negotiations will pan out.
Tim Farron claims Theresa May's full Brexit is a 'theft of democracy'
Tim Farron accused Theresa May of a 'theft of democracy' today as he led the pro-EU response to her Brexit speech.
The Liberal Democrat leader - who has demanded a second referendum on the EU despite only having nine MPs - said nobody voted for Britain's exit from the EU single market.
His claim comes despite key figures on both sides of last year's referendum battle making clear single market membership would end after Brexit.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused Theresa May of a 'theft of democracy' today as he led the pro-EU response to her Brexit speech
The Prime Minister made clear for the first time today Britain could not be a single market member while securing her objectives of controlling immigration and striking trade deals.
Mr Farron said: 'Theresa May has confirmed Britain is heading for a Hard Brexit. She claimed people voted to Leave the Single Market. They didn't.
'She has made the choice to do massive damage to the British economy.
'Theresa May also made clear that she will deny the people a vote on the final deal. So instead of a democratic decision by the people in the country, she wants a stitch-up by politicians in Westminster.
'The people voted for departure, they should be given a vote on the destination. This is a theft of democracy.'
He added: 'When it comes to British prosperity and British democracy, she is waiving the white flag from the White Cliffs of Dover.'
Mrs May used a major speech on her Brexit plan to confirm Britain will leave the single market as part of a 12-point plan
Leading Tory remainer Anna Soubry welcomed the announcement of a Commons vote on the final deal.
She tweeted: 'PM's speech has much to commend it & tone spot on. Wish she'd said it in Parliament before party conference!
'I will continue to campaign for single market and free movement. With good transitional arrangements PM has rejected hard Brexit and that's v good news.
'Parliament will vote on the final deal - now let's have a white paper, scrutiny and debate.'
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: 'Theresa May has made clear that she is determined to use Brexit to turn Britain into a bargain basement tax haven on the shores of Europe. She makes out this is a negotiating threat to the 27 EU countries but it's actually a threat to the British people's jobs, services and living standards.
'We welcome that the Prime Minister has listened to the case we've been making about the need for full tariff free access to the single market but are deeply concerned about her reckless approach to achieving it.
'This speech should have been given in Parliament where MPs could ask her questions on behalf of their constituents.
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'She talks about Brexit restoring parliamentary sovereignty but, once again, she is determined to avoid real scrutiny of her plans.'The retail space once occupied by Elgin Street staple Boushey’s Fruit Market will be taken over by a Quickie convenience store.
Boushey’s, owned by the Boushey family for 70 years, closed its doors July 31. The store had aisles of pre-packaged food, but specialized in fresh offerings including fruit and vegetables, homemade soups, hummus and tabouli, and a deli and baked goods department, along with catering and gift basket services.
Regular customers expressed their disappointment when they heard the news the grocery store, considered to be an institution by many, was closing for good.
“Everything is really fresh and they have lots of stuff you can’t find at a normal grocery store,” said nearby resident Julie Lavoie before they closed. “I’m here pretty much every day. It’s a little family-owned business instead of a big corporation. I’m going to miss it and I think everyone is going to miss it.”
A notice was posted on the Elgin Street storefront, located on the corner of Waverley Street, confirming a building permit was issued by the city on Sept. 13 to retrofit the ground floor of the two-storey building.
Quickie is an Ottawa-based classic-style convenience store, with 52 stores around Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.
pmccooey@postmedia.comSan Antonio’s music scene can expect a memorable night at YOSA’s Abbey Road Live performance, slated for March 14, 2016 at the Tobin Center for Performing Arts.
The show will feature the songs and music from the Beatles’ Abbey Road ablum, interpreted by local bands and the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio (YOSA). Taking on one what is arguably the greatest albums of all time is no small feat, but if the success of YOSA’s Ok Computer Live gives any indication of the impact and success a concert like this can have, then Abbey Road is in more than capable hands.
If you were able to attend OK Computer Live, you’ll recall how rich and full the Radiohead album felt when re-contextualized within an orchestra, arranged and led by YOSA Music Director Troy Peters.
“One of my biggest considerations in selecting an album to cover next was finding something that would feature the warmth and variety of the orchestra’s sound,” Peters said. “In the end, I was drawn in by the remarkable variety of Abbey Road. The album explores an incredibly wide variety of styles and moods, making it perfect for reinterpretation by different guest artists.”
One of the most exciting things about the Radiohead concert was the lineup of talented local artists – many of whom were new to the audience. The performance managed to present new artists through a respected album supported by a full symphony orchestra – while remaining completely local. Abbey Road Live will follow the same structure as OK Computer while exploring the idea of combining artists and creating opportunities for collaboration.
Featured performers include:
• Jangly art-rock legends Buttercup
• December’s End, a indie folk-rock quartet
• Orchestral indie-pop collective Deer Vibes
• Femina-X, an avant-garde electronic group (Full disclosure, I play violin in this group)
• Soulful rock band fishermen
• The Marcsmen, an a cappella men’s chorus
• Up-and-coming indie pop group Octahedron
• The Please Help, fronted by local rock godfather Phillip Luna
•Dynamic pop-rockers Ready Revolution
•Sioux & Fox, a youthful baroque pop quartet
•Alyson Alonzo’s freewheeling blues collective, Sugar Skulls
•We Leave At Midnight, the psychedelic rock band
“We felt very lucky that the dozen guest artists we worked with on OK Computer Live were so varied and so wonderful. The chemistry and camaraderie that night made me want very much to do two things:
“First of all, I wanted to keep working with the OK Computer Live artists in other venues, which we have done,” Peters said. ”
YOSA collaborated with artists like Alyson Alonzo, Nicolette Good, and Octahedron in the Rivard Report’s first Estática event at Brick in August. In October, artist Nina Diaz was featured during YOSA’s “STOP! And Feel the Music event.”
YOSA has already made a profound impact on the local music scene through these collaborations and concerts. Many of the young musicians and alumni who performed in the orchestra that night have gone on to either join or create their own bands as a direct result. San Antonio’s music scene isn’t a small club, it includes many performers and continues to expand and evolve.
YOSA’s upcoming performance will feature both familiar artists and new rotating guest acts. Femina-X and Octahedron, who played at the OK Computer Live Show, will be returning for Abbey Road Live. Three others acts will return in a different configuration: Joe Reyes and Erik Sanden of Demitasse will perform with Buttercup, Alyson Alonzo will be joined by her band Sugar Skulls, and Jonathan Raveneau will perform with his band December’s End.
If you’re getting the sense that Peters and YOSA want this to be a recurring event, you’re right.
“We hope this concert becomes an annual tradition, with different bands and singers rotating in and out of the lineup over the years,” Peters said.
No two performances will be the same.
Ticket prices range between $18-$45, with a $20 add-on option that includes admission to the event’s after party at Radius. Tickets go on sale on Nov. 20, 2015 at 10 a.m. Click here to purchase tickets online.
Featured Image: YOSA musicians Andrew (left) and Kaan take a break before the performance. Photo by Scott Ball.
Related Stories:
Estática Sets a Tune for Musical Collaboration in San Antonio
Estática Vol. I: YOSA, Local Artists to Perform ‘OK Computer’ Encore
Photo Gallery: No Surprises, YOSA Rocks ‘OK Computer’
Support YOSA’s Radiohead Show: A Young Artist’s RequestMarch 27th, 2015
KDE Tops Poll
It didn’t take nearly as long to count the votes for our desktop poll as it did for last week’s distro poll, mainly due to the fact that not as many of you voted, but also because there aren’t nearly as many desktop environments and window managers as their are Linux distros. Also, unlike the distro poll, there was a clear cut winner instead of a virtual tie.
Actually, of course, it’s not about winners and losers. It’s about what you like. It’s about preferences. After all, unless you’re a diehard command line person, the desktop is how you interact with your computer.
Again this year, KDE tops the list with a commanding lead, piling up over a quarter of the 617 votes cast. This is a huge drop from the 70 percent showing it made the last time we conducted a desktop poll, back in January and February of last year. In that poll, however, users were only given three desktop choices — KDE, GNOME 3 and Cinnamon. This year, voters were served up a menu that included eight popular desktops from which to choose. As in last year’s poll, voters could also opt to place write-in votes.
Why KDE? According to your comments, there were two major reasons: stability and configurability, with many of you saying, “It just works.” But there seemed to be some disagreement over whether KDE’s legendary configurability is as great as it once was.
“I use a slimmed-down KDE4 Plasma desktop for the same reason I use Gentoo, serious configurability/customizability,” wrote a reader named Duncan. “Though, unfortunately, KDE4 lost a lot of that configurability, that being the biggest reason I use a lot less KDE now than I did back in the KDE3 era.”
Not so fast, chimed in another reader with the handle Unbenkownst: “I don’t think KDE4 has less options than KDE3 — though that might really have been the case on the first versions, maybe up to KDE4.3.”
Xfice took second place, with nearly 18 percent of the vote. Although this strong showing might seem a little surprising to some, the use of this lightweight but conventional desktop has definitely been on the rise in recent years: compare this year’s 110 votes with last year’s 22 write-in votes for example.
“I had to go with Xfce, it has all the features I want,” wrote Don Cosner. “Other DE’s keep taking away and adding back features, but Xfce takes a conservative approach to development.” Others mentioned Xfce’s sparing use of system resources as being important to them.
From the looks of things, GNOME might finally be on something of a comeback after several years of declining use. A year ago, in a field of three, which should’ve worked to its advantage, the once most popular Linux desktop picked up less than six percent of the votes cast. This year, as one out of eight, it made an impressive third place showing with over fifteen percent of the vote. We’ll be interested in seeing if this is the beginning of a trend.
Although we only allowed voters to choose one desktop in the poll, many of you indicated that you use multiple desktops — sometimes on the same machine and often across many machines.
“Depends on what hardware I use,” wrote Abdel. “Unity and Gnome for powerful machines. Xfce for middle-range ones. LXDE, Enlightenment and Openbox for the less powerful ones.”
A regular commenter on FOSS Force, tracyanne, also uses multiple desktops. “I use Unity most; it’s on my primary laptop. My recording studio laptop runs Ubuntu Studio, so that’s Xfce, my media center runs Ubuntu with GNOME 3 Legacy, and finally, a spare machine runs Linux Mint with Cinnamon. My partner runs Xubuntu with, of course, Xfce,” she wrote, then added: “I guess FOSS Force dislikes Unity so much they won’t include it as an option.”
Oops! We forgot to include Unity as a poll answer — and many of you noticed.
“Seems odd you don’t have Unity on list,” wrote cmcanulty. Another reader, joncr, agreed: “Suggests either obvious error or obvious bias. Whatever the final result, a batch of trollers will use it to trumpet ‘Unity No One’s Favorite.'”
The omission was merely a mistake, and not meant as editorial commentary. When we realized what we’d done, we had a collective palm-to-face Homer Simpson “Doh!” moment, and a few of us even muttered the “S” word under our breaths. We apologize to the folks at Canonical and to all the folks who work and play using Ubuntu and the Unity desktop.
In spite of this omission, Unity did pretty good for itself as a write-in candidate. With 30 votes, it picked up more write-ins than any other desktop and took sixth place in our poll overall.
The poll also revealed that many of you opt to use window managers instead of full fledged desktop environments, as six separate window managers picked up a total of 33 votes.
Desktop Votes KDE 157 Xfce 110 GNOME 95 Cinnamon 83 MATE 56 Unity 30 LXDE 26 *Fluxbox 9 Enlightenment 8 *Openbox 8 *i3 7 Pantheon 5 *Awesome 5 *Window Maker 3 *xmonad 2 LXQt 1 Trinity 1 ROX 1 * Denotes window manager instead of DE.
Thanks to all of you for taking part. We’ll do it again next year.via press release:
COMEDY CENTRAL: June 2012 Programming Highlights
(all times are et/pt)
WHAT’S SUMMER WITHOUT PIZZA, ROBOTS AND ONE-EYED ALIENS? “FUTURAMA” RETURNS TO COMEDY CENTRAL(R) WITH A TWO-EPISODE PREMIERE ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20 AT 10:00 P.M. AND 10:30 P.M. ET/PT
COMEDY CENTRAL TEAMS UP WITH BONNAROO MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL TO TAPE AN ORIGINAL ONE-HOUR COMPILATION STAND-UP SPECIAL PREMIERING ON SATURDAY, JUNE 23 AT 11:30 P.M. ET/PT
MERRY HALF CHRISTMAS! CELEBRATE THE “WORKAHOLICS'” FAVORITE HOLIDAY ON MONDAY, JUNE 25 WITH A BLOCK OF CHRISTMAS THEMED MOVIES, SPECIALS AND SERIES EPISODES
SHARE SOME LAUGHS WITH DAD THIS FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND! TUNE-IN FOR A RANDY MARSH “SOUTH PARK” MARATHON ON SATURDAY, JUNE 16 AND A FUTURISTIC FATHER’S DAY “FUTURAMA” MARATHON ON SUNDAY, JUNE 17
This June, viewers are advised to fasten their seatbelts for the return of everyone’s favorite intergalactic pizza delivery boy from the future. Fry, Bender, Leela and their alien friends are back on COMEDY CENTRAL to premiere a brand-new season of the Emmy(R) Award-winning series “Futurama.” The season kicks off with a two-episode premiere on Wednesday, June 20. For the first time ever, COMEDY CENTRAL and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival are joining forces to produce an original compilation stand-up special. Select performances from Bonnaroo’s Comedy Theatre will be filmed and edited into the one-hour special, debuting on Saturday, June 23. Celebrate the “Workaholics'” favorite holiday, Half Christmas, with the gang and watch holiday themed episodes of network favorite series, movies and specials on Monday, June 25. Make sure to give Dad the gift he’s been dreaming of – spend quality time together watching dad-centric episodes of “South Park” and “Futurama” on Father’s Day weekend. In addition, check out all-new episodes of the “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “The Colbert Report,” “Tosh.0,” “Workaholics” and “The Half Hour.”
SERIES
“Futurama” (Season Seven Premiere)
Wednesday, June 20 at 10:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
Prepare to be transported to the year 3000 for the return of Fry, Bender, Leela and the usual cast of twelve-dimensional space monsters. Back by popular demand, Matt Groening and David X. Cohen’s brilliantly subversive animated sci-fi comedy “Futurama” debuts its seventh season on COMEDY CENTRAL this summer. In 2011, the series earned two Emmy(R) Awards for Outstanding Animated Program and Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for Maurice LaMarche. “Futurama” follows the life of Philip J. Fry (Billy West), a pizza delivery boy who accidentally stumbles into a freezer on December 31, 1999 and wakes up a thousand years later. In his future home of New New York City, Fry goes to work for the Planet Express Intergalactic delivery company, where he befriends Bender (John DiMaggio), a booze-fueled robot, and sets his romantic sights on Leela (Katey Sagal), a sexy cyclops who enjoys beating him up.
SPECIALS
“COMEDY CENTRAL Live At Bonnaroo” (working title) – COMEDY CENTRAL Original Stand-Up Special (World Premiere)
Saturday, June 23 from 11:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. ET/PT
Didn’t get a chance to go to the 2012 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee? Don’t worry, COMEDY CENTRAL has your ticket! Tune in to see stand-up performances featured at the Comedy Theatre at Bonnaroo, which has become a favorite stop at the festival and has hosted some of the biggest comics touring today. Experience the Roo without having to sleep in a tent.
STUNTS
Father of the Year “South Park” Marathon (working title)
Saturday, June 16 from 9:00 p.m. – Midnight ET/PT
Get ready for Father’s Day by spending Saturday night with America’s favorite Dad: Randy Marsh. Join Randy as he fights for his honor, searches for the Internet, gets a marijuana card, produces a musical, and more. No need to get him a present, just watch some “South Park” and make Dad proud!
Futuristic Father’s Day (working title)
Sunday, June 17 from 6:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
Honor Dad this Father’s day by getting psyched for the new season with nine episodes of “Futurama,” all about being a father. Watch as the Professor clones a son, Bender adopts a dozen orphans, Fry becomes his own grandfather, and Kif gets knocked up by a girl. Fans don’t have to watch with their dad, but he’d probably like them more if they did.
Half Christmas
Monday, June 25 from 10:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. ET/PT
The smell of chestnuts roasting over an open fire and sunscreen can only mean one thing: it’s Half Christmas! It’s the “Workaholics'” favorite time of year. Finish up the last minute shopping and decorating, and gather the family around the television for holiday favorites like “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Jeff Dunham’s Very Special Christmas Special,” and more holiday cheer starting at 10:00 a.m.
MOVIES
“Grandma’s Boy” – COMEDY CENTRAL Premiere
Saturday, June 2 from 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. ET/PT
Starring Nick Swardson and Jonah Hill. Evicted from his apartment, video game tester Alex has no choice but to move in with his grandmother and her two eccentric roommates who fill his free time with chores around the house. Though exhausted from working all day and designing his own video game by night, Alex must figure out how to compete with the company hotshot and get the girl of his dreams.
“Private Parts” – COMEDY CENTRAL Premiere
Saturday, June 2 from 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. ET/PT
Starring Howard Stern, Robin Quivers, and Paul Giamatti. Howard Stern stars as himself in this adaptation of his best-selling autobiography. Watch his journey from an awkward teenager to a breakout success on the radio.
“Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins” – COMEDY CENTRAL Premiere
Saturday, June 9 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET/PT
Starring Martin Lawrence, Cedric the Entertainer. Dr. Roscoe Stevens is a talk-show sensation who seems to have everything – fame, fortune, and a hot fianc?. When he returns to his sleepy, Southern hometown for a family celebration, Roscoe is quickly reminded of all the reasons he left in the first place. As his crazy, small-town family challenges his new big-city attitude, Roscoe is forced to take a look at the man he’s become.
“Mallrats” – COMEDY CENTRAL Premiere
Friday, June 22 from Midnight – 2:00 a.m. ET/PT
Starring Ben Affleck, Jeremy London, and Jason Lee. Catch the COMEDY CENTRAL premiere of this ’90s classic from Kevin Smith about two broken-hearted guys who head to the mall to kill some time. Join them as they find a slew of mall misfits, including fan favorites Jay and Silent Bob, and wind up in a twisted plot to win back their girlfriends and stick it to their enemies.
“Mystery Men” – COMEDY CENTRAL Premiere
Saturday, June 23 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET/PT
Starring Ben Stiller, William H. Macy, and Hank Azaria. In Champion City, wannabe superheroes Mr. Furious, The Shoveler, and The Blue Raja struggle to make a name for themselves in the shadow of the city’s greatest superhero, Captain Amazing. However, when Captain Amazing is kidnapped by supervillain Cassanova Frankenstein, the fate of the city lies in their inadequate hands.SIR Mick Jagger has become a father again at the age of 73 with his partner Melanie Hamrick, who – at 29 – is 44 years his junior.
The news of the Rolling Stones frontman’s new arrival was confirmed by his publicist Bernard Doherty.
Sir Mick and Ms Hamrick welcomed a son in New York on Thursday.
A statement said: “Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger’s son was born today in New York and they are both delighted.
“Mick was at the hospital for the arrival. Mother and baby are doing well and we request that the media respect their privacy at this time.” The new addition is Sir Mick’s eighth child, and his first with ballerina Ms Hamrick.
The couple began dating after the suicide of fashion designer L’Wren Scott, Sir Mick’s partner of 13 years, in 2014. The rock star has seven children – Karis, Jade, Elizabeth, James, Georgia, Gabriel and Lucas – from previous relationships.
Their ages range from 17 to 46, with his eldest child Karis Hunt Jagger – from his relationship with Marsha Hunt – 17 years older than Ms Hamrick.
He had daughter Jade Jagger, now 45, with his ex-wife Bianca.
Sir Mick had four children with his ex-partner Jerry Hall – Elizabeth, 32, James, 31, Georgia, 24 |
team and a Portsmouth goalkeeper's jersey were among the items sold
Other goods included a boxed and unused retro Raleigh Chopper bike, which went for more than £1000.
Hilco's Spencer Chapman said there had been "interest from around the world with more than 1,000 registrants across the 10-day sales period".
"We've not really dealt with a sale on behalf of a sporting celebrity like this before and clearly that had added some value to the lots," he said.
"Sports memorabilia is a very popular market and signed shirts are the kind of items you can't really put a price on, but there were also some very quirky lots in there too.
"There were more than 1,800 vinyl records, DJ decks and a customised Vauxhall Astra van, which attracted a lot of interest and sold for a very reasonable price."
Image copyright Hilco Image caption A customised van, a chainsaw and a sculpture of a I Love NY mug were all auctioned
The lots also included a chainsaw, an exercise bicycle, a Korg synthesiser, a giant I Love NY mug sculpture and three flat screen televisions.
The star, who now plays for and manages Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League, won 53 England caps during a career that also saw spells at Watford, Bristol City and Bournemouth.This item has been removed from the community because it violates Steam Community & Content Guidelines. It is only visible to you. If you believe your item has been removed by mistake, please contact Steam Support
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My Base [03.11.14]
Title Description I put this together out of a lot of screenshots. It's far not finished! Will upload it again if I've done some progress. Hope you like it :D Save Cancel
Created by Goldlocke-kun
Last Online File Size Posted Size 3.152 MB Nov 3, 2014 @ 7:20am 6820 x 3140 835 Unique Visitors 1 Current FavoritesVideo report by Jeevan Vittal, Fox CT
Text by Kelly Glista and David Owens, Hartford Courant
MADISON — A Westbrook woman faces third-degree assault and breach of peace charges after police say she attacked a 17-year-old who was flying a drone over the beach at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison.
Andrea Mears, 23, was charged May 12 after a confrontation at the beach. State Environmental Conservation Police released her on her a promise to appear in court. She is due back in Superior Court in New Haven June 19.
A video purportedly showing the assault was posted to YouTube and LiveLeak this weekend. The video, which Austin Haughwout of Clinton said he took with his phone, shows a woman pulling on the neck of his shirt and clawing at his face while swearing at him and calling him a “little pervert.”
Police said Mears called the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection emergency dispatch center on May 12 to report that someone was flying a remote-controlled aircraft with a camera on it over the beach.
A short time later, Haughwout called to report that he was being assaulted by a woman, later identified as Mears, police said. No charges were filed against Haughwout.
EnCon police and Madison police responded to the calls and after investigating charged Mears.
“Though [Haughwout] may have hit Mears at some point in the incident, it appeared to be while he was defending himself and attempting to get away from the attack,” EnCon Officer Robert Monday wrote in his report.
Haughwout said he was glad he recorded the confrontation on his phone. “If I didn’t I think I would have been arrested,” he said.
He said he was flying his radio-controlled quadcopter over the beach. Because of the altitude at which the craft was flying, any people captured on video were too small to see clearly, he said.IT HAS topped lists of the world’s worst airports several times.
But now, things are changing at Philippines’ main international airport. President Benigno Aquino has hailed renovations that are taking place, expressing optimism it would soon shake off its negative ranking.
Almost a year after he personally apologised for the failure of air-conditioning at Terminal 1 of Manila’s international airport, Aquino said the facility appeared to be completely different.
“It is like I have entered a completely different airport,” he said as he inspected the 34-year-old terminal.
Asked if the terminal would no longer be called the world’s worst, Aquino told reporters: “That’s up to you, but they even raised the ceiling.”
Ninoy Aquino International Airport — named after the president’s father, who was assassinated there in 1983 — topped the list of worst airports on the travel website The Guide to Sleeping in Airports from 2011-2013.
Travellers have long criticised its “dilapidated facilities”, dishonest airport workers, rude officials and long waiting times, the website said.
To be completed by May 2015, Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 in #Philippines receives face-lift. pic.twitter.com/ksJx9AtVjl — safriat yussuff (@saymamaa) March 9, 2015
However in its 2014 survey, the Manila terminal improved its standing — to only the fourth worst in the world, after Islamabad, Jeddah and Kathmandu airports.Former Attorney General Eric Holder Eric Himpton HolderObama political arm to merge with Holder-run group Barack, Michelle Obama expected to refrain from endorsing in 2020 Dem primary: report Ocasio-Cortez to be first guest on new Desus and Mero show MORE on Wednesday tore into President Trump's claims of rampant voter fraud, saying the allegations have laid a foundation for voter suppression and more restrictive voter identification laws.
"The vote fraud mantra is said so often — it’s almost said robotically — that some people have unthinkingly begun to believe that the issue is real," Holder said at a National Action Network conference in New York City.
"And with recent claims by Mr. Trump of ‘rigged elections’ based on fraud, again without any proof, save the bluster of the candidate, this mistaken belief in voter fraud becomes almost hardwired," he continued.
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President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the United States' election system is "rigged" and that rampant voter fraud by millions of "illegals" prevented him from winning the popular vote in November. The real estate mogul, however, won the Electoral College vote.
Because of those claims, Holder said, "a predicate has been laid for further voter suppression efforts," despite no credible evidence suggesting that voter fraud is a widespread problem.
During his tenure as the country's top law enforcement official under former President Obama, Holder vowed to aggressively challenge state voter ID laws, which disproportionately affect minorities and low-income voters. Thirty-three states currently have some form of voter ID law.A pretty huge development just happened in the gaming industry that you might have missed. Although the parent company of Atlus USA, Index Holdings, was acquired by SEGA (Sega Sammy Holdings) back in 2013, it was not until just now that SEGA took complete control of its North American operations. Now, normally most people (including myself) would be critical of a corporate takeover – it is often bad for us consumers, as the new owners close down divisions, fire “redundant” staff, and phase out less-profitable (but still beloved) properties … Lionhead Studios anyone? But the SEGA-Atlus deal is one rare case in which the average gamer should be cheering. Why? Here are 5 reasons that this deal is a good one for gamers.
5 – Atlus Helps SEGA With Localization
Atlus brings to SEGA a huge expertise in the field of localizing Japanese games for the North American market. They have been bringing Japanese titles to English-speaking, North American gamers for years, most notably with the Persona series and Demons Souls, but also others as well. Atlus’s localization team is well-regarded for the care and skill with which they translate Japanese titles, keeping the quirky (you might say, “Japanese”) aspects of the original that gamers will want, while still adapting the game for North American cultural tastes. This expertise has already brought positive results for gamers, allowing 23 game properties, including the Yakuza series, to be more-quickly localized in North America since SEGA acquired Atlus. So bottom line, if you love Yakuza, this has already been a good deal.
4 – SEGA Brings More Publishing Power for Atlus
This is basically the flip side of the first point. While Atlus helps SEGA localize their properties, Atlus can take advantage of SEGA’s strength as a Publisher in North America. That means we, as gamers, get to play more of Atlus’s Japanese titles sooner. That means maybe we in the West will get more Shin Megami Tensei, Etrian Odyssey and other properties that come out in Japan before North America. This synergy has already been a boon for Atlus, with the company’s CEO Naoto Hiraoka saying enthusiastically that “between Atlus’ ability to localize and release Japanese video game products efficiently and the strength of Sega of America’s reputation as a leading publisher in the industry, the situation could not be more symbiotic for both companies.”
3 – SEGA Has the Right Attitude
The Microsoft/Lionhead Studios example, while being more complicated than just Microsoft being a “bad guy,” does raise concerns that smaller studios can suffer or even die when taken over by a larger rival. But the SEGA-Atlus deal is more like a marriage; this is not a predatory, Gordon Gekko-like swallowing up of a little company by another firm just looking to exploit its resources. SEGA has been great about allowing Atlus to thrive and do its thing without meddling and without chopping it up for profit. For example, it allows Atlus to act autonomously, and keep developing the games it has before. That means the Atlus games we love are in no danger from “cost cutting” campaigns by SEGA, and the past year has shown that we haven’t yet seen any adverse affects for Atlus or SEGA due to the deal.
Click on thru to PAGE 2 to read our Top 2 reasons!Female actresses attending this year’s Golden Globes ceremony are reportedly planning to wear only black in protest of the widening sexual abuse scandal that has engulfed Hollywood this year.
According to E! News, the plan originally started with just a small group of women but gradually grew as other women wished to express solidarity.
“So all of the female actresses and attendees, or most of them at least, are standing in solidarity together in a form of protest,” said ceremony host Jackie Oshry on The Morning Breath radio show. “They’re all going to be wearing black, obviously to protest the injustices that have been taking place in Hollywood since forever.”
Actresses nominated for awards at the ceremony, which takes place 7th January, include Emma Stone, Meryl Streep, Judi Dench, Michelle Williams, and Sally Hawkins.
The sexual harassment scandal engulfing much of Hollywood and the mainstream media — which has morphed into a social media-driven call to arms known as the #MeToo movement — began following the unearthing of dozens of allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein. It’s now a major talking point of 2017 and implicated scores of the industry’s most powerful directors, producers, and actors.
A similar sign of protest will also take place at this year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, which according to its executive producer, will feature only women presenters in a “unifying salute to women who have been very brave and speaking up.”
Last week, TIME magazine also named “The Silence Breakers” of the #MeToo movement, principally women who had revealed their experiences of sexual assault or harassment, as their 2017 Person of the Year.
In September, some celebrities attending the 69th annual Primetime Emmy Awards also wore pink ribbons to express support for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which has fought vigorously against President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.
Follow Ben Kew on Facebook, on Twitter at @ben_kew, or email him at bkew@breitbart.com.Modern journalism has forgotten Occam's Razor—a theorem dreamed up by a Medieval monk that advises against complicating your theory. In short, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.
Maybe someone can see it in this New Yorker article—I didn't. [What Can the U.S. Learn from Radicalization in the French-Speaking World? By Benjamin Wallace-Wells, May 18, 2016]It reinforces the case that a lot of tender young vibrant enrichers from Islam tend to go radical because of shabby treatment from Westerners once they immigrate. That's been THE default position of our deep thinkers for 50+ years now: Whenever something bad happens in the world, it's fault of racist, hate-filled Western butterflies flapping their wings somewhere in placid Whiteyland.
Of correlations researchers in this study found, one was that most extremists came from French-speaking countries, overwhelmingly from France itself. They go on to cite high-unemployment among Muslims now enriching the Gallic homeland, those ugly state-driven campaigns against public veil-wearing, etc., as factors in this process of alienation, then radicalization.
But isn't there a simpler factor? France is home to the highest Muslim population in Europe—6.5 million. That's almost 10 percent of the country's ENTIRE population.
Of course that fact, if endorsed (or even mentioned), would indicate encouraging immigration from the Land of the Prophet might not be such a grand idea—in spite of plaintive squeals by soft-hearted (and -headed?) open-borders fans.
Can't have that... But why? Why not even bring up the possibility for debate?The area around the heavily polluted Gowanus Canal is undergoing big changes. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Leslie Albrecht; Lower Right: Rogers Partners
GOWANUS — The real estate developer building one of the tallest skyscrapers on Manhattan's Billionaires' Row is poised to make the biggest impact on development along the Gowanus Canal, according to a DNAinfo New York review of all of the property records abutting the Superfund site.
As the city considers whether to rezone Gowanus and, perhaps, morph the gritty low-rise industrial area into a hot new neighborhood of residential towers (albeit at a fraction of the height of Manhattan's supertall buildings), DNAinfo reviewed property records along the canal to find out who stands to benefit most from the changes.
Investors have poured at least $440 million into buying land on the polluted waterway and more than a third of the properties have changed hands in the past decade, according to an examination of records for the nearly 130 properties along the 1.8-mile canal.
The current owner of the most land along the canal is developer Property Markets Group, which is now partnering with JDS Development Group to build the 82-story tower at 111 W. 57th Street, soaring 1,428 feet atop Manhattan's landmarked Steinway Building.
But other big-name developers also have a presence in the neighborhood, including Kushner Companies — helmed by the family of President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner — as well as Forest City, Alloy Development and Two Trees.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW MAP
Here's what we learned:
The Players
Property Markets Group has been buying properties along the Gowanus Canal since 2012 and is currently in contract to buy a $50 million parcel near the elevated F/G subway tracks. PMG has spent at least $29 million acquiring eight lots along the canal over the past five years, and has agreements to purchase all the waterfront lots between Degraw and Union street on the west side of the canal, records show.
Several large waterfront parcels are still in the hands of longtime local businesses such as Monandock Construction and Architectural Grille. The individual with the most waterfront property is Daniel Tinneny, whose father once owned Vidan Auto Salvage yard on Bond Street.
Other owners in the neighborhood include:
► Forest City, the developers that brought the Barclays Center to Brooklyn, were early investors in Gowanus. In the early 2000s, FC considered building a mall and movie theaters, then an IKEA, before building the Lowe's that fronts the canal at Second Avenue and 10th Street. Once the home of a manufactured gas plant, the property underwent $3 million in environmental cleanup work before it was developed, according to press reports at the time. FC declined to comment on whether the company has plans to redevelop its property if Gowanus is rezoned.
► Kushner Companies, the real estate company owned by Trump's son-in-law's family, partnered with SL Green Realty Corp. and LIVWRK in 2014 to buy the entire block of Third Street across from the Whole Foods market for $72.5 million. The developers say they plan a "game-changing" mixed use project there, which could include a 280,000 square foot office and retail building, according to plans filed with the state. First they plan to rid the soil and groundwater of contaminants including PCBs and lead, according to documents filed with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
► Midwood Management, the developer that's converting a Park Slope parking garage at 800 Union St. into high-end residences, dropped $6 million in 2014 to buy a waterfront building on Degraw Street that's leased by the film studio Eastern Effects to film shows such as "The Americans." Midwood also owns 261 Bond St., currently home to an artist's studio.
► Not all of the owners are equally easy to track down. Most make their purchases under the cover of LLCs. A pair of companies based in the Cayman Islands, Matthews Investments Ltd. and Moorgate Investments Ltd., have owned a waterfront building at 198 Douglass St. since 1998.
► Lightstone paved the way for residential development on the canal with its 365 Bond luxury rental building, where amenities include a yoga studio and lifestyle director. More than 56,000 people applied for a chance to rent the building's affordable units. State regulations prohibit tenants from digging gardens at the property, because they may expose themselves to lingering contamination in the soil, which underwent intense cleanup prior to development.
What They Plan to Do With Their Land
Gowanus is still zoned mostly for manufacturing, which means developers are limited in what they can do with their property. Those who are embarking on projects now are creating office space (which is allowed in manufacturing zones) by turning former industrial buildings into workspaces for tech, advertising, marketing and information services companies.
More is on the way. Plans filed with the state's Brownfield Cleanup Program, which DNAinfo obtained through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request, show developers and property owners are considering office projects throughout the neighborhood, though those plans are subject to change if a rezoning is approved.
Other new developments in the works near the canal include at least one building for working artists — the former power station known as the "Bat Cave" which which world-class architects Herzog & de Meuron are transforming into the PowerHouse Workshop; and one for "makers" — a 13-story building for small manufacturers on Third Street.
Property Markets Group — which is also building a 50-story condo on a South Florida beach with "unobstructed ocean views," according to the company's website — will make water a focal point for whatever the developer builds in Gowanus, said principal Richard Lam.
"We know the waterfront is going to be a key part of any development over there, and giving access to the public and making it a useful and active space," Lam said.
PMG won't decide the specifics of its development plans until after the Department of City Planning's study of Gowanus is complete, Lam said.
Broadly speaking, PMG foresees building a mix of market-rate and affordable rental housing, "maker" spaces for light manufacturing and community facilities such as schools, which are currently in short supply in Gowanus, Lam said.
The company and its representatives have been participating in a series of public workshops where community members have told city planners what they want to see in Gowanus. Lam's takeaways from those meetings has been that locals want affordable housing and access to the canal, he said.
PMG, which has offices in New York, Miami and Chicago, has never built affordable housing in New York, but has done so in Chicago, PMG spokesman Ethan Geto said. The developer has met with the Fifth Avenue Committee, a neighborhood nonprofit that advocates for low-income tenants, and is "exploring the possibility of bringing FAC on board to manage PMG's tenant recruitment for the affordable units," Geto said.
The developer is also working with architect Fred Bland of the prestigious firm Beyer Blinder Belle to create a master plan for all of its Gowanus developments. The firm, internationally acclaimed for its work restoring landmarked buildings, was recently selected to upgrade the Frick Collection building.
PMG chose to work with Bland because of his track record creating buildings that are well integrated with their surroundings, said Geto, who added that Bland is both an architect and urban planner. "Fred was a very, very conscious and deliberately arrived at choice by PMG," Geto said. "His firm creates major concepts and visions for an area and really understands the various land use possibilities and opportunities."
Beyer Blinder Belle's vision for Property Markets Group's Gowanus developments includes the idea of having buildings with "porous" lower levels, Lam said, meaning that they will not block public access to the canal. The concept will differ from other waterfront developments in Brooklyn where a monolithic building sometimes surrounds an interior courtyard that's not publicly accessible, Lam said.
PMG has also been meeting with the neighborhood nonprofit Gowanus Canal Conservancy, which advocates for creating unified greenspace along the canal.
"We've already had a lot of discussions with the Gowanus Canal Conservancy to marry our visions of how the waterfront can be most accessible and well-planned," Lam said. "We are proponents of having a cohesive, readily accessible waterfront for the community."
The Environmental Contamination
Fouled by more than a century of dumping from nearby industrial businesses, the Gowanus Canal was declared a federal Superfund site in 2010. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is leading the canal's cleanup, which is just getting underway. Before President Trump took office, the cleanup was slated for completion around 2022, but that timeline is up in the air as the EPA faces budget cuts.
The Superfund cleanup has implications for local development that reach far beyond the canal's shores. For example, as part of the Superfund cleanup, the EPA ordered the city to build two underground tanks to stop raw sewage from flowing into the canal (which it does now during heavy rains.)
DUMBO-based developer Alloy had plans to build a canal-side creative office complex on Nevins Street, but scrapped the idea when the property was selected to house one of the sewage tanks.
The canal isn't the only contaminated site in the neighborhood — the land that surrounds it is riddled with pollutants as well.
There are about a dozen properties across the neighborhood where developers or owners have applied to participate in the state Brownfield Cleanup Program, meaning that they plan to clean contaminated land and then develop it, according to records DNAinfo obtained with a FOIL request.
The Brownfield Cleanup Program gives developers financial breaks in exchange for building on polluted property. Whole Foods used the program to get nearly $13 million in tax credits for building its first Brooklyn store on Third Street and developer Lightstone participated in the program when building the first residential development on the banks of the canal.
Several other sites indicative of the neighborhood's possible shiny future will be de-contaminated under the Brownfield Cleanup Program, according to state records.
Those sites include the Bat Cave, the property around the popular wedding venue The Green Building and the future site of the Gowanus Green/Public Place affordable housing development.
EPA officials told community members at a recent meeting of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group that they're in discussions with the developers of the PowerHouse Workshop about remediating PCB contamination at the property.
"We'll look at the data once they complete the [Brownfield Cleanup Program] and then we'll look at whether we require anything beyond that," EPA's Christos Tsiamis, who leads the canal's Superfund cleanup, told DNAinfo New York. "Our interest is to ensure that the site after cleanup does not present the potential of a recontamination source for the canal."
A note on the map: Information on the map is drawn from ACRIS, the Department of Buildings, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, and news reports. Special thanks to CUNY's Center for Urban Research, creators of the OASIS NYC map.Less than four months after the first-ever detection of gravitational waves, a new merger of black holes has been observed by the LIGO-Virgo collaboration.
While physicists and astronomers had to wait more than a century to announce the first direct detection of the gravitational waves predicted by Einstein, it will have taken only four months for the two interferometers of Advanced LIGO (aLIGO) to witness two, possibly three, passages of these distortions of space-time. These three events are witnesses to the merging of black holes, celestial objects that had themselves been predicted by the theory of general relativity, but whose direct observation had eluded scientists until now.
In terms of detection frequency, we are in the high-end range of predictions. Although researchers were anticipating more events, they did not expect them this quickly, and at such a sustained rhythm. “In terms of detection frequency, we are in the high-end range of predictions, which makes it particularly interesting,” enthuses Benoit Mours, CNRS director at the LAPP and member of the LIGO-Virgo collaboration. These results, published today in Physical Review Letters by the international collaboration LIGO-Virgo, not only confirm the performance of the Advanced LIGO interferometers and their capacity to “see” gravitational waves, they also reveal for the first time precious information on the nature and number of black holes in the Universe, as well as the frequency of their collisions.
One, two, three mergers
By analyzing the signals acquired by LIGO between September 12, 2015, and January 19, 2016, the researchers were able to isolate three notable gravitational events: two having a statistical significance superior to 5 sigma (equivalent to a false alarm every 1.7 million years), and a third of only 1.9 sigma (equivalent to a false alarm every 2.1 years).
video_virgo_VA About Share About Close Durée: 5 min 54 Réalisateur: Nicolas Baker Producteur: CNRS Images
The very first significant event, observed on September 15, 2015 and whose announcement made headlines around the world last February, is attributed to the coalescence, some 1.5 billion light years away from Earth, of two black holes weighing 30 solar masses each. The second event by importance was detected on December 26, 2015. It also describes a coalescence at a similar distance of two black holes weighing approximately 10 solar masses each. Finally, the third event, observed on October 12, 2015, but whose statistical significance is too low to qualify as a discovery, could correspond to another black hole coalescence, this time more than 3 billion light years away.
Next objective: Neutron stars
This has been a particularly bountiful harvest, especially considering researchers have limited their search to finding binary black hole systems weighing less than 100 solar masses. “Further analysis is being carried out, this time, specifically fine-tuned to detect double systems containing at least one neutron star,” Mours continues. “Unlike events that only involve black holes, and which emit nothing else but gravitational waves, a coalescence of neutron stars will also emit matter and light that our radio telescopes might be able to observe directly. And this will be another scientific first!”
Numerical simulation of a neutron star coalescence About Share About Close Durée: 2' 05" Réalisateur: Nasa Godard
Yet there is still considerable uncertainty on the exact whereabouts of the sources of the gravitational waves detected by aLIGO: for example, for the December 26 event, this uncertainty represents an area of the sky equivalent to 5000 times the size of the full moon.
Waiting for Virgo
As the advanced version of the European Virgo interferometer comes online later this year, its data will be combined to those of aLIGO, which will increase the resolution of this gravitational observatory, and not just its spatial resolution.
“We will obtain better measurements on how fast black holes rotate on their axis—something we call spin,” Mours explains. “This will give us more information on their history; for example, do these black holes come from binary star systems, or were they born from a single star capturing another?”
Between these results and the rousing success of the LISA Pathfinder demonstration mission—which bolsters plans for the European spatial interferometer eLISA—gravitational astronomy has never looked brighter.Two experiments examined probiotic pretreatment (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)-like behavior induction by RU 24969 in BALB/cJ house mice. In the first experiment, two groups were defined by their daily pretreatment by oral gavage of either (a) L. rhamnosus (1×10⁹ CFU/day) or (b) the saline vehicle. Both a 2- and 4-week probiotic pretreatment attenuated OCD-like behavior induction (increased perseverative open-field locomotion, stereotypic turning, and marble burying) relative to saline pretreatment. Experiment 2 re-examined the 2-week probiotic pretreatment while also comparing it to a 4-week fluoxetine pretreatment. Again, groups were defined by daily pretreatment of either (a) L. rhamnosus for 2 weeks, (b) the saline vehicle for 2 weeks, or (c) fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. Pretreatment by either L. rhamnosus or fluoxetine blocked the induction of OCD-like behavior compared with saline pretreatment. Thus the 2-week probiotic pretreatment was again effective. Although side effects of fluoxetine or L. rhamnosus on androgen-dependent behaviors could not be demonstrated, L. rhamnosus treatment appeared comparable to fluoxetine treatment in attenuating mouse OCD-like behaviors."That gives us the ability to bring back characters that were killed on 'Breaking Bad,' " said executive producer Peter Gould of the prequel starring Bob Odenkirk.
So what kind of criminal clients and crazy cases might viewers expect on Better Call Saul? Bryan Cranston and his "baby blue," to start.
PHOTOS 'Breaking Bad': 10 Most Mind-Blowing Episodes
Executive producer Peter Gould, who created the character of Saul Goodman (played by Bob Odenkirk) and is co-showrunning Saul with Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, has confirmed that the AMC prequel series won't only take place before the meth-cooking duo did indeed call Saul. Instead, it will include scenes that move back and forth over several decades.
"One of the great things about having a time line which is flexible is that perhaps some of it takes place before Breaking Bad, during Breaking Bad, and after Breaking Bad. That gives us the ability to bring back characters that were killed on Breaking Bad," Gould told the New York Daily News.
However, the spinoff — currently filming in Albuquerque, N.M. — won't simply be a framework for nostalgic Walter White/Heisenberg cameos, which have yet to be officially confirmed. "We want to make a show that stands on its own, is its own story and is a brand extension," Gould continued. "We think we have a story that is worth making.... We could never dream of the kind of success that Breaking Bad had and the love we got from the fans. But [with Saul,] at a certain point, you have to do the best job you can and tell the best story that entertains you, get a good response and hope people like it."
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Better Call Saul was recently renewed for a second season, but its 10-episode first season's premiere has been pushed to 2015. "It’s tremendous for us because we get to plot out two seasons, and the way we work is similar to Breaking Bad as it is very serialized, and each episode builds on the last," he said of the renewal. "That gives us a much bigger canvas to play with."
Back in October, Gilligan teased the potential of Saul cameos in his THR cover story. "The sky's the limit with a prequel," he said at the time. "Everybody who's now deceased in the Breaking Bad world is obviously still alive. You never know who might turn up and when and where." He noted that Cranston and Aaron Paul (who played Jesse Pinkman) have expressed interest in making appearances, and Jonathan Banks, who played Saul's former private detective Mike Ehrmantraut, has boarded the prequel as a series regular. Gilligan reiterated his cameo plans while backstage at the Golden Globes: "Peter Gould and I will be hitting up all these wonderful actors for cameos at some point."
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The show will also examine Saul's personal life, he explained. "We've only seen Saul in his professional habitat. It will be interesting to see a more personal, intimate side of Saul Goodman."
Better Call Saul is set to premiere on AMC in 2015.
Email: Ashley.Lee@THR.com
Twitter: @cashleeleeWhen he was in Detroit, Mike Babcock didn’t mind the two-hour drive to Grand Rapids to check on the steady stream of future prospects developing with the Red Wings farm team.
Here with the Leafs, it’s much easier to keep tabs, of course, especially given the lengthy home stands both of the big team and the AHL affiliate are enjoying right now.
The Leafs have tapped into the Marlies plenty already this season, largely out of necessity due to a rash of injuries. There’s more to come of course, all part of the development plan in place this season and the expected changes post NHL trade deadline.
The tantalizing offensive prospects are mostly on the farm for now, however, many of them begging for a cameo with the big team before the season is done.
Babcock often references that he pays close attention to Sheldon Keefe’s team, either watching the games on television or in person at the Ricoh Coliseum.
And in his latest first-hand look — Friday’s 4-2 win over the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins — the young talent the club hopes will develop into bonafide big-league material caught his eye. So when asked on Saturday when Leafs fans might get a taste of bigger-name Marlies — and for how long — Babcock had an interesting response.
“For me to speculate on that … all I know is that they have a ton of skill down there,” said Babcock, who joined the rest of the Leafs brass in the team box Friday at Ricoh.
"They have the puck all the time. I saw more plays in four shifts (with the Marlies) than I saw in a week here (with the Leafs.)"
The latter comment isn’t so much an indictment of the injury-ripped roster he has to deal with every night, though it may have sounded like it. But it is telling that the high-end skill impresses Babcock as a glimpse into his team’s future, even if it happens against minor leaguers
On Friday, it was Brendan Leipsic with a picture-perfect feed to Connor Brown for a big goal in the comeback win. Ditto William Nylander, with a quick snipe that was part of the same rally.
If Babcock was watching Saturday, it was Leipsic with a pair of goals, exactly a week after he scored one in his NHL debut in Vancouver. It’s all encouraging stuff, of course, though the Leafs coach is publicly cautious in his expectations.
“I’ve seen the team play a number of times,” Babcock said of the Marlies. “Until you get them on the ice and until you see them every day in the National Hockey League with the speed and the tempo of the game, you don’t know 100% for sure.
“Some guys are better than you think and some guys aren’t as good as you think. They’re high octane. They do things at that level. Now this is a whole different level and we’ve seen guys come with these projections over the years and you’ve got to do it here.”
Time will tell how it unfolds, of course, but it will be interesting to see how Leafs management uses its call ups following the trade deadline.
If the team expects Nylander to be with the Leafs next season, for example — and why not? — it would make some sense for him to get a glimpse of that speed and skill Babcock talks about at the NHL level.
Ditto for Brown, another look at Leipsic and perhaps even Kasperi Kapanen, all the while balancing the objective of setting the Marlies up for a deep run in the AHL playoffs.
Marlies coach Keefe says the carrot of getting promoted is a strong motivator of his players. And those on the Leafs roster know what’s coming as well.
“(The Marlies) have a lot of good players and you can see how hard they are working to get up to this level,” Leafs defenceman Frankie Corrado said. “That’s very encouraging as a team.”
Babcock has far more pressing concerns than the Marlies, other than to monitor their development. Of greater significance is how the Leafs stay focussed over the final 25 games.
“If you look at our team, there’s a whole ton of guys on one-year contracts,” Babcock said. “There’s a whole bunch of guys that want contracts that plan on being here, there’s a whole bunch of guys that I assume want to play on the team.
“The best way to look after yourself is to do it right each and every day.
You’re telling everybody every day who you are and you’re not just telling the Leafs, you’re telling 29 other teams in the League. To me it’s really straightforward.”
40 WINS AND COUNTING
The Marlies got a taste of the big rink Saturday afternoon and responded in style with a 3-1 win over the Portland Pirates.
And in the process, they became the first team in the AHL to hit the 40-mark this season, matching their win total from a year ago.
Brendan Leips |
Foundation.... - Tides Foundation.... - Veterans for peace (Iraq Veterans Against the War)."
July 9, 2011, Bob Feldman article on Wrong Kind of Green, 'FLASHBACK: Democracy Now! Show Funder Censors Anti-War Journalist John Pilger': "According to the Lannan Foundation's Form 990 financial filing for 2008, Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! Productions was given three grants, totaling $375,000, by the Lannan Foundation. And that same year the Lannan Foundation also gave three grants, totaling $545,000, to The Nation!/Nation Institute alternative left media group and three grants, totaling $475,000, to Foundation for National Progress/Mother Jones magazine. But the Lannan Foundation apparently doesn't want to allow anti-war journalists who criticize the Democratic Obama Administration's failure to end the endless U.S. military intervention in Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan-Libya-Yemen-Somalia to speak freely in the United States these days, as indicated by Australian anti-war journalist and anti-war filmmaker John Pilger's recent experience."
Discoverthenetworks, 'Foundation for National Progress': "In 1986 Mother Jones hired a young Michigan underground newspaper founder named Michael Moore as its editor. Five months later, Moore was fired after he rejected an article by socialist Paul Berman, a piece that Moore claimed was "unfairly critical" of the [anti-U.S-backed-Contra] Sandinista dictatorship in Nicaragua. Moore sued, claiming wrongful dismissal. He pocketed $58,000 in an out-of-court settlement of his lawsuit, then used the money to produce his first film documentary, "Roger and Me"....
The Mother Jones magazine and website are owned by the non-profit, tax-exempt Foundation for National Progress (FNP)... FNP has been supported by other left-leaning foundations, among them the Arca Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Irving Harris Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, Kansas City Community Foundation, the Lannan Foundation, the Park Foundation, the Bill Moyers-run Schuman Center for Media and Democracy, and the Streisand Foundation.... From 2002 to 2004, FNP received $410,000 in foundation grants."
September 30, 2012, Frontpage Magazine (ultraconservative), ''Panicked' Soros Bankrolls Obama Campaign: Did left-wing 'Mother Jones' spike a story revealing the radical mega-funder's true state of mind?': "The new donations were announced by Soros spokesman Michael Vachon at a luncheon Thursday hosted by the Democracy Alliance, an invitation-only club for radical plutocrats. (Former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker nancy Pelosi were also in attendance.) Members of the ultra-secretive Democracy Alliance have committed to swamping Democrats and president Obama's re-election campaign in an ocean of cash this year. Donations could easily reach $100 million or much more before Election Day, especially because other Democracy Alliance members are following Soros's lead. The ultra-secretive group, founded in 2005, is a financial clearinghouse that recommends to its wealthy members [various] projects and groups... With that said, it is a fact that the [Mother Jones] magazine's 501c3 nonprofit, Foundation for National Progress, has received funding through Soros's philanthropies, Open society Institute ($225,000 since 2008) and Foundation to Promote Open Society ($100,000 since 2010). Democracy Alliance chairman and Taco Bell heir Rob McKay was a member of the magazine's board. Through the McKay Foundation he has given the Foundation for National Progress $165,000 since 1999. Democracy Alliance member and RealNetworks CEO Rob Glaser has given FNP $211,329 since 1999. Another member, Stephen M. Silberstein, has given $117,000 since 2001 through his eponymous foundation. The Soros-linked Tides Foundation, founded by Democracy Alliance member Drummond Pike, has kicked in $126,417 since 2003."
Diller - Von Furstenberg Family Foundation
Founded in 1999 and overseen by billionaire Barry Diller, his wife since 2001, Princess Diane von Furstenberg, Diane's son Alexander von Furstenberg and Alexander's sister, Princess Tatiana von Fürstenberg. dvfff.org/directors/ (accessed: April 29, 2017): "BARRY DILLER: is the Chairman and Senior Executive of IAC and the Chairman and Senior Executive of Expedia, Inc. From 1995 to late 2010, Mr. Diller served as the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of IAC.
From October 1984 to April 1992, Mr. Diller served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fox, Inc. and was responsible for the creation of Fox Broadcasting Company in addition to Fox’s motion picture operations.
Before joining Fox, Mr. Diller served for 10 years as the Chairman and Chief Executive of Paramount...
He serves on the boards of The Coca-Cola Company and the Graham Holdings Company (formerly The Washington Post Company)....
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG:... Diane is married to Barry Diller. She has two children, Alexander and Tatiana...
ALEXANDER VON FURSTENBERG...
TATIANA VON FURSTENBERG..."
While very minor in the traditional ''Liberal CIA'' network here, the foundation has provided fund to People for the American Way, Oxfam America, Mercy Corps, and the National Resources Defense Council. It is also more focused than usual on Jewish causes due to Barry Diller's heritage. 2005 annual report, Oxfam America, p. 35: "$100,000+:... Flora Family Foundation... William and Flora Hewlett Foundation... J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation... Omidyar Fund... Rockefeller Foundation... $50,000 – $99,999:... Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation... Ford Foundation... Libra Foundation... McKnight Foundation... New York Times Company Foundation, Inc. Park Foundation... Yahoo Inc." mercycorps.org/articles/foundations-corporations-and-organizations (donor July 2008 - June 2009; accessed: April 29, 2017): "Arca Foundation... Diller - Von Furstenberg Family Foundation... Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation... Hewlett Foundation.. Rockefeller Foundation [etc.]" dvfff.org/grantees/ (accessed: April 29, 2017): "The Whitney Museum... NYC Police Foundation... The UCLA Foundation... Tony Blair Faith Foundation... Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith... Human Rights Campaign... Human Rights Watch... International Rescue Committee... People for the American Way... US Holocaust Memorial Museum... Carnegie Hall... Metropolitan Museum of Art... Paris Review... Michael J. Fox Foundation... Conservation International... Natural Resources Defense Council..."
Barry Diller is a financier of the major pro-Third World immigration group FWD.us of Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft's Bill Gates.
Diane von Furstenberg was married to Prince Egon von Furstenberg, whose mother was the eldest sister of Gianni Agnelli, the long-time Bilderberg participant and best friend of Henry Kissinger.
Anno 2017 Diane's son, Alexander, is a director of InterActiveCorp, which, apart from The Daily Beast, controls just about every online dating app: Tinder, OKCupid, BlackPeopleMeet.com and a dozen others. Other directors of InterActiveCorp are Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of Bill and Hillary; Edgar Bronfman, Jr., Michael Eisner and chairman Barry Diller. The latter was the predecessor of Rupert Murdoch at Fox and Diane von Furstenberg's present-day husband. iac.com/about/leadership (accessed: April 29, 2017): "IAC Senior Management: Barry Diller Chairman & Senior Executive... Board of Directors: Barry Diller Chairman.... Edgar Bronfman, Jr.... Chelsea Clinton... Michael Eisner..." iac.com/brand/match-group (accessed: April 29, 2017): "Match Group is the world’s leading provider of dating products, with a portfolio of over 45 brands, including Match, OkCupid, Tinder, Meetic, Twoo, PlentyOfFish, OurTime, BlackPeopleMeet and FriendScout24, each designed to increase users’ likelihood of finding a romantic connection.... [Also:] Chemistry.com... Delightful... HowAboutWe..." iac.com/brand/daily-beast (accessed: April 29, 2017): "The Daily Beast was founded in 2008 as the vision of Tina Brown and IAC Chairman & Senior Executive Barry Diller." iac.com/brands(accessed: April 29, 2017): "About.com. Apalon... Ask.com... CollegeHumor.com... Dictionary.com... Investopedia. The Daily Beast... Vimeo... "
Diane von Furstenberg signed The Giving Pledge on August 4, 2010, the same date as superclass members Warren Buffett, David Rockefeller, Michael Bloomberg, Peter Peterson, David Rubenstein (Carlyle) and Pierre Omidyar.
Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg are visitors of the annual Allen & Co.-organized Sun Valley Meetings. Alexander von Furstenberg used to work for Allen & Co. early on in his career.
Top superclass member Niall Ferguson has been a Furstenberg Family Foundation scholar: niallferguson.com/about (accessed: April 29, 2017): "[Ferguson] is also... the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation Distinguished Scholar at the Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC."
ocvjc.org/news/diller-von-furstenberg-family-foundation-grants-10000-justice-league (accessed: April 29, 2017): "The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation has generously committed to providing a $10,000 grant to The Justice League to help us continue our mission of preserving and protecting crime victims rights. This grant will be presented at the "Women in the World" Summit held on March 12-14 at the United Nations. The Summit will be attended by celebrities, activists and dignitaries including Madeleine Albright, Christiane Amanpour, Meryl Streep, Hillary Clinton, Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, Thomas Friedman, Katie Couric and Cherie Blair. (to name only a few)"
In 2016, Furstenberg designed shirts for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.
Google Foundation
The charitable arm of Google.com is Google.org, which is intertwined with the Google Foundation. Google.org's philanthropic spending comprises of 1% of Google.com's annual profit plus the relatively small $100 million endowment of the Google Foundation: July 22, 2015, The Guardian, 'Google’s charitable chief: 'I have a strong sense of social justice'': "Most of the $100m Google.org spends comes from Google’s global profits – the company's founding documents stipulate that 1% of annual profits go to philanthropy. The rest comprises grants from the Google Foundation, which was established in 2005 with a $90m endowment following Google’s stock market listing, to support its philanthropic aims....
Doesn’t that notion of being a good citizen run counter to Google’s paying only £21.6m corporation tax in the UK on revenues of $5.6bn (£3.6bn) in 2013? If it paid more tax, surely there’d be less need for philanthropy."
The Google Foundation has helped finance the immigration reform group FWD.us (or at least top Google executives have), the key "fake news" "fact-checking" network of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, the Wikileaks-linked Tor Project and Bureau of Investigative Journalism, and the Buckminster Fuller Institute.
Google is tightly linked to the annual Billionairre's Dinners of the Edge Foundation.
Larry Brilliant, the former executive director of the Google Foundation / Google.org got involved with Skoll Foundation and also has been very close to the psychedelics community, including through the Seva Foundation and Dr. Richard Rockefeller, David Rockefeller's son.
Hugh M. Hefner Foundation
Small foundation founded in 1964 by Playboy head Hugh Hefner. Provided the $5,000 seed money for the founding of marijuana lobby NORML in 1970. Co-financier of George Soros' Drug Policy Alliance.
Christie Hefner visited the liberal Edge Foundation Billionaires' Dinner of 2002.
January 12, 2016, Inside Philanthropy, 'Here's What You Need to Know About Hef and His Philanthropy': "Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner started his famous publication in the early 1950s [1953], with Marilyn Monroe on the cover of the first issue. Playboy made news again recently when it announced that it would no longer publish photos of nude women. Now, guys really will have to read it for the articles.... Perhaps you didn't know, though, that Hefner was, on some level, ahead of the curve on civil rights. His Playboy's Penthouse TV variety show, which ran from 1959 to 1961, included performances by integrated groups during a time when TV was mostly populated by white faces.... and Playboy itself has also been a source of solid journalism over the years..... The controversial mogul, who's currently worth $50 million by one estimate, established the Hugh M. Hefner Foundation all the way back in 1964.... Typical grants range between $5,000 and $10,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation did $116,000 in grantmaking.... Recent grantees include Student Press Law Center, People for the American Way, ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE)... Hefner's Rational Sex and Drugs Policy program [promotes weed and psychedelics legalization]... Recent grantees include Drug Policy Alliance, Planned Parenthood, and The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction at Indiana University. additionally, Hefner has supported outfits such as Children of the Night [to save children from prostitution]..."
October 12, 2015, New York Times, 'Nudes Are Old News at Playboy': "The latest [Playboy magazine] redesign, 62 years later, is more pragmatic. The magazine had already made some content safe for work, Mr. Flanders said, in order to be allowed on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, vital sources of web traffic. In August of last year, its website dispensed with nudity. As a result, Playboy executives said, the average age of its reader dropped from 47 to just over 30, and its web traffic jumped to about 16 million from about four million unique users per month.... "The difference between us and Vice," [Playboy CEO Scott Flanders] said, "is that we're going after the guy with a job.""
Additional tie of Playboy to the psychedelics community: 1984, Stewart Tendler and Davaid May, 'The Brotherhood of Eternal Love: From Flower Power to Hippie Mafia', chapter 2: "[LSD pioneer Michael] Hollingshead [who gave Leary his first LSD trip] founded the Agora Foundation in New York with the aid of Victor Lownes, the crown prince of the Playboy empire [under Hugh Hefner, whose confidant and vice president he was], and the finance of Howard Teague, a Nassau millionaire."
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Founded in 1966 by William Hewlett, the president of Hewlett Packard (HP) from 1964 to 1977. Today one of the biggest foundations with billions in assets. Extremely focused on sustainability, also through the Flora Family Foundation.
Others involved in the foundation: Hal Harvey (environmental program director 2002-2008; founding president Energy Foundation 1991-2002; founder and CEO of the ClimateWorks Foundation 2008-2011), Larry Kramer (president; director ClimateWorks).
Harold K. Hochschild Foundation
Joyce Foundation
Based on the fortune of "lumbar baron" David Joyce (1825-1904). Joyce's Chicago-based heiress Beatrice Joyce Kean set up the Joyce Foundation in 1948.
Endowment of $950 million by 2017.
Barack Obama was a trustee of the Joyce Foundation from 1994 to 2002: October 16, 2008, World Net Daily, 'The Groups Obama Kept Off His Resume': "Obama joined the Board of Directors of the Chicago-based Joyce Foundation in 1994 and served on its board until 2002." 1998 annual report, Joyce Foundation, p. 21: "Board of Directors: John T. Anderson, Chairman. Richard K. Donahue, Vice Chairman.... Barack Obama." 2001 annual report, Joyce Foundation, p. 66: "Board of Directors: Chairman: John T. Anderson. Vice Chairman: Richard K. Donahue. Ellen S. Alberding. Robert G. Bottoms. Carin A. Clauss. Charles U. Daly. Anthony S. Earl. Roger R. Fross. Carlton L. Guthrie. Marion T. Hall. Barack Obama. Paula Wolff."
was a trustee of the Joyce Foundation from 1994 to 2002: The Joyce Foundation grant activity was closely linked to Obama's chairmanship of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge [a project of the Annenberg Foundation] which Obama came to chair and also counted the involvement of Obama's radical friend Bill Ayers.
Member of the Rockefeller Family Fund's Environmental Grantmakers Association and also an occasional donor to the Rockefeller Family Fund during Obama's term on the board and beyond: 1999 annual report, Joyce Foundation: "Environmental Grantmakers Association, Rockefeller Family Fund, Inc.:... $18,000 [and] Amount: $2,305. Duration: 1 year. Membership support." 2001 annual report, Joyce Foundation: "Rockefeller Family Fund, Inc.:... $250,000.... Environmental Grantmakers Association, Rockefeller Family Fund, Inc.: New York, NY $5,452 Membership grant. (1 yr.) [plus] $15,000." 2003 annual report, Joyce Foundation: "Rockefeller Family Fund, Inc.:... $200,000. To evaluate the performance of Great Lakes states in preventing water pollution and recommend improvements.... Environmental Grantmakers Association, Rockefeller Family Fund, Inc.: New York, NY $5,450 Membership grant. (1 yr.) [plus] $10,000." 2010 annual report, Joyce Foundation: "Rockefeller Family Fund, Inc.:... $110,000 [and] $200,000."
Partner of all the key major foundations in the financing of environmental groups as Friends of the Earth, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Counci, World Wildlife Fund and Greenpeace.
Pro-immigration groups financed include the National Council of La Raza and the American Friends Service Committee.
Feminist groups financed include the 9-to-5 Working Women Education Fund and the League of Women Voters.
Also financed the Tides Foundation, Mother Jones' Foundation for National Progress, National Public Radio (NPR) and David Brock's Media Matters for America.
2001 annual report, Joyce Foundation: "9-to-5 Working Women Education Fund:... $100,000.... Canadian Environmental Defence Fund:... $180,000... Environmental Law Institute:... $50,000.... Friends of the Chicago River:... $29,600.... Pollution Probe Foundation:... $75,000.... Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development:... $60,000... Sierra Club Foundation:... $160,000.... World Wildlife Fund, Inc.:... $150,000.... Environmental and Energy Study Institute:.... $125,000.... Environmental Defense, Inc.:... $400,000... World Resources Institute:... $78,750.... William J. Brennan, Jr. Center for Justice, Inc.:... $300,000.... League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund:... $579,616.... Public Interest Research Group [PIRG] in Michigan Education Fund:... $40,000.... Alliance for Justice, Inc.:... $75,000.... Heartland Alliance:... $75,000.... University of Chicago Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture:... $148,000.... Northwestern University J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management:... $760,000."
2010 annual report, Joyce Foundation: "National Wildlife Federation... $337,860.... Natural Resources Defense Council Inc.... $450,000.... World Resources Institute:... $300,000.... National Wildlife Federation:... $400,000.... Media Matters for America:... $400,000.... Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence... $125,000... Legal Community Against Violence:... $300,000.... The Brookings Institution:... $50,000 [and] $200,000.... League of Women Voters [different national chapters]: $50,000... $120,000... $75,000... $105,000... $250,000 [and] $60,000.... Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund:... $75,000.... Latino Policy Forum:... $125,000.... National Public Radio Inc.:... $150,000.... Taproot Foundation:... $50,000.... Aspen Institute Inc.:... $49,650 [and] $1,000,000.... GuideStar:... $5,000. To support the completion of the GuideStar website for the 2008 IRS Form 990. (1 yr.)... Philanthropy Roundtable:... $1,000. 2010 Membership Grant."
February 2014, Capital Research Center's Foundation Watch, 'The Joyce Foundation Betraying donor intent in the Windy City', p 5: "Joyce [Foundation] funds the Brookings Institution ($3,481,080 since 1998); Aspen Institute ($1,989,650 since 2005);... and the John Podesta-founded, George Soros-funded Center for American Progress ($863,329 since 2005). It also funds the... American Civil Liberties Union Foundation ($225,000 since 2002)... the Tides Center ($625,000 since 1998)...
It has funded the Chicago Annenberg Challenge ($370,000 since 1998)...
Joyce gave $75,000 in 2006 for a symposium on gun rights at Stanford Law School and $75,000 in 2008 for research on gun regulation. [etc.]"
Kellogg Foundation
wkkf.org/who-we-are/overview (accessed: March 26, 2016): "The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930 by breakfast cereal pioneer W.K. Kellogg... Today, the organization ranks among the world's largest private foundations, awarding grants in the United States, Mexico, Haiti, northeastern Brazil and southern Africa."
rockpa.org/page.aspx?pid=339 (accessed: March 26, 2016): "In 2006, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation reached out to Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors building on its efforts to promote philanthropy in communities of color and to maximize innovation and impact.... Over three years, 30 grants were awarded to 23 organizations through the Cultures of Giving Fund, a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors established with a grant from the Kellogg Foundation."
activistfacts.com/foundation/42-WKKelloggFoundation/ (accessed: March 26, 2016): "Friends of the Earth $20,000 1999... Natural Resources Defense Council $85,934 1997... Tides Foundation & Tides Center $10,410,772 2006..."
tides.org/i-want-to/increase-my-foundations-impact-capacity (accessed: September 3, 2015): "In partnership with institutions like The California Endowment, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, [George Soros'] Open Society Institute, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, [Bill & Melinda] Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, and many others, we have granted hundreds of millions of dollars."
January 9, 2015, Capital Research Center (financed by Koch, Scaife and Bradley foundations), 'Trendsetters of the Left': "The American Prospect magazine functions as a nonprofit organization. In addition to publishing a magazine, it routinely organizes progressive conferences.... Institutional donors to The American Prospect Inc. include... W.K. Kellogg Foundation ($197,500 since 2012)."
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Origin as the Knight Memorial Education Fund in 1940. Name changed to the Knight Foundation in 1950. Renamed to the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in 1993.
Founded by James L. Knight and his brother John S. Knight of the Knight-Ridder group of newspapers
Located in Miami, Florida since 1990.
Lannan Foundation
Anno 2016 there's still very little information available about this foundation's exact grant-making. It certainly does fund Democracy Now!, Mother Jones magazine and The Nation magazine. Also put $2,000 in the pockets of Counterpunch magazine. Foundation founder J. Patrick Lannan can easily be linked to the CIA through his 36-year directorship of IT&T, notorious for involvement in Latin American coups and former CIA director John McCone on the board. Various other elites could also be found on the board. September 27, 1983, New York Times, 'J. Patrick Lannan, Ex-Director of I.T.T. and Backer of Arts': "Mr. Lannan was a director of the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation for 36 years. He retired as director emeritus last May. He was also a director and member of the executive commmittee of the Macmillan Publishing Company, and a past chairman of the board of trustees of the magazine Poetry.... In 1962, Mr. Lannan was one of 10 Americans chosen by the American Schools and Colleges Association to receive its annual Horatio Alger Award. At that time, he was chairman of the Susquehanna Corporation, an investment-banking concern in Chicago, and was on the boards or the executive committees of 19 major corporations. Mr. Lannan established the Lannan Foundation to give financial help to needy artists and writers." law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/495/1308/255466/ (accessed: December 18, 2015): "Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 94,481 Hilda Herbst, Plaintiff-appellee, v. International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation et al.,defendants-appellants, 495 F.2d 1308 (2d Cir. 1974) Annotate this Case U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit - 495 F.2d 1308 (2d Cir. 1974) Argued Jan. 9, 1974. Decided April 3, 1974.... defendants-appellants International Telephone and Telegraph Corp. [include] Harold S. Geneen... Eugene R. Black... J. Patrick Lannan, John A. McCone and... Felix G. Rohatyn.... This appeal from the District of Connecticut by the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation (ITT) and its directors..." 2015, Hayden Herrera, 'Listening to Stone: The Art and Life of Isamu Noguchi', p. 433: "The guest list for the Pace show's opening... reads like a who's who of the Manhattan art world. It included... Ann Rockefeller Costa, Mary T. Rockefeller... Angier Biddle Duke... Louis Auchincloss... Patrick Lannan, and Christophe de Menil. " 2014, Charles R. Geisst, 'Encyclopedia of American Business History', p. 244: "[Lazard] benefited from the postwar merger boom in the United States. Meyer and a younger partner, Felix Rohatyn, aligned themselves with Harold Geneen at the ITT Corporation, and Lazard became ITT's major merger banker. The firm helped the corporation with many of its major acquisitions as it built itself into a conglomerate and also served other companies. Much of the firm's success in the 1960s and 1970s was built around the relationship with ITT."
lannan.org/about/history/ (accessed: December 18, 2015): "In 1960 J. Patrick Lannan, Sr., entrepreneur and financier, established Lannan Foundation. A self-educated scholar and liberal thinker, he believed strongly in the social importance of charitable programs and in the cultural importance of innovative and controversial forms of visual and literary art."
lannan.org/about/board/ (accessed: December 18, 2015): "Patrick Lannan, President Sharon A. Ferrill William E. Johnston John R. Lannan Lawrence P. Lannan, Jr. Frank C. Lawler, Vice President Mary M. Plauché Marian P. Day Karen Hetherington David Ungerleider, SJ Penn Szittya In memoriam: The board and staff of the foundation wish to express their appreciation for the invaluable contributions made by the late board members, James G. Butler, Colleen Lannan Dillon, Anne Lannan, Patricia Lannan Lawler, and Tscheng S. Feng, M.D. "
July 9, 2011, Bob Feldman article on Wrong Kind of Green, 'FLASHBACK: Democracy Now! Show Funder Censors Anti-War Journalist John Pilger': "According to the Lannan Foundation's Form 990 financial filing for 2008, Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! Productions was given three grants, totaling $375,000, by the Lannan Foundation. And that same year the Lannan Foundation also gave three grants, totaling $545,000, to The Nation!/Nation Institute alternative left media group and three grants, totaling $475,000, to Foundation for National Progress/Mother Jones magazine. But the Lannan Foundation apparently doesn't want to allow anti-war journalists who criticize the Democratic Obama Administration's failure to end the endless U.S. military intervention in Iraq-Afghanistan-Pakistan-Libya-Yemen-Somalia to speak freely in the United States these days, as indicated by Australian anti-war journalist and anti-war filmmaker John Pilger's recent experience."
lannan.org/bios/noam-chomsky/
lannan.org/bios/richard-falk/: "Richard Falk is Professor Emeritus of International Law and Practice at Princeton University and Research Fellow at Orfalea Center of Global Studies, University of California at Santa Barbara. He was chair of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's Board of Directors until 2012, served as honorary vice president of the American Society of International Law, and is a member of The Nation editorial board. From 2008 – 2014 he served as special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories for the United Nations. "
lannan.org/bios/hamilton-fish/: "Hamilton Fish is the President and CEO of The Nation Institute [and a Soros employee]...."
lannan.org/bios/amy-goodman/ (former employee of Pacifica Radio and host of Democracy Now!)
podcast.lannan.org/tag/democracy-now/
lannan.org/bios/glenn-greenwald/: "Glenn Greenwald is an editor, journalist, constitutional lawyer and commentator. [Won the] Online Journalism Award for Best Commentary for his coverage of U.S. Army Private Chelsea Manning in 2010. Foreign Policy magazine named him one of the top 100 Global Thinkers for 2013. His columns have been featured at Guardian US and Salon. He is currently an editor with Laura Poitras and Jeremy Scahill at Pierre Omidyar's new media project, The//Intercept..."
lannan.org/literary/detail/jeremy-scahill/: "Jeremy Scahill... has reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, the former Yugoslavia and elsewhere across the globe. Scahill has served as the National Security Correspondent for The Nation magazine and Democracy Now!. Scahill's work has sparked several Congressional investigations and won some of journalism's highest honors. He was twice awarded the prestigious George Polk Award, in 1998 for foreign reporting and in 2008 for his book Blackwater. In 2013 he was a recipient of the Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell literature prize at Yale University. Scahill is a producer and writer of the award-winning film Dirty Wars, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and has been nominated for an Academy Award. He is currently an editor with Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald at Pierre Omidyar's new media project, The//Intercept, a publication of First Look Media."
July 7, 2011, John Pilger for Global Research, 'The Strange Silencing of Liberal America': "How does political censorship work in liberal societies? When my film, Year Zero: the Silent Death of Cambodia, was banned in the United States in 1980, the broadcaster PBS cut all contact. Negotiations were ended abruptly; phone calls were not returned. Something had happened. But what? Year Zero had already alerted much of the world to the horrors of Pol Pot, but it also investigated the critical role of the Nixon administration in the tyrant's rise to power and the devastation of Cambodia. Six months later, a PBS official told me, "This wasn't censorship. We're into difficult political days in Washington. Your film would have given us problems with the Reagan administration. Sorry."... The Lannan Foundation in Santa Fe, New Mexico, believes in free speech. The foundation's website says it is "dedicated to cultural freedom, diversity and creativity". Authors, film-makers, poets make their way to a sanctum of liberalism bankrolled by the billionaire Patrick Lannan in the tradition of Rockefeller and Ford. Lannan also awards "grants" to America's liberHELEN Dransfield is bracing for the onslaught of unwanted Christmas presents.
The sad part is, she doesn't work for Gumtree or Ebay, but for the Toowoomba RSPCA.
She said the shelter is already at capacity with animals, and that's before the classic post-Christmas dumping period that arrives in mid to late January.
She said it was a common scenario for unsuspecting families to pick up puppies or kittens as Christmas presents for the kids, or worse be given pets by well-meaning relatives, which later proved to be too much for them to look after.
"Usually January and February is when the surrenders come in, after the novelty has worn off," she said.
"The kids go back to school and it all seems too hard.
"At the moment we've got a lot coming in from the council pound because a lot of people go away for holidays.
"Hopefully a lot will be reclaimed, but if not they will be coming to us."
Photos View Photo Gallery
She said the RSPCA ran a program to encourage good families to adopt adult cats and dogs through December to ease the pressure on resources come January, but more forever homes were needed.
But the important thing was to make sure you were ready to take on the responsibility.
She said ensuring people took their responsibility seriously was also one of the main reasons discounted prices were never applied to puppies or kittens through the service.
Toowoomba's RSPCA shelter can be found at 43 Vanity St or you can call 4634 1304 to find out more about adopting a new furry family member.How to Grow Your Fan Base with a Blog
Creatives are often intimidated by the idea of starting a blog (one more time-consuming, energy-draining, nail-biting activity to add to the heap). It’s easy to discourage yourself by imagining that blogging is like writing one of those harrowing school papers about colonialism, with a bibliography four pages long. But in actuality, blogging isn’t hard. (See all the white space on this page? Mrs. Finneren never would have let me get away with it.)
Blogging is a casual art form. You don’t need perfect prose or grandiose themes to succeed. All you need to do is be yourself; your friends and fans will appreciate it. Blogging is also the best tool for growing an audience online, and it’s actually quite simple to start your own.
Guess What? You’re Already a Blogger
A blog post can be anything: a picture, a sentence, a poem, a video, or a song. In fact, you’re already a blogger. Blogging is what you do when you update your Facebook status or send a tweet. Yup. Last time you posted a picture of a kitten-in-a-basket on Facebook, you were actually blogging. Blogging is simply sharing interesting things with your audience and encouraging interaction. So you’re probably wondering, “If Facebook is blogging, why can’t I just stick with Facebook?”
Updating your Facebook or Twitter feed is a very limited kind of blogging. Social networks are closed systems with a narrow set of rules. Creating your own blog exposes you to a much larger world. A blog has untold potential. Here are some tips on how to make the most of yours.
5 Important Tips for Running a Successful Blog
1. Promote Every Post
I’ve already mentioned that a blog can be anything. Just take 15 minutes a week to share something on your blog. Experiment. But don’t just let your content sit there. The act of blogging is two-fold. Create something and then tell people about it. This is where Facebook and Twitter and other social networks come in. Get on your favorite social networks and advertise your new blog post. Say something provocative, “You won’t believe what happened at our last performance. Read all about it here.” Then link to the blog article you just posted. And Voila! Instant traffic to your website. The more you share, the more likely others will share your content with their friends (and so the snowball gathers snow).
Sometimes it can be a very slow process and it takes practice to discover what your fans respond best to, but it’s a learning experience, and it DOES WORK.
2. Post Regularly
Set a goal. Once a week, once a day, or even once a month. The important thing is to be consistent. This way your audience will know what to expect and they wont feel neglected. Try to always post your blog on the same day and around the same time.
3. Vary Your Content
The more topics you write about, the better the chance that people will discover your articles in search engines. Every article you write becomes another portal through which potential fans can discover you. Google and other search |
you have the morning after a long night of drinking. Its most noticeable trait is the tread mark left on the bottom of the toilet bowl after you flush.
THE "GEE, I REALLY WISH I COULD SHIT" SHIT
The kind where you want to shit, but even after straining your guts out, all you do is sit on the toilet, cramped and farting.
THE WET CHEEKS SHIT
Also known as the "Power Dump." The kind that comes out of your ass so fast that your butt cheeks get splashed with the toilet water.
THE LIQUID SHIT
The kind where yellowish-brown liquid shoots out of your butt, splashes all over the side of the toilet bowl and, at the same time, burns your tender poop-chute.
THE MEXICAN FOOD SHIT
A class all its own.
THE CROWD PLEASER
A shit is so intriguing in size and/or appearance that you have to show it to someone before flushing.
THE MOOD ENHANCER
Occurring after a lengthy period of constipation, this shit allows you to be your old self again.
THE RITUAL
This shit occurs at the same time each day and is accomplished with the aid of a newspaper.
THE GUINESS BOOK OF RECORDS SHIT
A shit so noteworthy it should be recorded for future generations.
THE AFTERSHOCK SHIT
This shit has an odor so powerful than anyone entering the vicinity within the next 7 hours is affected.
THE "HONEYMOON'S OVER" SHIT
Any shit created in the presence of another person.
THE GROANER
A shit so huge it cannot exit without vocal assistance.
THE FLOATER
Characterized by its floatability, this shit has been known to resurface after many flushings.
THE RANGER
A shit that refuses to let go. It is usually necessary to engage in a rocking or bouncing motion, but quite often the only solution is to push it away with a piece of toilet paper.
THE PHANTOM SHIT
Appears in the toilet mysteriously and no one will admit to putting it there.
THE PEEK-A-BOO SHIT
Now you see it, now you don't. This shit is playing games with you. Requires patience and muscle control.
THE BOMBSHELL
A shit that comes as a complete surprise at a time that is either Inappropriate to shit (ie. during lovemaking or a root canal) or you are nowhere near shitting facilities.
THE SNAKE CHARMER
A long skinny shit which has managed to coil itself into a frightening position... Usually harmless.
THE OLYMPIC SHIT
Occurs exactly one hour prior to the start of any competitive event in which you are entered and bears a close resemblance to the Drinker's Shit.
THE BACK-TO-NATURE SHIT
This shit may be of any variety but is always deposited either in the woods or while hiding behind the passenger side of your car.
THE PEBBLES-FROM-HEAVEN SHIT
An adorable collection of small turds in a cluster, often a gift from God when you actually can't shit.
PREMEDITATED SHIT
Laxative induced. Doesn't count.
SHITZOPHRENIA
Fear of shitting. Can be fatal! [ Editor's note: shouldn't it be "Shitzophobia"?]
ENERGIZER vs. DURACELL SHIT
Also known as a "Still Going" shit.
THE POWER DUMP SHIT
The kind that comes out so fast, you've barely got your pants down and you're done.
THE LIQUID PLUMBER SHIT
This shit is so big it plugs up the toilet and it overflows all over the floor. (You should have followed the advice from the Lincoln Log shit.)
THE SPINAL TAP SHIT
The kind of shit that hurts so much coming out, you'd swear it's got to be coming out sideways.
THE "I THINK I'M GIVING BIRTH THROUGH MY ASSHOLE" SHIT
Similar to the Lincoln Log and The Spinal Tap Shits. The shape and size of the turd resembles a tall boy beer can. Vacuous air space remains in the rectum for some time afterwards.
THE PORRIDGE SHIT
The type that comes out like toothpaste, and just keeps on coming. You have two choices: (a) flush and keep going, or (b) risk it piling up to your butt while you sit there helpless.
THE "I'M GOING TO CHEW MY FOOD BETTER" SHIT
When the bag of Doritos you ate last night lacerates the insides of your rectum on the way out in the morning.
THE "I THINK I'M TURNING INTO A BUNNY" SHIT
When you drop lots of cute, little round ones that look like marbles and make tiny splashing sounds when they hit the water.
THE "WHAT THE HELL DIED IN HERE?" SHIT
Also sometimes known as The Toxic Dump. Of course, you don't warn anyone of the poisonous bathroom odor. Instead, you stand innocently near the door and enjoy the show as they run out gagging and gasping for air.
THE "I JUST KNOW THERE'S A TURD STILL DANGLING THERE" SHIT
You sit there patiently, waiting for the last cling-on to fall because if you wipe now, it's just going to smear all over the place.The Challenge
The mere mention of website templates makes some clients bristle. Nobody likes being told they have to conform to a set of rules they feel weren’t written with them in mind. They also believe that their site will look like everyone else’s and not meet their unique needs.
Developers and designers also get concerned with templates, unsure if content editors will put the correct types of content in pre-built components. Sites that the development and design team spent a lot of time building can end up looking unprofessional if the templates aren’t used properly. No one wins in this scenario.
The Solution
Let’s first dispel the myth that using templates means your site will look like everyone else’s. When we talk about templates, we aren’t talking about simple differences in colors and fonts. Our Lectronimo website solution takes advantage of Drupal’s modularity and Panelizer to deliver different frameworks that solve common UX mistakes, and still allows creativity when it comes to content.
The Lectronimo templates are built for many different components that can be mixed and matched to highlight your best content, and they don’t require you to strictly adhere to a formula. People with lots of videos aren’t limited by the page structure, and people with complex written content have various ways to display that information so that users can scan and explore -- without feeling like they’re reading a novel.
To keep each Lectronimo website solution maintaining its professional appearance and supporting the content strategy, we worked by the philosophy that any content our users can place should actually work, both in terms of functionality and in design. To us this meant that we needed to place some limits on where our users can put things. We’ve applied some preprocess hooks to the Panels ‘Add Content’ dialog to ensure that whenever a user goes to add content to any region, the list of content types will have been filtered accordingly. Our custom IPE also uses Javascript variables via Ajax commands to prevent content editors from dragging & dropping existing content into invalid regions.
At the same time, we didn’t want to build a set of draconian rules that would leave users feeling trapped or limited, so we primarily assigned our region types based on where content might make sense, and avoided using this system as a crutch to resolve design limitations. For example, there’s a content plugin specifically for adding short intro text to the top of a page. From our experience we knew it would create an inconsistent experience to have that same style of text appear in the middle of the page, or in a sidebar, or anywhere other than the top of the content.
To resolve the design problems that arise when large content gets placed into small regions, our content plugins work in tandem with our layout templates. Plugins are enabled to automatically swap out some styles based on their region placement. We achieved this by establishing a convention that every region in every panel layout must follow one of three spatial patterns: Full Width, Wide, or Narrow.
A region declares its pattern just by including a class in the layout template. From there, the principles are very much like responsive design: Just as we would apply different styles on small displays vs. large displays through media queries, we can apply extra styles to content within narrow or wide columns via our standardized classnames. This contributes to a robust design experience, allowing content authors to place content freely without worrying about breaking the design. Everybody wins!
If you’re interested in learning more about our journey to develop our Lectronimo solution, check out parts 1 & 2 to this blog series: Making a Custom, Acquia-Hosted Site Affordable for Higher Ed, and Custom Theming that is Robust and Flexible Enough to Continue to Impress.
We’re excited to bring Lectronimo to market! If you’re a higher ed institution exploring options for your upcoming redesign and want to know more about Lectronimo, or if you’re in another market and want to talk about your next project, Digital Wave’s team is happy to help.Israel ministers endorse bill to spotlight foreign-funded NGOs
Israeli ministers Sunday endorsed contentious draft legislation to toughen rules on rights groups receiving funds from abroad, the justice minister said, in a move left-wing NGOs have called a witch-hunt.
Approval of the draft by the ministerial committee on legislation means that it now goes to parliament as a government bill, where it must pass three readings to become law.
If the initiative is successful, Israeli non-governmental organisations which get at least half of their funding from "foreign state entities" will be obliged to identify donors on their financial statements and in official statements to Israeli public bodies.
Ayelet Shaked is backing a bill to toughen rules on Israeli rights groups which receive funds from abroad ©Gali Tibbon (pool/AFP)
It would also compel staff from such NGOs to wear special identity tags when appearing in front of parliamentary committees, as is currently the case with paid lobbyists.
The bill's sponsor, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, has alleged that "blatant interference in internal Israeli affairs by foreign governments is unprecedented and widespread."
Shaked cited a UN inquiry into the 2014 summer war in Gaza, which concluded that Israel may have been guilty of war crimes. She said it relied on evidence from foreign-backed NGOs B'Tselem, Adalah and Breaking the Silence.
She is a member of the far-right Jewish Home party, which has led criticism of such groups.
"We are asking of states that wish to intervene in Israel's internal affairs to do so publicly via diplomacy," Shaked said in a statement on Sunday.
Party leader Naftali Bennett, also education minister in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, has banned Breaking the Silence from addressing high-school students, which it had done for many years.
The group is made up of Israeli military veterans who publicise abuses they say they have seen or taken part in during their military service in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Several left-wing Israeli NGOs receive large percentages of their funding from abroad, including from European governments.
Right-wing NGOs tend instead to be funded by private individuals, also often outside Israel, and so are not subject to the restrictions.
"This is a disturbing milestone in right-wing efforts to delegitimize and silence these organisations," the left-leaning Israeli daily Haaretz wrote in an editorial on Sunday.
"Shaked's bill represents a severe blow to freedom of expression and activity of organisations working in various fields who protect Israel's moral image."
Opposition leader Issac Herzog said the ministerial approval of the "distorted" bill was "a bullet between the eyes" to Israel's international standings.
And Israeli settlement watchdog Peace Now called the bill "a hate crime against democracy," claiming it had "nothing to do with transparency and everything to do with the delegitimation of organisations criticising the government's policies."March 31, 2014 at 7:56 PM
Washington wide receiver Damore’ea Stringfellow will be charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault in the fourth degree and one count of malicious mischief in a case related to his alleged assault of Seahawks fans in two post-Super Bowl incidents on Feb. 2.
The malicious mischief charge is also expected to be a misdemeanor, a source with knowledge of the case told The Seattle Times. The charges are expected to be filed by Thursday.
UW quarterback Cyler Miles, also linked to the alleged assaults, will not be charged. The King County Prosecutor’s Office found no indication of criminal behavior on Miles’ part, the source said.
The prosecutor’s office released a statement on Monday evening saying that an announcement would be made “shortly.”
Both players remained suspended from the team as of late Monday afternoon, with the Huskies set to resume spring practices Tuesday morning.
The source identified Stringfellow as the suspect who allegedly grabbed a woman and broke her camera lens during a scuffle near a campus-area bonfire shortly after the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory. In that incident, the female victim told police a man “had attempted to rip a video camera from her hands and then knocked her out.” If the damaged camera lens is valued at more than $700, Stringfellow would face a felony charge; if it’s less than $700, as expected, it would be a misdemeanor charge of malicious mischief.
Stringfellow was also identified as the main suspect in an alleged assault during a second incident less than an hour later. The male victim in that incident told police that two men jumped out of a white sedan and asked the victim if he was a Seahawks fan. According to the police report, the victim said “something like, ‘Yeah of course, are you Broncos fans?’ ”
The suspects then “came at” the man and “started punching (him) in the face,” according to the police report. The man and a friend identified Stringfellow and Miles by looking at the UW football roster online.This morning Allister Heath has written for the Telegraph that the NHS, in its current form, is unsustainable, noting:
“Nothing will ever be enough when it comes to the NHS: it will always need more resources than any government can ever afford. The government is actually being disproportionately generous to health, forcing dramatically deeper cuts elsewhere. […] Britain's tax base is already being sucked dry. Nothing more of substance can be wrung out. The fiscal goose is bald and needs a good break, not another plucking.”
Our Research Director, Alex Wild has made similar arguments:
“Healthcare is obviously going to get more expensive because healthcare inflation is greater than general inflation. And rich countries do often spend more on healthcare as technologies advance and new drugs become available. And that is an enormous problem for the NHS in its current form.”
It is becoming increasingly obvious that solutions other than ‘throw more money at the problem’ are needed in the case of the NHS. If we want world class healthcare for generations to come then we really do need to find a new way to pay for it.Just days after President Donald Trump publicly scolded Qatar for being a "high level" exporter of regional terrorism in the Middle East, its government announced Wednesday the signing of a deal to buy $12 billion worth of F-15 fighter jets from U.S. weapons makers.
The Pentagon justified the massive sale by saying the jets—reportedly 39 of them—would increase "security cooperation" between the two countries.
Pointing towards the glaring hypocrisy, journalist Jeremy Scahill quipped, "Ah yes. Take that, Qatar! Feel the wrath of the Trump..."
Last Friday, Trump told reporters at a White House press conference that "Qatar, unfortunately, has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level." The president then said he had decided to take a harder line with the country.
Oil-rich Qatar is home to a major U.S. airbase in the region and a longtime ally, but the latest weapons sale comes amid boiling tensions in the region centered around ongoing wars in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen as a well as a diplomatic crisis between members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
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And NBC News notes:
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates cut diplomatic and transport ties with Qatar last week and accused it of supporting terrorism and regional unrest. Despite these allegations, Qatar is a crucial ally to Washington in the Middle East. It is home to 10,000 American troops and a major American military base that acts as the center of U.S. operations in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Like Scahill, historian and Middle East expert Vijay Prashad, said the weapons sale in this context, if not surprising, is telling:A Tory minister has asked Labour MP Frank Field to meet the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to discuss his ideas for raising national insurance contributions to pay for the NHS, in a sign that the Conservatives are considering radical options to plug the huge funding gap.
Field told the Observer that he was approached by the minister, who said the financial crisis in the NHS needed to be addressed and that he was right to be floating ideas on how the service could be maintained and put on a sound financial footing for future generations.
Field told the minister he would be willing to meet the health secretary, but not before he had held talks with shadow chancellor Ed Balls about his proposals, which he did last Tuesday.
According to Field, the minister also said that the financial crisis in the NHS had been the subject of discussions at high levels in government in recent weeks.
Field is drawing up proposals that he says will help to fill a looming £30bn a year "black hole" in NHS funding that will occur by 2020.
Without action, he says, a Labour or any other government would be faced with the prospect of having to make swingeing cuts across the other public services, far deeper than envisaged so far, to maintain the NHS in anything like its current form.
Field said: "A Conservative minister approached me and said they had been talking about the NHS's financial crisis and my ideas on how to address it within the department.
"The minister said it would be a good idea to go along and talk to the health secretary about it and agreed that something had to be done."
Some Conservatives now believe that drastic action needs to be taken on NHS funding, and regret that David Cameron has not proposed some form of NHS tax to underpin his commitment to maintaining the current service free at the point of use. The chancellor, George Osborne, however, is known to be strongly opposed to any move that would compromise a Tory general election message based around the idea of lower taxes, and is said to believe that radical options can be delayed until the next parliament.
Recent figures, based on data from NHS England and the Nuffield Trust and produced by the Commons library, suggest that NHS costs alone will go from £95bn a year now to more than £130bn a year by 2020.
As a result, Field argues that a 1% rise in national insurance, similar to that ordered by Gordon Brown to pay for increased spending on the NHS in 2002, would be welcomed by the public if it was guaranteed that the money would be spent specifically on health and social care.
In his meeting with Balls, which he described as "very friendly and constructive", Field said that any rises in national insurance on top of an initial emergency increase, should be matched with an accompanying pledge to reduce income tax by the same amount – meaning that deep cuts would have to be made elsewhere.
The Observer revealed last month that Field's ideas were being fed into Labour's policy review. Balls has been opposed to such a move, fearing it would leave Labour open to charges that it is returning to a high-tax agenda. At Tuesday's meeting, Field explained how radical his proposals are – a progressive national insurance base to raise revenue, to be matched by tax cuts.
Signs, however, that the Tories are interested in the Field plan suggests they may be examining ways to outflank Labour, and leave it vulnerable on an issue regarded as one of its strongest.
Field said the extra NI contributions should go into a dedicated fund that would be run as a mutual, with elected members negotiating each year's level of contributions. "What we need is a new settlement for the NHS, an NHS mark two, that will reassure people that the most popular public service is safe for future generations." He is now concerned that unless Labour moves on the issue, the Tories will steal the idea. Field proposed the sale of council houses in 1979, only to see Margaret Thatcher take up the idea and turn it into one of her most emblematic policies.
Labour is already committed to combining the budgets for health and social care but the party's public position thus far has been that it will not look at a specific NHS tax.
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham is wary of increasing NI in a way that would mean younger people in work having to pay the care costs of those already of pensionable age.
He favours other options, including a plan floated by Labour before the last election for a levy of 10% to 15% on people's estates after death to pay care costs. To address Burnham's concerns, Field proposes that those now over pension age would be asked to continue to pay NI, if they wanted free care. Otherwise, they would have to pay under the current system.Capital Research Center
Why Maryland?
CASA de Maryland has enormous influence in state politics. But it also has disproportionate influence at the White House through its two former CASA board members, the current Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Thomas Perez, and Cecilia Muñoz, director of the President’s Domestic Policy Council. Maryland is a secure base of operations for field-testing a new kind of community organization. In discussing his New Americans Initiative,18 which aims to persuade hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants in the D.C. area to naturalize and so become eligible to vote, CASA director Gustavo Torres recently declared, “My goal is to build 200,000 members in the next five years,” and someday “build a powerful … movement of immigrants and other minorities including the African American community to fight for justice—and they decide what justice means” (emphasis added).19
In other words, CASA wants to become the illegal immigrants’ ACORN—an all-purpose agitation machine that helps clients to skirt the laws that govern things like voter registration and welfare benefits. And in fact, as we’ll see, Torres has ties to ACORN founder Wade Rathke.A new study was published that about the newly discovered role of a protein involved in the reproduction of malaria. The protein, called cell-division cycle protein 20 (CDC20), had been previously known to play a role in cell division in many organisms, but scientists have just now discovered its role in malaria reproduction. The absence of CDC20 stops the exflagellation of male sex cells. This means that the male cells cannot form and burst out of their host cells, therefore preventing the fertilization of female cells. "The malaria parasite is a complex organism and to understand how it multiplies is crucial to stopping its transmission... Blocking the formation of these cells can be an important strategy in the prevention of malaria transmission from mosquito to mammalian hosts," said David Guttery, lead scientist of the paper, in a press release.Mexico officer flees drug gang killers targeting police Mexico officer escapes drug gang killers targeting police
MEXICO CITY — A federal police commander escaped killers near Monterrey on Tuesday as authorities in Mexico City pursued leads in a plot to assassinate more top police officials.
For the first time, Mexico's warring drug gangs are training their guns on the heads of the nation's security forces. Under siege from an unprecedented federal anti-narcotics campaign, the gangs are switching from bribes to bullets in defending their lucrative smuggling routes to the United States.
The result is three police commanders killed in the capital since May 1, including Edgar Millan, who as commissioner of the 30,000-member federal police led the civilian front of the drug war.
Another federal police commander narrowly escaped assassination early Tuesday. Arturo Cabrera had just left the Nuevo Leon state police academy at 1 a.m. when gunmen opened fire on his car, wounding him slightly in the face. He managed to return to the police base, where he exchanged fire with his assailants before a SWAT team came to his rescue, officials said.
The force's Mexico City commanders have been less fortunate.
Anti-narcotics officials revealed details late Monday on a cell of killers they said was behind Millan's May 8 assassination. The gang's alleged leader, Jose Antonio Montes, was himself a federal police officer. He was arrested along with five suspects, including the alleged hit man, Alejandro Ramirez.
The gang was apparently plotting to kill a total of six police commanders in the capital, officials said. In addition to Millan, targets included Roberto Velasco, a former head of the federal organized-crime unit, who was gunned down outside his Mexico City home on May 1.
At his arrest, Montes was carrying a list of license plate numbers belonging to the commanders' vehicles and what appeared to be sketches of Velasco's house, they said. All the targets were former or current top officials of the federal anti-narcotics squad.
Federal investigators suspect the Sinaloa drug cartel was behind the attacks in the capital. Millan had recently coordinated the arrest earlier this year of Arturo Beltran Leyva, the cartel's alleged No. 2 man.
Agents have also arrested a dozen other cartel members and seized millions of dollars in weapons and cash in recent raids in Mexico City and the Pacific coast state of Sinaloa.
On Tuesday, President Felipe Calderon dispatched hundreds of federal police to reinforce anti-narcotics efforts in Culiacan, the Sinaloa capital and the cartel's headquarters.
Twelve federal police have been killed in the state so far this month. And analysts predict the bloodshed will only increase, as the gang gives vent to internal rivalries.
In recent weeks, Culiacan has been littered with banners from feuding factions threatening violence against each other and the security forces, including one hung inside the city's Roman Catholic cathedral.
Experts say the government crackdown has fueled tension between the reputed cartel boss, Joaquin "Chapo" Guzman, and Beltran Leyva, who is aligned with the Juarez cartel. Guzman's son, Edgar, was killed on May 8 in a shootout between rival traffickers outside a Culiacan supermarket. And local news reports suggest Beltran's gang might have been responsible.
The violence is also a reaction to a more coordinated assault by the federal authorities on the cartels' power structure, some analysts said.
"For the first time, we're seeing surgical assaults on their safe houses, where the police go, attack and arrest them 10 or 15 at a time," said Jorge Chabat, a Mexico City-based security analyst. "This suggests a far more effective intelligence effort" by the federal forces.
However, Mexican authorities dispute whether the police force is up to the challenge of taking on the drug gangs.
Bipartisan members of the Mexican Congress are calling for the army to patrol the capital. Already, thousands of troops are battling the traffickers in a dozen states across Mexico.
"The police are totally out of their depth here," Obdulio Avila, a legislator from Calderon's conservative National Action Party, said on Tuesday. "There are entire neighborhoods where the police don't dare go in."
He denied that the demand was a political challenge to the capital's leftist mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, who has opposed such a plan.
"It's not a political demand," Avila said. "It's a citizen's demand."
marionlloyd@gmail.comNigel Farage will decide within the next seven days whether he is going to stand for the fourth time to be leader of the UK Independence Party following a collapse in his party's support at the polls.
Mr Farage said he was going “to have a think about it” after his successor Paul Nuttall resigned as Ukip leader after his party's woeful showing at the General Election.
The Eurosceptic party’s future was left in doubt after Ukip failed to gain a single seat and the party’s vote share collapsed to less than two per cent from 12.6 per cent in 2015.
The party racked up tens of thousands of pounds in lost deposits as its MPs failed to win enough votes in each seat.
Mr Farage said he had a “busy media weekend” planned but added there was “no great rush” and he would “think about it over the weekend”.
He told The Daily Telegraph: “There is a possibility of a huge flank being reopened in British politics.”Get the biggest Liverpool FC stories by email Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email
Mamadou Sakho is so important to Liverpool, the Reds would already be in the Champions League if he had been available at the end of last season.
The Frenchman is currently on loan at Crystal Palace and former Reds Under-23s boss Michael Beale, who coached him during the defender’s six-month exile from the first team, has lamented his departure from Anfield.
Sakho was banned by UEFA towards the end of the 2015/16 campaign for an alleged anti-doping violation – which he was later cleared of – before his ill-discipline on the club’s pre-season tour of America this summer saw him demoted from the senior squad.
The 27-year-old moved to Selhurst Park in January, moving from a club fighting to be in the Champions League to one battling to stay away from the Championship.
But Beale believes Sakho would have led his side to Europe’s top competition this season – by virtue of success over Sevilla in last year’s Europa League final.
The centre-back’s chances of returning to play for Liverpool are slim, having not played for them since last April, with the club wanting to sell him for £30million this summer.
Beale, now an assistant coach at Brazilian side Sao Paolo, believes it is a shame club and player cannot reconcile.
“It is a shame what happened at Liverpool,” Beale said. “Both parties have lost. Sakho is playing for a club that I think he is too good to play for.
“Everyone is looking for a left-footed centre half. If it is to be that he leaves Liverpool, he won’t be short of offers. He will likely move on.
“It will be sad if there cannot be some form of reconciliation, because I think Liverpool still need him. Jurgen felt he could go with other players.
“If Sakho was able to play against Sevilla in the Europa League final, Liverpool would have won. I am sure of that.
“That would have changed the whole course of things at Liverpool; they would have been in the Champions League, extra revenue, attract better players etc. Maybe Klopp cannot forget that. I don’t know the ins and outs.”
(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Sakho has been praised for his performances since joining Sam Allardyce’s side, helping the Eagles move out of the relegation zone with four consecutive wins.
Beale has hailed the impact of Sakho at the relegation-battlers, and revealed how the star prepared for the move with his Under-23s side.
“When he first came to us at the Under-23s, I didn’t really know what happened with the manager,” Beale told Sky Sports. “I didn’t want to know, and I said to him that as long as he respected me and the Under-23 players and staff then we wouldn’t have a problem. He went well beyond that.
“From that day onwards he was getting changed in a Portakabin. He was never, ever late, and he worked his socks off. He could not have been a better professional. You are seeing the results of that work now at Palace.
“Although we had some good players in that group - Ben Woodburn and Trent Alexander-Arnold - he was playing in front of 1,000 people, and was the target for everyone, being so famous. His attitude was outstanding. I have never seen anything like it.
“We built a really good relationship, and he texted me when he joined Palace, obviously pleased to have made the move.
“For a team like Crystal Palace, he is a god-send. He is not usually someone they could afford, or even pay that sort of salary. He is inspirational to others around him. He is one of those guys who just walks into a dressing room and has a presence, you know they are there.
“He wasn’t in great physical condition when he came to us, but I watched the game against Chelsea at the weekend, and he was everywhere - his condition has improved markedly. We worked him hard, and he never once complained.
“Chelsea played quite well but couldn’t score, and Sakho was one of the reasons. The ball was like a magnet to him in the box. He also had that look back in his eye.”Last Updated: December 21, 2017, 3:56 pm
By: Spencer Ricks
Since Kris Johnson arrived at Dixie State University and joined the Gay Straight Alliance four years ago, he said the attitude toward students who identify as LGBT has changed.
Johnson said, for the most part, inclusion at DSU for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has improved, but it’s the “ingrained homophobia” he said he still experiences regularly at DSU.
“You might not see anyone at [DSU] outright saying they hate gay people, but there is almost an underhanded homophobia here,” Johnson said.
Johnson said, for example, many students would steer clear of the GSA table at Club Rush and avoid making eye contact with its members. The GSA table was even placed behind a tree at Club Rush by organizers, Johnson said.
“I’ve heard stories of how much discrimination there was at DSU before, and it has definitely gotten a lot better,” Johnson said. “There used to be a lot of barriers to do anything as a club. But now, DSU administration wouldn’t overtly do anything against us because we know how to call the [American Civil Liberties Union].”
Eli Aguirre, a freshman general education major from St. George and member of the GSA, said it’s hard for students who identify as LGBT at DSU because “St. George is such a closed-minded, Mormon city.”
“Some of the things I’d like to see are transgender-inclusive bathrooms at DSU and for the GSA to not be grouped with the [multicultural diversity center],” Aguirre said. “Right now, the [GSA] is a subset of a subset. We need to be our one entity.”
People hold a LGBT Pride flag in Salt Lake City during the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ General Conference April 2. Eli Aguirre, a freshman general education major from St. George, said people are less open-minded toward students who identify as LGBT at Dixie State University because of the large Mormon population in St. George. Photo by Spencer Ricks.
Christina Duncan, DSU’s new inclusion and equity fellow, said there are new programs and initiatives on the way for LGBT students to feel more included at DSU.
A major part of DSU’s strategic plan is to increase diversity on campus among students and faculty, which includes students who identify as LGBT, Duncan said. Having previously worked as the assistant director for the MCDC, Duncan said she now works directly with President Biff Williams toward achieving his goals to boost diversity at DSU.
Duncan said she hopes to increase recruitment and retention programs for students who identify as LGBT by adding a LGBT scholarship and creating an LGBT center on campus. She said DSU officials are also trying to advertise open faculty and staff positions to more people who identify as LGBT.
“There are already quite a few faculty members at DSU who identify as LGBT, even if they aren’t out yet,” Duncan said.
The LGBT center would eventually be separate from the MCDC and be staffed by additional faculty members who identify as LGBT.
“It’s important for students to be able to have a place where they can meet others similar to them and feel comfortable in that setting,” Duncan said. “[The LGBT] center will be the place for these students to go.”
Duncan said the LGBT center will be especially helpful for the GSA, which receives no extra support or funds from the university. She said the GSA is one of the most active and involved clubs within the MCDC.
Additional ways DSU administrators are planning on improving openness toward people on campus who identify as LGBT include creating additional gender and sexuality classes, trainings for faculty members, and a more open dialogue about sexuality on campus, Duncan said.
She said Williams and other administrators are also planning on having an open dialogue with students later this month about how they can improve inclusiveness for different races and people who identify as LGBT.
“We may not be perfect, but we are moving in the right direction,” Duncan said.
Members of the Dixie State University Gay Straight Alliance set up the Diversity Wall for students to write on about what makes them diverse. Increasing diversity at DSU, including among students and faculty who identify as LGBT, is part of the university’s strategic plan. Photo by Jess Arruda.On Tuesday, President Obama triumphantly announced that, with the power of the mainstream media, Hollywood, and the threat of the IRS, the mission had been accomplished: 7.1 million Americans had selected an Obamacare plan.
Obama’s tone was nothing short of exuberant: “7.1 million Americans have now signed up for private insurance plans through these market places. 7.1! Yep!” He then went on to criticize those who had expressed objections to Obamacare for its deprivations of plans, doctors, drugs, and liberty: “Why are folks working so hard for people not to have health insurance?”
Now, it was always foolhardy for Republicans and conservatives to stake their objections to Obamacare on the number of sign-ups; Social Security is going bankrupt despite 100% enrollment. The reality is that Obama was always destined to hit his required numbers because, after all, he has the power of government to compel action. The real problem with Obamacare has little to do with the number of people signing up, and a lot to do with the restrictions on insurance companies and reimbursement rates to doctors.
Nonetheless, the 7.1 million statistic is a meaningless one. It’s meaningless for a variety of reasons:
It Doesn’t Measure How Many People Have Actually Paid. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius admitted yesterday that of the 6 million people who had signed up for Obamacare at the time, “What we know from insurance companies…tell us that, for their initial customers, it’s somewhere between 80, 85, some say as high as 90 percent, have paid so far.” In other words, about five million people were signed up. As Aaron Blake of the Washington Post points out, “If between 80 and 90 percent of the six million have paid premiums, the number who are fully enrolled would be closer to five million than to six million.” With |
officers.
'A police dog handler put his hand out to move Mr Tomlinson away and a police dog bit him on the side of his leg. Mr Tomlinson did not appear to react to this dog bite, but continued slowly moving at an angle across the police line.
'PC A, who was behind the dog handler, moved forward and using his baton struck Mr Tomlinson on the left thigh. Almost immediately he pushed Mr Tomlinson very strongly in the back.
'This push caused Mr Tomlinson to fall heavily to the floor and, because he had his hands in his pockets, he was unable to break his fall.'
Bystanders helped Mr Tomlinson to his feet. He then left Royal Exchange and walked a short distance into Threadneedle Street. He appeared to bump into a building and slowly collapsed, the CPS said.
Members of the public tried to help him, but he 'deteriorated rapidly'. Police and paramedics tried to resuscitate him, but he died.
THE PC WHO LEFT UNDER A CLOUD
PC Simon Harwood, the officer who was accused of killing Ian Tomlinson, left the Met in controversial circumstances several years ago while facing misconduct proceedings over an alleged off-duty road rage incident.
The 43-year-old was allowed to retire on ill health grounds because of a leg or shoulder injury before the disciplinary case, which is said to have involved allegations of violence, was heard.
But after surgery on his injury, he rejoined the force as a civilian operator, dispatching officers to calls, and then after being declared medically fit, was accepted to join Surrey Police as a PC.
Later, despite the outstanding disciplinary proceedings, he transferred back to the Met and was deployed in the riot squad.
[caption]
Last night Scotland Yard refused to comment on the apparent vetting bungle. It said: 'It is not appropriate to comment on the officer's employment history-until the completion of any criminal or misconduct proceedings.'
But a source told a Sunday newspaper last year: 'No former officer with an outstanding disciplinary matter should ever be given his job back.'
Last night there was no sign of PC Harwood, his wife - a practice manager at a GP's surgery - or their two young sons at their £450,000 Surrey home.
Neighbours said the family left the property at around 1am yesterday, hours before the officer was informed of the CPS decision not to charge him.
Colleagues confirmed that PC Harwood had gone to ground 'for the foreseeable future'.
He has been suspended on full pay for 15 months and insists he did nothing wrong.
A colleague said: 'Simon's a good cop and there are many of us who believe he has been hung out to dry over this case.
'He faces an uncertain future with an inquest and possible disciplinary proceedings ahead.'
DOUBTS OVER THE DOCTOR BEHIND POST MORTEM
The pathologist whose testimony torpedoed criminal charges over Ian Tomlinson's death already faces disciplinary proceedings and could be struck off within months.
Dr Freddy Patel, pictured, is accused by the General Medical Council of mishandling four post-mortem examinations between September 2002 and January 2005.
He has been suspended from the Home Office register of forensic pathologists and barred from examining others who have died suspiciously.
The GMC hearing focuses on his actions during post mortems on four bodies, including a four-week-old baby, a five-year-old girl and two women.
He is accused of giving questionable verdicts on the causes of deaths, some of which later turned out to be suspicious.
As revealed in a document released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) yesterday, doubts have also been raised over how he examined Mr Tomlinson.
Dr Patel found the newspaper seller died as a result of natural causes, consistent with coronary artery disease. But investigators said Dr Patel wrote ambiguous notes about his findings and failed to examine three litres of fluid discovered inside Mr Tomlinson.
The fluid proved to be crucial as, if it was mainly blood, this would have indicated Mr Tomlinson died as a result of bleeding from an internal rupture.
Dr Patel did not retain the fluid or test it but insisted during interviews with prosecutors that it was mainly other fluids stained with blood.
Dr Patel, who qualified in 1974 at the University of Zambia, quit academic and NHS posts in the late 1990s to become a private pathologist on the Home Office register.
His disciplinary hearing began last week and is listed to continue until September. He denies misconduct.St. Stephen's principal Valson Thampu has banned the college's first ever online news magazine — Stephen's Weekly — for not getting the content cleared by him, a move termed regressive by students and faculty members.
Apart from current affairs at the campus, the e-zine carried Thampu's interview. While the domain name of the weekly's website led to a dead link on Tuesday, HT was able to access a Google cache page which showed the article as it appeared on March 9, three days before the website was taken down.
Thampu said in the interview that the weekly was a "classic illustration of doing something without even consulting the senior members (teachers). This is a disease... The joy of being together, the joy of working together, is totally rejected by young people because they don't have the resilience and the grace to adjust, they want everything on their terms, and I'm telling you, life cannot go on like this." On recruitment of teachers, he said there were "bottlenecks created by the university". "There was a policy on the part of the government also not to facilitate appointments," he added.
When asked for details of the ban, Thampu told HT "to speak to the students". Thampu's email to the students said the e-zine would "remain suspended and the situation will be reviewed in July." He later told a national daily the magazine was banned because "I certainly want to ensure that what's published is of a standard. What they've published is bunkum".
"To ban an online weekly in a liberal arts college is draconian. Students should be encouraged to think independently and not just comply with the authorities' whims," a senior professor said on condition of anonymity.
Inspired by the Brown University Daily Herald, Stephen's Weekly was to be an online news portal with extensive reportage on college news and events. The first issue went live on the internet on March 7, and was banned just five days later. The reason cited by the principal for the ban was "that students did not follow the due procedure".
Devansh Mehta, editor and founding member of the web magazine, which got over 2,000 page views in the five days it existed, said: "The ban has tarnished the liberal image of our college. And how can a principal who has absolutely no role in setting up the online weekly sabotage our work? Despite being a self-appointed'staff adviser' he did not even have the courtesy to give us money for the domain. Also, the website was bought with money collected by the students."
Screenshot of the message Valson Thampu sent.
The website was taken down on the March 12 and the domain name now leads to a dead link.
Fear rules the minds of students too, most preferring not to say anything on the issue. Abek Thayil, a third year student of Physics (Honors), told HT: "No one ever tried to capture what goes on in the campus on a daily basis. It's very sad that an all-student initiative is being butchered like this."
First Published: Mar 24, 2015 11:05 ISTRussia's military reported finding the tortured bodies of civilians in mass graves in Syria's Aleppo on Monday, allegedly left there by rebel groups.
Troops found dozens of bodies, many shot in the head and showing signs of abuse and mutilation, Defense Ministry spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkov said.
"Mass graves containing dozens of Syrians who were summarily executed and subjected to savage torture have been discovered," Konashenkov was quoted as saying by Russian agencies.
He said further inquiries would force backers of the Syrian opposition in the West to "recognize their responsibility for the cruelty" of the rebels.
Russian media agency SANA reported 21 civilian bodies, including those of five women and five children, were found in eastern areas of the city previously held by rebels.
"The bodies were found in prisons run by the terrorist groups in Sukkari and al-Kalasseh, and they were found to have been executed by gunshot at very close range," SANA quoted the head of Aleppo's forensic unit Zaher Hajjo as saying.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said bodies had been found in east Aleppo's streets but the UK-based monitoring group could not specify how they had died.
Credible reports of pro-Government killings
Tens of thousands of people fled the city during an evacuation
Last week 35,000 opposition fighters and civilians left the city as part of a ceasefire deal brokered by Russia and Turkey, following a massive siege by President Bashar al-Assad's forces backed by the Russian Air Force. Russian military police have entered the city since.
The United Nations previously said it had credible reports that at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children, were executed by pro-government forces in Aleppo.
Traps and mines
Spokesperson Konashenkov also accused rebels of setting booby traps and mines throughout the city before evacuating, endangering the civilian population.
Russian troops entered the city after it fell to Syrian government forces
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that at least 63 Syrian soldiers and militiamen had been killed by such traps since government forces took control.
On Sunday, al-Assad visited a Christian orphanage near the capital Damascus to mark Christmas Day and in Aleppo Christians publicly celebrated the day for the first time in five years.
Outside of the city rebel groups still held at least 40 percent of Aleppo province, firing sporadic shells into the city as Russia resumed its bombing campaign on the rural areas.
aw/jm (AP, AFP, Reuters, Interfax, FENA)The former Gunner has been speaking about his Marseille team-mate this week.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
Tottenham Hotspur’s protracted transfer move for Georges-Kevin N’Koudou of Marseille has certainly been making the news in France.
Everyone connected to Marseille appears to have had their say on the matter and now a former Arsenal player has joined the chorus.
Abou Diaby has been speaking to the press today and he made his thoughts clear on the transfer, as reported by FootballClubDeMarseille.fr. The Frenchman, who had an injury-ravaged spell at Tottenham’s North London rivals, believes that N’Koudou needs to see the situation sorted quickly and get back to playing football:
Georges-Kevin Nkoudou at Marseille
"It's a matter of ownership. We would like to have him back with us because last year he showed tremendous things. It's a bit unfortunate."
He also insisted that something like this would never happen at Arsenal:
"No, I never saw (something like) this (at Arsenal). It's a shame he's young but he needs to train. The sooner this is done, the better for him."
Since the deal was initially supposed to go through, around a month ago, N’Koudou has reportedly been staying at a hotel in London awaiting to get approval on the deal.
Gareth Bale (R) in action with Abou Diaby
However, Tottenham and Marseille have been unable to come to a final arrangement over the fee for the player – with the internal restructuring at Marseille not helping the deal.
Diaby, a player who knows a lot about missing out on football, is clearly concerned that this time away from regular training will be negatively impacting the young winger’s chances of success – whether at Spurs or Marseille.
It does however appear that the end is in sight. Sky Sports reported this week that Tottenham’s move to sign N’Koudou was back on, with Clinton N’Jie set to go in the opposite direction.Source: Thinkstock
For most of modern history, people haven’t been able to get money off of their minds. It’s no different for the millennials, but there are some extra complications that this generation is dealing with that are making today’s young adults experience further issues.
Millennials are mainly stressed about student debt, in addition to the traditional worries like home ownership and retirement. And those things have all warped how today’s young adults feel about entering new phases in life.
According to a recently released Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor poll, a healthy portion of millennials view the paying-off of their student debt as the true mark of ‘moving on’, whereas traditionally just the act of graduating from college or high school signaled the crossing of a threshold.
“More young people picked paying off student loans than completing high school or even college as the sign of advancing to the next stage of life; for older respondents, paying off loans tied with graduating from college,” a press release reads.
The poll identified which major milestones in life marked the beginning of “real adulthood,” and many respondents pointed to life events that you might expect, like getting a full-time job, or getting a full-time job that requires a specific skill.
Most people said that ‘adulthood’ actually began when they got “a job that is part of a long-term career.”
As for financial independence, the majority of respondents (which included a group of older and younger adults) agreed that individuals were moving out of the “starting out” phase of their lives once they “have disposable income and a long-term savings plan.” With that in mind, and considering the fury with which the past recession and sluggish economic recovery have wrought on a new generation of young adults, it may be some time before a good portion of millennials can safely say they are ‘on their own.’
But again, the biggest disparity in financial concerns expressed by both the younger and older poll respondents had to do with college costs. Today’s young adults are saddled with considerably more student debt than Generation X or the Baby Boomers, which allowed those generations the ability to pursue further education, or start a family earlier. We’ve seen tremendous drops in birth rates among millennials, indicating that the economic situation has impacted family planning for a lot of people, and it seems evident that millennials are more keen on trying to get a grasp on their careers and earnings than moving on to family life.
“Among young people, family (getting married or having children) or educational achievements (graduating from high school or college) trailed well behind all of these economic achievements as signs of advancing past the initial stage of life,” the poll said.
| StartClass
This brings us back to student debt, and the concern surrounding that additional debt load has on those eager to move on to the next stage of adulthood. It’s hard to argue that the recession and skyrocketing college costs have stunted traditional adulthood patterns for many millennials, and the current average student debt load for the class of 2015 is being pegged at right around $35,000.
This is the result of college costs having exploded over the past few decades. It’s hard to think where previous generations would be if they had started out $35,000 in the hole on average — with a healthy portion in much, much more debt. But the millennials are evidently aware of the effect that debt is taking on their lives, and are seriously concerned about it, at least according to this most recent poll.
While it’s too little, too late for millennials now, the real issue at hand is figuring out how to make sure following generations don’t find themselves in similar ruts to start out their adult lives. According to the poll, both older and younger respondents feel that education is the key in this respect, and that personal finance and an understanding of debt and banking should become a permanent fixture in most high school curricula. To drive home the need, some studies have found that nearly half of Americans don’t fully understand how their credit cards work.
There has been a big push for more (and better) personal finance classes, and some schools and school districts have incorporated them. While results have been mixed, it’s clear that education in other subjects, including mathematics, can help kids blossom into financially literate adults.
“Many young people have low levels of financial literacy,” says a Harvard Business School study, looking into the effect of finance classes on high schoolers. “Our findings suggest that increasing math requirements would be a more effective way to improve financial outcomes. Increased high school math instruction has a small, but meaningful, effect on financial outcomes, even on individuals as young as 24 to 36.”
Education, at a younger age, may be the key to keeper future generations out of millennial-level student debt, but getting the pieces and policies into place is a different story entirely.
Follow Sam on Twitter @SliceOfGinger
More from Money & Career Cheat Sheet:WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) asked for public comments late last year about its plan to impose what amounted to a ban on the coffee-like herb kratom, they may not have been prepared for both the volume of comments (23,116) and the overwhelming opposition to a ban (99.1 percent). A new analysis by the American Kratom Association (AKA) and American Coalition of Free Citizens (ACFC) reviewed every one of the comments submitted to the DEA prior to the conclusion of its public comment period on December 1, 2016.
The AKA/ACFC found several things that the DEA most likely was not expecting to see:
Overview of key groups. Among those listing a profession, nearly half (48 percent) were veterans, law enforcement officials, health care professionals, and scientists. (This reflected a total of 1175 out of 2416 comments with profession-related information.) These groups came down strong in favor of kratom and against a ban 754 versus 9 … for a pro-kratom support level of 98.7 percent.
Among those listing a profession, nearly half (48 percent) were veterans, law enforcement officials, health care professionals, and scientists. (This reflected a total of 1175 out of 2416 comments with profession-related information.) These groups came down strong in favor of kratom and against a ban 754 versus 9 … for a pro-kratom support level of 98.7 percent. Veterans. Those who served in the military were a large contingent among those mentioning their profession. The 449 self-identified veterans accounted for 448 comments, or 18 percent of the 2416 indicating a professional work/background. Veterans supported kratom by a margin of 448 to 1, or 99.8 percent.
Those who served in the military were a large contingent among those mentioning their profession. The 449 self-identified veterans accounted for 448 comments, or 18 percent of the 2416 indicating a professional work/background. Veterans supported kratom by a margin of 448 to 1, or 99.8 percent. Health care professionals. The 576 self-identified medical professionals in the survey also came down strongly in support of kratom. These current and retired doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals supported kratom by a margin of 569 to 7, or 98.8 percent.
The 576 self-identified medical professionals in the survey also came down strongly in support of kratom. These current and retired doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals supported kratom by a margin of 569 to 7, or 98.8 percent. Older Americans. On age, a total of 3811 comment filers indicate how old they are. In this group, 806 (21 percent) were 55 or older. Older American supported kratom by a margin of 805 to 1, or 99.9 percent.
Susan Ash, director, American Kratom Association and Jason Jeffers, president, American Coalition of Free Citizens said: "The face of kratom consumers is the face of America today. Our groups partnered-up to examine all of the public comments to DEA on the kratom ban because we were curious about who was responding and what they had to say. What we found is a kratom community of responsible consumers who look just like your family and the people who live next door. The results speak for themselves: 99 percent of those who comment, do not want the federal government to police the natural herb called kratom."
Katie Lair, research and communications director, American Coalition of Free Citizens, said: "The most curious thing about the public comments is that there were so few responses actually supporting the DEA. Only 113 people out of 23,116 commented in support of the DEA proposal to ban kratom. When you have so much anti-kratom propaganda circulating at the state level and misleading talk of a public health crisis, one would expect more public comments in support of what the DEA is trying to do. To have just 113 people nationwide support the DEA is remarkable for a campaign like this to determine whether something should be banned for the entire nation. The topline finding is obvious: There is no public appetite for banning kratom and continued fierce opposition can be expected by anyone who cares to do so."
For this research, medical professional was defined as "medical doctors, registered nurses, psychiatrists, speech therapists and EMTs and trained first responders."
The American Kratom Association led the charge when the DEA opened a public comment period running through December 1, 2016. Of the more than 23,000 comments submitted before the deadline closed, the KratomComments.org Web site created by AKA was responsible for 16,379 comments – roughly 71 percent of total comments received at Regulations.gov. (The campaign Web site is now inactive.)
The findings released today by the two groups are consisted with data released by AKA in a November 2016 online survey of 105 emergency room (ER)/trauma health care professionals that found zero reported cases of deaths related to kratom. The new poll of America's front-line medical professionals also uncovered precisely zero percent support among those surveyed for a DEA ban on the coffee-like herb kratom.
A major analysis by Dr. Jack Henningfield, Ph.D., vice president of Research, Health Policy, and Abuse Liability at PinneyAssociates, for the American Kratom Association found that there is "insufficient evidence" for the DEA to ban or otherwise restrict the coffee-like herb kratom under the Controlled Substances Act. According to the comprehensive Henningfield report, kratom has little potential for abuse and dependence – as low or lower than such widely used and unscheduled substances as "nutmeg, hops, St. John's Wort, chamomile, guarana, and kola nut."
ABOUT AKA
The America Kratom Association, a consumer-based non-profit organization, is here to set the record straight, giving a voice to those suffering and protecting our rights to possess and consume kratom. AKA represents tens of thousands of Americans, each of whom have a unique story to tell about the virtues of kratom and its positive effects on their lives. www.americankratom.org
ABOUT ACFC
American Coalition of Free Citizens (ACFC), a non-partisan organization with members in every state, was founded in 2016 after a statewide ban on the natural herb kratom took effect in Alabama. Our core mission is to defend the rights of people to access and choose safe and natural ethnobotanical/herbal alternatives to prescription drugs. More broadly, ACFC defends the freedoms, rights and privileges granted to all Americans by the U.S. Constitution. As a result of the war on kratom initiated by both the federal government and state governments across the country, our group is committed to defending kratom and keeping it legal. The ACFC website is currently under construction set to launch in late winter 2017. Our Facebook group page can be found online at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1301010013260823/ and our like page here: https://www.facebook.com/americfc/.
For queries about membership, volunteering or just general information, please contact our communications department at: americfc2017@gmail.com.
SOURCE American Kratom Association and American Coalition of Free Citizens, Washington, DC
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http://www.americankratom.orgCanada's three main tobacco companies are set to do battle in a Montreal court today in the biggest civil case in Canadian history.
A group of Quebec smokers is suing Imperial Tobacco Canada, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and JTI-Macdonald.
They claim the companies failed to properly warn their customers about the dangers of smoking, underestimated evidence relating to the harmful effects of tobacco, engaged in unscrupulous marketing and destroyed documents.
It's the first time tobacco companies have gone to trial in a civil suit in Canada, and up to $27 billion in damages and penalties are at stake.
The tobacco companies say they vehemently deny the allegations.
On another front, six provinces are teaming up to sue Canadian tobacco firms for health-care costs.
B.C., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and P.E.I. are retaining a national legal team to help them prosecute Canadian tobacco companies.
They're seeking to recover billions of dollars.Lords of War is a new PvP mode introduced to Armored Warfare. It is now available on the Public Test Server. Please visit our Lords of War article to find out more about the basics of Lords of War and how to install the Public Test Server client.
Season 0
Season 0 is considered a test season and can only be accessed via the Public Test Server, located in Europe. Its purpose is to test the Lords of War feature in preparation for the Lords of War live launch. Despite our best efforts, it is possible that issues may be uncovered during Season 0 that will affect the outcome of Season 0.
The rewards from Season 0 will be handed out on the Live server at its end, with the exception of Prestige and Prestige Level. Season 0 Prestige and Prestige Level will not carry over to Season 1.
Entering Lords of War
To enter the Lords of War mode, please select it from the PvP mode menu, available in the Garage.
Please note that there is no specific vehicle Tier required to compete in the mode.
Lords of War Rewards
There are two types of Rewards in the Lords of War mode:
Prestige Level Rewards
Win Streak Rewards
Prestige Level Rewards depend on the accumulated amount of Prestige and player's Prestige Level.
Prestige is the main progression currency of the Lords of War mode. Much like Reputation, it can only be accumulated, not lost. Prestige is obtained by winning Lords of War matches - the more difficult the opponent, the more Prestige is gained. The rewards are separated by Prestige Levels. In order to unlock the next Prestige Level and the next reward with it, a certain amount of Prestige has to be accumulated.
Win Streak Rewards can be obtained by attaining the highest win streak per Conflict Zone by Day, Week and Season.
Several types of Prestige Level Rewards are available in Season 0, including:
Loot Crates
Credits
Premium Time
Exclusive Decals
Exclusive Titles
Additionally, players can obtain bonus Prestige as well as Gold, Premium Time, an exclusive Title and an exclusive Decal by winning a Win Streak Reward. These rewards will be further enhanced in upcoming seasons, which will – amongst other things – bring an exclusive Lords of War reward vehicle.
Playing as a Team
On the opening screen, players have the option to enter the Lords of War mode either as a part of a team, or as solo players. While solo play is supported, players have a much higher chance of earning the best prizes if they play in teams, since coordination is essential in Lords of War.
To enter the mode as a team, please select the Teams button on the opening screen. Additional information on this screen includes the current Leaderboard (the list of the best Teams out there), Rewards (displaying the rewards available) and time left until the end of the Season.
On the Team screen, press the Create Team button. A window will appear where you will be able to enter your team name and select whether your team is a Battalion one or not. Battalion teams contain members of one battalion that publicly show their battalion tag to other teams. Please note that several restrictions on Team names apply. Teams with inappropriate names can be forcibly disbanded by the Support service, in which case their progress disappears.
After the team is created, a Management window will open where you can add members to your new team by clicking on the fields with the plus icon. Team members can be invited either from your Friend list, or from the roster of the Battalion you are in. Players who are not a part of your Friend list cannot be invited to a Lords of War Team.
To invite someone from your Friend or Battalion lists, select the name and press the Invite button. Players have to accept your invitation in order to appear in your Team.
Armored Warfare is played using Conflict Zones. Each Conflict Zone is a battlefield that has a specific:
Map
Tier
Not all Conflict Zones are available at the same time and their timers can be seen next to the abovementioned parameters. To select a Conflict Zone, click on its panel on the map. This will allow you to assemble a Group for participation. Groups consist of players who participate in that specific battle and do not necessarily include the entire Team (the rest of the Team is held in reserve). The Lords of War format for Season 0 will be 5 vs 5, meaning the Group for each Conflict Zone can only contain 5 players. This format might change in future seasons.
When the Group is assembled and ready (each player must confirm their readiness, much like in Custom Matches), the Group can enter the match for the designated Conflict Zone by pressing the Queue button. The battle plays with the same rules (except for Group size) as other PvP matches, the result screen, however, will also show the amount of Prestige (see the Rewards section) gained along with the other results.
Playing Solo
Solo players can also play Lords of War. To enter as a solo player, press the Solo button instead of the Team button on the mode opening screen.
At the next step, select your vehicle based on the requirements of the Conflict Zone you want to enter. Detailed parameters and requirements for each Conflict Zone are revealed by moving the mouse cursor over the Zone's name in the map window. Select the Zone you wish to enter by clicking the Zone's name. Then enter the queue by clicking the Queue button.
Please note that solo players cannot earn the daily, weekly and seasonal Team Win Streak rewards. However, there are no further restrictions for solo players beyond that.
See you on the battlefield!A schooner that tragically sank in Lake Superior 115 years ago was recently rediscovered in its watery grave.
The 199-foot long, three-masted Nelson sank near Grand Marais, Michigan in 1899 in the midst of a spring gale, claiming the lives of all but one of the 10 on board.
The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society located the schooner recently, and sent a diver down to take pictures of the boat on the bottom of Lake Superior.
Scroll down for video
The Nelson schooner sank in Lake Superior more than 115 years ago. Above, a sonar image of the boat in its watery grave
The Nelson sank on May 13, 1899 in the midst of a spring gale. Only the captain survived
The nine others on board died after being put in a lifeboat that was eventually dragged down with the quickly-sinking ship
'It is a significant find. This is a wreck I think a lot of people have been looking for for a number of years. It has a great story,' Darryll Ertel, Director of Marine Operations for the Great Lake Shipwreck Historical Society, told 9 & 10 News.
The Nelson was being towed by the steamer Folsum, along with another schooner named the Mary Mitchell, when the group of boats encountered rough waters due to a spring gale on May 13, 1899.
'Ice was covering the decks and before they knew it they were fighting for their lives,' Bruce Lynn, executive director of the Great Lakes shipwreck historical society said.
Captain White of the Folsum made the decision to turn the boats back to port when he noticed that the Nelson was lulling.
That's when the tow line snapped and the Nelson began its quick descent under water.
Above, the location in Lake Superior, near Grand Marais, where the Nelson sank more than 115 years ago
'It is a significant find. This is a wreck I think a lot of people have been looking for for a number of years. It has a great story,' Darryll Ertel, Director of Marine Operations for the Great Lake Shipwreck Historical Society, said
The captain of the Nelson worked quickly to put the his wife, infant child and the rest of the crew into a lifeboat.
He then jumped from the sinking boat and by the time he resurfaced, the ship was almost completely submerged.
Tragically, the lifeboat had been pulled under with it, and Captain Hagginey's family and the rest of the crew perished.
Hagginey survived after grabbing onto a piece of debris and eventually finding his way to shore.Ottawa rapper Corey Charron said he is devastated after learning what he called "an opportunity of a lifetime" to appear on the BET hip hop awards next week has gone up in smoke.
Charron thought he had won the right to appear on the show's annual cypher, where a collection of big-name rappers perform alongside up-and-coming performers, after he won the Freestyle Friday battle rap competition on 106 and Park, the flagship program of the Black Entertainment Network.
"It's an opportunity of a lifetime because it's just a platform where everyone's watching," said Charron. "It's kind of like when I was doing BET it was the regular season and then getting a chance to perform [there] it was like the Super Bowl."
Corey Charron raises his arms in victory after he won 106 and Park's Freestyle Friday in March. (BET)
But Charron said he didn't hear from the network leading up to next week's show and then this week got an email saying this year's cypher had been scaled down and that there wasn't room for the show's freestyle champion.
The network also said the cypher's direction has changed "towards artists that have huge projects that are current."
BET did not respond to CBC's request for an interview.
Charron also received $5,000 for winning the freestyle rap competition last March — where he had to out-duel fellow competitors in a back-and-forth improvisational style of rapping.
But he said he spent close to $3,000 of his own money going back and forth from Ottawa to New York to compete.
Already a touring artist, Charron saw the competition as an opportunity not for the monetary prize but as a chance for more exposure.
"I wanted to show people what I could do, it was a dream," he said.
He said he thinks he was cut loose from the cypher because he didn't fit the network's image.
"I'm a white Canadian [with] kind of like a a baby-faced nerdy look to me and I just really don't think they thought I was going to win the competition," said Charron.CRISPR–Cas immune systems must discriminate between self and non-self to avoid an autoimmune response9. In type I and II systems, foreign DNA targets that contain adjacent PAM sequences are targeted for degradation, whereas potential targets in CRISPR loci of the host do not contain PAMs and are avoided by RNA-guided interference complexes3,5,6,10. Single-molecule and bulk biochemical experiments showed that PAMs act both to recruit Cas9–guide-RNA (Cas9–gRNA) complexes to potential target sites and to trigger nuclease domain activation7. Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes recognizes a 5′-NGG-3′ PAM on the non-target (displaced) DNA strand4,6, suggesting that PAM recognition may stimulate catalysis through allosteric regulation. Moreover, the HNH nuclease domain of Cas9, which mediates target-strand cleavage4,5, is homologous to other HNH domains that cleave RNA substrates11,12. Based on the observations that single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) targets can be activated for cleavage by a separate PAMmer7, and that similar HNH domains can cleave RNA, we wondered whether a similar strategy would enable Cas9 to cleave ssRNA targets in a programmable fashion (Fig. 1a).
Figure 1: RNA-guided Cas9 cleaves ssRNA targets in the presence of a short PAM-presenting DNA oligonucleotide (PAMmer). a, Schematic depicting the approach used to target ssRNA for programmable, sequence-specific cleavage. b, The panel of nucleic acid substrates examined in this study. Substrate elements are coloured as follows: DNA, grey; RNA, black; guide-RNA target sequence, red; DNA PAM, yellow; mutated DNA PAM, blue; RNA PAM, orange. The 18-nucleotide ‘GG PAMmer’ contains only a GG dinucleotide PAM sequence. nt, nucleotide. c, Representative cleavage assay for 5′-radiolabelled nucleic acid substrates using Cas9–gRNA, numbered as in b. d, Cas9–gRNA cleavage site mapping assay for substrate 3. T1 and OH− denote RNase T1 and hydrolysis ladders, respectively; the sequence of the target ssRNA is shown at right. Sites of G cleavage by RNase T1 are shown at left. Site of Cas9 cleavage (G24) shown at right. e, Representative ssRNA cleavage assay in the presence of PAMmers of increasing length, numbered as in b. Full size image Download PowerPoint slide
Using S. pyogenes Cas9 and dual-guide RNAs (Methods), we performed in vitro cleavage experiments using a panel of RNA and DNA targets (Fig. 1b and Extended Data Table 1). Deoxyribonucleotide-comprised PAMmers specifically activated Cas9 to cleave ssRNA (Fig. 1c), an effect that required a 5′-NGG-3′ or 5′-GG-3′ PAM. RNA cleavage was not observed using ribonucleotide-based PAMmers, suggesting that Cas9 may recognize the local helical geometry and/or deoxyribose moieties within the PAM. Consistent with this hypothesis, dsRNA targets were not cleavable and RNA–DNA heteroduplexes could only be cleaved when the non-target strand was composed of deoxyribonucleotides. Notably, we found that Cas9 cleaved the ssRNA target strand between positions 4 and 5 of the base-paired gRNA–target-RNA hybrid (Fig. 1d), in contrast to the cleavage between positions 3 and 4 observed for |
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